I can't answer your questions, but I think it's really cool you get to be your cousin's doula. Good luck

Have you had Doula training? That would be so awesome!

Birth is such an individual experience, it is hard to say what she would want. I know I didn't want anyone touching me. But some people like to have their back massaged, or their feet.

What is in her birth plan? What kind of expectations does she have of you?

She is quite a newbie at this and does not have a birth plan or expectatioins yet. I am hoping to have a sit down with her and her hubby to discuss what their wishes for their birth are. i see myself as the "upholder of wishes" for them, and plan to convey their desires to the medical staff when things arise. i am guessing here, but I presume she is not as hardcoore about 100% unmedicated birth, but I gave her a lot of reading materials to mull over, so hopefully that will get the wheels turning. I haven't had official doula training yet, but I would like to explore that idea in the future.

Ingi, I thought I would want to have a lot of massage, but I also hated being touched! Bummer...

I thought that the nurse that brought me a flavored Popsicle was God. I fell in love with her, I think.

It was also nice for them to help me breathe through my contractions and to help keep me calm. I was convinced I was dying, so it was kind of nice to hear that my body was doing exactly what it was supposed to.

Ice chips for her mouth and lips, maybe brushing her hair away from her face or lightly fanning her face, whispering encouragement, watching the contraction monitors for her and letting her know when they're coming and when they're going away, etc.

Hey thanks! I will take some popcicles for sure then. I have been going to her birth classes with her and her husband. That's a completely strange experience- to be in a birth class and NOT be pregnant!