Questions to ask a doula?

I am a Doula, but I was just helping my cousin in another state with this as she is interviewing Doulas. I would ask them about their own birth(s) and watch not just their words, but their facial expressions and attitudes. Ask them about how they will help you with any specific preferences you have and if they have experiences with anyone in your situation (i.e. VBAC, no medication, interventios, homebirth, etc. or whatever your preferences are).

Be clear on services offered - how long it will take them to get to you, if they have a back-up Doula, if you are having a hospital birth will they come to your home first while you labor at home or do they just meet you at the hospital, prenatal and postpartum meetings/visits, if they can help with breastfeeding, if they are available by phone before and after the birth, etc. Most of this should be in their contract so make sure you read the contract carefully before you sign. I can't tell you how many of my clients sign at the initial meeting w/out reading the contract.

Also ask them what they would do in the case of a posterior or breech baby. I'm sure there's more I left out, so I will be watching this thread to see what others come up with.

It went really well!! I really liked her... she is fairly new but having been a student nurse at one point in my life I like to give people chances! She knows her stuff... She trained with the homebirth midwives in the area... so I know she received good training.

She is DONA and ALACE trained. She has worked with my current midwife before.

Something very interesting came about from the conversation though. I told her that I was thinking about homebirth but hadn't decided yet. And didn't know where I could find a homebirth midwife. So she told me who I could call and how much she loves them! She also ended up telling me that my CNM is practically best friends with this "underground" midwife... And that if I had a transfer to the hospital it would be to the hospital I already go to and to my midwife...

That really excited me!! Now I am just trying to decided if I should ask my current midwife what she thought about homebirth (since she is friends with the hb mw!) The only thing keeping me from it right now is the money. Oh and giving up my midwife who has delivered both of my kids... I love her!

But anyhow. We are going to call this doula back and use her. She was awesome and I felt really good about her!