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How to Choose a Doula
A doula can greatly enhance your experience of childbirth and the postpartum months. Your birth doula will be at your side along with your care provider and partner, as part of your team for continuous support during labor and birth. Finding a good fit for you and your family is critical.
A doula’s education, training, experience and credentials are important. When doulas have DONA International certification, you know that they have had the best education and training available. You can also be assured that they have a strong sense of professionalism and integrity.
You will also want to consider whether you and your partner feel comfortable with an individual doula. You will need to feel that this doula is supportive of your hopes and expectations about labor, childbirth and parenting, in addition to having a strong professional background and credentials. That is why we recommend the following four-step hiring process when hiring a birth or postpartum doula.
Step 1: Locate a short list of doulas.
Obtain names of DONA International doulas using our easy online doula locator.
Step 2: Conduct a telephone interview.
To hire a birth doula, ask the following questions:
- What training and education do you have?
- What is your philosophy about childbirth and supporting women and their partners through labor?
- When do you try to join women in labor - at our home or at the place of birth?
- Will you meet with us to discuss our birth plans and the role that you will play in supporting us through childbirth?
- May we call you with questions or concerns before or after the birth?
- Do you work with one or more backup doulas for times when you are not available? May we meet them?
- What is your fee, what services does it include and what are your refund policies?
- Will you provide references?
Step 3: Check credentials and references.
If the doula is a DONA International certified doula, you can confirm her certification by using our online doula locator (www.dona.org). DONA International certification is a meaningful measure of a doula’s commitment and professionalism.
Step 4: Conduct an in-person interview.
It is a good idea for both you and your partner to meet doula candidates to decide if they are compatible with your family. Are they kind, warm and enthusiastic? Are they knowledgeable? Do they communicate well? Are they good listeners? Are they comfortable with your choices or do they seem to have their own agenda? Do you feel at ease with them?
The way that you feel with a doula is more important than the number of births that they have attended or how many new families they have nurtured. You may want to interview more than one doula and make comparisons before choosing your doula.
(text from www.dona.org)
Please click here to see our birth doula packages and pricing, or contact me to inquire about due-date availability or to schedule a free introductory meeting.
“The knowledge of how to give birth without outside intervention lies deep within each woman. Successful childbirth depends on an acceptance of the process.” - Suzanne Arms
Doula FAQ  Doula Benefits
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