12 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Doula

So…how exactly do you interview a doula?

Because this isn’t exactly a normal job interview. You’re trying to decide if you want this person beside you during labor, answering the questions you forgot to ask at your appointment, talking about feeding at 2 a.m., or helping you navigate life when leaving the house with a baby suddenly feels like an Olympic event. How are you supposed to know what to ask someone who could end up being part of such a personal season of your life?

First, you’re not supposed to know! Most families I talk with have questions about what a doula actually does, let alone what they should be asking when they choose one. That’s part of why consultations matter. You also get to learn about my training and experience while figuring out something that matters just as much: do you actually feel comfortable talking to me?

There isn’t a magic list of “right” answers, but there are some questions that can tell you quite a bit about the person you’re considering. Here are twelve I think are worth asking.

1. What kind of doula support do you offer?

This is a good place to begin because the word “doula” can cover quite a bit. Some doulas primarily attend births, while others focus on postpartum care, and the amount of support offered during pregnancy can vary quite a bit from one doula to another. I work with families during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, so there’s flexibility depending on what’s going on in your life. You might be thinking mostly about labor right now and wanting someone there when your baby arrives. Maybe you’re much more concerned about feeding or how you’ll manage those first months at home. What you think you’ll need at the beginning of pregnancy may not be what you need later, either. Knowing exactly what your doula offers gives you some room for those needs to change and helps you understand what kind of support you can actually expect along the way.

2. What training and certifications do you have?

Please ask this one! There is a difference between taking a doula training and completing the requirements to become a certified doula, and it’s completely reasonable to ask someone what education and credentials are behind the services they offer.

I am a Certified Birth Doula and Certified Postpartum Doula through DONA International. Becoming certified required additional education, experience, and certification requirements beyond simply attending a training. I’m also a CRST, and continuing my education is a big part of how I approach this work.

You don’t need to know what every certification or set of letters means before you walk into a consultation. Ask! I’m always happy to explain my training, what I’m qualified to do, and how that translates into the care I provide.

3. What does your support look like before labor begins?

Most birth doulas offer some level of prenatal support during pregnancy, but what that actually includes can be very different. This is one of those questions where I’d encourage you to get specific. How many prenatal visits are included? How long are they? What happens if you still have questions afterward? Is your doula available between visits? Knowing that ahead of time can make a big difference. I include two prenatal visits so we have time to get to know each other and talk through your preferences and goals. But let’s be real, can two hours ever be enough to really get to know someone, especially when we’re talking about something as personal as birth?

That’s why my prenatal support doesn’t necessarily stop when those two visits are over. I can also attend an additional OB visit and a home visit, and if you need more support, I offer additional prenatal telehealth support as well. That availability can continue into the postpartum months, even after your scheduled postpartum visits have ended. There can be a lot to talk through before a baby arrives. We’re looking at your labor and birth preferences, questions you may want to bring to your provider, comfort measures, and decisions that could come up along the way. We’re also talking about what happens after birth. I like to spend time building a postpartum plan too, because that part is so often overlooked when everyone is focused on getting to delivery day.

Sometimes figuring out a plan of action takes time. You may leave one conversation, think of six more questions the next day, and realize a week later that something you thought you wanted doesn’t feel quite right anymore. That’s normal. As much as we can prepare, none of us gets to know ahead of time exactly how labor and birth will unfold. What we can do is make sure you understand your options, have had time to think through your preferences and goals, and feel comfortable asking questions if things change along the way.

4. Will you support the kind of birth I want?

This is one I really want families to ask because your birth belongs to you.

Your preferences around pain medication, interventions, providers, where you give birth, and what you hope labor looks like are yours to make. I can provide information, help you think through your options, and answer questions that fall within my scope, but I’m not there to decide what your birth should look like.

You’re also allowed to change your mind. Please remember that. Something you felt strongly about at 30 weeks may feel very different when you’re actually in labor. I’m there to support the person in front of me and the decisions you’re making now, not hold you to something you told me months ago.

5. How will you work with my partner or support person?

Not everyone has a partner, and not everyone brings the same support team into their birth. You might have a spouse or partner with you, or it could be your mom, sister, friend, or another person you trust. Sometimes I may be the primary support person. If someone else is there, I’m not walking into the room thinking I need to take over. The person who loves you knows things about you that I never could. They know your personality, your expressions, and often the little things that make you feel safe. I bring professional training and experience with labor and birth, and we can use both.

Sometimes that means I’m offering ideas or showing your support person a comfort technique. Other times it means I’m stepping in for a bit so they can eat something, go to the bathroom, or simply have a minute to regroup. We find the rhythm that works for you.

6. What do you actually do during labor?

This answer surprises people sometimes because hiring me doesn’t mean I automatically stay beside you every second from your first contraction until your baby arrives. I’m there as much as you want me there. For one person, that might mean hands-on support throughout labor. I may suggest a position change, help with breathing, offer a comfort technique, or work alongside whoever else is supporting you.

There are also times when I show up, talk with a family, help them get settled, and then offer support remotely until they want me back. I may return afterward to help with feeding. You may want me close by one hour and need some space the next. I’m paying attention to you. My involvement should reflect what makes you feel supported, not what someone thinks a doula is “supposed” to do.

7. What happens if my birth preferences and goals change?

This is exactly why I like the words “preferences and goals.” A birth plan can sometimes sound like a script, and babies are notoriously bad at reading scripts.

You can prepare carefully and still have something change. New information may come up. Labor may take a direction nobody expected. You may simply decide that what you want now is different from what you wanted before.

If that happens, we adjust. I can help you take in what’s being discussed and think about questions you may want to ask your medical team. When there’s time, I can also give you some space to talk through what you’re thinking. Your original preferences may change, but that doesn’t mean your voice disappears from the room.

8. What if I need support before the baby comes?

Sometimes families need extra help long before anyone is thinking about labor.

Pregnancy complications, bed rest, or a high-risk pregnancy can make those weeks physically and emotionally exhausting. I offer antepartum support for families who find themselves in that situation, and there isn’t one standard version of what that care needs to look like. We can talk about what’s happening, what feels difficult right now, and where I can appropriately make things a little easier within my role. Sometimes support needs to meet you where you are instead of waiting until the baby arrives.

9. Do you offer postpartum support?

I do, although postpartum doula care might not look the way you’re picturing it.

I’ve had clients whose babies I’ve never held. I’ve supported families without ever stepping inside their homes. Sometimes support happens through telehealth. I may run an errand, help someone at the grocery store, or go along on one of those first outings with a baby when getting out the door suddenly feels like it requires two hours of preparation. Other times, we’re talking about feeding, baby wearing, routines, or something that has come up as your baby grows. The point is that postpartum support can be flexible.

I also work with babies throughout the first year, which is something I really want parents to know. Many of my postpartum clients were never my birth clients. You may have plenty of help during those first few weeks and realize several months later, when everyone else has gone back to normal life, that you could really use some support. You can call me then, too.

10. What kind of feeding support can you provide?

This is an area where it’s especially important to understand a doula’s credentials and scope of practice because not everyone is qualified to provide the same level of feeding support. A traditional doula has to stay within their scope and can provide limited feeding support. Additional lactation education and credentials allow a professional to do more. A Certified Lactation Counselor, for example, has additional training that can include things such as weight checks and risk assessments.

I support families who breastfeed, pump, combination feed, and formula feed, and I’m currently pursuing my Certified Lactation Counselor credential so I can continue expanding the level of feeding support I’m qualified to provide.

There are also situations where an IBCLC or another healthcare professional is exactly who you need. I think part of taking good care of families is recognizing that quickly. I would much rather help you find the right person than pretend something falls within my role when it doesn’t.

11. What happens when something is outside your scope?

That idea extends far beyond feeding. I’m part of your support team, but I’m not your doctor, midwife, pediatrician, therapist, or IBCLC. Sometimes one of those professionals is going to have the answer or care you need, and that’s a good thing. Knowing where my role ends is part of doing my job well. I work collaboratively with other professionals and stay familiar with resources in our community so that when something falls outside my scope, I can help point you in the right direction.

You shouldn’t expect your doula to know everything. Sometimes one of the most helpful things I can say is, “I know who we should ask.”

12. Do I actually like this person?

Yep, I said it.

You can ask about certifications, experience, services, birth support, postpartum care, and everything else on your list, but at some point I want you to pay attention to how you actually feel while you’re talking to this person. Your doula may be around for some very real moments. You could be exhausted or emotional. You may change your mind five times. You may have a question that starts with, “Okay, this might sound really weird, but…” You should be able to say it without worrying about being judged.

Of course training and experience matter. That’s why I want you to ask about them. But you’re also inviting someone into a very personal part of your life, and being able to relax and be yourself around that person matters too. Sometimes you’ll know that before you’ve even made it through all twelve questions.

I support families throughout Southern Oregon, including Medford, Ashland, Central Point, Grants Pass, and the surrounding Rogue Valley. If you’re looking for birth, antepartum, or postpartum doula support, reach out and tell me a little about what’s happening in your world. You don’t have to figure out exactly what you need before you call; that’s what I am here for!

The information provided on this website is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Birth & Beyond Maternal Support, LLC encourages all clients and site visitors to consult with their healthcare provider regarding any medical concerns, conditions, or decisions related to pregnancy, birth, postpartum, or newborn care.

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