Doula, VHC & Dr Tchabo

[Anonymous]

Hi. We are considering a doula and are currently with Dr Tchabo & due to deliver at Virginia Hospital Center. I plan on talking to him about doula recommendations when I see him next but I just wondered whether anyone had used a doula with him at VHC and how the experience went. We are in two minds about getting a doula and need to think about it more, and so I'd really be interested in whether you needed one at VHC or did ok with the nurses/doctors on duty.

Many thanks!

[Anonymous]

Dr. Tchabo loves working with doulas and is happy when his patients use one. Doulas also like working with him! If he doesn't have any personal recommendations, you could post here that you are interested in interviewing doulas and I'm sure a few would respond to you. If you're not sure whether or not you want a doula, maybe you should interview a few and get a sense of exactly what they could help you with before and during labor.

[Anonymous]

I agree with PP. In fact, Dr. Tchabo suggested we use a doula. We didn't. ("Oh, so Daddy is going to be the doula." That still makes me laugh). He's big on getting support during delivery and with the baby afterwards. He asks whether you plan to have family support, and gently suggests that you consider it.

[Anonymous]

OP here. PP - did you feel like you needed one during delivery? Or did you feel ok without one?

[Anonymous]

did you feel like you needed one during delivery? Or did you feel ok without one?

I'm not the PP, but I have used a doula. I have very difficult and long labors, plus I do natural childbirth. I aboslutely needed every ounce of support that my doulas (well, one friend and one doula -- but they both doula-ed me!) gave me.

OP, I'd say it depends what you are looking for. First off, what type of birth are you planning? Do you want encouragement in having a low-intervention or natural childbirth? Doulas help considerably with keeping the interventions at a minimum. Besides that, do you want someone who will explain all the things the nurses don't have time to explain? Do you want someone who will talk to you before, during, and after about the birth experience --helping you plan, understand, and process it? Do you want someone by your side at ALL times during labor? (A doula helps with this because the doula and the dad can switch off with support - no dad can literally stay with the mom throughout the entire labor). Is your partner supportive and helpful? Will he remember to bring you drinks, get you to the bathroom, rub your back, etc. etc.?

I think in the end, most people who hire doulas are really happy about the support they offer. And, Dr. Tchabo is a great doc but he is not always there for the birth or even during labor. Sometimes his patients see him once during labor or not at all. He's a busy man who supports women's choices, but he is not hands-on.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks PP for your thoughts. I am trying for a VBAC this time so have been thinking that having a doula may help me better achieve that aim. I guess the main thing is having someone who can advocate for me with the hospital as to what I want. I know that DH will try to do that but he may be otherwise preoccupied with me! and having a doula who knows the hospital system might be a good idea.

I am looking for interventions to be kept to a minimum but also want to keep options open (eg epidural) and am not sure I want to go entirely drug free at this point.

I am really happy with Dr Tchabo but had heard as you mentioned that it is unlikely he will be there the whole time and for that reason, maybe having a doula might help me stay on track for a VBAC?

I have to admit also I recently talked with a few people and all of them were hiring doulas for their births. It made me think that it is becoming a necessary addition to birthing in a US hospital......

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Dr. Tchabo is a great doc but he is not always there for the birth or even during labor. Sometimes his patients see him once during labor or not at all. He's a busy man who supports women's choices, but he is not hands-on.

I did not find this to be true when I gave birth to my daughter four years ago. He was there checking on me throughout my labor, checking (granted, I was in labor for more than 24 hours!), he was the one who attempted to break my water, and he was present for the delivery. He was the one who cut the cord because it was around my daughter's neck at birth - we still refer to her cute belly button as the "Dr. Tchabo special". My husband and I always joke that during the delivery was the only time we ever saw him "serious" and not smiling and relaxed - it was 2 a.m. and he'd clearly had a long day and was no-nonsense - but we couldn't have been more pleased with the level of care we received from him.

[Anonymous]

21:24 here - sorry that got botched - I quoted 12:26 for that top line only and my comments are the section below...

[Anonymous]

I see you are planning a VBAC. Have you been to any of the Northern Virginia ICAN meetings? If not, I recommend attending them....I'm hoping to have a successful VBAC within the next few weeks with Dr. Tchabo and a doula...but I've found the information I've learned at my ICAN meetings to be very valuable.

[Anonymous]

I didn't deliver with Dr. Tchabo or use a doula but I did have a successful VBAC this past spring at VHC and found the nurses to be very supportive. I have a friend who is a doula and has assisted clients delivering with Dr. Tchabo and she has told me he is a pleasure to work with.

Good luck with your VBAC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dr. Tchabo is a great doc but he is not always there for the birth or even during labor. Sometimes his patients see him once during labor or not at all. He's a busy man who supports women's choices, but he is not hands-on.

I did not find this to be true when I gave birth to my daughter four years ago. He was there checking on me throughout my labor, checking (granted, I was in labor for more than 24 hours!), he was the one who attempted to break my water, and he was present for the delivery. He was the one who cut the cord because it was around my daughter's neck at birth - we still refer to her cute belly button as the "Dr. Tchabo special". My husband and I always joke that during the delivery was the only time we ever saw him "serious" and not smiling and relaxed - it was 2 a.m. and he'd clearly had a long day and was no-nonsense - but we couldn't have been more pleased with the level of care we received from him.

Dr. Tchabo is my OB and was present at both deliveries of my sons - one in 2005 and one in 2007, but it was the residents who actually did the delivering and cutting of the cords, etc. Likewise, during most of my labor it was the residents who checked on me - Dr. Tchabo came in once or twice, but both labors were routine and without complications, so I did not feel like he needed to be there more than that necessarily. However, my first son was born at 2 in the morning and Dr. Tchabo was there which really impressed me. I am sure it depends on what is going on that day as far as if he is in surgery or delivering more than one baby, but in my experience he really makes the effort to be there even if he is not officially delivering the baby.