[ShannonMVT]

Dh and I both really like her! She is super nice and has a great personality for what she does, she is kind but also not afraid to be assertive. I think she is really going to help Dh in coaching.
We talked about ways to cope with labor and ways that she can help both at home and in the hospital. She is totally open to helping me labor at home for as long as I feel comfortable with it. She has a birthing ball, massage oil, said she can make red raspberry ice chips and bring them to the hospital. Awesome!
Angela, she told me to have a family member bring cookies for the L&D nurses and that they will love me, LOL.
She said she has nurses that loved having a doula because it means the nurses have to do less "babying" of the mom, but at the same time, some are not crazy about it because she will be keeping me on track away from interventions. She said she can't tell them "Shannon doesn't want an epidural" but she CAN say, "Shannon, didn't you say that you did not want an epidural?" and then I can affirm that.
She had lots of great information in general and gave me an idea of the hospital policies will most likely be so I can prepare for that.

I am actually getting kind of excited about giving birth now!

[*Anna*]

thats awesome Shannon!!! I was excited after I met my doula too!!! Its exciting to think that we only have a couple more months

[soImarriedAnerd]

Oh yes cookies or brownies or snacks are KEY to winning over the staff!!!!! Heck even if you can't bake just having store bought stuff rocks! We are suckers for food. Here is more on that trick..... Bring the cheap snack to group share at the desk but then have some "gold" snacks in the room so when they come in they can grab one! (like fun size candy bars-must be individual wrapped snacks!)
I had patients who totally bribed us and said "if I have a natural birth with no interventions I will buy pizza".....funny thing is that girl got more support from the "not normally au natural" nurses then I had ever seen! Its sad, and funny at the same time!
But as a doula I actually brought snacks for the nurses myself---it was part of my package! I also brought a labor-aid (its like a lemonade but with some extra stuff for labor) for moms.
I'm glad you liked her!!!!

[A*LOT*OF*HOPE]

Angela, you sound good!!! When I am in labor, I am going to fly you from where ever you are to come and be with me!!

[ShannonMVT]

Here is more on that trick..... Bring the cheap snack to group share at the desk but then have some "gold" snacks in the room so when they come in they can grab one! (like fun size candy bars-must be individual wrapped snacks!)[/b]

Hah! That is more or less what she said. To bring something for all the nurses (so no hard feelings) but something "extra" for the nurse(s) in my room.

Oh and that pizza thing sounds hilarious but could backfire, sounds like. She could have BEGGED for an epi and I bet you all would have tried to convince her not to.

That labor aid sounds interesting. My doula mentioned Rescue Remedy but I haven't read up on it yet.

[Mars]

Awesome!!!

[~* Helen *~]

Glad you like her !!!

[niknok]

Shannon, that sounds awesome. It's so exciting to meet your doula and start thinking about your upcoming birth. Your little one will be here before you know it!