Doula Questions...

mrsodonnell12

Can you ladies help me out with a good list of doula questions? We are meeting with one on Friday and I am feeling very unprepared! TIA!

Celyn

Here's DONA's list: https://www.dona.org/PDF/QuestionsToAskADoula.pdf 

Strangely, it doesn't ask some things I think are a really impt to ask a birth doula:

What experience has she had (particularly in regard to your chosen birth prep method, but also in general)?

How long has she been a doula?

Has she worked with your care provider?  Does she know the protocols at your hospital/birth center?

How does she work with birth partners?

What she expects from you?

 

mrsodonnell12

Celyn:

Here's DONA's list: https://www.dona.org/PDF/QuestionsToAskADoula.pdf 

Strangely, it doesn't ask some things I think are a really impt to ask a birth doula:

What experience has she had (particularly in regard to your chosen birth prep method, but also in general)?

How long has she been a doula?

Has she worked with your care provider?  Does she know the protocols at your hospital/birth center?

How does she work with birth partners?

What she expects from you?

 

Thank you!

tokenhoser

And I'd say the biggest thing is to go with your gut. You should like her. She should make you feel calm and confident. If the most experienced doula doesn't make you feel excited about including her in your birth... she's not the right fit for you.

mrsodonnell12

tokenhoser:

And I'd say the biggest thing is to go with your gut. You should like her. She should make you feel calm and confident. If the most experienced doula doesn't make you feel excited about including her in your birth... she's not the right fit for you.

Thanks!

aylafsu88

Celyn:

Here's DONA's list: https://www.dona.org/PDF/QuestionsToAskADoula.pdf 

Strangely, it doesn't ask some things I think are a really impt to ask a birth doula:

What experience has she had (particularly in regard to your chosen birth prep method, but also in general)?

How long has she been a doula?

Has she worked with your care provider?  Does she know the protocols at your hospital/birth center?

How does she work with birth partners?

What she expects from you?

 

 

These are excellent questions.  One of the big ones I had for my doula was how would she handle me if I asked for pain medication? I wanted to make sure she would offer encouragement and support if I was at a critical time when I thought I could not do it.  When I was pushing I did ask for pain medication.  She basically told me I was crazy and that this baby would be out in 3 more pushes! I liked her no nonsense attitude and the fact that she was strong and supportive!

jeggomyeggo

aylafsu88:

These are excellent questions.  One of the big ones I had for my doula was how would she handle me if I asked for pain medication? I wanted to make sure she would offer encouragement and support if I was at a critical time when I thought I could not do it.  When I was pushing I did ask for pain medication.  She basically told me I was crazy and that this baby would be out in 3 more pushes! I liked her no nonsense attitude and the fact that she was strong and supportive!

 Great one! I struck out with my last two Doula interviews -- I just don't feel comfortable. Maybe this type of Q will bring out their real personalities!

THX

mrsodonnell12

aylafsu88:

Celyn:

Here's DONA's list: https://www.dona.org/PDF/QuestionsToAskADoula.pdf 

Strangely, it doesn't ask some things I think are a really impt to ask a birth doula:

What experience has she had (particularly in regard to your chosen birth prep method, but also in general)?

How long has she been a doula?

Has she worked with your care provider?  Does she know the protocols at your hospital/birth center?

How does she work with birth partners?

What she expects from you?

 

 

These are excellent questions.  One of the big ones I had for my doula was how would she handle me if I asked for pain medication? I wanted to make sure she would offer encouragement and support if I was at a critical time when I thought I could not do it.  When I was pushing I did ask for pain medication.  She basically told me I was crazy and that this baby would be out in 3 more pushes! I liked her no nonsense attitude and the fact that she was strong and supportive!

That is a WONDERFUL question to ask!! THank you!

rosebuddie618

I made sure to ask if the doula had experience w/ the hospital where I am delivering and with my midwife.

Also wanted her to talk about how she would support my partner.

Really though, it all came down to chemistry; we chose our doula because the conversation just felt really natural and both DH and I liked her, more than anything in particular that she said. 

JammieJk

Everything PPs said... also, for me, (and this may seem silly) it was really important that I like her voice.  On game day her voice and DH's voice were the only ones I focused on and it really would have sucked for her to have a voice that irritated me.

BadgerBaby01

I don't think liking your doula's voice is weird - I think it's really important. You need to have a calming, encouraging presence and voice matters a lot in that! I really like listening to our doula talk, so that's a huge plus!