[Imachickadee75]

Jo
Sorry to chime in so late, I've had family visiting for the last two weeks! Anyway, I agree with everything stellaanndcorasmom has said. In my experience (which isn't vast) its usually the delivery nurse that all but delivers the baby anyway. They do all the work until about 8cm or more. The delivery I was present for, the doc got there just in time to literally catch the baby, nothing more. Now that's a nice normal birth of course but as was said before, if the CNMW gets in trouble she will have an OB back up always. However, just becuase she is a midwife does not necessarily mean that she will be non intervention oriented and/or handsoff. Some are very medicalized for various reasons -ie how they were trained, liablity reasons etc. What are your thoughts on delivery? Better yet, you should ask her about her philosophy. Can she go both ways? That's what I love about my Doc. He is very non interventive, but can be if necessary. That suited me perfectly.

In terms of a doula, I think its a great idea. DH was VERY supportive the first time but I scared him away the second time just when I really needed him. I think I would have better discussed things if a doula had been present and I think she would have been able to direct DH a little more to help me. And, as its been said, if for some reason DH didn't make it, you would have someone there to count on.

THinking of you
Jackie