Due Diligence: Interviewing, Researching & Hiring a Doula
This web site is a great start for finding your perfect doula, but you need to
do a bit more work to make sure the doula you hire is the right one for you.
Interviewing
Once you find 3 to 5 doulas who are available and look like good matches, you should call or e-mail those doulas to confirm availability and make an initial
screening inquiry. It may be helpful to note your first impressions when contacting
the doula: was your call or email returned in a timely fashion? Was the doula’s
personality friendly, warm, and receptive? Was she organized? Would you like to
invite her to interview with you and your partner?
The in-person interview gives you and your partner a chance to see if you comfortably
fit with each doula. This is also the time to ask questions about the doula’s service
agreement or hiring contract, her training, education and certifications, her philosophy
of care and how she works with your health care providers. Ask for references from
previous clients (or her doula trainer or childbirth educator if she’s quite new).
After the interview, note your impressions: Is this someone you could imagine supporting
you emotionally and physically in labor? Is this someone you could imagine supporting
your family postpartum? DONA International provides an excellent list of
interview questions for both birth and postpartum doulas.
Researching
After the interview, be sure to continue your research. Contact the doula’s references.
Review her web site. Visit her certifying organization’s web site to understand
the standards of practice and code of ethics for the doulas that
certify with that organization. Ask your care provider if they’ve had the opportunity
to work with the doula.
Hiring
Once you decide to hire a doula, sign the doula’s hiring contract or letter of service
agreement and understand when payment(s) needs to be made. Schedule your prenatal
planning meetings with your doula several weeks before your due date so that you
have enough time to get to know each other. Your thoughtful decision to hire a doula
greatly increases your chances of both a satisfying childbirth and early parenting
experience. Congratulations and enjoy your baby’s birth and newborn period!