Doulas - Cape Town

Hi Moose,I am a doula trained through www.wombs.co.za
There are as many different doulas as there are pregnant women! So there should be a doula out there to suit your needs. the trick is to just interview as many as you can to see who best you click with. The going rate for doula care is R2000 - R3000 (depending on the doulas qualification/experience) and most doula's are happy to negotiate a payment plan for those needing it. As doula the idea is to support the mother in HER choices for good birth. I spend a lot of time during the interview visit trying to obtain what the mothers expectations are and also often bring up situations or option that she may not have considered. The couple have no obligation to hire me from this interview - nor am I obliged to take them on if I feel that I cannot meet the mothers expectations!
Research has shown that the combination of the dad & doula make for better birth outcomes as the doula is familiar and experienced with the intricacies of a labouring woman and the dad is familiar and experienced with you in your "normal" state. And so the 2 of us work as a team supporting the mother and the dad often feels more capable and useful than if he was on his own. Part of my job is also to step back and protect when a couple get in a good rhythm during labour so that that process is not disturbed. If dad also needs a toilet or snack break -he can feel free to do that and not feel as though he is abandoning you.
Only once you start interviewing will you get a feeling for what is right for you....
Good luck

Hi Moms & Moms to be,

I can't believe I am asking this because if you had asked me a month ago I would have thought this was a crazy idea. I am considering getting a doula to help out at our hospital delivery. My husband and I are from overseas and none of our family will be around to help out, and I am becoming more and more anxious about giving birth. I think my husband will panic when we get to the hospital and encourage me to get an epidural at the first sign of trouble instead of going through the process of massaging, being supportive, etc.

We are both fairly traditional people and aren't really into things like aromatherapy, etc. We would be looking for someone that was more of a support/friend than someone who is going to spray the room with scents and try to get me to meditate. I am a bit uncomfortable generally with the idea of having someone else at the birth and would be even more uncomfortable with someone who was the polar opposite of me in that sense. Hopefully this makes sense. Anyways, if anyone has used a doula and wants to discuss their experience or can recommend someone in Cape Town that might suit my personality, I would appreciate it! We are due at the end of Jan.