10 Questions to Ask When Interviewing a Doula

You've explored Google and you've finally come up with a little list of doulas to consider. You have set up a time to chat with Chloe at Midland Doula... but what do you talk about? What are the questions you want to make sure you ask?

You deserve the best fit possible in your doula, so this interview/consultation will be a great opportunity to figure out if this particular doula is a good match for you. As a birth and postpartum doula herself, Chloe is happy to suggest the following for your consideration:

1. 'What is your training/experience?'

Does having a certification(s) mean something to you? Does it affirm to you that your doula is professionally trained, held to a certain standard, etc.? Or do they have an excellent experience that truly reflects their work? Having experience or training might provide you with a higher quality of information, involvement, offerings, resources, etc. There is no licensing for doulas or big board exams to pass. Many doula training organizations exist, all with unique values and curricula. Doulas are either self-taught, professionally trained, or professionally certified.

2. 'What is your availability surrounding my due date?'

Knowing when they consider themselves on call for your due date is important. Do you have a history of going into labor early? Are they on call starting at 37 or 38 weeks? Do they have travel plans or other unavailability windows? Do they have a backup doula? A professional doula will always have a backup doula (whether you choose the backup yourself or ask your doula to find one for you is totally up to you). A backup doula is most often nothing you have to pay additional fees for; it's simply an agreement between the primary doula and backup to cover emergencies, illness, vacation time, etc.

3. 'What additional certifications or services do you provide?'

If there are certain training or services that matter to you, knowing what skills and tools the doula has in their toolbox will help to inform you. Is breastfeeding important to you? If so, does this doula have additional training or certification in lactation? Or perhaps you gave birth to your precious baby by cesarean section because they were breech. Does this doula have any experience with optimal fetal positioning or resources to help encourage a head-down position for the baby to decrease the risk of a cesarean birth? Here are some additional training/services you may want to receive from the doula: lactation education/support, reiki, massage, optimal fetal positioning, baby wearing education, placenta encapsulation, childbirth education, birth photography, a lending library, etc.

4. 'How would you describe your personality?'

Having a whole bunch of credentials behind a doula's name can look really professional and wonderful. While experience and training can be important, personality can weigh heavier than you might think. If a doula isn't fully certified, they may have still been professionally trained and could have the perfect personality you are looking for. You could interview a seasoned doula and a new doula, and feel more connected to the new doula. That connection is a key consideration when hiring a doula. Their personality will tell you a lot.

5. 'How did you get into doula work?'

Learning about how they became a doula is often a really great way to learn about their personality, passion, history, etc. Most importantly, it's good to find out their motivation for being a doula. What are their hopes for the families they work with? Do they have a true passion for this work? Do they have a "savior complex" (actually not uncommon in the doula world, unfortunately)? How do they seem to balance what got them into this work and what support you need from them? What really brought them to become a doula is the perfect way to see what their roots are in this work and how they might be able to doula you yourself.

6. 'How might you work with my partner or family?'

If you have a partner, they most likely want to be even somewhat involved in the birth and care of your baby. Whether they are sitting in the corner of the room working on their computer or right in there with you holding your hand, your chosen doula should be able to support them as well. Or perhaps your partner is back to work quickly and they only have limited time postpartum with you. How can the doula support their learning about your baby? ​Obviously, you are often the center of it all and your hired doula knows that. But what about your partner? They can often be forgotten about, simply because they aren't carrying the baby. How will this doula involve them? How will this doula help them to feel supported too? Do they offer guidance, reassurance, or suggestions? Are they just talking to you during the interview or to your partner as well? Asking a potential doula about how they might work with your partner/family will help you to determine if they are a good fit for you AND your partner/family.

7. 'What kinds of births or postpartum families have you supported and how?'

Medicated? Unmedicated? Home births? Birth center births? Hospital births? Vaginal? Cesarean? An even deeper question about their experience is to ask about the kind of birth and/or postpartum experiences they have supported. Have they been there during a complication or interventions? Do they handle emergency situations well? What about blood or other bodily fluids? How do they support each family when each experience is so different? What coping techniques do they like to use most? What affirmations can they provide to you or your partner? Do they have experience working with anyone who has had postpartum depression or anxiety? What infant feeding choices can they help with?

8. 'When do you arrive and leave?'

Does this doula have specific parameters around when they join you? For example, you have to be 4 cm dilated or have contractions 5 minutes apart exactly. Can the doula meet you at home and labor with you there before heading to your planned birthplace (if not at home)? How long do they stay postpartum? Does it differ if you have a vaginal birth or a cesarean? Regarding a postpartum doula: The next question will help with understanding what a postpartum doula care shift can look like.

9. 'What does working with you look like?'

Asking this question in this broad sort of way helps to give the doula a chance to explain what the whole process might look like when working together. With our team, Allison handles all the onboarding steps (ie. contract, invoice). Do they send information, resources, or handouts throughout your pregnancy? What might prenatal visits look like and what's covered during them? Are they available for texting or emailing in between prenatal visits? When do they say is best to call them when it's time for labor? Do they bring anything with them (like a doula bag)? In what ways do they often support you/your partner (emotionally, physically, and informationally)? What does the postpartum period look like? Do they offer a postpartum visit to check in? Are they available for questions over text? Regarding a postpartum doula: What does postpartum doula care look like? What is this doula's 'specialty' or the things they commonly help with? Whether it's light household tidying, newborn care, lactation support, running errands or simply talking through how things are going, it's helpful to get a better idea of how they can support you.

10. 'What is your doula style?'

How do you take your coffee? Lots of sugar, strong, or something in between? Each doula has a very unique personality, and therefore they have a unique approach to how they tend to "doula." Some are the outgoing cheerleader types who stay very positive and bring lots of affirmations. Others are the wise, education-focused types who bring an evidence-based information approach to your birth team. And others are quieter in voice yet focus on massage or holding space to help you cope and feel supported. Asking the doula what their style pretty much helps you to determine what kind of coffee they are. So ask yourself: how would you take your doula? Lots of sugar, strong, or something in between?

*Bonus considerations:

The questions above are great to ask the doula, but what questions should you ask yourself? Allison suggests taking a few additional notes after you talk with the potential doula to answer a few of the following questions for yourself:

• How easy does it feel to talk to this doula? Does the conversation flow easily?

• What personality is coming through? What is your gut or intuition saying?

• What beliefs, opinions, or practices are coming through? Does this appear to be something that might not mesh well or are these things that align with you and your family in just the right way?

• Does the doula seem organized and attentive? Was communication (email, video call, etc.) easy with them?

• Does the doula feel knowledgeable? Do they seem to have an understanding of pregnancy, labor, birth, postpartum, infant feeding, etc.?

• Do they love what they doula?--Sorry, just had to use this pun! Can you feel their passion, their reason(s) for doing this work?

• Would you feel comfortable having this person in this intimate, vulnerable chapter of your life? Do they already make you feel safe, validated, informed, and supported?

I hope you found this helpful! ​Let Chloe

know if you have any questions; she would be happy to answer them below in the comments or feel free to email her at hello@midlanddoula.com.