If you are hoping for a natural birth, hiring a midwife and finding a trusted doula are great ways to ensure that your birth is what you’re hoping for inasmuch as possible. This post is full of helpful, insightful, and relevant doula interview questions to choose someone who is right for you!
“Just like you’ll want to work with a midwife to increase your odds for a natural childbirth, you’ll also want to hire a birth doula. She is a trained professional who gives continuous physical (non-medical), emotional and informational support to expectant mamas, laboring moms, and postpartum mothers and families.
Doulas are evidence based
Women who have continuous support, especially from a doula, are more likely to have spontaneous vaginal births and less likely to have any pain medication, epidurals, vacuum or forceps-assisted births, C-sections, or negative feelings about childbirth.
Other benefits include:
- Increased chance of a positive childbirth experience
- Higher breastfeeding success rate
- Better maternal self-esteem
- Lower blood pressure during labor
- Less pain experienced
- And, if interventions are medically necessary, a doula can help support the mother emotionally so she can have a positive birth experience despite changes in her birth plan. She also can find ways to make it more natural in the midst of interventions.
How to find a doula
Word of mouth is the best way to find a great doula. Ask around and see if your friends have any recommendations. You can also ask your midwife if she has any referrals. Otherwise, you can go to this web-based service, which will show you all of the doulas (and their credentials) available in your area. You’ll want to be sure you set up an interview and ask the below doula interview questions.
Interviewing birth doulas
Just like our midwife, we want to ask prospective doulas certain questions to be sure they are a good fit. This woman will be with you at some of your most vulnerable and intense moments of your life. You want to be sure that you are on the same page! Observe her personality and see what her style is like. Do you need a coach type? Do you like a gentle encourager? Try to think of what motivates you when you’re in distress… and try to find a doula that could fit the bill. You also want to be sure your partner is present at the doula interview. In some ways, they are going to work together more closely than you and the doula!
Birthing doula interview questions
General
- What kind of training do you have?
- What are your doula fees?
- Do you have a back-up doula? Can I meet her? How often is your back-up doula used?”
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