How early should I book a doula?

[leavemealone]

I'm not sure where would be best to post this, but I'm sure you ladies here would be able to help.

How early should I book a doula? I have a couple doulas in mind already and have a good idea as to which one I would like to work with at my birth, but how early should I look into booking her? I know I don't want to wait until too close to my due date, but how early is too early? Is the first trimester too early? I'm actually not even sure I am pregnant yet, but I'm hoping to be so I'm not looking at booking her today or anything . I just know that I will need so much extra support this time around so I don't want to wait until it's too late and risk that she's already booked up.

[Noelia430]

I don't think there is ever a "too early". I had a client hire me as early as 12 weeks. It's better to get things squared away so you don't have to worry about them later.

[dnr3301]

I agree, sooner rather than later. I prefer to have the time to work with a family for most of the pregnancy, rather than get hired at the last minute. If you do it early, you get not only the birth covered, but more prenatal visits and you really bond more and she will have a better idea of what you need from her.

[Thmom]

defiantely sooner. This allows you time to get to know each other and she can be really helpful in answering some of the early pregnancy questions.

[jraohc]

I agree - start early. I started looking when I was 14 weeks pregnant or so. Some of the doulas I interviewed were booking out that far.

[jerawo]

Most book in the 1st or 2nd trimester. If there is one you really like, you should go ahead and book her so your due month is still available.

[leavemealone]

Thanks! I have been trying to get a few MWs and doulas interviewed before I become pregnant so that I can have good idea of which ones I would like to use so that I won't have to do as much work later.

[CortLong]

As a doula, I say the earlier the better!

[Undercover Hippie]

I knew my doula before I was PG so basically I hired her the moment I called to tell her I was PG. We were in contact throughout my entire pregnancy although we worked out the actual paperwork closer to the end. Now I am a doula and I have clients like this too. It is great to hear about their pregnancy from the very start. Different issues cross your mind during different stages of the pregnancy and it's nice to work through each of them with your doula. It is much harder to be interviewed by someone who is 35 weeks and then wait for them to decide and then have only a few weeks to get to know them before the birth... not that it can't work out great that way too, but I think deciding earlier is really nicer for everyone involved.

[MamaTaraX]

haven't read replies. Just wanted to say that I'd be ecstatic if people would ask me to doula for them really early on so I can get to kinow them over their entire pregnancy

Namaste, Tara
mama to Doodle (7), Butterfly (2), and Rythm (due at home 1/06)

[USAmma]

Book her now, and then spend some time with her. Go to lunch with her, email her, and get to be her friend if you aren't already. By the time the birth comes you will trust her and relax into her arms. She will also get to know you better and be able to give you exactly the kind of support you need for your personality.