Will having a doula or midwife improve a first pregnancy, birth and postpartum?

Question

As well, will a doula or midwife usually always pressure you to breastfeed?

Answer 1

In the UK all babies are delivered by midwives! OB Consultants only attend high risk births.

Doulas are privately hired and less used.

I've just had my first baby (5 weeks ago) - I had a natural birth at a birth centre, no pain releif and to be honest it was the best thing I've ever done. I had no complications, no stitches and a really quick labour (went from 1.5cm to 10cm dilated in 4 and a half hours! Pain releiving drugs can slow your labour down). Yes it was painful but it wasn't a long labour and I had no tears, no stitches, no need for interventions, no bad reactions from painkilling drugs.

There was only me and one other woman in the birth centre that night so we had the midwives' full attention, and my delivery was lovely - just me and my fiance, the midwife who was delivering me and another midwife who "came into watch" - she and the one delivering were chatting about their Christmas lunch while my baby was being born! It was so much less scary than I'd imagined it to be.

And I recovered really quickly afterwards.

I'm lucky that I didn't have any complications that would have necessitated a hospital birth with consultants and loads of interventions. Midwives are fantastic and I can't sing their praises high enough.

For a woman who is having an uncomplicated pregnancy and labour all she needs is a good midwife - they will get you through your labourt so much more easily and stress-free than any doctor! I think the only women who need to be delivered by doctors are those who have problems or risks attached to their pregnancies and labours.

I know that things are different in the USA and that all women tend to have hospital births with doctorsd and epidurals. Its a shame. Midwives are the best. Nearly all cultures throughout history have used midwives to deliver babies, its only in recent times that doctors have got involved.

As for breastfeeding, well if you make it clear to the midwife you don't want to breastfeed then they won't pressure you,. but to be honest I love breastfeeding my son. Its a lovely way to bond, really easy (no mixing up formula and sterilising bottles) and he loves it and is doing so well on it - he's gone from 7 lb 2 oz at birth to 10 lb 11 oz at five weeks!!! Its a shame to totally disregard it, but its up to you at the end of the day.

Also breastfed babies are supposed to have less risk of SIDS.

Answer 2

I had a big plan for my first child, I was going with no pain meds, breast feed only and have a perfect birth. But the truth is you just have to feel your way through the first child. Ifr you feel like having a midwife will help you through it. Then by all means go for it ! MOst important just do what you think is best cause you are the mommy . Good luck

Answer 3

I went to midwives and they encoraged me to breast feed but they were respectfull of my wishes. I did end up breast feeding for a while but they also knew that I planed to pump and eventualy switch to formula. They were very supportive in this and even gave me tips and helped me alot. They made a big difference