If you had a baby during your doula career....

~Tranquility~Doula · 09-04-2005, 03:23 PM

how long was it before you started going to births again? Have you ever had to pump while at a birth? How did that work out?

Matrescence · 09-04-2005, 06:24 PM

I had Aaron after my 1st birth as a doula, he was just shy of 3 months old when I did my next birth, I was lucky that it was at the hospital here in town. I pumped when I would take a potty break (eww I know, but I was careful not to set it down or come in contact with anything) and Jer was able to bring Aaron to me once so I could nurse him in the waiting area. I stored my milk in a little insulated lunch bag I had with an ice pack. My next birth was a homebirth further away, he was 5 months old, I was only able to pump once before she had the baby and went home engorged

not a good feeling but oddly enough came home to a very unhappy baby that had refused a bottle all morning, so it worked out

At another birth a month later I pumped while supporting mom, no one really seemed to notice except mom and dad, I just held the pump under my shirt and leaned forward a little, was sitting on the ball leaning forward toward the bed

~Tranquility~Doula · 09-04-2005, 08:02 PM

Quote:

came home to a very unhappy baby that had refused a bottle all morning

That's what I would worry about. We have never been successful at getting either one of our kids to take bottles. I'm sure that won't change when/if we have another baby.
So much to think about when planning to have another baby.

Matrescence · 09-05-2005, 09:49 AM

it was hard on Jered (and I'm sure Aaron too) but after he nursed (a lot) he was fine. It would have been good if he could have been brought to me but I was a good 45 minutes away and that would mean Jered packing up all 3 and driving to someones house who was having a homebirth... he would have endured 3 days of Aaron crying before he attempted that

He later figured out how to warm the nipple of the bottle with his hand and put one of my sleep shirts (I always leaked at night) near his chest as he fed Aaron, that seemed to do the trick.

raspberrymoondoula · 09-05-2005, 02:48 PM

i use the whisperwear pump, you can keep it in your bra, its hands free and its fairly quiet so it doesnt disturb the momma :-D

Kalamazoo Doula · 09-14-2005, 01:33 AM

I just suggest letting your clients know that you are a breast feeding momma, and may have to leave for short spurts to pump. I do also suggest getting a good quality pump that alows you to double pump at the same time (saves in time). I also brought a insulated lunch cooler with me to store my milk. Some times it can be hard to gage at a birth when it is ok to leave to pump, and of coarse, if your baby is older, the less often you have to pump. My daughter is going to be a year old at the end of this month, and now I don't even have to bring my pump with me (I still do, just in case). It is defiantly easier to pull this off, the older your baby, but this could also mean that your baby will be harder to get to take a bottle, unless you introduce one around 4 weeks of age. I was lucky this time around, my first birth after my dd was born was when she was three months old, and the birth was 2 hours away in another state!

She took the bottle great, and had no problem (not to say that she was not a bit happier to see me and my breasts come home!

). My second son refused to take a bottle, but I was not doing too many births then. But, by chance your baby does not take a bottle, does not mean that you neccisarilly can't attend births until weaning. You could look into the possibility of cup feeding, I have heard that this could work for babies who refuse a bottle!
Just my two cents!

Matrescence · 09-15-2005, 05:40 PM

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/h...e-pumping.html

How cool is that!!

raspberrymoondoula · 09-16-2005, 12:01 AM

I LOVE finger feeders for babies who hate bottles. the hands free pumping thing is kinda cool but the whisperwear is much less obtrusive and you can start with it in your bra so you dont have to distract the mom. https://www.naturalfamilyboutique.co...016.aspx?lynng i love mine, its been a lifesaver, tho my little ones getting old enough i dont really need to pump anymore. ::sniff::

teachinmamaof4 · 04-06-2006, 11:36 AM

The first of MANY questions so get ready.

I will need to observe some births here in the next couple of months. My best friend has offered to lend me her breastpump so I can get a good stash going (

that it really works b/c I've never been one to get a good amount via pumping). Matthew will be starting solids probably at the beginning of the month. So with a bit of mama milk and some solids, I'll be able to leave him for a while. I know for these first observations I won't be in the doula role (at least that is my understanding of "observe 2 births") but I'd still need to pump, depending on the timing of everything.

So my question is, how does that work? You are feeling VERY full but you need to be with the clients. Do ya just whip 'em out and pump?

j/k Is it something you just mention to them before hand?

TIA!

nocomparta · 04-06-2006, 12:01 PM

I just told them ahead of time that I was pumping, and that I would try to pump when things were calm and that I wouldn't leave while things were "jumping". I did have a few births where I had to pump. Sometimes John would bring the baby periodically just so I could nurse.

teachinmamaof4 · 04-06-2006, 12:11 PM

Thanks! I wish bringing Matthew to me was an option but my dh can't drive.

raspberrymoondoula · 04-06-2006, 06:37 PM

i use a whisper wear fits right in your bra and is really quiet

loveslabor · 04-06-2006, 11:46 PM

I told my client ahead of time. I tried to pump before I was uncomfortable and leaking, and I tried to do it when my client was well supported with a husband, or nurse.

I asked a nurse where I could pump without bothering anyone...15 minutes later, I was back with my clients.