Wondering what you should ask when interviewing multiple birth doulas? Here’s a list of questions to consider when searching for the right birth doula for you.

• How many births have you attended? How long have you been a doula?
  • It’s also common for less experienced doulas to charge less per birth as they gain experience. If price is a factor in your decision, choosing a less experienced doula might make sense.
  • If you go with someone less experienced, the support they provide may reflect that. Training can only offer doulas background information, the true value of a doula lies in their experience supporting people through lots of difference scenarios, planned and unplanned.
  • 0-10: This is a brand new doula
  • 11-20: This person is gaining experience
  • 21-50: This person should have confidence in their support abilities
  • 51-100: This doula has had enough experience to encounter a lot of the unknowns that arise unexpectedly
  • 100 or more: This is an extremely experienced doula who has a lot to offer

• Have you attended births at (insert your birth location here)?
  • Having a doula with personal insight into the birth center / hospital / local home birth midwives can be very helpful as you navigate the right place to have your baby.
• What is your view on advocacy? Do you consider it to be within your job description to advocate for my right of informed consent and protect my right of informed consent during labor and birth?
  • If they say no it’s outside my scope, look for another doula because it’s not outside their job description to advocate for your right to informed consent.
  • Informed consent means that you understand the benefits, risks, alternatives, and are given the time and space to make the decision that’s right for you without being pressured or forced by providers.
  • Just because you hire a doula does not mean they are willing or able to stand up for your right of informed consent, depending on how they were trained and their personal views on how to advocate.
• Where did you take your doula training? Can you share your code of conduct?
  • This can be pretty telling about how this individual doula operates because the training they received will shape their views on how they support birthing people. Not all doula trainings are created the same.
  • DONA, Birth Arts International, CAPPA – old guard doulas, limits doula’s ability to advocate for the birther
  • Doula Trainings International, Ancient Song, Cornerstone, Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings, – radical doulas, more advocates, focus on inclusivity and rights
  • Pro Doula – luxury, business and money focus, they do somewhat advocate, hybrid of dona
  • Birth Monopoly – specific continuing education centered around birthing rights and advocacy
• Do you have children of your own? If yes, what were your birth/s like?
  • Sometimes pregnant folks have opinions about their doula having had the experience of giving birth, this may or may not be important to you.
• What made you want to become a doula?
  • Listen to what inspires this person and what led them down this path.
• Have you taken training in Spinning Babies?
  • Spinning Babies is an extra bit of continuing education outside of standard doula education that can have a profound impact on birth by helping with optimal fetal positioning.
• Do you have a reliable backup doula in place?
  • You should expect that they have a reliable backup who will be available in the event of overlap with another birth client or if the doula is sick.

• Will you support my partner and if so how?
  • Common ways that doula support partners is demonstrating and teaching hands-on comfort measures and reminding them in the moment; handing the partner the washcloth or water bottle to give to the birther; making sure the partner gets a break to use the bathroom, eat a meal, or take a nap. Sometimes births are long!
  • It’s also common for the doula to need to take a nap if the birth is lasting 24 hours or more. The doula should take turns with the partner so that the birther always has one of them for support.
• Can you help us draw up our Birth Plan/Birth Preferences?
  • Your doula should have the experience and insight to help you know which things need to go on your Birth Preferences and which things are common practice.
• What happens if we fail to call you in time for the birth?
  • Typically your doula will be able to educate you on knowing when to call and not waiting too long to call for support. Common practice is that the doula would still show up for immediate postpartum support even if the baby is already born.

• What are your favorite childbirth education methods?
  • Remember that your doula should be a resource and have ideas of what works best for the folks they’ve worked with.
• What are your views on (your intended method of birth here)?
  • Unmedicated birth
  • Epidural
  • Induction
  • Planned cesarean
  • Home / birth center / hospital birth
  • etc.
• If you have something you are particularly interested in trying (babywearing, water birth, etc): Do you have experience in supporting this?
  • Imagine your ideal birth and ask the doula about that scenario in your interview.
• How do you feel about breastfeeding and what is your experience of supporting it?
  • Some doulas have more or less experience, education, and qualifications for teaching breastfeeding – so this will help you get a feel for what they offer in this realm.
• What books do you recommend to new parents?
  • This person should be a wealth of information and resources for you, so take advantage of it!
• Do you have a legal contract in place?
  • Any professional doula should have a contract to protect both parties.

Additional Considerations

Pay attention to how the conversation flows and how you feel talking to the doula during your interview.

• What’s the vibe? Do you get along easily or does it feel clunky and awkward to talk together?
• Every single human being has biases. Listen closely to the answers given by the doula in your interview. Do their biases align with your worldview? Or are they in conflict?
• Do you feel that this doula would respect your decisions and support your choices?
• Does it seem like the doula will go to bat for you?
• Could you spend two days with this person, just hanging out?
• Does the doula listen to you well?
• Does your partner like the doula as well?