Hiring a Doula

Colorado Doulas Association provides contact information for birth professionals throughout Colorado in an effort to promote doula services around the state. We are not a certifying or regulatory organization. Before hiring a doula, parents are encouraged to research the professional’s background & experience, including: certification status, legal status, require a back-ground check for all in-home services and get references from previous clients.  You can check your care-providers legal status here.

If you are dissatisfied with the service your doula or birth professional provides, please contact your doula directly, or contact her certifying organization.

Below are questions to ask a potential labor or postpartum doula as well. Go to postpartum questions.

From: Special Women: The Role of the Professional Labor Assistant
by Paulina Perez and Cheryl Snedeker, Third Edition, 2000, pages 21 & 22.

How Parents Should Choose a Labor Assistant
Once a couple decides to hire a professional labor assistant, they should interview prospective support persons carefully, considering her background and training, her relationship with the medical community, the number of births she has attended, the types of clients she has cared for, her experience with complications, the limits of her practice, her fees, and her backup arrangements or call schedule. Besides professional considerations, the couple will want to find out if the labor support person has values compatible with their own and personal qualities they desire. These might include honesty, patience, flexibility, credibility, good communication skills, self confidence, advocacy skills, sensitivity, availability, sense of humor, empathy, lack of prejudice, warmth, tenderness, a supportive caring nature, respect for the birth process, and love for women.
Birth Doula Interview Questions
When choosing a labor assistant, answers to the following questions will help parents find the right support person.

What type of practice do you have? Doula, Labor Assistant, Monitrice, Midwife?
What is your educational background?
How did you receive your training as a Labor Support Person?
Do you give care for births in the hospital? At a birth center? At home?
How many births have you attended? Over what time span? What is your average number of births per month?
What type of clients have you cared for? Who is your backup? When might she care for me?
What are your fees? When do I need to pay the fee? Do you have a sliding scale? Will you barter for the fee?
Will I be able to get third party reimbursement for your services?
Do you restrict your practice in any way?
When would I call you? Can I reach you 24 hours a day?
Will you come to my home when I’m in labor?
How will you know if a complication arises while I’m laboring at home?
Do you listen to and interpret the fetal heart tones?
Do you do vaginal examinations?
How do you determine maternal well-being during labor?
What is your relationship with hospital/birth center personnel?
Have you ever worked with my physician/midwife? What was that experience like?
Are any restrictions placed on you by the hospital/birth center? If so, what are they?
Do you get along well with the hospital staff or my doctor? Have you had any conflict with them? If yes, do you think it will interfere with your ability to help me?
If someone suggests an intervention that you feel is unnecessary what will you do or say?
How can you help us minimize the need for an episiotomy?
If I need a cesarean will you be able to accompany me?
Have you ever cared for anyone with a poor outcome? What was the situation?
What do you provide that is different from what the hospital/birth center staff can provide?
What do you provide that is different from what my partner can provide?
What do you provide that is different from what my physician/midwife can provide?
Why did you become a professional Labor Support Person?
What do you like best about your job?
What do you like least about your job?
Why do you feel labor support is helpful?
May I have references of others you have cared for?
Postpartum Doula Interview Questions
When choosing a postpartum doula, answers to the following questions will help parents find the right fit.

Why did you decide to become a doula?
How long have you been a doula?
What is your educational background?
Are you certified? If so, by what organization?
What are your fees?  Do you have a minimum hourly requirement?
Are you available at night (is the hourly rate different)?
Do we have to pay your travel costs in addition to the hourly rate?
What types of services do you provide?
What types of services do you not provide?
What do you provide that is different from what my partner can provide?
Have you ever provided postpartum services for anyone with a disability?
What do you like best about being a postpartum doula?
What is your philosophy of childbirth?
May we talk to previous satisfied clients?
How do you handle conflicts with family members?
What is your availability? Are you flexible to stay longer, if needed?
Have you had a police/background check?
Do you have a valid driving license?
Do you know first aid/CPR?
How do you feel about breastfeeding and what is your experience of it?
How would you describe your philosophies on parenting? How do you feel about children?
How do you help with sleep deprivation of  mothers and fathers?
Do you provide assistance with older siblings?
Do you do light house hold organization and cleaning?
What are the signs of postpartum depression and how can you help me if I experience depression?
What makes you a great postpartum doula?
Any views or opinions presented by birth professionals listed on this site are solely those of the independent birth professional and do not necessarily represent those of the Colorado Doulas Association. The Colorado Doulas Association is not a certification organization and accepts no liability for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided by any of the birth professionals listed or by any of the provided links.