Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks! I guess I’m just hesitant about the virtual doula experience, but better to secure the one I like now hoping it will be in person by December.

I'm not sold on the idea either - this sounds like a great discussion topic to post; perhaps there are those who have recently given birth with a virtual doula. If I don't see you post in a day or so I will!

Done! Started a thread

Im a FTM who hired an expensive (and probably really great) doula (no refund) right before COVID happened as part of the requirements/strong recommendation of the practice handling my pregnancy. Knowing what I know now I would not have made this investment. At the very least I would have gone with a much more budget option. For me, the virtual support element is not something that has been worth it so far. If your are with a practice that encourages you to have a doula but is not currently allowing doulas to attend birth, I would definitely wait a bit. Lots of doulas will take you on pretty late in your 3rd trimester anyway if you change your mind. The exception would be if you are extra anxious and need some hand holding from the beginning (I don't mean this in a derogatory way- my practice does'nt really do much handholding/holistic support all the appointments are really quick so if I had had a less easy pregnancy and needed more support the doula would probably have been who I would have turned to).

Anonymous wrote:Thanks! I guess I’m just hesitant about the virtual doula experience, but better to secure the one I like now hoping it will be in person by December.

I'm not sold on the idea either - this sounds like a great discussion topic to post; perhaps there are those who have recently given birth with a virtual doula. If I don't see you post in a day or so I will!

Thanks! I guess I’m just hesitant about the virtual doula experience, but better to secure the one I like now hoping it will be in person by December.

Anonymous wrote:For other December moms, if you’d like to hire a doula, how will you go about it? Will you assume the situation will continue as of now (no in-person doula at hospital)? When are you planning to secure your doula?

My provider suggested this should be done by 20 weeks, but I’m still hesitant since I have no idea how it will all work out in December...

Most doulas I’ve contacted are providing extensive virtual support and will shift at no extra charge to in-person as the situation allows so I’m going for this. I’m researching now and planned to select by around 20weeks.

For other December moms, if you’d like to hire a doula, how will you go about it? Will you assume the situation will continue as of now (no in-person doula at hospital)? When are you planning to secure your doula?

My provider suggested this should be done by 20 weeks, but I’m still hesitant since I have no idea how it will all work out in December...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Where are you located? There’s loads near me in NE DC. Some are private, so someone will need to invite you. Try searching on facebook for neighborhood name kids/babies/new moms.

I'm in NE too! I couldn't find any neighborhood specific on fb - just the large DC/DMV moms groups. If you have any details for NE DC groups you can share, please do. I'm hoping to make at least 1 pregnant/mom friend within walking distance.

There’s a Bloomingdale Moms group (I think that one is private so someone needs to add you) and Brookland has at least two. One is Brookland babies and one is Brookland kids, but there’s lots of cross posting.

MotherNation is virtual but has neighborhood groups (by quadrant right now) to join.

Anonymous wrote:

Where are you located? There’s loads near me in NE DC. Some are private, so someone will need to invite you. Try searching on facebook for neighborhood name kids/babies/new moms.

I'm in NE too! I couldn't find any neighborhood specific on fb - just the large DC/DMV moms groups. If you have any details for NE DC groups you can share, please do. I'm hoping to make at least 1 pregnant/mom friend within walking distance.

ribkah wrote:I'm due end December and also hoping this one sticks (first pregnancy was a missed miscarriage). I heard something about neighborhood mom groups - do those exist and how to access them?

I haven't yet given any thought to who, how or where to deliver - I'm feeling a bit detached until later on but I suppose I should start thinking on it.

Where are you located? There’s loads near me in NE DC. Some are private, so someone will need to invite you. Try searching on facebook for neighborhood name kids/babies/new moms.

I'm due end December and also hoping this one sticks (first pregnancy was a missed miscarriage). I heard something about neighborhood mom groups - do those exist and how to access them?

I haven't yet given any thought to who, how or where to deliver - I'm feeling a bit detached until later on but I suppose I should start thinking on it.

Mid-December second time mom here. Plan to deliver at Sibley. Where does everyone else plan to deliver?

Another December mom here, FTM, expecting for mid-December

Congrats! I'm 40 and due on New Year's Eve. I also hope this baby sticks (will be my second).

Anyone else is expecting in December? Found out earlier this week. Hopefully this baby sticks (1 miscarriage before). I am an older Mom, 38 years old...