Learn more about hiring postpartum doula services to support your transition to motherhood.
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This is such an exciting time in your life; you are expecting a baby!
Providing the best care for your child is of the utmost importance, so you may be wondering if hiring a doula is a good choice for you. Doulas have seen increased popularity in recent years, and more and more people are discovering how doulas can help ease the transition to motherhood.
The key role of a doula is to provide emotional, physical and other support during the entire labor process. The calm and steady presence of a doula can put mothers at ease, and doulas provide specific strategies and techniques to support new mothers and their families.
When to Hire a Doula
Doulas can be in high demand due to the in- depth care they provide, so whether you want to hire a doula for the entire birth process or to have some support after the baby is born, it is best to start looking for a doula early in your pregnancy.
Some experts recommend starting to look for a doula around week twenty (that is month four or five of your pregnancy) so that you have plenty of time to interview potential candidates. That being said, there is no right or wrong time to hire a doula. You can choose to do so at any time during your pregnancy.
Finding a Doula
Often you will hear the advice not to search the internet to find a doula or other service professional. The truth is, most of us now use the internet to find everything from pencils to life partners; not all of us have friends that can give personal recommendations.
It is perfectly okay to search the internet for a doula in your area. What is recommended is that you get to know more about your doula before moving forward.
How to Hire a Postpartum Doula
Whether you are looking for a doula to support you during the birth or postpartum, here are five simple steps to hiring a doula:
01
Information Gathering
02
Interview Stage
03
Consideration
04
Making a Choice
05
Signing a Contract
How long does this process take? That depends on you. Some people feel best when they take time to make a decision and others know immediately what is best. What is most important is to trust yourself through the process. Doulas are all about empowering women and families, and that includes guiding them through the hiring process.
How to Interview a Postpartum Doula
The interview has several purposes. The most important is to spend some time getting to know each other. The interview process is familiar for an experienced doula: they will do their best to make you feel comfortable, but if you feel a bit nervous at first it is to be expected.
During an interview, you can review their qualifications and experience. You can learn about their process and find out more about what services they can offer. It is also an opportunity to see if you are compatible. In fact, if the doula puts you at ease, it is a good sign that you have a connection.
Questions to Ask a Doula
Before you reach out to a doula, take some time to gather your own thoughts. You will need to let the doula know your estimated birth date and what type of services you have in mind. For example, do you want help through the birth, or do you need help with breastfeeding and postpartum care?
The first questions to ask are practical and should be asked when you first reach out to a potential doula. If a doula isn’t available when you plan on needing them, or if their services don’t fit your budget, moving to the next stage of interviewing may not be the best use of your time.
In the initial contact, you should ask about:
Availability
Location
Fee
The questions you should ask during an interview depend on whether you want a doula through birth or postpartum. If you aren’t sure what you want or how a doula can help you, it is an opportunity to learn more. Some questions are provided here as a guide, but be free to ask anything that comes to mind during the interview.
To get to know the doula better, some questions you could ask are:
When did you decide to become a doula?
What kind of training, certification, and experience do you have?
Would you be there during labor, or do you only offer postpartum support?
How much interaction would you have with my family and medical team?
What do you normally do to help a mother postpartum; what kind of services can I expect?
Do you want a smoother transition to motherhood?
Book your free consultation today!
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