The ideal time to hire a doula is as early in your pregnancy as possible. This allows both you and the doula to get to know one another and to discuss your plans for your pregnancy, labor, and birth as long as needed. It also gives you more time to explore the options that your doula may alert you to in your area.

A doula and a midwife offer different types of services, even though both may support the childbirth experience. Midwives have medical training and during the birth process, focus on delivering a healthy baby. Doulas, on the other hand, focus on the needs of the mother, offering mental, physical, and emotional support.