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Hiring a doula - specific questions or good vibes?

cheesecakerunnercheesecakerunner member
in Natural Birth

Next week, I'm going to start interviewing potential doulas to help me and MH (first timers!) during birth. I know I want someone who has attended a successful, intervention-free birth with my MWs and who I generally click with. Am I missing any big, specific questions?

We are currently taking Bradley classes, so I feel really comfortable with birth in general, but I just want a "pro" there in case MH or I handle it differently than we expect. Mainly, someone who will keep the calm and help us stay the course with a natural birth, assuming it's safe to do so (my MWs deliver at a major metro hospital). 

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Re: Hiring a doula - specific questions or good vibes?

  • wifeofadamwifeofadam member
    I'd go with someone you click with, because usually they will also have answered the questions in the way you would like them to.  Since a doulas job is to bring you comfort during labor, you want to make sure it is someone you like and want to be there.
        
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  • aylafsu88aylafsu88 member
    For me it was a combination of the vibe I got from her and the answers to specific question.  H and I felt really comfortable with her and we felt like it was a good match.  The big question I had for the doula was how she would handle me if I asked for pain medication becuase I thought I could no longer go natural.  She gave me a straightforward no nonsense answer.  Honestly, that sealed the deal for me.  I wanted a doula who would be strong and supportive of me even when I thought I could not go on. During delivery I did ask for some kind of narcotic to numb the pain.  She told me I was crazy and LO would be here in two pushes. For me, that was the type of thing I needed to hear.  It calmed me down and I did have LO without any medication. 
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  • vsackett1vsackett1 member
    Yes the "click" factor is key. You are going to be around this person when you have zero patience and are on edge in some ways, so you want them to have a spirit about them that you think will be good for you in those moments and that you'll want to be around, whether it be a tough, no nonsense doula, or a softer, laid back doula. Asking questions about what types of situations she's been in with births and how she handled them, and also if she offers any physical support (hip and back counter pressure for example) or not. My first doula was pretty much hands off and it was fine, I didn't know anything else anyways, but our new doula (the other is not available) does a lot of physical support for pain management which I am looking forward to.
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  • arcook0307arcook0307 member
    The good vibe is important.  Also important to me this go round is a back up doula.  What happens if your doula absolutely can't make it or has another client she's with?  Find out how many people she schedules in a month.  I've heard of up to 4 or 5 a month but I am much more comfy with 2. lol  That's how they make their living though.  There are lists of questions online too if you do a search.  I just printed off one of those and took it with me.  I took notes on it and used it as a reference this time too.  See if she has any resources she can loan you and how "on call" she is.  The one I will be interviewing this week is on call 24/7 for questions from the moment of hire.  Actually she told me before the interview if I had a question to call her.  My last doula was on call but only 24/7 after a certain point in the pregnancy which I think is pretty normal and acceptable.  Ask if she takes payments in parts of if it's all due up front.  When will she come to be with you during the labor?  Some people need the support right away and then some doulas want you to wait until contractions are 5 min or 3 min apart....whatever their protocol.  My last one wrote a cool birth story from all the notes she gathered.  She was also willing to take pictures/video.  
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  • nekoraynenekorayne member
    For me my doula choice was all about the vibes. I was lucky enough to meet someone as a friend who was a doula and I just KNEW I wanted her at my birth. WE have the same view on child birth and we just click. Something else I love about her is how she knows how to pull my husband into the birth. My DH is VERY hands on and so having a doula who really understood that this was an experience my DH and I wanted to have together and had such a positive and helpful view on that is a must. She just gets me and I find her so calming and strong. I would just chat about what you want for your birth and see who makes you feel the warm and fuzzy. 

    I would also ask them what pain coping techniques they have up thier sleeve. We have not even gone into labor yet and my doula taught my DH how to use our woven wrap to do rabozo work and it has been FANTASTIC!! I like that she has a varity of ideas and uses oils and such! 
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