Ten Questions You Should Ask at a Doula Interview
You want to hire a doula and you want to hire a doula that is great match for your needs. So set up those interviews! But also, don’t think of your meetings with potential doulas like a job interview, think of them like a casual chat where you both can find out more about each other. In fact, a really good doula is more likely to listen more than she talks during the interview process.
Here are a few questions to get you started!
Why did you become a doula?
What training or certification do you have? Did you like it?
What backup arrangements do you have in place in the event that you could not attend my birth?
Tell me about a client or birth that you worked really well with and what made it work so well.
Discuss the type of birth you are planning then ask the doula if she has experience in helping couples achieve this goal.
How often will we be in touch during my pregnancy?
How many times do you recommend that we meet prenatally?
Have you previously worked with my hospital or care provider? Tell me about a birth with my provider where your client loved their birth.
How do you involve my partner in the birth experience?
Do you have training in lactation and will you assist in breastfeeding. If so, how and when and what resources do you have it I need more help beyond a doula’s scope?
That is just a few to get started. Ask the doula about funny hobbies they have or their pets. I was once hired because the potential clients went to Disney every year and so did I - we mostly talked about Disney during the interview and to this day, hundreds of clients later, they are still one of my favorite couples.