For expectant mothers who don't have a doula: Why do you choose NOT to have a doula present at your birth?

Are there not doulas available in your area? Is it because of the cost? Where you told by your dr. he doesn't work with doulas? Are you afraid a doula will misplace your husband/ significant other? Do you think doulas only do home and natural births? Do you think having a nurse at the hospital will give you the same care? Do you not know what a doula is and what the benifits of having a doula are? Did you want a private birth?

1 Considering home birth with midwife; seems like a duplication of services.

2 If in hospital, have no problem telling over-zealous doctors to #@$! off and abide by my wishes by myself, or have husband do same.

3 Can't stand massage, have no interest in aromatherapy or other alternative what-nots. No interest in peripheral services offered, like "birth stories," "belly casts," etc -- see it as a bit silly.

4 The fewer people, the better.

5 I have no reason to think I'd automatically get on well with somebody I've never met. There's a limited number of doulas in my area; haven't looked at any one (via their web site) and thought "Here's a person I'd get on with so well that I'd want them at what I think of as a fairly private event."

6 If at home with a midwife, it's a lot of money for somebody who I'd pretty much be using as -- no offence -- a gofer for more ice cubes for my drink.

7 Am not in need of more information re. pregnancy and birth.

That said, I'm still going to think about hiring one if I end up having to give birth in a hospital. Even if she is just there to guard the door against over-zealous nurses, and find a pizzeria that'll deliver to a maternity ward.

i have enough support from my family friends doctor and nurses so i really dont need one, its not that i dont want one, i just am happy with who i have.

I love the idea of a doula but most insurance won't cover it and they are expensive to pay for outta pocket.

You have asked us all the question? What is your question??

Because I have my Mum who im going to trust much more than someone I dont really know. Plus too expensive, so not going to bother. Whats so good about one anyways??.

Because I can't afford 拢2500 upwards for a Doula!!

Doulas are not really available where I live and the cost of course would be a factor.
As I am High risk in my last pregnancy and this one - I'm spending alot of money with hospital visits / car park etc.. adding to the cost would be impractical for me

There is a lot of research to show that having a birth partner that you know well (husband, boyfriend, mother, sister) is much better than having a doula that you don't know from Adam's housecat.

I had a planned C-section for medical reasons, so I didn't have that option at all with my last birth, but had I experienced labor, my husband would've been the only person there to help me, and that's exactly how I wanted it.

I'm very familiar with the training that a doula has, and it's not difficult for you to have your birth partner learn the same techniques, provided they cooperate.

I chose not to have a doula because I feel there will be enough people at the hospital and quite frankly this is something I want to share with the baby's father. This is our first and maybe only and I want us to experience this as a couple. This is going to be a huge obstacle for me to overcome, allowing another person to help me in a time of need. I'm really letting down my guard to even let the baby's father be supportive. Not to mention I have a real problem with people telling me how to control my body. I'm very aware of my instincts and tend to trust them, especially when it comes to pain...I'll have a hard enough time telling the doctors and nurses to butt out w/out having to add another person to the mix.

I had to look up what a doula was and did... and I have no idea why we would have wanted one for any of our children's births.

A doula sounds like a good idea if you do not have family to help, if you are part of a community or culture that commonly uses one, or if you have a lot of money.

Even the information offered by various doula organizations state that birth is a wonderful bonding time for the parents... so why on Earth do I want to pay someone else to share it with us?

Sorry, but even if the service was free, I see no benefit in it for us... or for most couples.

I will have enough people talking to me and confusing me. My husband will be there with my mom and I think that will be enough support. If my husband isn't enough my mom will be.
Also my insurance doesn't cover it.

I am a very private person meaning I don't even want my husband there he isn't much help anyway I deal with my pain by myself always have when other people are there it just pisses me off I don't want to be touched or told everything is ok or how to deal with my pain and so paying someone to see me in pain seems stupid and I'd probably make them cry anyway.

Because I believe the only people who should attend a birth are the people who made the baby.

Trust Birth!

http://www.empoweredchildbirth.com/
http://www.unassistedchildbirth.com/


Also if you are going to give birth in a hospital a paralegal would be more useful than a doula.

wer'e not blooming millionaires?seriously i only want me husband and mum