To any mamas out there who had a doula during their pregnancy, were you close to her? Did you develop a really comfortable relationship?

I was offered by my sister in law to work with her friend who’s training to be a doula. She’s also pregnant and wants to offer services for free. Plus, I’d also come in handy for her to finish off her training as she needs to have experienced 3 live births before she graduates.

I met this lady and she’s really sweet and so easy to talk to, but we only met once and will sometimes text, but she usually leaves me hanging through texts and just disappears. I feel like there’s some kind of wall up that is preventing me from developing a close relationship to her. I am only 6 months pregnant so I’m gonna be patient and give it some time, but if I don’t feel like I can even have a friendship with my doula, I don’t think I should work with her.

I feel that she may have a lot going on in her personal life so I totally understand if she wouldn’t be able to have this kind of relationship with me, but I feel that it’s what I need in this pregnancy.

Am I wrong to feel this way? Or is it normal to have a sort of “professional” relationship with your doula?