I am just about to book a doula to help with birth of dc2. When we met her we really liked her but she was wearing strong perfume. I have a real problem with heavy perfume (makes me feel nauseous and gives me a headache), especially when pg, and I don't think I can book her if she is going to turn up for the birth wearing it (would rather she not wear it for antenatal appointments but I could put up with it). Would it be completely and wildly unreasonable of me to ask her not to wear perfume while helping with the birth? It sounds like a small request in some ways, but the thing is, she will be on call for up to a whole month around my due date and I obviously don't think I can ask her to not wear perfume for that period, so she would have to go and shower, and possibly change her clothes, when I called her and told her I was in labour This does seem like a lot to ask.
Plus she may not realise it is probably all over her hair and clothes as well - she may still turn up smelling of perfume. Oh dear.
What do you think? I haven't got a lot of options here, as she is the only local doula I have been able to find, and even if I find another, I may not feel so positive about her. I really like this woman. Can I ask her about this before booking her?