Doula Recs

[Anonymous]

FTM looking for doula recommendations- delivering at Sibley.
Looking for someone that is supportive of intervention/epidural.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

[Anonymous]

Mom of 2. Save the 1,000, take a childbirth class, get the epidural as soon as they offer it, and hire a night nurse. I wasted 1,000 on a doula for my first delivery and she was useless. Learn from my mistake.

[Anonymous]

I had a doula for both my births and they were indispensable to me. The first time I planned for unmedicated and got an epidural (she was supportive). The second time I planned for an epidural but then it failed. Unfortunately neither of mine are still in the area but I used Doulas of Capitol Hill for one and loved their model. Lots of people also like DC Birth Doulas

[Anonymous]

It can go either way. I shelled out 2k for my doula and she gave poor advice and barely showed up for the birth because she insisted that it was going to take days. I insisted she come because my labor nurse pushed me to insist. I gave birth like 90 minutes after that - she was there for like 30 mins if it. But, I was so terrified of the whole thing that I figured it was better to have had the doula and not needed her than vice versa.

[Anonymous]

I highly recommend Jackie Prescott. She supported me through my difficult birth in 2019 and was a gift to both me and my husband. She is supportive about whatever experience you want to have, and I can’t recommend her enough. It looks like she has changed practices since 2019 and you can find her here: https://www.districtdoulas.com/. Honestly having a doula is such a personal choice, but if you want one you should definitely do it. Best case scenario, it feels like you didn’t need it because you have a smooth and easy birth, but that’s not how it always turns out and the support can be so meaningful and appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Save your money OP such a waste.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I highly recommend Jackie Prescott. She supported me through my difficult birth in 2019 and was a gift to both me and my husband. She is supportive about whatever experience you want to have, and I can’t recommend her enough. It looks like she has changed practices since 2019 and you can find her here: https://www.districtdoulas.com/. Honestly having a doula is such a personal choice, but if you want one you should definitely do it. Best case scenario, it feels like you didn’t need it because you have a smooth and easy birth, but that’s not how it always turns out and the support can be so meaningful and appreciated.

Or you can have a difficult birth and the doulas presence can be unhelpful, and then it’s another person in the room distracting you and taking up space.

[Anonymous]

Or you can have a difficult birth and the doula is an important advocate. Or the hospital is understaffed and it’s great that you have an extra body in the room. Or you have precipitous labor or the doula is sick and you don’t have her in the end anyway.

I think we have covered that different people feel differently about having doulas. OP is interested in having a doula, she hasn’t asked for input on what our personal feelings or experiences have been, she is asking for recommendations. Can we possibly stay on topic and not add stress and noise to a pregnant woman’s life?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or you can have a difficult birth and the doula is an important advocate. Or the hospital is understaffed and it’s great that you have an extra body in the room. Or you have precipitous labor or the doula is sick and you don’t have her in the end anyway.

I think we have covered that different people feel differently about having doulas. OP is interested in having a doula, she hasn’t asked for input on what our personal feelings or experiences have been, she is asking for recommendations. Can we possibly stay on topic and not add stress and noise to a pregnant woman’s life?

Pregnant women don’t know what they don’t know. I thought I “needed” a doula for my first delivery, spent a ton of time and money hiring one, and then on the other side felt duped and like I had just wasted 1,000 that I could have spent on other Things, like a night nurse. When you are a new parent, you don’t know what you don’t know. It’s reasonable to respond to someone asking for something they have never used or needed and don’t know much about to tell them that you thought you needed that thing to, and would not recommend it. Like, if OP came here asking for wipe warmer recommendations, it’s not being a jerk to tell her that, hey, you probably may not actually need/use/want that thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I highly recommend Jackie Prescott. She supported me through my difficult birth in 2019 and was a gift to both me and my husband. She is supportive about whatever experience you want to have, and I can’t recommend her enough. It looks like she has changed practices since 2019 and you can find her here: https://www.districtdoulas.com/. Honestly having a doula is such a personal choice, but if you want one you should definitely do it. Best case scenario, it feels like you didn’t need it because you have a smooth and easy birth, but that’s not how it always turns out and the support can be so meaningful and appreciated.

Jackie times 10000000. She is amazing. Also works with other doulas. Michelle is also the best.

[Anonymous]

Lorrie Leigh was our doula twice, for 2 unmedicated births. I am certain had she not been there, our first would have ended up as a c-section (and if that happened, probably our second too). She was great!

[Anonymous]

i delivered at Sibley a couple of weeks ago and cannot recommend DC birth doulas enough. My doula was completely supportive of my decision to get an epidural.

[Anonymous]

We loved working with Family Ways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or you can have a difficult birth and the doula is an important advocate. Or the hospital is understaffed and it’s great that you have an extra body in the room. Or you have precipitous labor or the doula is sick and you don’t have her in the end anyway.

I think we have covered that different people feel differently about having doulas. OP is interested in having a doula, she hasn’t asked for input on what our personal feelings or experiences have been, she is asking for recommendations. Can we possibly stay on topic and not add stress and noise to a pregnant woman’s life?

Pregnant women don’t know what they don’t know. I thought I “needed” a doula for my first delivery, spent a ton of time and money hiring one, and then on the other side felt duped and like I had just wasted 1,000 that I could have spent on other Things, like a night nurse. When you are a new parent, you don’t know what you don’t know. It’s reasonable to respond to someone asking for something they have never used or needed and don’t know much about to tell them that you thought you needed that thing to, and would not recommend it. Like, if OP came here asking for wipe warmer recommendations, it’s not being a jerk to tell her that, hey, you probably may not actually need/use/want that thing.

I’m a DP but this is a very condescending way to approach the OP. You’re right, people don’t know “what they don’t know”. Like I didn’t know having low blood pressure meant that I was required to be escorted to the bathroom by a nurse once we were in our room. Holiday weekend, low staffing, my doula is why I didn’t spent my first night with new baby in a puddle of my own pee. I would gladly pay her another $1000 just for that one act.

[Anonymous]

I had a doula for my births, but I was aiming to go med-free. If I was going to get an epidural, I probably wouldn't have gotten her. Unless my dh was worthless 🤪

Both my dh and I felt she was invaluable to us due to my desire to not get an epidural. She's not a doula anymore or I would post her name, because she was wonderful.

Good luck with baby, whomever is there with you when they arrive!