You're having a baby! Congratulations! While your heart may be swirling with emotions, your mind may be reeling with thoughts about what comes next. A doula can be a great resource that provides you with intentional and individualized support throughout your pregnancy and postpartum journey.
So, what is a doula? A doula is someone who provides guidance and support to pregnant women during pregnancy, and labor and delivery. Doulas may also provide extended postpartum support within the home. In your search to find a doula who will become a part of your birth support village, it is important to ensure that you have a connection to that person. Therefore, I would encourage you to interview multiple doulas before making your final decision. Are you feeling a little unsure of where to start? Confused? Anxious? What questions do you even ask? Mama, take a deep breath...now release it slowly... Eden's Nurturary is here to provide you with some guidance to help you navigate your journey to finding the right doula connection for you. Below is a non-exhaustive list of questions to ask when interviewing a doula.
A doula becomes a member of your birth team. They journey with you and are there for you.
What to Ask During Your Doula Interview
Can you tell me about your journey into birth work?
This question will help you get a sense of the doula's passion for this work. You will also get a better feel for how they work and why they love what they do. As you listen, try to identify aspects of their story and their work that resonate with you. What do you like about their birth work story? If you have additional questions, do not be afraid to ask!
Can you tell me about your training experience? Are you certified? Why did you choose not to certify?
For most doula certifications, a doula trainee is required to attend 2-3 births and provide at least 2 postpartum visits. If the doula is certified, you may want to ensure that their certification is in good standing with their certifying organization. You should be aware that there are no legal requirements or government regulations that require a doula to be certified, and for that reason some doulas choose not to become certified once they complete their training. It is important to keep in mind that there is no incorrect response to this question, it is about what you feel most comfortable with. Also, keep in mind that although trainees and newer doulas may not have as many years of experience as their more experienced colleagues, they often bring a fresh perspective, tenacity, and enthusiasm to their work!
How long have you been practicing as a doula?
You may be curious to learn how long your doula has been practicing to gain an understanding of how much experience they have. Additionally, sometimes newer doulas offer services at a lower price as compared to more experienced doulas; however, this is not always the case.
Fun fact: many doulas have provided birth and postpartum support to family and friends long before they "officially" became a doula.
Have you worked with any mothers who are considered high-risk?
If your pregnancy is considered high-risk, you will want to inquire about how the doula provides support in this unique situation. Are there special services or supports offered in these situations? Please keep in mind that even if a doula does not have experience working with high-risk pregnant women, that does not mean that they would be incompetent. You will just partner together even more to find the resources and information that you need to make the best decision(s) for you and your baby.
Have you supported expectant mothers with _____ health condition(s)?
If you are a mama with a preexisting health condition or a health condition that occurred during your pregnancy, you may want to share this with the doula to learn more about their experience(s) and how they provide support. Remember, if a doula does not have experience supporting mamas with your specific health condition(s) it does not mean that they are automatically unqualified to support you. They can, and will, work diligently to help you get the resources, referrals, and support(s) that you need to make informed decisions.
Do you have any other certifications?
This is an important question to ask because many doulas hold certifications in other areas of birth work such as nutrition, childbirth education, certified breastfeeding education/certified lactation consultant, infant sleep specialist, Spinning Babies®, birth photography, etc. You will want to know if these additional specialties are incorporated into their packages/services should they be needed, or are they offered as an additional service.
How do you stay current with the latest birth-related information?
You may be interested to know how your doula stays updated on birth-related information and the latest techniques used to support birthing women and their families. This is important because the doula who will support your should be offering the most up-to-date information and resources to help you make the most informed decisions throughout your pregnancy journey.
What is your birth philosophy?
As you are searching for the right doula, an important aspect of the client-doula connection is knowing if they have a birth philosophy that aligns with your beliefs. Should you choose to hire them, it will only strengthen and deepen your client-doula relationship as you work together. You will also have someone who aligns with your perspective about birth supporting you!
In what settings do you attend births?
You will want to know in what setting(s) does the doula provide labor and delivery support (i.e., hospital, birth center, home birth). Do they have experience supporting birthing women at the place where you intend to give birth? If so, what has their experience been like?
Do you work with a backup doula?
Some doulas choose to partner with a backup doula in the event that mamas they are working with go into labor at the same time, if your labor is especially long and the doula is in need of relief, or the doula becomes sick or something beyond their control happens. If the doula does work with another doula as a backup, I would encourage you to ask if you would be able to meet that doula before your birth so that in the event that a backup doula is needed you will have support from someone who is familiar to you.
In what ways do you include my husband/partner/support person?
You will want to know how the doula includes your husband/partner/support person in learning how to best support you throughout your pregnancy and postpartum journey. How does the doula help to prepare your husband/partner/support person for the birth process so that they can be the best support to you when the miraculous day arrives, and beyond!
How many clients do you take on per month/ at a time?
Even though a doula may have availability for your estimated due date (EDD), you will want to assess how many clients they take on at one time, especially for the month of your anticipated due date. When a doula is supporting multiple mamas who have an EDD around the same time, there is a potential that their availability to attend your birth or stay for the entire duration may be impacted, and that a backup doula may be called. Although this is just a possibility, it is something for you to consider.
How do you support me in advocating for myself during labor and delivery? In the postpartum recovery?
Doulas not only provide physical, emotional, and spiritual support, but they also help you navigate the decision-making process by helping you to access the resources and information that you need in order to make informed decisions. Your doula will also help you learn about what is happening to your body during labor and delivery and ways to cope. A doula will help inform you of what to expect in your birth setting, and common choices and options offered to help equip you with the information and knowledge that you will need to help you make informed decisions and to confidently advocate for yourself. Furthermore, the doula should also equip your husband/partner/support person with the information and knowledge needed to make informed decisions so that they can also advocate on your behalf should that be needed.
What is your pricing? Do you offer payment plans?
It is important to know what the doula charges for their services and if payment plans are available if you are unable pay in full. If making payments, you will want to know when the final payment would be due (which is typically a few weeks prior to your EDD). You may want to ask if there are discounts available for payments made in full. It might also be helpful to ask about the doula's refund policy and how grievances are handled.
What is included in your pricing/packages?
You should ask about what is included in the doula's pricing/packages. This is important so that you can determine if what is included in their services will fit your needs. You can also inquire about whether the doula offers add-on services.
When do you go on-call for my labor?
This is an important question because you will want to be aware of when the doula will be on-call and available for your birth 24/7.
Do you meet with me after the birth to process my birth experience?
Processing your birth experience is an important element of the postpartum recovery journey. Your birth story is unique and special, and having someone bare witness to your thoughts, feelings, and emotions can be very validating and healing.
How do you support families during the postpartum period?
When you enter into the postpartum recovery period, you will want to know how many postpartum visits the doula provides. Furthermore, you can ask about what types of services the doula offers during postpartum visits and if they offer additional visits.
Do you provide breastfeeding support? What training have you had?
Many doulas provide basic breastfeeding support to mamas who choose to nurse (i.e., assessing correct latch, how to encourage milk supply, etc.). You can ask what training and experience a doula has had, and even what types of challenges they have worked with before. This will give you a sense of how the doula might support you. Additionally, if breastfeeding difficulties progress into something more challenging, a doula should encourage you to speak with your medical provider and offer you a recommendation for a breastfeeding specialist such as a certified breastfeeding specialist or certified lactation consultant (CLC).
What are your business hours?
You will want to know if the doula keeps "office hours." These are regular business hours where the doula holds prenatal appointments and answers phone calls, text messages, and responds to emails. You may also want to ask about the doula's policy regarding emergencies should a circumstance occur and support is needed.
Decisions: Processing Your Doula Interviews
Now that you have interviewed a few doulas, it is time to process your experiences with each of them. It is important to sit with your notes, and your thoughts. Contemplate what you liked best about each of them and determine who best fits your needs and personality. Most importantly, try to recall how you felt when you were with each doula. This is one of the most crucial aspects of determining whether or not a doula is a good match for you. The doula you choose will be someone who co-journs with you throughout your pregnancy journey. At times, they become like an extended member of your family. You will want to ensure that you feel comfortable and connected with the doula that you choose.
Here are some questions to consider asking yourself as you reflect back upon your experiences with each of the doulas that you interviewed:
Did you feel like the doula was mentally and emotionally present during your interview?
Was the doula attentive?
Did the doula answer your questions?
Did you feel connected with the doula?
How did you feel physically when you were with the doula? Emotionally?
Can you see yourself sharing your pregnancy journey with the doula? Having the doula in your home?
Do you feel that you could be vulnerable with the doula?
Did the doula's personality seem to compliment yours?
Does the doula's birth philosophy align with yours and your beliefs?
How does your husband/partner/support person feel about each doula? (if they were present for the interview process)
Remember, this is your unique birth story. You get to choose who will become a part of your village of support during this precious time. This decision does not need to be rushed or approved by anyone. It is about who best fits with you. So, relax and take your time. Process your thoughts and feelings. Pray about it. Seek wise counsel if desired. Then, make your decision.
You are graced for mamahood, and you can do this!
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