She helps you with your birth plan before the labor and helps you execute it during the labor. She suggests positions to try and has all kinds of tricks to help make labor easier. She can help you judge whether or not it is really time to go to the hospital. She is not a midwife; she is not medically trained. Her knowledge comes from having attended many, many births. She is a clear head during labor to help you when things get crazy; she can remind you about all the different things you learned in your birth class but cannot remember because you are in LABOR (and your husband is panicking)! She is like your best friend or your sister, but with a lot more knowledge about the birthing process. Invaluable. Laura Beth

One other way of looking at it is that the midwife/doctor's primary responsibility is the Baby. The Doula's primary responsibility is the Mother.

Hope that helps! Dawn

Why we like doulas

I am a 40 year old woman who is pregnant for the first time. CVS test showed fetus is thus far healthy at 14 weeks. I would probably give birth at Alta Bates. People have suggested I get a doula. How does one go about finding a doula? Do you interview different people? Does anyone have any suggestions? I am fairly agnostic on child birth. I would like to do things as naturally as possible, but I am not religiously opposed to drugs, if need be. The most important for me is safe delivery. anon

I found doulas by asking friends and co-workers for their recommendations. Turns out half the people we know had doulas. And if a doula is full, she can recommend another doula in her backup group.

Also, Felicia Roche teaches the DONA classes, national certification of Doulas, in the east bay. Part of their training is attending many births before certification. And so many of them volunteer at births after their classwork is finished, therefore low or no cost.

If you plan a homebirth, many midwives will accompany you at the hospital in case of an emergency transfer and will act as your doula there. Ruby

Generally doulas begin working with women in their third trimester so you are getting a great, early start! After collecting a list of doulas in your area I highly recommend interviewing several. It's best if you find a doula that you connect with. This is the woman that will be supporting you through an intense, life-changing event. You want to feel comfortable around her. When interviewing her she can provide you with her information and background, cost and answer any questions you have. The doula can work with you to plan and prepare for your ideal birth experience, be it natural or not. The cost of a doula will vary, especially if you have a newer doula. But the truly important thing is how you feel around her. If you don't feel comfortable with her, then it doesn't matter if she has 20 years experience or you're her first client. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me! Take care, congratulations and enjoy your new adventure to motherhood! Nicole

I am looking for a doula. I am due Jan. 15 and will be delivering at Alta Bates with an OB. My husband and I have heard that delevery can go much more smoothly with the assistance of a doula. We would like to hire a Doula by recommendation. The lists that are out there seem overwhelming. Also, can anyone tell me how much I should expect to pay for Doula services? Elizabeth

   Birthways in Oakland, on Santa Clara near the Grand Lake theater (www.birthways.org)
   DONA - Doulas of North America (www.dona.com or maybe org)
   ALACE -Association of Labor Assistants and Childbirth Educators
   www.childbirth.org
   CAPPA - http://www.childbirthprofessional.com/

How much does it cost?

Questions to ask a doula

I know there are labor doula recommendations on the web site but most of them are 1-2 years old now. I was wondering if I could get any recommendations or cautions from people who have used this service more recently. Also are there any questions you didn't ask your doula that you wish you had in restrospect? Thank you for any help you might have.

I would suggest that you ask the doula you are interviewing to list her strong points before you tell her what you want. If her strengths match your needs then you may have found a good doula for you. If you have to ask her to do something that she doesn't list as a strength, she may not be the right one. anonymous

Two other recommendations I'd like to pass along are Janicke Costello and Carol-Shattuck Rice. You can reach them at 415-525-1155. They team teach a great 8-week long birthing class in El Cerrito and they are birthing doulas as well. Their class is quite good and we have heard from other folks that they are great doulas. Good luck, Adam.

We chose Rebecca Husband for our daughter's birth. She was wonderful, thoughtful and respectful of our wishes. Our baby was several weeks overdue and though it became clear that it wasn't going to be the natural birth we'd hoped for, she helped keep it close to our ideal. The fact that she has a very good working relationship with Alta Bates staff was a plus (she also volunteers there for women who arrive without partners and whose births could be helped with a doula) -- our delivery nurse was herself a former doula and personal friend of Rebecca's. Our daughter happens to share Rebecca's birth date, which has kept us close - she came to her christening and recently to dinner with her beau.

The activities we did with her as we got our brains around the reality of birth were interesting, and her information dovetailed nicely with that we received from the instructor, Jennifer, at the Alta Bates Childbirth prep class. My baby brother was born at home, so I was quite familiar with natural childbirth - but when I became frustrated and demanded drugs, she was patient and supportive. They also managed to coax me into the shower instead and the baby was born just 2 hours later (6 hrs total).

The only thing I might have asked her to do was rub my back more - my husband was exhausted and could have maybe just held my hand a bit, but who knows?

She had a sliding scale for three visits and a post-partum follow up, and brought fresh roses from her garden for the delivery room which was really really nice! Happy to provide more details if you'd like. Deirdre