When to Hire a Doula
Once you see those two lines on a pregnancy test, you are open to a world of different choices and possibilities for your birth. Some of those choices need to be made soon, such as finding the right hospital or OBGYN. Some things can wait, like making your registry. Once you've decided that you want a doula, you may be unsure of when you should officially hire them.
Is it best to wait to see how the pregnancy progresses? To see how involved your doctor seems to be? To see what your doctor's approach will be to your labor? Is it too soon?
It is not uncommon for doulas to actually be a mom's first point of contact as far as building their birth team. In fact, your doula can be an incredible asset to you very early on in your pregnancy. Once your doula has an understanding of your birthing desires, they can make excellent provider suggestions. They have been around the birth block quite a few times. They know which providers will work to help empower you to have the birth you desire, and which ones are set in their own ways. They are also familiar with hospital policies and can help advise you on that.
Hiring a doula early will only add to your experience. A doula will anticipate being hired anywhere from newly pregnant up until sometimes last minute. Your investment is the same for both situations, but the support holds a different weight.
If you are hiring into the third trimester, you will be narrowing down the doulas who hold availability for your due date. You will still get the wonderful phone support once hired, the two prenatal visits, the labor and delivery and the postpartum care. You will get a few weeks to a few months of support through your pregnancy.
If you hire earlier on in your pregnancy, you are paying the same amount to get 9 months of support and care. From the little things like helping you with which bottles to register for, to the bigger things like hospital policy red flags. They can help you with suggestions for your first trimester nausea all the way to pregnancy pillows to support your third trimester belly. It greatly adds to your experience to have that person who is a quick call or text away who has no agenda other than to purely support you.
Sometimes there is a concern in hiring early because of finances. Maybe you are registering for doula support and know that your family and friends plan to help you in that way, You should always feel open to speaking with your doula or doula agency about a payment plan so that you have some ease of not feeling the pressure of paying in full now, but you are able to ensure that you have your perfect doula and full support for your entire pregnancy journey.
The doula world of support extends beyond just the third trimester on. Contact us today and let your Forever Doula journey start now.
