To Doula or Not to Doula

... that is the question... 

Source

28 weeks.

I'm starting to panic realize that there are only a couple months left of this pregnancy.
Only a couple months to think about births. Complications. Breastfeeding. Family. Support.
 Am I ready? I don't feel ready! I don't feel prepared at all!
I'm ok with the motherhood part, but as a first time mother, the birthing part remains a huge mystery.
Then I went to a Mommy themed trade show in Grande Prairie and found out that there are doula's that practice in Alberta, and better yet in Grande Prairie!
I knew of many women who used Doulas when I lived in Ontario, and raved about the results, but I was under the impression that they didn't exist here. Although I was correct in assuming that there are no Midwives here (AB is faaaar behind Ontario!), I was wrong about the doulas.
Thinking that this may calm my nerves, I contacted the Doula Collective in Grande Prairie and I'm on my way to meeting a few Doulas and learning if the process is right for me or not.

Why a Doula?
For me it comes down to two main reasons: 1) Knowledge and 2) Support.
Firstly, maybe it's just because I'm a first time mama, but I feel a bit lost. Am I thinking about everything? Researching the right things? Finding the right sources? Am I an informed mama? Do I know my birthing options? Choices? Do I even know what all these things mean?!?
From what I'm heard...  Doulas can and will equip you with this type of information - yay!
Secondly, I start to freak out a bit when I think about the fact that my mama doesn't live here, and my best friends don't live here, and people that I want to call and ask questions to have real lives that don't revolve around me... who do I have to support me when this baby is coming?
Enter doula. Apparently these ladies can help provide the support that I'm looking for. They support you before, during, and after birth. Comfort me the way a close friend would. Give my husband a break. Ease my anxiety by explaining new concepts, etc. to me.

So far it all sounds great!
We are still on the fence though... there is a cost involved, and the cheap/stubborn side of me thinks "Lots of other ladies did this on their own - I should be able to do it too!"

So this is where I'm stuck: to doula or not to doula.
Hopefully my meetings and my husband will point me in the right direction :)

{xoxo}