Finding the Right Doula

Congratulations on your pregnancy! There are so many things you need to do as the mother of a new little one. And if one of those things is finding a doula for your upcoming labor, you may be wondering how to get started. Most doulas offer a free first meeting, which is where you can get to know them. During this time, you can figure out how this specific doula can help you during labor. You can also judge whether she’ll be a good fit for you and your partner.

When should you start interviewing?

Is a doula going to think you’re strange for calling her up when you’re one month along? Or if you tell her you’re due tomorrow? It may surprise you to learn that either of these are fine.

Is one month along too early to start interviewing doulas? No way! If you start interviewing this early, most doulas you’ll contact will be available for the month of your expected due date. You’ll be able to spend a good amount of time finding the perfect doula for you. Are you doomed if you don’t start interviewing doulas this early? Absolutely not.

Now admittedly, if you start interviewing doulas when you’re nine months along, the pool of available doulas may be smaller. But if you decide at the last minute that you want a doula, there’s nothing wrong with trying to make it happen.

What Matters to You?

After you’ve set up interviews and you have a doula sitting in front of you, how do you know if this doula is the right doula? This goes deeper than just “what questions to ask during an interview.” For this, you have to figure out what matters to you, personally.

Does it matter if your doula has experienced birth herself? If she has, does it matter what kind of birth experience she had?

Does it matter what her religious and spiritual beliefs are?

Does it matter what type of childbirth education she advocates?

The Nitty Gritty of Your Labor

You can next figure out if this is a doula who can support you through whatever you want for your labor.

Does she agree that she can support your desires for your birth?

What would she do if you have providers who disagree with your birth plan? If a provider suggests something against your birth plan, what would she do? Will she be able to act cooperatively with your birth team?

How involved do you want your partner to be? Will she be able to work well with your partner to help you during labor?

When is she willing to show up for your labor? Does she have opinions about when you should leave for the hospital?

Listen to Your Intuition

How does this doula make you feel? Do you feel supported? Encouraged? Empowered?

Does she seem knowledgeable? Does it seem like she’ll help you get the information you need to make decisions about your birth?

You have to ask yourself if you felt comfortable with this doula. It’s obviously tough to meet someone you don’t know and try to make a decision about your comfort level after only one meeting. Ultimately, you should be able to pick the doula who made you feel the most confident about your upcoming labor. And if none of them seemed like the right doula, just keep interviewing!