The following questions will help you decide if a particular doula is right for you.
For any doula
When interviewing a birth doula
Check credentials and references.
If the doula is a certified doula, you can confirm her certification by going online to the certifying agency. Certification is a meaningful measure of a doula’s commitment and professionalism. All of the doulas in our membership are either certified or actively working towards certification.
DONA International www.dona.org
Madriella https://madriella.org/
CAPPA www.cappa.net
ProDoula https://www.prodoula.com/
ICEA https://icea.org/
Conduct an in-person or virtual interview.
It is a good idea for both you and your partner to meet doula candidates to decide if they are compatible with your family. Are they kind, warm and enthusiastic? Are they knowledgeable? Do they communicate well? Are they good listeners? Are they comfortable with your choices or do they seem to have their own agenda? Do you feel at ease with them?
The way that you feel with a doula is just as important as the number of births that they have attended or how many new families they have nurtured. You may want to interview more than one doula and make comparisons before choosing your doula.
For any doula
- What training have you had?
- Are you certified? (If a doula is certified, you might consider checking with the organization. See below.)
- Do you have one or more backup doulas for times when you are not available? May we meet her/them?
- How many births have you attended or families have you served?
- What is your fee, what does it include and what are your refund policies? Contract terms?
When interviewing a birth doula
- Tell me about your experience as a birth doula.
- What is your philosophy about birth and supporting women and their partners through labor?
- May we meet to discuss our birth plans and the role you will play in supporting me through birth?
- May we call you with questions or concerns before and after the birth?
- When do you try to join women in labor? Do you come to our home or meet us at the place of birth?
- Do you meet with us after the birth to review the labor and answer questions?
- How do you support my partner during the birth?
- Tell me about your experience as a postpartum doula.
- What is your philosophy about parenting and supporting women and their families during postpartum?
- May we meet to discuss our postpartum needs and the role you will play in supporting us in the postpartum period?
- May we call you with postpartum questions or concerns before the birth?
- When do your services begin after birth?
- What is your experience in breastfeeding support?
- Have you had a criminal background check, a recent TB test and current CPR certification?
Check credentials and references.
If the doula is a certified doula, you can confirm her certification by going online to the certifying agency. Certification is a meaningful measure of a doula’s commitment and professionalism. All of the doulas in our membership are either certified or actively working towards certification.
DONA International www.dona.org
Madriella https://madriella.org/
CAPPA www.cappa.net
ProDoula https://www.prodoula.com/
ICEA https://icea.org/
Conduct an in-person or virtual interview.
It is a good idea for both you and your partner to meet doula candidates to decide if they are compatible with your family. Are they kind, warm and enthusiastic? Are they knowledgeable? Do they communicate well? Are they good listeners? Are they comfortable with your choices or do they seem to have their own agenda? Do you feel at ease with them?
The way that you feel with a doula is just as important as the number of births that they have attended or how many new families they have nurtured. You may want to interview more than one doula and make comparisons before choosing your doula.