When interviewing a birth doula: - Are you available around the time of my estimated due date? (Most doulas limit the number of births they will do to between 2 and four per month) - Do you have a backup doula and may I speak with them ahead of time? - Do you have other births near the time I am due? - What is your fee? (Doula fees in the St. Louis area range from about $300 to $1300). - Tell me about your experience as a birth doula. - What is your philosophy about birth 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 through birth? - 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 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 postpartum needs and the role you will play in supporting us in the postpartum period? - May we call you with postpartum questions or concerns before the birth? - When do your services begin after birth? - What is your experience in breastfeeding support? - Have you had a criminal background check, a recent TB test and current CPR certification? |
While the number of births a doula has attended is an important factor to consider, it is certainly not the only factor. You and your partner should weigh your personal feelings of trust and connection very heavily when choosing a doula.
- - - Ask yourself - - -
Do I feel comfortable around this person? Does my partner?
Is she warm, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable?
Does she communicate and listen well?
Will she support my choices or does she have her own agenda?
It's also a good idea to check a few references. Ask those parents what they liked most about their doula
and whether there's anything they wished she had done differently.
- - - Ask yourself - - -
Do I feel comfortable around this person? Does my partner?
Is she warm, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable?
Does she communicate and listen well?
Will she support my choices or does she have her own agenda?
It's also a good idea to check a few references. Ask those parents what they liked most about their doula
and whether there's anything they wished she had done differently.
Why do doulas charge so much?
Unlike many other services that can be scheduled, a doula cannot increase the number of births she attends each month when she would like to increase her income. A doula is on-call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, for a two to three week "window of due time". A professional birth doula does not, indeed cannot, know exactly when she will be working for a family and further, cannot know how long she will be with that family, and away from her own.
While doulas by nature are warm-hearted, caring and generous women who love to offer volunteer birth services frequently, we simply are unable to do so. When a doula puts herself on call as a volunteer, she is unable to take a paying client for that time period. Doulas of Greater St. Louis uses donations and funds to contribute to our birthing community's needs. We look forward to receiving more donations so that we may expand this important service.
Unlike many other services that can be scheduled, a doula cannot increase the number of births she attends each month when she would like to increase her income. A doula is on-call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, for a two to three week "window of due time". A professional birth doula does not, indeed cannot, know exactly when she will be working for a family and further, cannot know how long she will be with that family, and away from her own.
While doulas by nature are warm-hearted, caring and generous women who love to offer volunteer birth services frequently, we simply are unable to do so. When a doula puts herself on call as a volunteer, she is unable to take a paying client for that time period. Doulas of Greater St. Louis uses donations and funds to contribute to our birthing community's needs. We look forward to receiving more donations so that we may expand this important service.