FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the difference between a Birth Doula and a Postpartum Doula?
What are the benefits of having a doula?
How do I find a doula near me?
Questions to Ask a Prospective Birth Doula
What is a Doula?
The term doula is Greek for slave or servant. Doulas provide emotional and physical support during pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum. A doula may also go by the title Childbirth Assistant, Labor Support Professional, Birth Assistant, Birth Companion, etc.
Back to Top
What is a the difference between a Birth Doula and a Postpartum Doula?
A birth doula is a woman trained and experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a woman during labor, birth and the immediate postpartum period. A postpartum doula is a woman trained to care for new families in the first weeks after birth providing household help, advice with newborn care and infant feeding, and emotional support.
Back to Top
What does a doula do?
A doula provides:
one-on-one emotional support
advice during pregnancy (within scope of practice - I cannot offer medical
advice)
suggestions to make pregnancy more comfortable
help with preparation of a birth plan
encouragement for the mother (family) to make informed decisions about their
care
supports the mother in having the birth that she desires
massage and other non-pharmacological pain relief measures
positioning suggestions during labor and birth
support to the partner so that they can support and encourage their loved
one
explanations of medical procedures
helps the birthing couple avoid unnecessary interventions
help with breastfeeding preparation and initial feeding/s following birth,
written record of the birth
many other possibilities that vary from doula to doula
A doula does not :
Make decisions or speak for a couple,
Provide medical or clinical skills (assess fetal heart tones, blood
pressure checks, and vaginal exams. I do not deliver babies!)
Replace the partner or any clinical care providers
Impose her own ideals on the pregnant woman and her partner
Back to Top
What are the benefits of having a doula?
According to Mothering the Mother, How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier and Healthier Birth, by Kennell, Klaus, and Kennell (1993), having a doula can give you a:
50% reduction in cesarean rates
25% shorter labor
60% reduction in epidural requests
40% reduction in oxytocin (pitocin) use
30% reduction in analgesia use
40% reduction in forceps
delivery
Back to Top
How much does a doula cost ?
The amount a doula charges for her services varies from area to area and doula to doula. Some of this is based on the experience your doula has, some is based on the going rate in your area and sometimes will depend on what your doula's services include. Most doulas will barter, have a sliding scale, or set up payment plans so that cost alone will not keep you from hiring a doula.
Back to Top
How do I find a Doula near me ?
Locally, you may find a doula by inquiring at your birth place (hospital), your Midwives or Doctors office (check for a bulletin board), your Childbirth Education Class, Lactation Consultants, La Leche League members, Massage Therapist, Chiropractor, anyone who has recently had a baby or works in birthing field.
Contact any of the Doula Organizations below - many of them maintain a listing of doulas that are available in your area
1-888-788-DONA
Fax: (812)634-1491
CAPPA (Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association)
1-888-MY-CAPPA (Monday-
Friday 9AM-3PM eastern time)
Fax (770)932-7281
1-866-CDN-BIRTH
Fax (613)968-5358
DoulaCARE, Inc. (Canadian Association Registry and Education Birth and Postpartum Doula Services)
Call 905-842-3385 (for the Greater Toronto Area), or
1-888-879-3199 (for all other areas) and we will return your call promptly.
CDA (Canadian Doula Association)
Phone/Fax (780)962-1846
There are also many free internet listings for doulas. You can find them by entering 'doula' in any search engine.
(There are several listed on my links page)
Back to Top
Questions to Ask a Prospective Doula
The following questions will help you decide if a particular doula is right for you.
For any doula:
|
|
What training have you had? (If a doula is certified, you might consider checking with the organization.) |
|
|
Do you have one or more backup doulas for times when you are not available? May we meet her/them? |
|
|
What is your fee, what does it include, and what are your refund policies? |
When interviewing a birth doula:
|
|
Tell me/us about your philosophy about childbirth and supporting women and their partners through labor. |
|
|
May we meet to discuss our birth plans and the role you will play in supporting me/us through childbirth? |
|
|
May we call you with questions or concerns before and after the birth? |
|
|
When do you try to join women in labor? Do you come to our home or meet us at the place of birth? |
|
|
Do you meet with me/us after the birth to review the labor and answer questions? |
When interviewing a postpartum doula:
|
|
Tell me about your experience as a postpartum doula. |
|
|
What is your philosophy about parenting and supporting women and their families during postpartum? |
|
|
May we meet to discuss our needs and the role you will play? |
|
|
What different types of services do you offer? |
|
|
When do your services begin postpartum? |
|
|
What is your experience in breast-feeding support? |
|
|
Have you had a criminal background check, a recent TB test? Do you have current CPR certification? |
When you meet the doula (and it is a good idea for both of you and your partner to meet her), pay particular attention to your personal perceptions of the doula. Is she kind, warm, enthusiastic? Is she knowledgeable? Does she communicate well? Is she a good listener? Is she comfortable with your choices or does she seem to have her own agenda? Do you feel comfortable with her? The way you feel with her may be more important than the number of births she has attended or postpartum clients she has had.
You may want to interview more than one doula and make a comparison to help you find the doula who is right for you.
©DONA Permission granted to freely reproduce in whole or in part with complete attribution.