Doulas - poll and questions

gymnst1013

How many of you are using doulas?  How many did you interview before choosing one?  What questions did you ask them?

We interviewed our first last night.  2 sisters.  They are perfectly nice and I'm comfortable with them, but I feel like I ought to interview some more before making a final decision.  MH is not super interested in sitting through many more 2 hour meetings though   I'm also wondering if I asked all the right questions.  I feel like I asked them more about the hospital I will be delivering at than about what they will do for us.

There are 2 more places that I can call and I know that with at least one of them, they have a bunch of doulas and we wouldn't know who we will definitely get until I go into labor.  And I'm sure we wouldn't be able to meet with all of them.  So I'm sort of thinking what's the point?

And on a completely unrelated topic - I just looked out my window and it is effing snowing!  WTF?  It's April for god's sake!

egpitt22

I have no idea about the doulas, but I am so disturbed by the snow.  I just had to walk around campus with a guest that we have here and I could have used a hat & gloves, BRRR!!!

markyslove

We haven't chosen a doula yet, but I've talked to 2 over the phone.  We have an in person meeting with one on Monday and I'm going to schedule the other.  As far as questions to ask, I got most of them from a post on the natural birth board.  I'll see if I can find the post.

ETA: https://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/50300019.aspx 

IdigDirt

I called 2. The first one was hell bent on me doing a home delivery and she seemed really my way or the highway type. The second was really go with the flow and seemed great. In the end we decided to go with a midwife at a hospital and not hire a doula. I felt since the hospital is so natural birth friendly and the midwife will be there much more than a doctor would that we could skip a doula, and we can't afford it now.

gymnst1013

markyslove:

We haven't chosen a doula yet, but I've talked to 2 over the phone.  We have an in person meeting with one on Monday and I'm going to schedule the other.  As far as questions to ask, I got most of them from a post on the natural birth board.  I'll see if I can find the post.

ETA: https://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/50300019.aspx 

Thanks Marky!

Nickiechan

I emailed about 4-6 doulas in the area from dona.org. I based my decision to interview on their email. If the email was compassionate and if they came off to me as someone I may like.  We interviewed 3 of those doulas that contacted me back. One was sort of out of our price range, but I liked how her email sounded and she had a website with all her information on it. I also got references from them before the interview and called at least one for each. So we both had an idea of which one we wanted to hire before we had our meeting. The one that was in the middle price range has a very positive reputation at our hospital that we will be birthing at (This is important because they know where things are and can 'stand' up for you). She also had a good 'online' reputation. She was the second we interviewed and we where pretty much sold on hiring her, but we did interview the last lady (the more expensive one).

We asked questions about their feelings towards natural birth and how they would help us achieve what we wanted. We also asked about her experience with c-section, breached babies and in case I would want medication. We also asked about her yoga experience. I also asked about certificates and credentials. I also asked about our hospital and how she felt towards their feelings of a natural birth. (Are we going to have to fight?) Our meetings were not 2 hours long... maybe around an hour.

bestmaid6

We only interviewed one, but everything kind of fell in place with her. I asked my CNM for a short list of doula's in the area she liked working with and Alison (our doula) was on it. When we met with her the first thing out of her mouth was "You are at the best OB/CNM practice in-town for a natural birth, they are wonderful."

She is also one of 2 doulas in-town to offer montrice services, which we were interested in after learning about it. She, DH and I had a really great conversation and we just felt really comfortable with her. And finally, she's a Christian and we are, too. Knowing that it won't freak her out if I ask her to pray with me during a contraction is a huge plus for me.

Part of me felt like I should interview more doulas (I had the same feeling when I only met with one CNM practice) but ultimately, I didn't see the point. We liked her, she liked us, she was in out budget, has a great relationship with all of the professionals at our practice and we genuinely enjoyed each others company. I took that as enough "signs" and hired her.

msutheastdnt

We took our birth class from the doula at the local birth center. She assisted with my sister's birth, so we were planning on using her. After class one evening I talked to her about it and between being at my sister's birth, our stillbirth induction, and what we've researched she said I didn't need her. Not that she wouldn't do it, but she didn't feel like I would need her. I'm like thanks for the confidence. If you are comfortable with the two you interviewed I would say go with them. Ask if they are available to answer your questions and such should you come up with them between now and then. Then have one more meeting where you discuss your birth plan and what you are comfortable with, so you are on the same page.  

cyclek8bride

I'm planning on hiring a doula.  On top of checking out doulamatch.net, I talked to my OB and the nurses at the hospital where I will give birth.  The lactation consultant was very helpful.  The nurses afterall will have to deal with the doula too and you want a good supportive team.  

 I suppose though that if you have a good feeling about your potential support that should be good enough.  My DH was worried that he would be pushed aside during the delivery so I make sure to ask what his role is and what will she do to make his role prominent.  I have some issues around the whole labor and delivery portion and well DH has a better understanding that he will need the support too.  

Two hour interviews seems a little long though.  Try to steer the conversation to some hot button topics for doulas like epidurals, roles of dads, how they will work with the medical staff at the hospital, and what they see as their role.  You also want to make sure you ask why they are willing to be a doula and get some perspective about their ideas and thoughts.  See if they mesh with you.  You could spend a long day with them.  Trust your gut.  

mem096

I had contacted our doula foundation about those in training because of the cost issue.  We don't feel we need to most experienced just someone that will be understand what is going on and be supportive and informative throughout. I have interviewed 2 we are going to speak with one more that actually had GD like I have so I thought she might have some good insight.  There is a good list of questions on the natural birth board that really helped! 

gymnst1013

Thanks for the input everyone!

wootownlady

There's a hospital based doula program where I lived, so I went to an info session where I got to meet all of them and talk to them all together. From there I used recommendations, nurse feedback from the L&D floor, and my intuition, and selected 1 to interview with my DH. He thought she was great, got immediatly on board, and she is our go-to woman whenever my little lady decides to make an appearance. Her due date (june 1), or the holiday weekend before would be just great with me! 

 

 I think it comes down to people skills more than anything else - how they relate to you and your DH and how they relate to the nurses/doctors, if that's the situation you're in. Otherwise, do they have the leadership skills to get you through this in one piece? GL in finding your doula.