Check Out Local Doulas
Ready to jump in and hire a doula or feeling overwhelmed by all the options in your area? Remember, not every doula will be a good fit for your situation and desires. Choosing the best doula to help you achieve your goals will be important. Start by checking out doulas local to you and your chosen place to give birth. If you live two hours from the hospital you plan to give birth at, making sure the doulas you talk to service that area will be an important first step. After narrowing down who is in the area you may want to work with, begin checking out their websites and social media. You can quickly learn a lot about a person based on their internet presence.
Shop Around
Every mother will have different preferences and expectations from their doula. Some moms may prefer more or less experience, different certifications, different specialties, or different ages. Consider what type of presence you would like at one of your most vulnerable times. If you are a young mother, you may want someone who is closer to you in age to relate with. Some moms may desire a doula who specializes in natural hospital births. If you cannot determine things from a doula’s website or social media, reach out to her and chat or see if you can set up a consultation. Many doulas offer free consultations so you can get to know them better.
Choose the One that Works For You
When scheduling consultations, consider what qualities in a doula are most important to you. Write down any questions you may have for them, and be prepared to answer a few questions that a doula may ask you as well. For example, some doulas may ask you about your goals for birth; if they only service home births, and you are planning a hospital birth, they will need to know that prior. After you have chatted with a few doulas, you will have to make a decision on who you feel will fit best in the role you need them to fill. You may even want to include your partner in these consultations, as doulas can provide them support as well, and it will be important that they are comfortable with your chosen doula also. Ensuring you mesh well with your doula will be important as she will not only be supporting you through your pregnancy journey, but also birth, which is truly a transformative experience.
Story by Tayler Morrison for BlueWateParent.com.
All content of BlueWaterParent.com is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
