doula questions!

seblackb

Hi ladies! So we have our initial consult with a doula tonight - I am so excited!! I have already printed off a list of the "recommended" questions from a few websites, but do you ladies have any questions that I should also ask? My only other thought was to ask her if she has any personal experience with my OB and/or hospital. Other than that, I figure we'll just chat about her ideas regarding natural birth vs. drugs, when she will be with us in person during labor, what happens if it's a really lengthy labor, her personal background as a doula, etc. Thanks for any tips!

JGY

Mostly a lurker on this board (so far), but hopefully you all won't mind me jumping in on this one.

As a former Doula myself, I think it's absolutely critical to ask about a back-up plan in the rare case that your hired Doula cannot make it to your birth.  Make sure you are comfortable with whatever plan there is, and also make sure to ask the nitty-gritty questions like "Who do I pay in the event that the back-up Doula attends my birth? Will our agreed-upon rate stay the same?" 

This is just 1 critical question I can think of, but wanted to throw it out there.  Some Doulas do (with the best of intentions) rely on a small client load to eliminate timing conflicts, but you never know when someone is going to get sick or a personal tradgedy may take place.  You don't want your Doula to be scrambling, and YOU certainly don't want to be left scrambling. 

Good luck!

tokenhoser

I did end up with my backup doula, so it definitely happens and is worth asking about. Mostly, it's about connecting on a personal level (you need to be able to 100% trust that she is on your side and will help you get what you want as much as possible).

aylafsu88

The most important question I had for my doula was how she would handle me if I asked for pain medication.  I wanted to make sure she would stay positive and help me stay strong during labor if I thought I could not do it.  She gave me a very direct answer and in L&D she was excellent.  I did freak out a bit when I was pushing.  My doula told me to calm down and keep pushing because LO was almost here.  I personally loved her direct no nonsense attitude.  I will be using her for my next natural birth!

danuli8

I interviewed three doulas trying to find the best fit, and the first question I asked all three of them was, "So, what made you decide to become a doula?" You'll get all kinds of info on their background and philosophy because it's a very open-ended question. The one who answered "I was called by God" got eliminated right away. We're not very religious and we did not want that slant to our coaching.

The one I ended up choosing knew all the ins and outs at the hospital where I will be delivering, and I found that very reassuring. So I'd also advise you to ask how many deliveries she has attended at your chosen hospital/birthing center if you're not doing a home birth. Insider knowledge is a wonderful help.

seblackb

Thanks ladies!! We had a good meeting yesterday, and I'm going to meet with a couple more since she is the first doula I've ever talked with. She may be the one we end up with, but I have nothing to compare her to, you know? I appreciate your input - thanks again!!

nyki06

I printed off a million and three questions for our doula interview and at the end of the interview it really came down to how I felt we clicked. She was the first person we interviewed and we hired her on the spot because we both felt so comfortable with her. Since that person will be helping you through a really vulnerable time I think that how you feel with them makes a huge difference.