New moms can use all the help they can get—and sometimes they are willing to pay for it. From planning for a new baby in the house to mom’s medical needs, skilled practitioners are only a web click away.

Baby Planners
These for-hire “assistants” are coming to the rescue with services like baby shower coordinating, meals during pregnancy, arranging the nursery, sending out birth announcements, even baby-proofing your home. They can also help you figure out essentials like what kind of child care to enlist and which nursing cream to use. While various packages of services do seem pricey, they may be worth considering.

“Working women understand the value of support services and may be used to outsourcing in order to manage their busy lives,” says Linda Murray, editor-in-chief of Babycenter.com. A baby planner may be an option to help you stay organized and enjoy your maternity leave before heading back to the office. If cost is an issue, Murray suggests asking for these services as a shower gift. With a web search, you can find baby planners across the nation in cities from Los Angeles to Boston.

For more information: Contact the National Baby Planner Association to find coordinators regionally (nationalbabyplannerassociation.com).

Costs: Prices range from $100 to $600 with hourly rates and full packages for help throughout a woman’s pregnancy.

Doulas
Looking for support as you approach the actual birth of your baby? You may want to consider a doula, a labor coach who focuses solely on a woman’s emotional and physical comfort. “Doulas will be available the entire time as constants in a birth process for a woman,” says Stephanie Antunes, director of public relations for DONA International, an association that provides certification and training for birth and postpartum doulas in North America. “They don’t have to deal with policies and procedures, so they are able to give unbiased information that is helpful to women.” She adds that when women are informed participants and are making decisions, they feel satisfied with their experience in the end, recommending that pregnant women should ask prospective doulas about planned vacations or backup assistants in case their primary doula is at birth when needed.

Prior to birth, doulas have pre-natal visits with their clients to discuss options including preparation for use of certain interventions. “During labor, doulas will use techniques like massage and hot and cold comforts to help women feel less pain, so they’re less likely to ask for medication and receive Cesarean sections,” says Antunes. Overall, she stresses that the choice lies with the expectant mother. “The most important thing is that a mom and her partner feel comfortable sharing such an intimate experience with that person.”

For more information: Search for certified doulas at dona.org.

Costs: Prices range from $250 to $1,500 around the country.

Midwives
Pregnant women who are interested in alternative births for their babies may want to explore midwifery. Midwife deliveries have increased over the past 10 years, currently representing about 7.4 percent of all American births, in hospitals and at home. Also, many health insurance companies are now reimbursing for certified midwives’ care. “It’s a standard of caring,” says Elizabeth Stein, a certified nurse midwife (RN/CNM) in New York City. She adds that midwives practice the same medical treatment and obstetrical care as traditional doctors. “We do it with a lot more involvement of the woman and her family,” she says. “There’s a lot more teaching, counseling and in-depth explanations.” Yet she emphasizes that collaboration is needed between midwives and doctors for patients that have high-risk problems like preeclampsia and high blood pressure. “We can all share in taking care of women.”

For more information: Visit the American College of Nurse Midwives website (ACNM.org) to find midwives in your area.

Costs: Fees vary based upon task. Midwives who are trained to do more than vaginal births, such as C-sections, can bill more for their services. Some midwives work within obstetric groups with physicians and are covered by insurance. Home deliveries avoid hospital bills.

Baby Sitters
It’s never too early to think about what’s next. Will you need paid child care after the baby arrives?  Or this is your second child and you need standby help with your first, it may be time to look for additional support.  Do you have grandparents or friends and family who can pitch in?  Speak with them in advance. Make a list of how and when folks are available.  After all, sometimes babies come when they are least expected.  If you have to stretch beyond your support circle, some national organizations carefully vet caregivers and can help find permanent, part-time or ad-hoc sitters right where you live.

For More Information:  SitterCity is the largest and first national online database that matches moms and sitters.

Cost:  Free trial, monthly or annual subscription at $9.99 per month.  Grandmother care–priceless.