I think I am maybe a mean doula.

One of my doula partner’s (she was my doula) called me the other night.  We have a mutual friend who was having a baby.  A. was her doula and I was the backup.  A. called and was giving me an update, it was almost 11PM and mom was starting to have Pressure Waves and was out shopping and getting Taco Bell.

I said, “She needs to go home and get in bed!”

A said, “I told her she needs to rest.”

“You need to call her and tell her she needs to go home now and put on a CD and try to sleep, or at least rest if she can!  Staying rested is most important!!!  You need to go to bed too!”

I felt a little bad after we got off the phone.  A. is a great doula and knows what she is doing.

I am all about staying rested if a birth starts at night, mom needs to stay rested, in bed if she can.  She should really follow her body, if she needs to sit on a birth ball, great.  But she should be resting and doesn’t need to be at the grocery store at 11 at night!

If it was the middle of the day, then going to the store is a great idea.  But not in the middle of the night!

I figure if someone is paying me to help them during their birth, I need to lay it all out there.  “Go to bed!”  They of course can decide to do whatever they want.

I guess I doula like I mother.  I am sort of a “mean mom” too.  (At least my boys would say so!)