When should I start looking for my birth team?
This is a complicated question with no right or wrong answer.
1- Choosing your care provider: This is probably something to think about even before getting pregnant. Do you want an OB, a midwife, or a delivering family doctor to attend your birth? If you want a midwife, calling them as soon as you have a positive test is the best way to get a spot because they fill up quickly. If there’s a specific OB or family doctor you want, calling them or getting a referral from your family doctor as soon as possible isn’t a bad idea.
2- Choosing a doula: As a doula, I have been hired anywhere from 4 weeks pregnant – to 12 hours before birth! There’s no wrong time to hire a doula, but there are some advantages to hiring one earlier on. First, it’s lovely when we have a chance to get to know each other well before birth. I will be seeing you at one of the most intimate times. Secondly, I am available to you from the moment you hire me to answer questions and talk you through any situations that arise. Furthermore, we want to be sure to have time for at least one prenatal visit. Lastly, a doulas availability is limited each month to minimize the odds of two people going into labor simultaneously. Getting to know how you envision your birth helps me to better support you. That said, even with last-minute hires, it doesn’t change my ability to support you. Since part of my role is to ensure you feel confident in the choices being made during your birth, even if I know you well, I often ask how you are feeling about certain situations.
3- Choosing a birth photographer: Like with a doula, there is no wrong time to hire a birth photographer. There are advantages to not waiting until the last minute, getting to know each other, and guaranteeing the availability of the most significant. I feel it is important to mention that not knowing each other doesn’t stop me from taking amazing photos of your birth. Getting to know each other before the birth will make it easier for you to feel comfortable around me and forget I am there, letting me fall into the background.
All this to say, it’s never too early or too late to plan your birth team, and I’d love to chat with you about your desires for your birth and how I can support you through it all!