Doula Interview Questions

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Most doulas offer a complimentary initial meet-n-greet to determine if you’d be a good fit to work together. It’s an opportunity to learn how the doula works, their point of view, what they offer, and also to share what you’d like for your birth and support, if you know. Many people don’t know much about what kind of birth they want to plan; experienced doulas can help sort that out.  After all, if you don’t know your options, you have none.

People learn all about their options and choices (there are many!!) in my Prenatal Classes.

Here are some questions you might wish to ask when you’re considering working with a doula for your birth.

BACKGROUND, EDUCATION, PHILOSOPHY

  1. How many births have you attended?
  2. How long have you been in practise?
  3. Where have you worked? (Hospitals, birth centres, homes. Which ones?)
  4. With which primary practitioners have you worked in my area? (Midwives, doctors, OBs).
  5. What’s your educational background in general?
  6. What experience, education and training do you have, specifically related to birth (childbirth education, birth support, breastfeeding, postpartum support and newborn care)?
  7. Do you have complimentary training e.g. natural remedies, modalities for pain management & comfort measures?
  8. What is your philosophy about pregnancy, birth and support?
  9. What’s one thing you wish all parents-to-be knew about birth?
  10. Are there limitations of support?  E.g., natural vs. medicated birth, time-lines for gestation & labour, home vs. hospital birth.
  11. What compelled you to start doing this work?

GENERAL PRACTISE ORGANIZATION

  1. What are you affiliations? e.g. Professional associations, memberships
  2. Do you provide community links and resources for and relationships with other practitioners with skills who may benefit pregnant and postpartum people?
  3. What’s your offer, in detail? e.g. # of prenatal visits, on-call schedule, post-partum support/schedule.
  4. Fees – cost, payment schedule, return policy. What payments do you accept? Do you offer payment plans?
  5. How do you support partners / birth-companions?
  6. How do you like to communicate with your clients?
  7. What expectations do you have of your clients?
  8. Do you have privileges in all or limited birth centres & hospitals?
  9. Do you work with out-of-town clients?
  10. Are there additional perks? Are they included or do they cost extra? e.g. Lending library of books & videos, informational resources, health related therapies, workshops or classes?

PRENATAL CARE

  1. What information is covered in prenatal meetings?
  2. Do you help create a birth-plan?
  3. What kind of preparation tools/materials do you offer?
  4. How do you help prepare clients for their ideal birth?
  5. Do you expect your clients to do any homework?
  6. Do you help your clients prepare for the postpartum stage? If so, how?
  7. Are you available for extra meetings, questions, phone calls? If so, are there additional fees?

LABOR & BIRTH

  1. Do you work with back-up? If so, who and can I meet them if I wish?
  2. Under what circumstances would the back-up attend?
  3. What if you miss the birth?
  4. What if I go into labour before on-call dates?
  5. When do you join your clients in labour?
  6. Where do you join your clients? At home or place of birth?
  7. How long do you stay?
  8. What are your methods or tools for support during the birthing process? e.g. Pain management techniques such as massage & knowledge of positions; complimentary therapies such as homeopathy, acupuncture, aromatherapy.
  9. How do you help keep labour progressing efficiently?
  10. What do you do to help with difficult labours (long, stalled, and/or back labour)
  11. Are you knowledgeable and comfortable supporting labour with medical interventions?
  12. How do you work with my partner and/or anyone else I might wish to be part of my labour?
  13. What if I have a Caesarean birth?
  14. What if I’m transferred to (another) hospital or city?

POSTPARTUM & NEWBORN CARE

  1. Do you help with breastfeeding? How? When? e.g. Immediately after birth or at home in the following days too?
  2. What if I need specialized help with breastfeeding and/or recovery from birth?
  3. What does your support look like in the postpartum stage?
  4. How long do you offer postpartum support?
  5. Do you have resources to help with postpartum recovery? For the birthing person and/or the baby?

MOST IMPORTANT NOTE FOR PARENTS-TO-BE:

  1. Do you feel comfortable enough with this doula to share your baby’s birth?
  2. Are they kind, warm, and have the other personality traits you’d like in a doula?
  3. Is the doula knowledgeable about your particular concerns?
  4. Do they listen and communicate well?
  5. Are they comfortable with your choices or do they seem to have their own agenda?