Selecting Your Labour Team

You may have a doctor, midwife, or obstetrician delivering/catching your baby but who will be helping you through the labour process? Maybe your husband, partner, or a family member will be at your side offering support? Something to consider- you may like to have a Doula as well. A Doula can help you work through the pain of labour by utilizing a variety of pain relieving measures such as strategic massage. Also, a Doula will work with you to establish an ideal birth plan as well as a back-up plan. If you have a midwife you don't have to worry about your birth plan being followed. However, if you have an on-call doctor they won't likely have the time to read your birth plan. In this case your Doula would communicate your wishes to the on-call doctor throughout the labour and delivery process. Why do you need someone to talk for you? Well, I've been told by a number of women that you will not be in any shape to worry about these details...

Both of my midwives are aware of my birth plan. However, I still plan to have my sister be my Doula. She will not only offer additional support to me but Chris as well... after all this is a first for him too!
http://www.bcdoulas.org/