Once you have decided to hire a Doula it can be overwhelming to start the process. I put together a list that can help make it an enjoyable and stress-free experience.
Step 1: Know what you want. It is important to know what type of birth you would like. Are you planning for an un-medicated birth, are you planning to have an epidural, or a C-section? Will you be delivering at home, a birth center, or a hospital? Knowing these details can help guide you to find a doula that is familiar and experienced with the type of birth you want. For example, if you are planning to have an un-medicated birth at a hospital, but are opened to having an epidural or other pain management options it would be best to find a doula that has similar views as you. If you were to pick a doula that is more on the crunchy side or doesn’t agree with medicated pain management options it could cause an uneasy birth environment for you during your labor. Side note- No matter what type of birth you are planning you are going to be a complete rock star!! Step 2: Comfortable connection When inviting additional people into your birthing circle you want to make sure that these are people that you feel comfortable around. This is such an intimate moment. You need to feel safe and supported to have an atmosphere of peace during labor. You need people around you that will support the atmosphere and your birth goals. If they don’t then lets quote Sweet Brown “Ain’t nobody got time for that!” Have you ever been in a setting that is more private or vulnerable but have someone you don’t know or feel comfortable around present? It can cause stress, anxiety, or even fear to surface. All of these can cause labor to stall, and we don’t want that happening! That is why it is important to find a Doula that you feel at ease with, someone that you click with. This doesn’t mean you have to interview dozens of Doulas in person. Step 3: Doula Surf Another way to simplify the process is by visiting different doula’s website. Most doulas will have an ‘about me’ section, and/or testimonials. Of course you won’t get a big impression of what this person is like, but it will help guide you in the right direction. Make a list of doulas that could possibly be a good fit for you. I suggest a list of 7-10 to start with. A list that is too long will contribute to the feelings of being overwhelmed. Step 4: Dial the Digits The next step will help you narrow down your list even more. You can get a good sense of a person’s personality over a phone conversation. Set a time aside to call each one for a brief phone call. Questions you can ask during this step could be; do you have availability for my estimated due date, do you have any experience with births at my birthing facility, and do you have other services that you offer? Step 5: Meet ya at Starbucks Once you have a list of 2 or 3 that you feel would be a good fit for you then go ahead and set up interviews with them in person. (Don’t toss the other list of doulas you had picked to call in case you need to refer back to it later.) Now that you have got to this point, what do you ask in your interviews? These interviews don’t have to feel super official or structured necessarily. You want the conversation to flow naturally. You can still ask questions to get more direct answers and information that you are looking for, but pay attention to how you feel throughout the interview. What kind of impression does she give you? Sometimes it is hard to know what questions to ask a Doula during the face to face interview. I believe that there is a lot to be said about why a doula chose to become a doula. This will give you a deeper insight to who she is as a person outside of her role as a doula. Don’t be afraid to ask questions that might seem too deep or involved. These are good questions that will help you get to know her and how she can help you in all situations of labor that might arise. Some questions that are good to ask are: What sort of training have you had? Are you certified? How many births have you attended? How many clients do you take per month? Do you have a backup doula? Am I able to meet her? How much do you charge? What is included in your packages? Are there types of pain relief or interferences you do not support? Why? Will you support me thru my decisions? Are you a Mother? Is she willing to share her birth experiences with you? And the one I feel is the most important of them all which you will ask yourself; do you feel comfortable with her, do you trust her? Like I said earlier, don’t let this stress you out. Make sure you start early enough that you don’t have to rush the process. When you are about 18-20 weeks is a good time to start the process. Keep your list smaller and more manageable to keep yourself from becoming stressed. This is a process that should make you excited for your birth! Another tip I would add is to ask friends or family for help. Ask for referrals from those you know have already had a doula. If a friend has had a doula that she just loves then she may also be a good match for you. I hope this will help you as you search for your doula and help keep in an enjoyable part of your pregnancy.
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Cinda FishHi, my name is Cinda and I have a Pregnancy and Birth addiction. But seriously, I could talk about it all day long! Archives
August 2016
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