Natural Birth

Questions to ask a doula

Does anyone have any ideas on what to ask when interviewing a doula? 
Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml

Re: Questions to ask a doula

  • hiya!  

    i am a doula and the questions i most often get asked by interviewing couples are:

    1. what is my birth philosophy

    2. why did i become a doula

    3. what do i usually do during labor to help the woman

    4. what methods am i trained in

    5. what is my availability?  do i have a back up doula i work with?

    6. what is my fee and how do i collect it

    7. what do my services include

    8. can i provide references (past clients who the couple can talk to)

    9. what is my certification

    10. what do i do to help prepare the woman for birth. 

     

    I hope this helps!  Penny Simpkin also wrote a book called The Birth Partner and she has a list of questions there too for interviewing doulas. Good luck! 

    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • Hi there.

    I, too, am a doula and here are some of the questions that I am regularly asked:

    1. How long I have been in practice

    2. what my birth philosophy is/why I became a doula

    3. How I see myself helping the women I serve/what I have experience in

    4. what methods am i familiar with or proficient in

    5. How many clients I have/take during a given period

    6. Do I have guaranteed backup and how it works

    7. My fees and schedule of payments

    8. What my 'full services' include

    9. Do I provide other services

    10. Can I give an example when I had a disagreement with the care provider in how the client should be cared for and how did I resolve/work within that atmosphere

    11. Have I worked with their provider

    12. Reference of professionals and clients

    13. Certification or training, what it involved

    14. How do doulas and partners work together... or more often I'm asked if I replace the partner

    15. What do I find is my most useful tool or trick of the trade

     

    I get all types of questions, but these are the top 15. :)

  • Loading the player...
  • All of the above questions are fantastic, I just wanted to add one :)

    1. Have you ever been asked to leave during a delivery?

     One of the doula's I was told about was so pushy with the Dr. that they actually asked her to leave. She was not able to finish helping the mom because she had over stepped what was needed of her. You deffinately want to know that even if you make a decision that your doula does not agree with, she will still be supportive. Not a hassle and stress because she is trying to change your mind. I don't think this is very common, but it's worth asking about. :)

     

  • That last one sounds sooooo necessary. Thanks for the replies because I really had no idea what to ask.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"