RE: [ozmidwifery] the doula & the midwife

[Nicola Morley]

Title: Message

Hi Kristen,

I am a doula, not a midwife :) And not a vastly experienced one (3 births so far).

In my experience, all the midwives I have worked with have been really good. I haven't had a bad experience. I have found I have learned a gallon from the midwives I have worked with - both in terms of ideas for supporting women in labour, and I have also seen some great advocating for women from midwives when doctors are pushing for medical intervention and learned a lot from how they handled it.

I believe to truly support the woman we all need to work together - getting anyone offside or anyone's back up is not going to get the woman the kind of birth she wants.

Feedback I have had from midwives I have worked with has been very positive.

When it comes to women in labour making choices that may not have been in their birth plan, I see my role as helping the midwife explain the options by repeating them in non medical language, or sometimes just a different phrasing can help a woman grasp what the options are or why certain questions are being asked.

I say go in with a positive attitude and respect for the midwife, and you will probably have a fantastic experience.

 

Nicola Morley

Doula

 

-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Kristin Beckedahl
Sent: Thursday, April 13, 2006 9:10 PM
To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au
Subject: [ozmidwifery] the doula & the midwife

Hi all,

I will be attending my first birth in May as a doula.  I am very excited to say the least.

I have heard different stories re the relationships between midwives and doulas, and was hoping the midwives can shed some light on the situation for me.

Any tips for the doula-midwife thing to make this birth experience as positive as possible would also be welcomed!!

Thanks! Kristin

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