WE HAVE A DOULA!!

I'm freaking out....

The childbirth class that we took a few weeks ago was sponsored by a mentor/doula program in the area. Women who deliver at several area hospitals are automatically matched with a doula--free of charge--and the only expectation is that the couple will provide feedback to the program after the birth. Unfortunately, the hospital that we are delivering at does not participate in the free doula program, so we were really disappointed to be excluded during the class as our teacher talked on about the labor support program.

The teacher pulled us aside during Day 2 and suggested that she may be able to find a doula willing to travel to our hospital anyway and to let her know if we wanted her to find out. After we left the class, Spouse was adamant about having a doula.... I think that he wants to be useful during labor and he feels that a doula will help him know what to do to help me. He's scared--just like I am--and the thought of having a doula reduces some of that anxiety. "Spare no expense" was his attitude even after I told him that we could expect to pay $1-2k for a the service! I have a PhD advisee who is a doula, actually, and he really wanted me to hire her because she is someone that we know and trust. I had real reservations about bringing one of my advisees into the labor room with me--I couldnt imagine being that vulnerable and "exposed" (literally and figuratively) in front of a student.

I called our childbirth teacher yesterday to follow up on whether or not she had anyone in mind who could travel to our hospital during our labor. She called back yesterday and left 2 long messages (one at my office, one at home) suggesting that SHE WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER for our birth!!!!!! So, the Head of the doula/mentor program--the woman who teaches others to be doulas--is going to be ours!!

Needless to say, we are thrilled beyond belief. Working out the details now....