Deciding between two doulas

[Ambivalent Dreams]

I am having the hardest time choosing between two doulas. I hoping if I can talk about it a little I will figure out which one it is that is the best fit for me. One is in her late 50's and has been a doula off and on since the 1970's. She is very self-assured and has a comforting grandma kinda vibe. The other is in her late 20's/early 30's (?) and has a soothing hippy-mommy vibe. She is a midwife apprentice.

Another thing that is making it confusing, is that I met the younger doula during a quick lunch (my choice) and I met the older doula at my home where my husband and I talked with her for an hour and a half. Obviously, I feel like I know the older doula better now. I'm thinking it was a bad idea to interview the younger doula at a restaurant. Maybe I should call her and ask her some follow up questions or perhaps invite her to the house for a second interview. Is that weird?

I didn't know making this choice was going to be so hard!

[IntuitiveJamie]

Would any sort of pros/cons list help?
You haven't really stated any reasons why one might be better over the other, just that one is grandmotherly and the other is younger.
I'm a go by my gut kind of person (hence the name )
You can certainly follow up with the younger doula, there should be no problem in that.
But there are usually pros and cons, like one lives closer and could get to you faster, etc.
Good luck!

[is it puppies?]

I had trouble deciding between two, as well. My husband also met both and he really nudged me in the direction of the one that he would feel most comfortable working with, I don't know how I would have made the decision otherwise. I did end up emailing a couple of questions to the one I finally chose to confirm a couple of things I'd assumed but she never said, but that the other one brought up. I sincerely think I would have been happy with either but for totally different reasons. I met three all together and I thought the first one was great till I met the second who knocked my socks off, then I met the third who was way different but also knocked my socks off! Maybe do you need to meet another one if you've only met two? Could make it easier or harder I guess!

[Gray's Mommy]

As a practicing doula, I recommend interviewing at least 3 doulas. One you will love, one you will like & one won't normally be the right fit. Kinda like Goldilocks. If you find the one you love, you can ask the one you like to be a back up.

[lmk1]

I interviewed several doulas for my first pregnancy, and I went with the "older" one that had been at hundreds of births. Ended up with her backup during the actual birth, but I felt more comfortable because I felt she'd seen so many births, that I could more easily ask her medical questions that came up. What I really wanted was someone "medically knowledgeable" on my side, and that's what I got. I was so irritable during labor that I don't think anyone could've touched me anyway, so I don't know what else a doula could have done for me except to be available to ask the million questions I had and then of course show me how to breastfeed for the first time. I think you have to think what you expect from a doula, and how her experience will play into it.

[3tammuz]

Make a list of pros and cons for each doula. That usually helps me in my decisions. You may want to ask each of them a few questions - their answers may sway you one way or another. Ask your husband - she will be there for him too.....