Doula - New Port Richey,FL

I considered using a birth doula, but the cost was prohibitive for us. I can see how birth doulas can have a really positive role for a woman in labor.

Post-Partum Doula, I don't know... I honestly would never consider leaving my newborn with anybody and I don't know how leaving a baby with a Doula would be any different than leaving her with any other sitter. I guess I could see how a single mom, or one whose husband isn't around could use a PP-Doula to catch a break and take a shower during those first days.

This may just be me being weird, but when I first had my baby, I did NOT want any "help" with her. I loved holding and taking care of her and had a hard time even giving her to my DH while I showered. When we were first ready to go out without her she was 7 months old and stayed with my mom... no need paying a PP-doula for that.
A housekeeper who cleans, does the dishes and the laundry now that I think would be useful...

I would not hire someone to watch my other children while I'm in the hospital having another child. That's what my family and friends are for. I currently have a doula right now and her main job is to support me emotionally especially when it comes time to have my baby.

Postpartum doulas do not babysit kids, just fyi. They provide postpartum support for moms--helping with meals, some light cleaning, answering questions about baby care, teaching soothing techniques for baby & mom, etc.

Check out DONA and get certified through their program (http://www.dona.org/). Contact your local midwives group and see if you can make contacts w/ local doulas (most doulas apprentice with an experience doula for quite a while).

Most of the doulas I've seen offer a "hardship" rate, or whatever, if the $ is problem for the family. But if you make payments, it's really not that expensive (and most of the ones we interview were willing to take payments).

DH and I had a post partum doula for the first two weeks after DS was born. We were completely inexperienced with babies and I thought is was a great help. Although 3 adults staring at a newborn does get a little boring sometimes and she did run out of things to do. We absolutely left DS with her to get out of the house for a few hours. After 2 weeks, my mom (who lived 3000 miles away at the time) came for 2 weeks and DH went back to work. Then MIL came for a few days but she is 80 and came to see the baby, not really to 'help' (completely understandable). By 4 weeks, we kind of felt like we had the hang of it - I went back to work PT, DH stayed home PT.

I would NOT ask my friends to take care of a newborn. And some of us do not have family down the street who can just drop everything else in their lives.

I currently live in new port Richey Florida and I NEED a doula if you are still in the area or know anyone please let me know. I'm looking to do a home water birth because there seems to be only hospitals near by.PLEASE HELP ME!!!