Comments on: Should You Get a Doula? – 11 Pros and Cons from an L&D Nurse

By: Hilary Erickson

Hilary Erickson — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 13:16:25 +0000

In reply to Sithabile. I just find that a GOOD doula is hard to find. More often than not people want to save money and get one that isn't all that helpful.

By: Sithabile

Sithabile — Sat, 04 Apr 2020 18:05:39 +0000

Wow,what a negative article this is. It is quite clear that you have a problem with doulas,even though you try hard to make it seem that you don’t – it’s pretty obvious. To reach the conclusion that a doula is a necessity is a narrow view -not necessary for who? I’ve given birth twice and the midwife attending my first birth was good,yes but certainly not personable. The second time i gave birth,just under 2 years ago, would have been a disaster had I not had a doula,given how ‘off’ that midwife was. And I’m being kind,saying she was “off”. Sure,this is your opinion,on your blog,but how unfortunate it would be if a mom who is trying to decide if she should get a doula or not, came across this article and it is the only article she reads. I think more than anything, you feel that doulas get in YOUR way,even though their role is so very different from yours.

By: Hilary Erickson

Hilary Erickson — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 14:49:38 +0000

In reply to Kaitlyn Teeter. My point remains that most doulas don't end up being that helpful. I'm glad that you're helpful. What a joy and blessing you are to your clients.

By: Kaitlyn Teeter

Kaitlyn Teeter — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 21:03:08 +0000

Wow. This is such a terribly misguided and extremely biased article. Sadly, Posting misinformation like this (regardless of how much “experience” you may think you have) is such a disservice to mothers who deserve support and empowerment throughout their pregnancies and birthing experiences. THAT is the role of a doula – to provide emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual support to the birthing person AND THEIR PARTNER. By telling birthing people that a doula will “get in the way” is so irresponsible and untrue. A doula is there to support the entire family, including the partner. I had an incredible experience with each doula I worked with in childbirth, as did my partner. Our doulas educated us in ways I have NEVER been educated by an OB or a nurse, our doulas prepared us for childbirth far better than any medical professional did, our doulas instilled in us the confidence we needed to have the births we hoped for, and our doulas supported us in the most sacred and precious of ways. No nurse or doctor has the time or the training to support birthing people in the intimate ways that doulas do. Please, if you are an expectant mother reading this, please recognize the biased tone of this article and seek out more information. This article is one person’s opinion, and while it’s obvious I don’t agree with their opinion, I truly think it would be such a shame to not seek out more information after reading this. It is terribly misguided and one-sided.

By: Hilary Erickson

Hilary Erickson — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 02:27:22 +0000

In reply to Jasmine. As I said, there are some VERY helpful doulas, but they are usually quite expensive and may be out of reach for a lot of people. I am so glad one was helpful for you!

By: Hilary Erickson

Hilary Erickson — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 02:25:41 +0000

In reply to NikkiB. I didn't mean only white people are well off. I have adjusted it. Thanks for pointing it out.

By: NikkiB

NikkiB — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 01:27:10 +0000

“white and well off”? That’s a pretty racist comment. You don’t have any black/Asian/Hispanic doctors at your hospital? You don’t believe those groups can be “well off”? Wow!

By: Jasmine

Jasmine — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 04:20:48 +0000

My doula helped me though a traumatic experience as an OB did things to me without my consent. I’m a sexual assault survivor and needed therapy after this provider violated me. i was not charged anything extra for her time, she just wanted to see me at peace. No nurse followed up with me who witnessed this or offered me any consolation. They turned a blind eye and pretended like it didn’t happen. I knew my doula before I came to L&D. She was not a stranger who had opinions on how I should or shouldn’t do things. She supported every decision all the way and was extremely well educated. My doula helped my husband during a grueling 42 hour labor by working in shifts to help me be comfortable. My doula has never gotten in the way of my partner and I during a birth. She helped him be more supportive to me. My doula massaged my feet and held me steady as I shook so my partner could hold my hand. She is now a midwife and the birth world is a better place because of her. I have never had a nurse come talk to me about how a birth went or was going, to help ground me physically and emotionally, but my doula did because my partner is not the strongest when it comes to emotional support. In my personal experience of giving birth 4 times, all in a hospital, I will not give birth without one if I can help it. Doulas are a treasure and an under-utilized asset for the unpredictable nature of a hospital birth.

By: Tamaya

Tamaya — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 04:24:27 +0000

Hilary, I am really shocked by what reads as a very strong and obvious bias against doulas based on your personal experiences solely as an L&D nurse.
My doula saved me and my newborn son, and enabled my husband to be totally involved.
Yes, I am middle-income and well-educated, so I’d read a lot about how to go about hiring a doula, about what to look for in certifications, and my husband and I had interviewed several. Being without close family nearby, and knowing my good friends weren’t skilled or trained or necessarily 100% available (even if we’d had them, they wouldn’t have had the training/skills that a doula does, in any way!), we were very grateful to even learn that such a thing as a doula existed.
I also know that the doulas I interviewed also took pro-bono and lower-income sliding scale moms.
It was not more expensive than a quiet weekend away (not a champagne, fancy dress, big Vegas show weekend, either)! The birth of my child was certainly worth that — actually, MY birth experience with MY child was WORTH that! I know *SO* many women with similar experiences, and NONE with experiences that you’ve “viewed.”
I’m sorry you’ve had those bad experiences. Letting women know that there are bad apples in YOUR experience, and advising that women be pro-active in that they need to look for experienced and certified providers is one thing. But PLEASE do NOT do a disservice to women by discouraging women from having different kinds of appropriate supports in their birth experiences, just because you don’t like them.

By: Hilary Erickson

Hilary Erickson — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 17:53:10 +0000

In reply to Danielle.

I have worked with VERY FEW Certified Doulas. We actually don’t get many at our hospital anymore… but a good doula is gold.
I will just have to say I haven’t had many good doulas though either. They’re pricey (as they should be) and the not-good ones aren’t as pricey. 🙂 (surprise!)