How to Make the Most of Your Doula – Before the Birth
If you’re like most people, you probably hired your doula with laser focus on one thing: helping you have the kind of birth experience you desire.
We’ll certainly be ready for you on your big day and use all of our skills to make it a good experience for you, but did you know that there is so much more to having a doula on your team? Part of our birth services include being on call for you as soon as you hire us, as well as phone and email support. Here are just a few of the ways we can support you while you are still pregnant!
Helping Plan for Baby
Preparing for a baby can feel very overwhelming, very quickly. Babyproofing, baby registries, baby showers, birth plans – how are you supposed to know when to do what (and HOW)? Your doula is happy to answer your questions about baby planning needs, meet with you to do your registry or write your birth plan, and point you in the direction of good reading resources.
Sorting Normal from “Call the Doctor”
Pregnancy is often filled with uncertainties regarding what you should eat, drink, and even wear. Each ache or pain can quickly become “is something wrong?” in our minds. You do not have to worry about bothering your doctor’s office with lots of non-urgent questions – that’s what your doula is here for. Your doula can help you determine what’s normal and what merits a real call to the doctor or labor & delivery floor, what current recommendations are for safety in food and environment, and what is going on with the changes in your body.
Take a Childbirth Class
You don’t have to stray far from your doula to find a comprehensive and enjoyable childbirth class. Your doulas at Annapolis Area Doulas provide both private and group classes for everything from labor positions to Hypnobirthing to infant care. What a great opportunity for you and your doula to get to know each other and learn together on a much deeper level before the big day! Learn more about Annapolis childbirth classes.
Making a Postpartum Plan
Your doula doesn’t just specialize in pregnancy and birth – she’s also trained and experienced in the needs of new families once the baby has arrived. All too often, an undue amount of focus is placed on the birth, while completely overlooking the unique physical and emotional needs of postpartum recovery. Use her as a resource for what to expect once your baby is here. She can guide you through what you’re going to need for recovery, meals, privacy, infant feeding, and schedules.
Figuring Out When to Go to the Hospital
We have worked with a great many expectant parents, and one of the top questions we receive is: “HOW will we know the right time to go to the hospital?” After all, you don’t want to arrive too soon and get sent home; and you definitely don’t want to have a baby on the side of the road. Your doula can walk you through the possible scenarios and give you some tips to help you feel comfortable with your decision making skills when the time comes. She can even come to your home to support you through early labor, if desired, and glean clues from your demeanor and movements when labor may be starting to progress actively.
There are so many ways that your doula can enrich and support your pregnancy experience as you look forward to meeting your baby. Always know that your doula looks forward to hearing from you and helping you out – you are NOT bothering us! We prioritize our clients and view it as an honor to serve you during this special time. Would you like to learn more about becoming a client and receiving this support during pregnancy? Click here to learn more about Annapolis Area Doula care.