The Best Questions to Ask a Doula During an Interview
Before we begin, it’s important that you already know what a doula is and does. In a doula interview it’s important to find out what makes them unique and checking that they align with your values.
If you don’t know what a doula is or what a they do, check out my What’s a Doula page.
This checklist is perfect for finding the perfect doula for you. Everyone is looking for something different in a doula based on their unique life experience and needs.
I won’t be giving you a generic list of questions to ask in an interview. Instead, I’ll help you create your own custom questions to help you decide what you are looking for in a doula by asking you 3 questions.
Do you want someone at your birth with a specific ideology?
What is important to you? Think about your ideal birth.
Are you looking for someone to support you while you give birth with an epidural? If so, how would they do that?
Are you looking for someone who believes that home births are the safest?
Are you looking for someone who loves supporting VBAC’s, or Breech births, or twins?
Do you want someone with a similar background, religion, or ethnicity?
You can ask open ended questions such as what are your views about VBAC? Or specific questions like how many twin births have you attended?
Is there something specific you are looking to add to your support team?
For example, if you have an OB, are you looking for someone more naturally minded?
If you have a history of big babies in your family, are you looking for someone knowledgeable about labor positions to help ensure a successful vaginal birth?
If you have a partner that has anxiety (or you do), are you looking for someone to help keep the situation calm regardless of complications and help ease any anxieties along the way? What would that support look like for you?
What unique challenges do you want support with?
For example, are you worried about discrimination based on your race, gender, family composition, or financial situation?
Do you have anxiety?
Does your partner have ADHD?
Are you inviting your children to the birth and need another hand?
Do you have a broken bone or otherwise have reduced mobility and will need extra help to get into new positions?
Are you high risk but want a low intervention birth?
Everyone is Unique
The list goes on! Everyone is unique and will want/need something different from their doula. Try to make a list of questions, both specific and open ended and just get to know the doula you are interviewing.
If you are still having trouble deciding which doula you liked best after interviewing them, think about which one you felt most comfortable around.
A few last tips, interview more than one doula.
Have your partner be part of the process. It will really help your partner be on board with bringing someone into the birth space and feel comfortable with the doula’s role.
Now you know what to look for when you start interviewing doulas.
