Can I Contact a Doula Too Soon?
By Marla
LukesNo... you can't. I once received an e-mail from a woman who was not even pregnant yet. She was thinking way ahead about the decisions she needed to make about hospital, caregivers, and labor support. So often we, as doulas, are called after all of those decisions have been made. One I got a call from a woman who was a week overdue and had just heard about doulas from a friend. The down side to waiting is that sometimes a doula brings new information and perspective to childbirth. The mother may realize that her caregiver no longer agrees with how she chooses to orchestrate her birth. Some find it hard to change caregivers midstream and others find it necessary. A doula can help you discover your choices early so that you feel comfortable with the decisions you've made. Unfortunately, we talk to a lot of second-time moms who didn't realize how much a hospital, caregiver, procedures and protocols could affect their birth. They make different choices the second time, and that includes involving labor support. I like to think of a doula as a personal tour guide. You're planning a trip and your tour guide can help you decide on the things you definitely want to avoid and the things you want to include. We all agree that the birth of a baby is an awesome miracle and the decisions you make are important for you and your family.
|