Doula Uk have complied this list to help you interview your prospective doula.
When making initial telephone contactÂ
- Are you available around my due date?
- How long have you been a doula? How many families have you been a doula for?
- What doula certification do you have or what courses have you attended?
- How much do you charge, and what is included? Is there a deposit to pay?
- Do you draw up a written contract? If yes, can I see a copy of it?
- Do you have a backup? If yes, who is your backup, and can I meet her? Under what circumstances would you send your back-up?
- What happens if you miss the birth? Is any part of the fee refundable and would you still do the follow-up visits after the birth?
- What happens if we fail to call you in time for the birth?
- What happens if we decide nearer the birth that we no longer require a doula?
 During a face to face interview
- What part of your job do you enjoy most?
- What skills and abilities do you personally feel you bring to your doula role?
- What is your philosophy of childbirth and your work as a doula?
- What books do you recommend to new parents?
- How do you handle conflicts with family members or medical professionals?
- If you have a particular concern about the birth or postnatally e.g. physical, emotional or psychological etc, ask the doula how they would address those issues specifically?
- Can you provide references?
- Do you have children?
- How is your childcare organised (what if I go into labour in the middle of the night)?
- What was your birth(s) experience?
- What are your feelings about pain relief?
- Are you insured?
- How long will you stay with me before and after the birth?
- What is my partner’s role during labour?
- Will you support my partner and if so how?
- What are your feelings about midwives?
- How many prenatal visits do you provide? How many postnatal visits?
- Will you attend a prenatal appointment with us to meet our caregiver?
- Can we meet to draw up a Birth Plan together?
- What is your availability? For how long before and after my due date will you be on call? What are the closest due dates of your other clients?
- How long does it take you to get to me?
- How do I contact you? Phone? Home? Mobile or Pager? Daytime and night-time?
- What is your role in early/pre-labour? Will you come to my home in labour or come only when I transfer to hospital?
- Can we telephone/email you before and after the birth with questions/concerns we have? Meaning – how often may we contact you during the contract period?
- What hospitals/midwives have you worked with in the local area?
- How do you feel about breastfeeding and what is your experience of it?
As a parent you may want to think about the following points when hiring a birth doula:
- Could we spend up to 48 hours together?
- Does she listen to me well?
- Will she respect my wishes?
- Will my partner like her? (or children if applicable e.g. for a home birth perhaps)
