Birth Doula Interview Questions
Whenever expectant parents are considering hiring a birth doula to support them, we commonly are asked, “I have no idea what to ask! Can you please give me some questions I should ask?”
While the “right” questions will vary from person to person, here are just a few to get your creative juices simmering.
Sidenote: If you haven’t already asked your care provider about their opinion on doula support, it’s wise to do this before hiring one. In the unlikely event that they don’t have a positive opinion, consider probing a bit to learn why they feel this way. This may give helpful insight about the care provider you’ve hired.
What led you to become a doula?
Tell me about your experience, training and/or certification(s) (if applicable).
Do you have specific specialties/modalities?
What’s your fee and what does it cover? Refund policy?
How many clients do you take on per month?
Will you have a backup arrangement? If so, will I be able to meet the backup and will they have comparable experience? How often have you needed to use backup?
If it’s a doula partnership, ask about the on-call structure.
Have you worked with my OB/midwife? (If you have, what’s your opinion and how do you get along with them?)
Have you worked at my birthing location/setting?
What’s your communication approach in labor? (Do you advocate for me directly to the staff or make suggestions to me/my partner on how to advocate for ourselves?)
What happens if I need either a scheduled cesarean or if my labor goes in such a way that I need a cesarean?
When do you join me in labor?
What do we do in our prenatals?
How do you involve my partner (if applicable)?
How do you prefer to communicate (phone/text/email, times of day, etc.)
What pain coping techniques/comfort measures do you find yourself using most with your clients? (and you have a specific preference/need, ask about this)
Do all of your clients have unmedicated births? How do you feel about pain medications?
Also, think about any special, personal needs you might have – e.g. do you need a doula who speaks a specific language or is well-versed in specific cultural or religious rituals surrounding pregnancy, birth, postpartum?
Would any of your previous clients be willing to chat with me for a reference?
During & after interview, consider:
Do I feel comfortable around this person – comfortable enough to be with in a completely vulnerable state?
Does the doula have the kind of energy/approach I think will help me through labor?
Does the doula communicate and listen well?
Will this doula support my choices or do they have their own agenda?
If you’re an expectant parent or birth worker, let us know if there are things you’d add!
U.S. Surgeon General’s New Advisory for the Health of Parents
Did you see the recent, new advisory issued by the U.S. Surgeon General about supporting and protecting the mental health & well-being of parents in our country? If not, here’s the link. Check out the PDF, the summary, and/or the video.
Some selected parts of this I wanted to highlight:
“Parental mental health conditions can have far-reaching and profound implications for children, families as a whole, and for society, including increased health care costs and reduced economic productivity.”
“The mental health conditions of parents can pose greater risks for children when combined with additional risk factors like poverty, exposure to violence, and marital conflict, but they can be mitigated by protective factors like social support networks and positive parenting behaviors as well.”
“It's time to value and respect time spent parenting on par with time spent working at a paying job, recognizing the critical importance to society of raising children.”
A big amen and YES to that last one in particular.
I appreciate the actionable strategies laid out, and that they broke it down into things that can be done by the following:
various levels of government (national, territorial, state, local, & tribal)
employers
communities / community organizations / schools
health and social service systems & professionals
researchers
family & friends
parents & caregivers
I wish that this advisory had had a bit more of a focus on the perinatal time. So much happens in the enormous rite of passage of pregnancy, birth, and immediate postpartum that can have a life-altering impact on our mental health that we’re not supporting. So to the list of actions provided, I’d add some more specific things for the perinatal (pregnancy & postpartum) phase that desperately need to be implemented to support the mental health and overall well-being of parents:
In-home breastfeeding support (at a minimum, on day 3-5 after birth)
Doula support (surprise!)
Bodywork - Chiropractic, osteopathy, craniosacral therapy, etc. (I’ll point out that midwives in the UK routinely refer patients and their babies to CST immediately after birth)
What would you add?
I love that the advisory included listing the Maternal Mental Health hotline, and I want to include this resource here for anyone who might need it. Call or text the free Maternal Mental Health hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (852-6262) for 24/7 confidential support in English or Spanish. If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text the free, multilingual, and confidential 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. More perinatal mental health resources (some specifically for New Yorkers) on our sister website here.
Whats’ a Doula?
We thought it might be useful to give you a video explainer about the role and benefits of a birth doula and a postpartum doula. This video also gives expectant parents a lay of the land of how our collective works. So here you go!