Email or call area doulas to ask whether they know any doulas in training, who can often offer excellent support at reduced or no cost in exchange for gaining experience at your birth.
What do my insides look like? (illuminating illustrations that may help understand what you’re feeling if you’re asking, for instance, what on earth is my round ligament? or where have my intestines gone?: pre-pregnancy, 6/7 weeks, 12 weeks, 20 weeks, 28 weeks, 36 weeks, & two views at 40 weeks; Childbirth Connection)
pregnancy
choosing a birth place, a care provider, and other support people
Why does my choice of birth setting matter, and what are some factors to consider? (Childbirth Connection: multi-page article)
(Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth)
What are the basics of choosing a place of birth and healthcare provider? (Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth)
How can I find out more about providers and birth sites in my area? (The Birth Survey)
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Is this (apparently bizarre and/or annoying sensation I’m experiencing) normal? And what can I do to make myself more comfortable? (Cleveland Clinic)
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What is “fundal height”? (useful image at MayoClinic.com)
What is gestational diabetes? (PDF; “Share With Women,” Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health)
“Sexuality and Pregnancy” (Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth)
“Pregnancy After Infertility or Previous Pregnancy Loss” (Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth)
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What do my insides look like? (illuminating illustrations that may help understand what you’re feeling if you’re asking, for instance, what on earth is my round ligament? or where have my intestines gone?: pre-pregnancy, 6/7 weeks, 12 weeks, 20 weeks, 28 weeks, 36 weeks, & two views at 40 weeks; Childbirth Connection)