Doula Questions

DH and I are hoping to hire a doula for our birth and have a few candidates in mind. Our first interview is tonight. What are good questions to ask a prospective doula or midwife? What is important to know?

Re: Doula Questions

Sorry I am kind of late. I too am interviewing doulas. I ask them for references. Also do they come to the house? usually yes. and just tell me about how you help at delivery. Also ask how many births they have attended and how many a year do they attend on average. Things like this. Who did you interview tonight?

Re: Doula Questions

I'm working on the same thing right now, so I found this:

http://www.dona.org/PDF/QuestionsToAskADoula.pdf

Hope this helps!

Re: Doula Questions

Here are a couple more questions I found (some similar to the ones I posted above)

Question 1. What is the doula's training? Is she certified?

Question 2. What is the doula's level of experience? How many births has she attended as a doula?

Question 3. What is her philosophy regarding birth?

Question 4. Can the doula provide references?

Question 5. What does she provide as part of her doula service? Does she do both prenatal and postnatal visits?

Question 6. What is the doula's fee? Will she accept a payment plan or barter for her services?

Question 7. What is her availability? Does she have a back up in emergency situations or if she is out-of-town?

Question 8. Has the doula worked with your care providers? What is her relationship with other hospital or birth center personnel?

Question 9. How does she see her role during the birth? What are ways she includes the partner in birth?

Question 10. What does the doula expect from you?

Re: Doula Questions

these are great questions. our first interview went really well. she had actually worked with our doctor twice before, so that was reassuring. we have two more interviews to go.