I guess some people might wonder if we really needed a doula for our third child when we’d already done the birth thing twice. The answer is a resounding YES!
Anna attended our second child’s birth and my husband and I both found her assistance invaluable. So when we found ourselves expecting our third child there was no question in either of our minds that we wanted Anna to attend the birth. In fact, my husband seemed more concerned about whether Anna would be at the birth than if my OB would be at the birth!I guess some people might wonder if we really needed a doula for our third child when we’d already done the birth thing twice. The answer is a resounding YES!
Anna attended our second child’s birth and my husband and I both found her assistance invaluable. So when we found ourselves expecting our third child there was no question in either of our minds that we wanted Anna to attend the birth. In fact, my husband seemed more concerned about whether Anna would be at the birth than if my OB would be at the birth!
I was induced at 40weeks + 8 days and we were expecting a straight-forward birth. I had been induced for my previous two births, was birthing at the same hospital as my last child, had a clear birth plan and was confident that I knew what to expect.
What I hadn’t counted on was a very unsupportive midwife who applied a lot of pressure for me so much so that I ended up requesting a change of midwife but despite the new midwife, I still felt very negative, was second-guessing myself, was struggling to cope with the contractions and felt very overwhelmed with negativity.
In stepped Anna to the rescue. Talking to me, reminding me I had done this before, reminding me of how my births progress. Reminding me that I knew how my body worked. She ended up encouraging me to move into the shower, saying that I needed to change the environment and escape the negativity.
From that point on my labour changed. Labour established well, contractions were productive and I was able to focus on the contractions. Anna worked hard with my husband to create an environment in which I felt safe, talking to me, reassuring me, talking to the new midwife on my behalf. While I laboured in the bath Anna cooled me down with cold washers and ensured that my drink bottle was ready with iced water after each contraction.
When I moved into second stage, Anna was there with a heat pack for my back, encouraging me with each contraction. She reminded my doctor of my wishes for a natural third stage. As with my last birth there were numerous other tasks that she attended to without me even being aware at the time but for which I am so grateful.
Less than an hour after Anna had encouraged me to move to the bathroom, our daughter was born. While the birth was straight forward and perhaps my easiest from a physiological stance it was psychologically harder than my other births and it was only once I overcame the negativity I was feeling that my labour established. I am beyond grateful that Anna was at the birth. Once again her assistance was invaluable.
Rae 2008
