Questions for Doulas

[Maruschke]

Hi Everyone

I am meeting my doula soon, and I want to know what things I should ask her?

I have a few things I want to happen during my birth, should I make a list of these?
e.g. I want her to help get my husband involved, show him how to comfort me etc
i want her to suggest positions
i want her to communicate with the medical staff that i want time to think in private before any medical intervention

She is a student doula, will she have some expectations? Will she want to watch the business end of things???

Do doula's perform internals?

Will she be able to give me advice about what pain relief is available, and what has the minimal impact on my baby?

Ahh... what do I need to do to prepare for my first face-to-face meeting with my doula?

[visitor1]

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth/...estions-to-ask

Thats a helpful guide!

[Maruschke]

Thanks Kim, I didn't see that before .

[visitor1]

No worries hun!

Im not a doula but i have one for this birth (when ever that will be..LOL).

I also has a student for DD2.

To answer some of your questions (from my experiances).

Will she want to watch the business end of things???

If you dont want her to....say so. Last time i made my doula the photo taker as well...so she was down there and to this day she is forever greatful i allowed it. I was her first mum so it was new for her. I never felt uncomfortable with her being down there either.

Do doula's perform internals?

Nope they dont

Will she be able to give me advice about what pain relief is available, and what has the minimal impact on my baby?

She will definately be able to help you out. Let her know what kind of pain threshold you have, what you would liek to see happen/not happen (eg....i dont want drugs and i know i ask for them in a peak of a cx and she is aware of this so will try get me to focus on the pain and then when the cx stops re-ask if i do really want it).

[annsam]

Hi Everyone

I am meeting my doula soon, and I want to know what things I should ask her?

I have a few things I want to happen during my birth, should I make a list of these?
e.g. I want her to help get my husband involved, show him how to comfort me etc
i want her to suggest positions
i want her to communicate with the medical staff that i want time to think in private before any medical intervention

She is a student doula, will she have some expectations? Will she want to watch the business end of things???

Do doula's perform internals?

Will she be able to give me advice about what pain relief is available, and what has the minimal impact on my baby?

Ahh... what do I need to do to prepare for my first face-to-face meeting with my doula?

Hi,

Doulas are none medical support. They do not perform internals, blood pressure checks, palpations or anything else semi medical.

She should be where you need her and if you dont want her at the business end (not that you need her there) then theres no need for her to be there. She will likely still see the baby coming out depending on your position and where she is i.e. if you are on all fours and shes giving you back pressure or massage......... but she doesn't need to be [I]in[I] the business end iykwim.

The only expectations she should have is in supporting you and your requirements. As a student though she will still be getting the hang on her role which is what training births are for but that shouldn't interfer with your labour or your care-givers role. If anything she'll probably be very anxious to please and do everything right.

Write down your questions so you dont forget them and discuss them with her. Nothing you've said sounds outside a doulas scope. Be very clear in your expectations. You dont really need to do anything else to prepare for the inital meeting other than be upfront about what you want her role to be.

Good luck. hope it goes well.

ETA, yes she should be able to help you with information about any common interventions including drugs.