Doula needed if using birth centre?

[Suga]

Hello

Just a quick question. I'm having my baby through the Midwifery Group Practice at Women's & Children's in SA where you get assigned a midwife for the pregnancy and birth.

Do you think hiring a doula would be of benefit or do you think I would receive enough support from my midwife?

Thanks
Suga

[doulacara]

A doula could be beneficial to you if you would like to be supported while labouring at home - helping to keep you at home as long as possible and would thus be able to be a continuous presence from beginning to end.

A doula is also the only person who is able to focus only on you. The midwife is responsible for your wellbeing as well as the baby's.

However, as you get to know your midwife, you may get a feeling as to whether you feel she will be supportive of you in the way that you would like and this may be enough for you.

C

[BellyBelly]

90% of my clients, if not more, are birth centre clients. The benefits of a doula which are on my site based on those studies, kick into effect if it is not a member of staff. They still have red tape, policy and restrictions. A doula opens you to a world of options and evidence.... and I have had birth centre midwives say to me 'I wish I could say what you get to say.'

Hi Suga,
Wait until you meet your midwife and then decide. I think you might find that you don't need one as the midwifery care is one to one.

[MummaB]

I went through a birth centre and was worried i'd regret not hiring a doula but i honestly didn't need one. There were two lovely midwives on during my birth, one was a gem, gave me a wonderful massage and was lovely during the few checks she did. The other one was fairly "functional" just came in to do checks etc and the rest of the time we were alone. My dh was all i needed for support, and that with the midwives who would come in now and again, i honestly feel that if there'd been another person there, no matter how background, it would have been too crowded iukwim? But you should make the decision based upon how you feel about the midwives assigned to you, whether you think you will need the extra support etc.

[BellyBelly]

Yeah birth centres are all different and I guess how busy they are affects that too, so its worth finding out how much time they actually spend with you in labour... some will be functional and some more hands on.

The MGP is a group practice not a birth centre, so your midwife will be with you and no one else.

[Suga]

Thanks for the replies ladies. I will definitely ask the questions at my first appointment and go from there.