When is The Best Time to Hire a Birth Doula?
-
Kaely Harrod 0:00
Hello and welcome back to Kaely Daily. Today's question is, when is the best time to hire a birth doula? This is Kaely Daily, the bi weekly podcast about all things doula Tips and Tits where we answer one question about pregnancy, labor or postpartum or lactation, in order to have your journey in this parenting world be just a little bit more informed and filled with consent. Hello, welcome back. My name is Kaely Harrod. I am the doula and owner and podcaster and childbirth educator behind her raw doula services, which is the company that brings you this lovely podcast. This podcast is sponsored and made possible by the birth prep blueprint, which is comprehensive childbirth education, there is a link for our 10% off code in the show notes. If you are looking for childbirth Ed, and you don't have that yet, that is a very recommended class. It's self paced on demand, totally virtual etc. So today we're continuing this series of doula stuff around hiring a doula around kind of what to look for in a doula, what is a doula do all that kind of stuff?
Kaely Harrod 1:22
Today's question specifically is, when is the best time in pregnancy to hire a birth doula? Now, this is a common question I get at most of the interviews that I do with folks, they're called doula consultations, but they're essentially interviews. And the thing I like to say about this is that there's really no perfect time. There's no time that it's too early or too late, right. However, there are some things to consider about what you're wanting and why you're wanting it. And that is one of the some of the factors to factor in as you're deciding when to hire someone. So one is, if you want a large selection of doulas, if you live in an area like DC, where I live where there are hundreds of options, then earlier is better, because many of us fill up quite a few months in advance. That means if you're looking for a doula in the last month or two of pregnancy, you have a smaller selection of doulas than if you look at the beginning of pregnancy, does not mean you won't find a doula who's a wonderful fit for you. Right. But I think it's helpful to know that if you have a particular person in mind, having them on the being planted on the books with them sooner is a better thing. The other thing is that if you're wanting sort of the like, reassurance and question asking, etc. That comes with a doula and you're wanting that for the whole pregnancy, like if you're a Googler, right, and what I mean, when I say that is you Google, everything that comes up in pregnancy, every symptom, you feel every lab test that comes back, etc. If that is you, then a doula is probably more beneficial to you sooner, rather than later, because you can text them, in most cases, instead of Googling and going down the rabbit hole of like, this could be nothing or you're dying, right, which I say with all the grace and love in the world, because I also do that sometimes about various things. And so I get it, right, but also not helpful if you tend to get anxious about that. Or if you kind of go down those rabbit trails and then get swept into them, right. So a doula can be super, super helpful for kind of cutting out that like, need to Google and check stuff and give you a good sense of like, this is this is urgent or not, right? And like I this is normal, I would expect you to feel that you know, and that I think can be really super reassuring. The other thing is that logistically, it's ideal for you to be able to do, however many prenatal visits are included in the doula package that you're purchasing. So if you have a doula that you hire like right in the last moments of pregnancy, then you're probably not going to have time or you may not have time to do those prenatal visits. And so more time with your doula is going to allow you more time to utilize those services. And also to get to know your doula while you do that. I think one of the really big benefits of having a doula is having someone that is on your team in a different kind of way, that has like kind of hung out with you and gotten to know you through the process, right. And so if you're having a hospital birth, for instance, and you're showing up not knowing who your nurse will be, then you know, like,
Kaely Harrod 4:56
I know this person who's coming with me as my doula and I build that relationship with them. And so, that is really important, you know? Or if you need a backup doula, you know your doula. Your doula knows you well, and they can hand pick a really lovely backup doula for you usually. Right? And so then even in that scenario, yes, you're getting someone you didn't expect. But you're getting someone you didn't expect that was sent by the doula that you really love and trust, right. And so that is a huge deal. That's kind of an extra vote of confidence for that backup, doula. And so that's also that continuity that you get there as well. So the short and sweet answer is, if you're still pregnant, you are not out of time for hiring a birth doula. If you're 39 weeks, it's not too late. If you're four weeks pregnant, not too early. Okay. Now, if you're hiring someone at the very beginning of pregnancy, one thing to consider is what their policy is around a miscarriage or pregnancy loss. All of us differ in this. Many of us include some kind of clause about it. That includes like if you hire super, super early and you have an early miscarriage, then like a refund of a deposit potentially, or something like that, right. But we are all different in how we handle it. And so that's something to consider if you're hiring really early. But also just something to be aware of no matter when you're hiring a doula and so so yeah, there's I don't want to go down the rabbit hole of what to look for when you're hiring a doula because that's a whole nother episode. So I don't want to take that episode away today. So today, we're just gonna focus on when is the best time there essentially is no best time except I do favor hiring a doula sooner rather than later. Because of that continuity and getting to know them the relationship building part of it. Okay. All right. So that is today, we have a number of episodes left for this lovely doula series. And I would love to hear your doula questions to add in to those episodes. I'm still doing a bit of recording and scheduling etc. So I would be happy to do that. If you have a question that is not on my list, or I'd be happy to be like, just wait that's coming in three episodes, if that question is already on my list. So in the meantime, until the next episode, I wish you all the best in your birthing experiences. I wish you well informed consent filled experiences that are lovely and safe. These episodes are edited and produced by Kaely Herat as I'm sure you can probably tell, and our amazing music is credited in the shownotes as well. So we look forward to seeing you on the next episode. And in the meantime, have a wonderful and consent filled
birth.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
The right time to hire a birth doula is not a straight-forward answer. If only we could say everyone should hire a birth doula by 25 weeks, but it’s not that simple. It depends on what you’re hoping for, and who you want to hire and how many doulas there are in your area to choose from! One thing we doulas say is that if you’re still pregnant it’s not too late to hire a birth doula. However, your option of doulas is less as you near your due-date.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
When to hire a birth doula depends on a number of factors:
When can you afford to hire one?
When are you hoping to begin learning from them?
Do you want support during pregnancy or just during labor itself?
How often are you hoping to see your doula before labor?
Do you want to hire a more experienced doula who fills up fast?
Answering these questions will help you decipher when a good time for you would be.
I tend towards the earlier the better :)
RESOURCES
FREE OXYTOCIN GUIDE:
6 Ways to Increase Oxytocin for Labor Progression
https://www.harroddoulaservices.com/free-guide-6-oxytocin-tips
CONNECT with Kaely on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/Harroddoula/
This podcast is hosted by the Birth Prep Blueprint - comprehensive Childbirth Education for expectant parents to feel calm, prepared and confident about labor and birth. Podcast listeners (that’s YOU!) get 10% off! Use the link below to get that great deal!
https://thebirthprepblueprint.com/offers/884d5a56-9089-4482-a944-6bb7c26c9b04
** The Birth Prep Blueprint is offered for only $20 to anyone who qualifies for any kind of social services (meaning that a family has a lower income to the point that they would qualify for WIC or SNAP or Medicaid, etc.). No need to disclose your income, just which service you qualify for and the link can be sent right over. Just email kaely@harroddoulaservices.com to learn more.
If you like this episode, don't forget to share it to your Instagram stories and tag me @harroddoula
Kaely Daily is produced by Kaely Harrod of Harrod Doula Services
It is sponsored by The Birth Prep Blueprint Childbirth Class
Music by Madirfan: Hidden Place on Pixabay
