Interview a Doula « Back to Group Discussions

[calilucy]

Just wondering for those of you have found a doula or have used a doula in the past, any particular questions I should ask?

I am interviewing a doula this weekend.  I am planning on a hospital birth but want a doula with me to help me focus and assist in as low intervention a birth as possible.

[aidenn]

I do some part time work as a doula, and I know there is someone else on this board who does doula work as well, so maybe she can chime in too...

Asking a doula her philosophy of birth, how she offers support, and her rates are generally pretty standard.  If a mom doesn't ask these questions of me, I usually volunteer the information on my own.  The interview is a time to see if our philosophies and personalities click.  If a mom wants to merely try labor without pain medication and isn't hardset against an epidural and she's talking to a doula states that she has a harder time supporting a mom if she elects to have an epidural, then they might not be a good match!  You'll also want to make sure the doula serves the hospital you're delivering at.

If you guys are a good match and you select her, then usually at the 1st prenatal appointment she helps you clarify more specifically what your desires are for this labor and to help you select ways to communicate these desires to your care provider to make sure your doctor supports your birth.  As an example, if your hospital requires continuous external fetal monitoring, then the doula will have a physically smaller space with which to help you move and walk around, but she can give you some coping techniques to make the best of that 5 foot square of space!

[momzilla]

I agree with the above post.  I've been a doula for almost 8 years.  I always hand potential clients this sheet, to help them generate ideas for questions to ask me: http://www.dona.org/PDF/QuestionsToAskADoula.pdf

Also, when hiring a doula go by your "gut" instinct.  As a doula, I tell potential clients I want them to find the right doula for them, even if that means they don't hire me.  Make sure to ask for references and who she uses as a back-up doula (should she become ill, be at another birth, etc...)

Other important considerations, from The Childbirth Collective website: "The doula who helps you face and embrace what is important to you might be the right one for you. If you can honestly tell her your hopes and fears, and share your dreams for what “good care” might mean to you—this sense of connection and trust will lead you to find the right doula.  It is important that you can understand and appreciate the doula’s communication style and are calmed by her physical presence. It’s best to interview doulas in person."

[calilucy]

Thanks for the great tips.  Your comment aidenn about continuous fetal monitoring reminded me.  This particular doula doesn't usually work in my hospital but said she is willing to.  So she isnt' familiar with their policies in all likelihood, however, my sister works at the hospital.

I have asked my sister to find out the policy on the fetal monitoring, but what are other policies I might want to know about so I can share this information with the doula if I pick her? 

She is a friend of my mom's from a meditation group so i thought i would talk to her first as my mom will likely be in the room when I go through labor and so it would be nice if they already have a good relationship.  I will also be interviewing someone a friend from prenatal yoga recommended. 

[aidenn]

Other hospital policies (doctor's policies are a different bag) that are important to ME and I would inquire about is frequency of vaginal exams, options for group B strep treatment if you end up positive, food and drink in labor...

Doctor's policies that are of value to me is when they use pitocin in labor, how long they'll let you labor without using something like pitocin (12 hours, 24 hours?), their belief on episiotomy use, their support of delaying the eye ointment and vitamin K shot for 60 minutes or until breastfeeding is established,

I make a big show of important to me, because what is important to me in a hospital labor may not be that big of a deal to you....and I would never want you to feel like if you choose something different than me that it is wrong - any informed choice is the right choice for you!

Another question I would ask a potential doula (or as a doula, that I ask my client!) is what other childbirth preparation are they planning or have they done.  Childbirth classes given by the hospital can sometimes be more about "how to be a compliant patient" rather than really teaching you coping techniques.  I encourage my clients to take an outside childbirth class (Lamaze, Bradley, Hypnobabies, etc) or read intensely about styles and practice with their partner and myself about how they cope with labor.