u/jimmy-neuron

I know that all doulas have extensive training, but personally I just feel more comfortable with someone who has been through the process themselves. However, I’m finding that most doulas in my area don’t explicitly say whether or not they have.

So, I’m wondering if it’s appropriate to ask them if they have children?

I obviously don’t want to offend anyone and I want to respect their privacy, but I also want to trust my instincts and follow my preference.

Everything I read says some babies like this and others like that. Swings vs bouncers, gliders vs recliners, diaper brands, etc.

What items can I realistically wait to purchase until after baby is here? I’m pretty anxious about spending too much money on items that will potentially go to waste if they just don’t work for baby or me. At the same time though, I don’t know if I want to be worrying about purchasing items while in the newborn trenches.

Would love to hear any of your experiences on what was best to wait for - or even what was 100% necessary to have even if it wasn’t the best fit!