Question about Doulas

Suzi-G-

If you used one, when (what week) did you actually book them?  And did you interview different ones before choosing one?  Is this something I need to be researching and deciding now?   Sorry if this is a really clueless question but, alas, I am really clueless.

KNJepp

Oh yes, I would like to know too!

kat.in.the.hat

I posted on the local tribe section of mothering.com asking for people to recommend their doula or if they were a doula, to send me a private message telling me a little bit more about them.

I got five or six messages from doulas and started email conversations with them and got a good vibe from a few.  So we picked one (based on price, honestly) and she came and met with us and that was all it took.  We didn't feel the need to interview anyone else because we clicked so well with Lydia.

I was a little further along in the pregnancy, probably around 30 weeks.  I think most people start to do it around 20 weeks, especially if you go with someone popular because they can book up quickly.

Suzi-G-

Thanks Kat, do you mind sharing who you used?  Or the others you liked?  If you'd rather you can PM or email me. 

kat.in.the.hat

My doula is Lydia

And she's amazing.  Ah-huh-mazing.  She's had both a c/s and a VBAC homebirth so she knows both sides of everything.  She was an absolute advocate for me and Marion and managed to not piss any of the hospital staff off at the same time.  She's just wonderful and I can elaborate on that for pages and pages, but I'll spare you   I'll say one of the best parts was her absence sometimes, which I know is weird to say, but she knew when we needed her and knew when to leave us alone.  Like before labor really picked up she was just off doing her own thing, which was great, because I didn't feel like a watched pot and then when it just needed to be Josh and me in the moment, she was quick to step out of our private moments.

Other recs:

Gentle Hands Doula

Rowan Two Sisters

Debbie Hull - (281) 599-1381

Kimberely Traylor

 

KT120106

Since you're delivering with the midwives, have you asked them for suggestions? They worked with my doula a ton (she has been friends with Theodorah for years) but she just recently moved to Portland to be near her daughter and granddaughter, so I can't suggest her. But, I bet the midwives know many of the doulas in town, maybe even the ones that Kat suggested, don't know.

Suzi-G-

KT120106:

Since you're delivering with the midwives, have you asked them for suggestions? They worked with my doula a ton (she has been friends with Theodorah for years) but she just recently moved to Portland to be near her daughter and granddaughter, so I can't suggest her. But, I bet the midwives know many of the doulas in town, maybe even the ones that Kat suggested, don't know.

I will definitely ask them for recommendations, I was more interested in the timing---whether or not I needed to be looking into choosing a doula now or if it could wait a month or two.  

KT120106

I was close to 30 weeks, more so because that is when I decided on a natural birth, but I don't think waiting a month or 2 is too late.

kat.in.the.hat

There's no harm in waiting and there's no harm in doing it now either - lol.  If you're going to go with one of the more popular ones (like who Nanette used, but I can't remember her name right now) or if you chose a homebirth midwife who also doubles as a doula, then you might want to do it now.

But, a benefit to getting one now is you have longer to get to know them which is always a plus.