These questions are suggestions of things you will may or may be interested in finding out about that can help if you are unsure what to ask a doula.
When making initial telephone or email contact
- Are you available around my due date / when I need support (for postnatal doulas)?
- How much do you charge, and what is included? Is there a deposit to pay?
- (If you are looking for a doula with the Access Fund or any project…) Do you work with this scheme?
During a face to face interview
- How long have you been a doula? How many families have you been a doula for?
- Do you use a written contract or agreement? 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?
- Are you insured?
- Can you provide references?
- What training, courses or additional learning have you done?
- What part of your job do you enjoy most?
- What is your philosophy of childbirth, parenting and your work as a doula?
- What skills and abilities do you personally feel you bring to your doula role?
- 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?
- If you have something you are particularly interested in trying – e.g. hypnobirthing or babywearing/slings: Do you have experience in supporting/additional qualifications in this?
- Do you have children? If yes, how is your childcare organised?
- What books do you recommend to new parents?
- How do you feel about breastfeeding and what is your experience of supporting it?
- What if I have a breastfeeding/bottle-feeding problem? What can you do to help me?
When interviewing a birth doula
- 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 will you stay with me before and after the birth? How long does it take you to get to me?
- 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 antenatal visits do you provide? How many postnatal visits?
- Will you attend an antenatal appointment with us?
- 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?
- Can you help us draw up our Birth Plan/Birth Preferences?
- What is your role in early labour?
- 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?
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?
- Do I feel that she will support my wishes?
- Does my partner like her? (or children if applicable e.g. for a home birth perhaps)
When interviewing a postnatal doula
- How many hours a day are you available, and do you have a minimum number of hours? Do you do nights (is the hourly rate different)?
- Do we have to pay your travel costs in addition to the hourly rate?
- What happens if, for personal reasons, you are unable to be our postnatal doula after the birth and your back-up is also unavailable? Will our deposit be fully refunded?
- What happens if we decide nearer to, or after, the birth that we no longer require a postnatal doula? What monies will be due to you?
- What is your availability? Have you other commitments around the dates that I may need you? For example, could you stay a few extra hours at the last minute (emergency, or mother is unwell)?
- Do you have a valid driving licence?
- Do you know first aid?
- Can we telephone/email you before the birth with postnatal questions/concerns we have been thinking about?
- How do you view housework/cooking? What are you prepared to do?
- Are you able to help me with (insert specific concern)…dog-walking/school runs/older children
As a parent you may want to think about the following points when hiring a postnatal doula:
- Does she listen to me well?
- Do I feel that she will support my wishes?
- Do my partner/children like her?
- Do I want to spend day after day with this postnatal doula?
A note about DBS checks (Disclosure and Barring Service previously CRB)
Previously individuals and the self-employed could not apply for a DBS certificate of their own criminal record, as they were not allowed to ask exempted questions of themselves.
Self employed people (including doulas) can now pay for a DBS check to be carried out.
Having a valid DBS check is not a condition of Doula UK Membership, so if this is something that is important to you, please speak to your doula for clarification.
Why hire a Doula UK doula?
All of our members are bound by the Doula UK Code of Conduct and adhere to our Philosophy.
We have a ‘Recognition process’ for doulas in the UK, whereby they attain a certain level of experience as a doula in order to achieve a Recognised status by Doula UK. After a new doula has completed her course work with one of Doula UK’s Recognised courses, she then works with a personal Doula Mentor through a process that involves reflection and supplying documentation to support her experiences as a doula over a period of not less than six months and preferably not more than two years. This then leads to a formal assessment interview with the Doula Mentor before the doula herself is Recognised.
Get more help with finding and choosing a doula