When To Hire A Doula in Asheville, NC
A common question when thinking about hiring a doula is…when is the best time to hire one? Is there a secret, goldilocks number of weeks? The long and short answer is, whenever you want! However, there are several important things to consider when thinking about the timing…
AVAILABILITY
Many in-demand Asheville doulas tend to book out quite far in advance, if there’s someone you’ve had in mind, be sure to reach out to schedule an interview as early as possible! This could easily look like booking out 5+ months in advance, so if you’ve had your heart set on someone, don’t be shy! And if they are already booked out, you can always ask if they have someone else they’d feel comfortable being referred to. Many doulas have connections with other local doulas they feel have similar approaches and you may end up finding a great fit with someone you’ve been referred to. If the referrals are also booked, it’s okay! Don’t panic! See my How to Choose A Doula blog post for more information on where to find a doula in Asheville!
VALUE
The earlier you’re able to hire your doula, the more time you’ll be able to spend getting to know each other. The ability to create a connection and a relationship prior to the birth is valuable and also allows you to get the maximum value for the cost of a doula. Some doulas in Asheville offer unlimited phone and email support upon hiring, and if you hire your doula earlier in your pregnancy, you’ll be able to have a personal pregnancy guide in your pocket for quite some time!
GO TIME
However, lets say you’re at 35 weeks gestation and find yourself in need of a doula, do not despair! It’s not too late! It’s still possible to find a GREAT doula. And even with only 1 or 2 prenatals with your doula you may find yourself with an equally great connection. Everyones experience is so unique and different, just like birth, no two doula-client relationships are alike!
If you have questions about the cost of a doula, see my blog post “How Much Does a Doula Cost in Asheville, NC?”