When Is The Best Time To Hire a Doula

 

We know how busy it can feel when you're preparing for the arrival of your little one... but exactly when should you look into hiring a doula? We created this blog post to help answer that question for you so you can have all the support you need during your pregnancy and labor and beyond!

There are many benefits to hiring a doula early on in your pregnancy. In addition to all the benefits like reduction in cesarean birth rate, increase in successful lactation, decrease in requests for pain medication, and shorter labors, hiring a doula earlier in your pregnancy, can provide support and information to you and your partner throughout your whole pregnancy and labor. They can help you to develop a birth plan and provide the resources you need like which childbirth classes would be best, or what other care providers can help you manage your pregnancy. 

Pregnant people who have doula support are more likely to have shorter labors with fewer complications, less need for medical interventions, and more satisfaction with their birth experience. Having an understanding, professional doula supporting you will go miles toward making sure you feel supported, no matter what happens during labor and delivery, due to various restrictions in these unprecedented times. A doula's job doesn't end at the birth though - they can provide support long after the baby is born. Postpartum doulas provide many services such as breastfeeding or bodyfeeding support, pumping help, bottlefeeding and newborn care, birth recovery, laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping, light childcare for older siblings, and emotional support. Some people like the support of a doula throughout their pregnancy, whereas others like to hire one after they've given birth. Whichever route you take, having someone to help guide and support you through your pregnancy is a very valuable investment! So with all that in mind, when exactly is the best time to hire a doula?

The Benefits of Hiring a Doula Early

If you're eager to have a positive experience during your pregnancy, consider hiring a doula early on in your term, especially if this is your first time expecting!

Many expectant parents find that hiring a doula early on in their pregnancy provides great benefits. The first trimester can be tough for some, with morning sickness, exhaustion, and fatigue. Not only that, but you're probably constantly researching all things pregnancy and baby-related at this point! All this research can be daunting, and it can be helpful to have an experienced professional to help guide you through it all.

This is the perfect time for your doula to start getting to know you and what your preferences are for childbirth and post-birth support. By the end of your first trimester or early in your second trimester, you will have a better idea of what kind of birth environment you would like to create, and your doula can help you to achieve that.

Another benefit of hiring a doula early on is that you'll have more of a choice when it comes to finding the perfect doula for you. Since you will have more time, you can really focus on finding someone who has the same ideals and philosophies as you do, which will make for a much more supportive birth experience. You may even want to connect to a doula who has a similar life experience, race, religion or culture as you. Reading this while further along in your pregnancy? Even if you are further along in your pregnancy, know that at any time in your pregnancy journey, boober can make it easy for you to find the perfect doula for your birth.  After getting matched to some great doulas who fit your criteria, interview the doulas you are interested in so you can get to know them better and ask them any questions you may have. This is a great opportunity to get an idea of what their services include and how they might be able to help you.

With more time, your doula can get to know you and your unique needs while also providing resources and support for your pregnancy.

Many doulas provide support in:

• Choosing a birth location/midwife
• Birth planning/preferences
• Additional Childbirth Education
• Prenatal Wellness
• Postpartum planning

Hiring a doula early on in your pregnancy ensures you a high-quality support system during what can be a very challenging time. What's more, some doulas get booked up quickly, so it's best to get in touch as soon as you can, so they can put your due date on their calendar!

This is especially important if you have any specific requirements or set of circumstances that might cause you to give birth earlier, for example if you're giving birth to multiples. In this case, it's definitely beneficial to have a doula who has experience with multiple births, as they will be able to provide more tailored support and advice. 

As you can see, there are many benefits to hiring a doula early on in your pregnancy. By having that extra support and guidance, you can relax into your pregnancy more knowing that you have someone by your side who is dedicated to ensuring you have a positive birth experience.

Hiring A Doula in the Later Stages of Pregnancy

If you're already in the later stages of your pregnancy, don't fret! Many people don’t learn about doulas until they are further along! You can still hire a doula and receive all the benefits they have to offer, especially the benefits like reduced c-section rate, greater satisfaction with the birth experience, and a higher likelihood of successful lactation. We can help at this stage, too! Just be sure to let us or your doula know what your birth preferences are. Your doula can then tailor their support to fit your needs.

Hiring a doula in the final weeks of your pregnancy can be especially helpful if you're feeling anxious or uncertain about the prospect of the labor and delivery. Having a doula by your side can help to ease those fears and provide you with the physical, emotional, and informational support you need to have a safe and successful labor.

Although it's likely that your choice of doulas may be more limited at this point, the benefit of using boober to find your doula later in pregnancy is that all your doula matches will be available and in your budget to save you the time of finding out who is or isn’t booked. Here at boober, we offer a fast, pre-screened doula matching service provided by our experienced team, that suits your desired budget. It's never too late to hire a doula... some people have even hired doulas after their due date!

Hiring A Postpartum Doula

A postpartum doula can provide invaluable support to you and your family in the weeks and months following the birth of your child. They can help with breastfeeding/bodyfeeding, pumping, bottlefeeding, and newborn care, as well as household tasks that may have piled up while you were busy taking care of a new baby!

Unlike a baby nurse, a postpartum doula doesn't just care for the baby - they care for the whole family, and their job is to build your confidence and independence and help everyone feel as comfortable as possible in their new roles as parents.

It can be so easy to get lost in books, advice, and opinions when it comes to taking care of a newborn, but a postpartum doula can offer you support and perspective that you may not find elsewhere. They can also help to connect you with other resources in your community like sleep professionals and nutritionists, if needed. Additionally, they can give you advice that is specific to your family and help you develop a babycare plan that works for you. And because everyone copes differently - some days better than other days - they'll listen if things aren't going well and be there to help, not just in the good times, but in the hard times too.

There are multiple benefits to hiring a postpartum doula, including:

• Reduced anxiety and stress in the days and weeks following birth

• More sleep for the parents

• Improved bonding with your newborn

• Assistance with infant feeding ranging from breastfeeding or bodyfeeding to pumping, bottle feeding, and even introducing solids...!

• More focused and coordinated days in the early postpartum period

• A sense of community and support

• Running errands (both home, and baby-related)

• Preparation of meals for parents (some postpartum doulas are also trained chefs or nutritionists!)

• Coping skills for new parents as well as the ability to identify and provide support for postpartum depression and anxiety

• Help with caring for other siblings

• Help with the recovery from a c-section or vaginal birth

If all of these weren't enough to convince you, this study by the Journal of Human Lactation showed that postpartum doulas can also positively affect breastfeeding success!

If you feel like you could use some help in the postpartum period, be sure to hire a postpartum doula. It can make a huge difference in your life and the lives of your partner and children.

To summarize, there are many benefits to hiring a doula early on in your pregnancy as well as hiring one in the later stages. There is no best time to hire a doula, it just depends on what stage you are in , and what you need! If you're feeling unsupported at any point, pre or post-birth, don't hesitate to reach out! No matter where you are in your pregnancy journey, boober is here to support you every step of the way! We have resources and providers for every stage of your birth journey, from expecting to postpartum. We'll match you with an experienced doula to help you through any pregnancy, labor, and postpartum challenges. We can offer both virtual and in-person options, fitting in with your lifestyle and needs.

Boober is the only resource you need to find the perfect doula for you and your family!