I know there are lots of folks out there who like the sound of support for their birth or postpartum time, but for one reason or another haven’t started making arrangements to get that support. While it is never too late to hire a doula, there are definitely some real advantages to establishing a relationship and booking your doula as early as you can. First, this will give you time to get to know your doula, or even to interview several doulas so that you can feel confident in your choice of the doula who is the best fit for you. Second, doulas start to fill up their calendars months in advance; getting your name in the calendar early ensures that your doula will be available when you need. And finally, doula support starts as soon as you sign the contract, so you will have the reassurance of knowing you can call on your doula with any questions or concerns throughout your pregnancy.

I think that there are two main reasons that people delay in setting up their doula support: either they aren’t sure yet about hiring a doula, or they want to hire a doula but don’t know how to go about doing so. Although the thoughts behind these two reasons may be very different, my recommendation for both of them is the same: look up some doulas in your area, and get in touch with one (or more) to learn more about them and the services they offer.

If you already know any doulas, asking them about the support they provide is an easy way to explore whether this is something that you would find helpful. You may or may not end up working with this particular doula but it is a great starting point. If you don’t know any doulas yet, Google is a great way to get started, or you can use a doula-finding service like Doulamatch to search for available doulas in your area. If you live near Birmingham, AL I would love to hear from you through my website or Facebook page!

Selecting your doula is all about relationships and finding someone that makes you feel heard and supported. Most doulas will offer a free consultation, which gives you a chance to find out how you relate to each other and what type of support they provide. When I consult with potential clients, my goal is to understand and respond to your goals, feelings, and concerns; I will explain how my services work and answer questions you might have. Sometimes I end up providing information that has nothing to do with my services, like suggestions for dealing with common pregnancy complaints or information about comparing options for hospitals and providers in our community. There is no pressure to book me as your doula, but if you decide you would like to do that, I am ready to guide you through the process. There’s really nothing to lose by scheduling a doula consultation!

Sometimes people hesitate about hiring a doula because they aren’t sure if they really need or want someone outside of their family to be present for their birth or in their home after the birth. While this hesitation is completely understandable, I would definitely recommend discussing your concerns with a local doula. It may be that the support being offered is different than you imagine it. Every birthing family is different, as is every doula. I support all types of births, from elective cesareans to “completely natural” (which means different things to different people!). I have provided support to whole families, helping a husband or older child to be the one providing the encouraging words and touches, and I have been the sole supporter for single parents who had nobody else to lean on. Let’s chat about what you would ideally like your birth experience to be like, and what support looks like for you.

Another hesitation people often have is thinking that they can’t afford a doula. Doulas have invested in training and education, and they frequently sacrifice personal and family time to make themselves available for you at any hour, all of which needs fair compensation. Doula care is a valuable investment in your and your family’s well-being. But there are some great options to make it easier to afford this kind of care:

• You may be able to ask about payment plans if you are not able to pay the full amount all at once.
• Check if doula support is provided by your insurance plan – you may be surprised. If it isn’t covered and you have a flexible spending account (FSA, also sometimes referred to as a health spending account or medical spending account), you can file your invoice with the FSA provider for reimbursement.
• Planning a baby shower or have a baby registry? Rather than asking for a large number of newborn onesies that are quickly going to be outgrown, you can ask your friends and family to contribute to your doula fund.   BeHerVillage Registry is a gift registry for support, not stuff. Add doulas, lactation consultants, classes and anything you want to make motherhood a little sweeter to your gift registry. Your friends and family contribute funds. You get the funds you need to pay for the support you deserve.
• Some clients may be eligible to receive support through the contract doula service of BirthWell Partners Community Doula Program, a nonprofit organization providing doula training and support to under-resourced families.

So stop hesitating – come on over to my Contact page and give me a shout. I can’t wait to talk with you!