If you are looking for a doula, consider..
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Anonymous
| Cara Crowe. I used Cara recently for my first birth and cannot say enough good things about her. I had a long/difficult labor with several complications and it was such a comfort to my husband and I to have Cara there. (She was there for 15 hours, overnight.) Cara's calm demeanor, along with her vast knowledge and experience, helped to keep me calm and I think ultimately helped me to achieve my goal of a vaginal delivery despite the complications. From the birthing class that Cara offered, to the delivery itself, to post-partum assistance and support, our experience with Cara was wonderful throughout. We hope to get pregnant again in the near future and if we are still living in the DC area, we will definitely use Cara again. |
Anonymous
| We are using Cara in a few months and it makes me feel great to see such a positive review! The GW midwives had nothing but great things to say about her as well. |
Anonymous
| She was our doula with our first, and I highly recommend her! |
Anonymous
| What were your complications? |
Anonymous
| I met with Cara briefly as a potential doula and found the hour I spent with her more useful than the entire experience I had with the doula I foolishly hired instead. To this day I regret not following my instinct and hiring her instead. |
Anonymous
| Consider Liz Oldham! I needed/wanted a mostly hands-off doula for my VBAC - just someone who had more birth experience than DH and I - and she was perfect. Got my healthy baby, a VBAC, and a cakewalk recovery. |
Anonymous
| We also recently had Cara as our doula and loved her. She was such a calm, supportive presence during our birth, and she helped us to achieve the positive birth experience that we wanted. I had a pretty fast labor, and she was just wonderful - worked with me to find different positions to labor in, ensured that we got a nurse who was supportive of an unmedicated birth and that our birth plan was read by the nurses, used essential oils to help keep me calm, suggested things my husband could do to support me, etc. She met with us several weeks before our baby's birth and also came over after we got home from the hospital to check on us, and when I went past my due date she talked me through how to approach those extra days and suggested things to try to get labor going. Plus she makes a great prenatal tea and has a lending library of books for her moms-to-be. I delivered at Sibley with DeSouza as my OB and she has a fantastic reputation with them. Can't recommend her highly enough! |
Anonymous
| Sorry to hijack, but for those that used a doula, can you help a clueless second time mom out with understanding what a doula does? I had a long and grueling first labor. I do know I want an epidural again for #2. Is a doula more useful if you are doing an unmedicated birth? Also, how are a doula's services priced -- by the hour? What is an average rate? Thank you!! |
Anonymous
| 10:17 - I had a doula for my medicated VBAC, and she was helpful every. Step of the way. I wanted to get as far as I could without the epi. I had back labor, and she helped me find techniques for dealing with the incredibly intense and painful contractions. When I (finally) got the epi at 8 cm and labor stalled out, she helped me find ways to get things started again (changing positions, etc). When I turned the epi off and started pitocin, she helped me find ways to cope with the pain again.and she kept my confidence up when I was pushing, it doesn't seem like much, but having a calm presence in the room with some coping techniques to share made an immense difference. Especially after a difficult first labor. |
Anonymous
| 10:17 - I think Cara is on the higher end, but her prices are on her website. It is $1200 for the basic package. I think she charges an additional hourly fee if the labor goes over 24 hours, but I think that additional fee may be rare in the doula world. http://www.caracrowebirthworker.com/services/ |
Anonymous
Really? She charges more if your labor goes over 24 hours? That's craziness. I understand that doulas are underpaid for the amount of time they end up spending with each woman, but then just raise your fees a little bit. |
Anonymous
seriously, just makes it seem like she's trying to discourage people from calling her early, which I thought was one of the benefits of having a doula--having somebody you could call early. |
st4nton
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We loved working with Cara too! I was also worried about the 24 hour thing at the beginning, but by the time we got around to having our baby that was the least of my concerns.
We interviewed several doulas, and there were things we liked about all of them, but when we compared the differences in price to the experience of the doula, it was a no brainer to spend a little more for someone that has tons more experience/expertise... In the end, we had a long labor but didn't come anywhere close to needing her there for 24 hours. |