Questions for Hiring a Doula

Searching for a birth doula can be a challenge for some, ideally, the worst would be to have too many candidates to choose from! Personally, I feel like every invitation I’ve received to be apart of a birth has been decided based on a “gut feeling”; an emotional, spiritual connection that unites us in a common purpose: to have a happy, healthy birth in whatever way you define that to be. As you make these first steps into your newfound parenthood – regardless if it’s your first or fourth time – remember it’s all about creating an atmosphere of support that makes you feel the safest, happy, and comfortable. This is true when deciding your doula, care-provider, or birthplace.

Below, I’ve composed a list of questions to help you get to the heart of things when interviewing for your birth doula. I invite you to include more questions that are unique to your circumstances and to allow the conversation to flow organically away from this structure to get a better sense of what it would be like to work with a doula in your upcoming birth.

1. What is your approach to birth? What is your birthing philosophy?
2. How were you called into the doula profession?
3. How do you define your role in a birth?
4. What do you look for in a client? A passion towards self-advocacy, interest in learning about birth, emotional connection, strong communication skills, etc.?
5. Do you support specific birthing preferences, like Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC), hypnobirthing, homebirths, etc.?
6. Can you tell me about your certification and training? Do you do any type of continuing education?
7. How long have you been a doula?
8. What type of packages or additional services do you offer (breastfeeding, body work or binding, massage, robozo, placenta encapsulation, etc.)?
9. How much are your fees and how do you schedule payments?
10. How do you structure the prenatal and postpartum sessions?
11. Can you tell me about your back up policy? How and when do you arrange that?
12. At what point do you consider yourself to be on-call? How do I reach you during the on-call period?
13. At what point do you come to assist during labor? What needs to be present in my labor for you to come for support?
14. Do you provide support for planned Caesarian births? What does that look like?
15. How long do you stay after the birth?
16. What is your favorite thing about birth?
17. Is there anything else you’d like us to know

Good luck!