Labor and Delivery

Has anyone ever used a doula?

I just returned home from a Girls night out.

The topic came up about labor. Most of my friends have not had children yet, but most of them seem to have made up their minds about wanting drugs during their labor. One even said that she wanted to arrive at the hospital medicated and get an epidural right away so that she didn't have to feel any pain (although we all know this is unrealistic and impossible).