12.8.11

How to Choose YOUR Doula.

Two posts ago, I wrote about some ideas about how to interview doulas. After all of that hard work, you need to decide on which doula is right for you. While many doulas can answer interview questions in very different ways, there are some main things to consider:

-Who do you feel the most connection with, despite any other minor flaws they gave may have?
-Who do you most envision working with you throughtout the birthing process?
-Whose style fit with your style and comfort level the most?
-Whose voice was most soothing and comforting to you?
-How does your partner feel about your coice? If you differentiate, figure out why. It is best to choose a doula that you both will feel comfortable with.

When you have made your choice, let all of your prospective doulas know as soon as possible. Many doulas tentatively hold space open for prospective clients, and it is good to know if that space is going to permanently be filled so they don't take on additional clients, or if they now have that space open to accept new families. A simple e-mail note will work just fine.

You can hire a doula anytime; even when you are already in labor! If you have your baby and wish you had a doula, you can always hire a postpartum doula! The sooner you can hire a doula, the more you will get for your money. Most doulas offer unlimited phone and e-mail support, and that will come in handy when you start having tough questions come up, and interventions that are offered to you in clinic, before you are ever even in labor.

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