Questions to ask doulas before you hire.

When deciding on who you want on your pregnancy, birth or postpartum team, it is import to ensure you feel comfortable with the chosen people. I alway recommend calling or meeting with a few doulas to ensure you pick the right for you and your family.

Doulas, while their focus to ensure you are supported in your needs, we all have very different ways of working, boundaries and philosophies.

When meeting potential doulas, it’s important to ask a range of questions to ensure they’re a good fit for your needs and to understand their approach and availability. I always tell people to write down any question they might have because it is very easy to forget when the time comes to ask questions.

Below is a list of questions you might want to consider asking doulas.

Availability and Commitment

1. What is your availability around my due date?
   Ask about their on-call schedule and how they manage their time to ensure they can be present when you go into labour. Also check if they have any holidays planned.

2. How many clients do you take on per month?
   This helps gauge their availability and ensure they’re not overextended. While it is isn’t unheard for doulas to take on a few clients a month it isn’t very common most will only take on a couple a month.

3. When will you attended my birth?

   Some will attended as soon as you call or msg and will support you at home at a planned homebirth or at home before a planned hospital birth. Some will just meet you at the hospital.

1. How long will you stay at the birth?
   Clarify if they stay until the birth is complete or if they have a time limit.

2. What happens if you are unavailable when I go into labour? and reasons you would be unavailable.
   Inquire about their backup plan and who or if someone will step in if they can’t be there or leave due to going over certain time.

Philosophy

1. If you have birthed children, how has your experience impacted your approach to doula work?
   Understand how their personal experiences influence their professional practice, Negative or Positive.

2. Have you done any emotional work or self-reflection to ensure your personal experiences don’t affect your support during pregnancy, birth or postpartum?
   It’s important they can separate their personal experiences from their professional support. eg if they have had a traumatic experience how do they ensure that trauma and fear is not passed on in the birth space.

3. Can you describe your philosophy on birth and how it informs your approach as a doula?
   Ensure their philosophy aligns with your expectations. While you personal choices don’t need to be alined there needs to be some understanding of the way they work and that you would be comfortable with that.

Services

1. What specific services and support do you provide during pregnancy, birth and postpartum?
   Clarify what you can expect from them in terms of physical and emotional support and what they can offer as extra support.

2. How do you prepare for a birth with a new client?
   This helps you understand their approach to pre-birth preparation and education.

3. What kind of postpartum support do you offer?
   Some doulas offer support beyond the birth, so it’s good to know what’s included.

Additional Considerations

1. How do you handle situations where the birth doesn’t go as planned or there are complications?
   Understanding how they manage or help with unexpected changes can provide peace of mind.

2. What are your fees, and what is included in the cost?
   Make sure you understand the financial aspects, including any additional costs.

These questions will help you get a thorough understanding of the doula’s, availability, approach, and how they can support you throughout your experience.