Do you recommend having a doula? If so any recommendations?

I’m a doula who had a doula for my first (I was a doula before that). Even with all I knew, she kept me focused and the support was great cause i had moments where I couldn’t put on my doula hat for myself. Definitely interview and do your research before choosing one.

I had a doula with my first and loved it so much we hired her for our second as well! The support she gave me in the hospital was invaluable. Like having her + my husband made everything manageable for me, and I succeeded in my preference of having two natural births. With my first, our doula let my husband sleep while I pushed through a cervical lip in the middle of the night. She dozed with me between contractions, and was right there making eye contact as I labored through them, helping me count to 30, reminding me to relax my shoulders and breathe… With my second they had no rooms available for us, and I labored through transition in a random OR. She held my hands and reassured me “You can do this. The room looks different, but your baby doesn’t know that, and they still have you. They only need you and you can do this.”  10/10 would recommend, especially for a first time mom.

Yes please do it. I wish I did

Yes my doula was amazing. I interviewed a few on the phone before choosing the right person I vibed with.