Finding the Doula that's Right for You

If you've recently found out you're expecting, congratulations! As you enter this new and exciting experience, you're most likely beginning to delve into all things pregnancy. Who will you hire as your caregiver? Do you want to give birth at home or in the hospital? What kind of support will you need after baby arrives?Okay, I know this type of question usually doesn't pop into your head until late pregnancy, or maybe until after baby arrives and you realize you're in a bit of a pinch. But really. You should start thinking about all things postpartum, too! If you are expecting, I highly recommend hiring a doula. I guarantee you will not regret hiring her.  It is her job to support you, to inform you of all options available, and to help you have a safe and satisfying birth and/or postpartum experience. I know, right? It sounds amazing. But how do you go about hiring a doula? It's very possible that you might not even know where to look first, and that's okay. I don't believe that there are doulas listed in the Yellow Pages (at least not in Bloomington anyways), and we definitely don't all work in one big office building. But, personally, I think that's one of the best parts about doula work-- doulas come from all different backgrounds, bringing personality, compassion, and a diverse set of skills to the birth world. 

There are a few different ways you can find a doula in your area. DONA International is the oldest, most widely known doula-certifying organization in the world. You can use DONA's doula locator to find certified DONA doulas near you. Bloomington Area Birth Services' (BABS) website has a special page dedicated to doulas who are currently taking clients in the Bloomington community. It is important to note that these doulas are not necessarily affiliated with BABS, although some may volunteer with BABS workshops and classes. You can also check in with the Birth Doulas of South Central Indiana as well as the Bloomington Postpartum Doula Collective, two groups of professionals that work with new and growing families in Monroe County and surrounding areas. Lastly, I believe that one of the best ways to find the right doula for you is word of mouth. Talk to your girlfriends, coworkers, and family members. Ask if they've had a doula's assistance for their birth(s), and if so, who did they work with? Why did they choose her? Keep in mind that the doula who was suggested may have been a good fit for that particular family, but she may not be the right labor/postpartum support for you. 

Below is a list of questions you may want to address as you interview doulas.  Like I said before, finding the doula who is right for you takes time and patience, but it is worth all of the hard work you put forth in your search.  I encourage expectant parents to interview lots of doulas in their community before choosing the one that they mesh with the best.  Remember that this person will be with you during most of your labor and the birth of your baby, or she may be in your home helping out 3-4 days a week for 2 months.  Make sure you feel at ease in her presence; if not, keep searching!  If possible, start looking for a doula, whether it be for birth, postpartum, or both, by your sixth or seventh month of pregnancy.  This will allow you plenty of time to consider your options and find the best fit!  

1. Are you available around my estimated due date? I say "estimated" here because it is not set in stone, gals!  On average, first time mamas go into labor 8 days after their due date.  Please keep that in mind as your due date nears.  Instead of only focusing on baby's predicted birth date, pencil in another something special like seeing a new film or going out to dinner with your partner.  This will help take the edge off of things when people start noticing you're still pregnant 1 day after your due date. 
   
2. For birth doulas:  What is your birthing philosophy?  For postpartum doulas:  What is your philosophy on parenting and supporting families?  Note not only what she is saying, but how she is saying it.  Is her body language warm and welcoming?  Giving birth can be a very vulnerable time for a woman.  The doula needs to be a person of trust and comfort. The same goes for those first few days, weeks, or months postpartum. 
   
3. How did you get into this line of work?  I think it's always fun to hear about this stuff, and there are multiple paths that can lead a person to this work.  It also makes you feel more connected to an individual when you know a little more about them other than their occupation.
4. How many clients are you working with the month I am due?  Doulas usually take on 2 or 3 clients a month.  Women rarely go into labor at the same time, so there is a good chance your doula will be completely available for you when you need her.  But, things do come up:  Illness, a family emergency, and so on.  In that case, your next question should be:
   
5. Do you arrange for back-up support?  Your doula should always arrange for back-up support!  In my private practice, I arrange for back-up assistance in one of two ways:  The client interviews multiple doulas, hires me, and then arranges for another favorite to be back-up OR I send out an e-mail to a few doulas in the community who I know and trust and ask them for their availability.  My client will then meet the back-up doula sometime before their pregnancy is over.  This could be over coffee or at one of our prenatals.  It's totally up to the client on how they want to handle it.
   
6. What kind of training do you have?  Training will vary from doula to doula.  There are multiple doula certification programs out there today (DONA,CAPPA, and toLabor are just a few of them).  I would highly recommend working with someone who is at least trained.  If she is certified, you should be able to look her up and find that that's really the case.  Please keep in mind that if she is just trained but not certified, that does not mean she's not fit for the job. We all have to start somewhere, and trained doulas need the experience to get certified. :)
   
7. How many families have you worked with?  Good to know.  Talking about her amount of professional experience can lead you to this question:
   
8. Can I speak with a few of your recent clients?  You will feel at ease if you chat with a few of her previous clients and hear they had great experiences with her.  It's a peace of mind thing.
   
9. For birth doulas:  Have you worked with [insert your doctor/midwife's name here] before?  Chances are, you're asking this to see if the doula meshed well with your care provider. Or you just want to get an idea of how he performed in labor and delivery.  For example, did he stick to your previous client's birth plan?  
   
10. What is included in your services?  Doula services can be different in many ways, but here are the basics:  She meets with you prenatally X amount of times so that you can discuss your birth preferences, practice comfort measures, etc.  She is on-call for you for X amount of time.  She will labor with you at home or when you arrive at the hospital.  She will stay with you until after the baby is born and breastfeeding is established.  She will visit with you 1-2 weeks postpartum to see how your new family is doing.  
    
11. Do you offer any additional services?  A doula may offer additional services or packages along with the basics you just read above.  Doulas may provide massage therapy, lactation support, childbirth education classes,  belly casting, etc.  Ask her if she has any special packages or rates.  Think about ways that you can enhance this experience and make it memorable.  A cast of your belly on baby's nursery wall would be a nice keepsake, wouldn't it?
    
12. What is your experience with breastfeeding support?  It's important that your doula understands the benefits of breastfeeding, for both mom and baby.  She can help you to advocate for your family after baby is born.  In those immediate moments postpartum, she will remind you to keep baby skin-to-skin, help with breastfeeding positions, and evaluate the latch.  She will be your extra set of eyes and hands, especially if your nurse is busy checking on other patients. 
    
13. For birth doulas:  What is your favorite labor-coping technique?  Asking this question can help you better understand the comfort measures and relaxation techniques your doula may introduce in labor.  It can also help you understand what you like and don't like (although this can change in labor-- so make sure your doula has a plethora of suggestions :). 
    
14. What is your fee?  Do you have a refund policy?  The answer to this question typically revolves around the doula's experience and location.  Postpartum doulas typically charge around $25 dollars an hour for their services;  however, those who are still working towards certification may charge a lesser amount.  Some birth doulas offer free services, whereas others may charge up to $1,000 dollars per birth.  Some doulas may also offer payment plans or gift certificates, which can be a fabulous baby shower gift!  Refund policies vary for each doula, so make sure to ask about details regarding her services.

---

When you feel like you've found the doula that's right for you, your last question will be something along the lines of,
"Will you be my doula?"

Congratulations once again and good luck on your birthing journey!!