So, you’ve just found out you’re pregnant. Congratulations! As you start planning for the arrival of your little one, you may have heard about doulas and the invaluable support they can provide during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. But when is the right time to hire a doula?
The Sooner The Better
While we have plenty of clients who reach out to us still TTC (trying to conceive), most families wait to sign contracts until 12 weeks along. (They can still meet with doulas in advance and be ready to go as soon as the 12 week mark hits.)
At this point, you’ve likely settled into your pregnancy a bit and are beginning to think more seriously about your birth plan and support options.
Timing is Everything
When it comes to hiring a doula, timing is crucial, especially if you’re looking for specific experience or longevity in the field.
- experienced doulas are booked out very far in advance, sometimes as early as 8 or 9 months
- The earlier you start your search, the better your chances of finding the perfect doula to support you through your journey.
When planning from your first trimester, you could have a pool of 10 or more doulas to choose from, offering you a wide selection of experiences and personalities to match your support preferences.
However, if you wait until your 3rd trimester last-minute availability could be scarce, or under qualified.
Benefits of an Agency
One of the key benefits of working with a doula agency is access to a larger pool of doulas, who may not be easy to find online, increasing your chances of finding a good match.
Another benefit is that our doulas have already been vetted for you. They are educated, background checked and dedicated to the CMD Standard.
If our current roster of doulas are already booked, we can
- do a wider search for you
- access industry groups
- find doulas who may not show up in Google searches
- take them through our entire vetting process to make sure they meet the required standards
Doula agencies respond quickly and efficiently with a streamlined process for matching doulas to your needs, while individual doulas may or may not have clear and efficient systems.
Best Practices and Last Minute Options
It’s important to note that the longer you wait to hire a doula, the more likely you are to end up
with someone inexperienced. Booking further in advance increases your chances of securing a
doula with years of experience and expertise.
Aim to start your search around 12 weeks into your pregnancy, but don’t wait too long especially if you have specific needs or preferences. Being proactive in your search
- increases your chances of finding the right fit for support
- ensures that you have a better selection of experienced doulas to choose from
- enhances your birth and postpartum experience.
Of course, sometimes you just don’t know you need or want doula support until your third trimester, or even after baby has already arrived.
For birth support, an agency is more likely to have a small pool of doulas whose clients have birthed earlier than expected, and can find that last minute support on their roster, saving you hours of emailing and calling doulas who are already booked up.
For postpartum, our À La Carte shifts give you access to our full roster of doulas, and access to last minute care from great doulas who happen to be available for a specific shift, but can’t take on a full contract. Working with multiple available doulas to cover individual shifts is a great option when planning ahead just didn’t work out.