Questions to Ask a Doula Before You Hire One

The questions to ask a doula fall into five groups: training and experience, availability and backup, what’s included and what it costs, how they work with your OB or midwife and your hospital, and how they’d support you and your partner. Cleveland Clinic’s own short list starts with where they trained, how many births they’ve attended, how much they charge, their availability around your due date and what happens if they can’t come. Ask those, then ask the ones below. The last question is one only you can answer: did you feel at ease talking to this person?

Where this post stops

I’m pregnant with my second and I’m not a doula, a midwife or a doctor. This post is about hiring a birth doula while you’re pregnant. What a doula actually does in labor is a labor question, and Tales of a New Mom covers that side. If you’re thinking about help after the birth instead, Mommy Wants Freebies compares a night nanny and a postpartum doula, and my post on lining up your village before the birth covers the rest of the help list.

First, what you’re hiring

DONA International defines a doula as “a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support” before, during and shortly after childbirth. A birth doula, it says, offers “comfort measures, advocacy, and emotional support” during labor.

What a doula isn’t matters just as much. Cleveland Clinic’s guide to doulas is plain: “Doulas aren’t medical professionals, and they can’t deliver your baby.” They work alongside your OB, midwife and nurses. They don’t replace any of them.

Is it worth it? The evidence is about continuous support in labor. A Cochrane review of 26 trials with more than 15,000 women found that people with continuous support “may be more likely” to have a spontaneous vaginal birth and may be less likely to use pain medication or have a caesarean. Its authors found “no evidence of harms”, though they rate the quality of some of that evidence as low. ACOG’s committee opinion on limiting intervention says continuous one-to-one support “such as a doula, is associated with improved outcomes for women in labor.”

So it’s a reasonable thing to want. The interview is how you find the right person.

When to start interviewing

Cleveland Clinic says the relationship “often begins in your second or third” trimester. It also says to start looking “as soon as possible”, because a doula “can only help so many people with similar due dates”. In practice, that means booking interviews in the second trimester and hiring before the third gets busy.

Two or three interviews is usually enough to compare.

Training and experience

Cleveland Clinic notes there are no laws requiring doulas to be accredited, though most train and certify. So ask:

Where did you train, and are you certified? Is your certification current?
How many births have you supported? How many at my hospital or birth center?
Have you supported a second (or third) baby before?
Can I talk to two or three families you’ve worked with?

A newer doula isn’t automatically a worse fit. Ask about how they’ve handled the unexpected, not just the numbers.

Availability and the backup plan

This group is the one that bites if you skip it.

What’s your availability around my due date? How many other clients are due that month?
Are you on call from a set week? What happens if I go early?
If you can’t come, who comes instead? Can I meet them?
How long after I call can you usually arrive?
Do you have childcare or another job that limits when you can leave?

The backup answer matters most. Ask to meet the backup before your due month, not in the hallway on the night.

Fees and what the fee covers

Fees vary a lot by area and experience, so get them in writing rather than comparing against a number online.

What’s your fee, and what does it cover?
How many prenatal visits are included? Is there a postpartum visit?
Is there a deposit? What’s refundable, and when?
What happens to the fee if you miss the birth or I end up with a planned caesarean?
Do you have a written contract I can read before I pay?

Cleveland Clinic suggests checking whether your health insurance covers any part of doula care. Ask the doula if other clients have claimed it, then confirm with your insurer.

Working with your OB, midwife and hospital

A doula works inside someone else’s room, so ask how they handle that.

How do you usually work with doctors, midwives and nurses?
What would you do if I wanted something and the staff suggested something else?
Have you worked at my hospital? Do you know its rules on support people?

That last one is practical. Cleveland Clinic warns that some facilities limit how many people can be with you, and may count a doula as a visitor. Find out before you assume your partner and your doula can both be there. Your hospital tour or birthing class is a good place to ask.

How they would support you and your partner

This is where you find out if the fit is right.

What does a prenatal visit with you look like?
How would you help me write and use my birth preferences sheet?
How do you support someone who changes their mind about pain relief?
How do you include my partner? What if my partner wants to take the lead?
When should I call you once things start?

Cleveland Clinic says a birth doula should help you prepare, provide physical and emotional support during labor, and advocate for your preferences. Listen to how they talk about choices that differ from their own views. You want someone who backs your plan, not theirs.

Second-time questions people skip

Round two brings new logistics, and they’re worth raising at the interview.

Who has the toddler? Your doula isn’t your childcare, so the overnight sitter plan needs to be firm before your due month. Ask whether the doula will come to your house first or meet you at the hospital, because it changes who leaves when.
Do you want to talk about last time? A good doula should be willing to hear what went well and what didn’t, without promising this birth will be different.
Is the doula’s role different this time? Some people want more hands-on support. Others want someone to keep their partner calm.

The last question is for you

Cleveland Clinic’s advice is to “listen to your intuition”: does this person make you feel comfortable, and can you say what you actually want? The answers above tell you if a doula is qualified. That question tells you if they’re yours.

FAQ

What should I ask a doula at the first meeting?

Start with training, number of births, fees and what’s included, availability around your due date, and their backup plan. Then ask how they work with your hospital and your partner.

When should I hire a doula?

Cleveland Clinic says the relationship often starts in the second or third trimester and advises starting your search as soon as possible, since doulas can only take so many clients due around the same time.

Is a doula a medical professional?

No. Cleveland Clinic says doulas “aren’t medical professionals, and they can’t deliver your baby”. Medical decisions stay with your OB, midwife and nurses.

Can my partner and a doula both be at the birth?

Usually, but check. Some hospitals limit support people and may count a doula as a visitor, so ask your hospital before you hire.