- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Natural Birth
Finding/Using a doula... questions
The only way we are able to afford a doula in our area is to go with someone that is still working toward certification. (Believe me, if I could pay someone full price, I absolutely would as I believe their help is worth every penny) We found a lady in our area that will be certified by DONA the month after I'll deliver and we'll be meeting with her soon. I'm not overly concerned about her not being certified at the time I'll deliver, I'm more just wondering what I should be looking for in a doula.
Does anyone have any suggestions on questions I should ask? Or do you think it's more of a personalities-meshing-well thing and I'll know fairly quickly if she's the right one for us? I'm hoping for a natural birth and since it's my first I want as much support as possible.
Any advice is much appreciated! Thank you!
Warning
No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Finding/Using a doula... questions
Here is the list I created for interviews, compiled from DONA's website and some others. We didn't go through it in a formal way, we just chatted but this helped guide me and ask follow-up questions when needed. She covered almost all of the questions on her own.
Background and Philosophy
Why did you become a doula?
What training have you had? What was required in order to receive any certifications?
How many births have you attended?
Are you familiar with (name of birthing locavion)?
Are you familiar with how (my HMO) does births?
Tell us about some of your birthing experiences.
Can you give an example of a time when an intervention was truly necessary and how that decision-making process went? What about a time when the parents declined an intervention?
Which labor-coping techniques do you think tend to be the most helpful?
What is your experience with the (our birthing method)?
Are your familiar with dealing with (my unique health issues)?
Business Details
Do you have a backup arrangement with another doula?
What if I deliver early or late when you are on-call for other clients?
What's your fee? What does your fee cover? How many visits or hours? What's your refund policy?
What does the doula expect from you? (Contract, questionnaires, birth plan, etc.)
Preparation
Do our visions align? Healthy baby, healthy mom but birth preferences (talk through sheet if appropriate)
May we call you with questions or concerns before and after the birth?
What is your philosophy about birth and supporting women and their partners through labor?
How would you work with and involve my partner?
Birth
How do we get in touch with you when labor begins?
When would you join me during labor? Do you come to our home or meet us at the place of birth?
How would you coach us through deciding on interventions?
Do you meet with us after the birth to review the labor and answer questions?
Overall impressions
Do I feel comfortable around this person?
Is she warm, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable?
Does she communicate and listen well?
Will she support my choices or does she have her own agenda?
More Green For Less Green
I agree with PP's questions, and some I would add...
What other certifications does she have (massage therapy, aromatherpy, etc.)?
How many other clients will she have around my EDD? Has she ever missed a birth? Any plans around my EDD? (for example I met with one doula who was planning a trip 2 wks before my EDD and her son was graduating HS the week of. I know the statistical chances of her missing were slim but compared to another doula who had nothing planned I couldn't ignore this)
I am doing Hypnobabies so I asked if she was familiar with those techniques?
I also asked my Midwife if she had any experience with the doula (maybe hard to do if she isn't certified yet)?
Someone told me to look on Craigslist, and I did. It sounds weird, but when I met with her she said she advertises her website there and has gotten a lot of responses from it. Another resource would be any doula groups in your area. A lot of times doulas working on their certifications will join the groups to learn more and to meet other clients. I would communicate with any doulas in your area and let them know that you are looking for someone still working toward certification and see if they can refer you. Good luck!
And thanks to the ladies who responded, I appreciate your input! It was very helpful!