Hiring a Doula

How can I find a doula?

Check out our Directory of Practitioners and see who is available in your area
If you do not have success there, try the following websites:

In addition, some home health care agencies have tried expanding into the postpartum doula market, so if you are not having success otherwise, you may want to explore that possibility.

If you live in southeastern Michigan and cannot afford to hire a doula, call Doulas Care at 734-332-8070. This non-profit organization matches volunteer doulas with low income women and their families. Services are free and include both birth doula and postpartum doula care. Some bilingual doulas are available through this program.

If your husband is unavailable to support you because he is away on active duty in the military, there may be free help available to you through various state and/or national organizations providing free doula care to the wives of military personnel. Operation Special Delivery is one such organization.

What do doulas charge for their services?

Because individual doulas determine their own rates, there is no precise standard to determine how much you should pay for doula services. Some doulas have a set rate, while others may use a sliding scale so that they can provide services to clients at a range of income levels. Expect doula rates to vary based on level of experience, additional services provided, geographic area, and certification status. In general, doulas charge from $400 to $1000 per birth. Keep in mind that this fee generally includes prenatal and postpartum visits and compensates the doula for the days and weeks she commits to being on-call for you in addition to paying for her services at the birth itself. Postpartum doulas generally charge from $15 to $30 per hour. Presumably, the more experienced, and therefore more skilled, doulas are the ones charging the higher fees, with less experienced doulas starting out at the lower end of the scale.

How to hire a doula

  • First, screen to see who is accepting clients around your due date.
  • Ask how much the doula charges and what services are included in her fee.
  • If the answers to the first two questions lead you to want to pursue the possibility of hiring this person, then you could ask for some time for a short phone interview.
  • Ask about her level of experience, whether or not she has been formally trained as a doula, whether or not she is certified, and what her philosophy of care is (i.e., what are her thoughts and experience with breastfeeding?). You might want to know if she is a mother herself, what she thinks her biggest strength as a doula is, what she enjoys most about her work, etc. For a more complete list of questions, see below.
  • An enthusiastic but inexperienced doula with whom you feel a warm rapport may be preferable to a more experienced doula with whom you feel uncomfortable, for any reason. Trust your instincts. This is all about getting your needs met.
  • As you move through this process, you will likely have narrowed down your selection to one or two people with whom both you and your partner (if any) should meet in person and interview. Some doulas may charge a small fee for this interview, applying it towards your bill if you hire her, but otherwise non-refundable.
  • Ask for and check references. The most useless doula in the world is the one who is unreliable (if she doesn’t answer her phone when you are in labor, who cares how skillful or “nice” she is?). Doulas who have created good word-of-mouth about their services are likely to endeavor to ensure that you too are a satisfied customer.
  • Check credentials. If the doula claims to be a DONA International certified doula, you can confirm her certification by using the DONA online doula locator. I expect other certifying organizations have a similar system.
  • Does the doula have an agenda (my way or the highway)? If so, is her agenda congruent with yours? Try to think of a few questions before the interview that are designed to get at the answers most important to you. Have your partner articulate any questions or concerns he/she may have as well. In the end, make sure you hire someone who can provide non-judgmental support for you and your family. You don’t want to have to hide your diet pop cans when your doula comes to your home, nor apologize for a medicated birth if those are your choices. (I’m having a hard time letting the diet pop statement stand, because it’s SO bad for you, but I hope that makes my point about non-judgmental support . . . I would not be the doula for you if you wanted me to bring you your diet pop in labor, or at least, I would be very challenged in this regard.)
  • In the case of hiring a postpartum doula, many couples find themselves in a rather urgent frame of mind (“Can you start today?”). Consider starting with a one-week commitment from your doula with the possibility of extending beyond that time frame. If integrating a stranger into your home proves more stressful than helpful, you may have chosen the wrong doula.

Sample questions to ask a prospective doula

The best way to choose your doula is to consider the fact that the doula will be present at your birth, or providing in-home support at a time when you may feel vulnerable. Ask yourself with whom you (and your partner) feel the most comfortable. Just what are you looking for? What helps you when you are feeling stressed? Information, humor, kindness, massage, a flexible attitude, a good listener? Are you looking for a mother figure or more of a big sister? The personality and beliefs of your doula may well be more important than any other individual factor. If you choose to interview one or more doulas, it can be helpful to ask the following questions. In the final decision, trust your gut. A less experienced, uncertified doula may resonate better with you than the most experienced doula in town.

  • How long have you been in practice as a doula? How many families have you served?
  • What training have you completed to prepare you for this role? Are you certified?
  • What is your philosophy about your doula work and its purpose?
  • Are you a mother yourself? (This may or may not be important to you. Doulas who are not mothers themselves may have more time to focus on you and your needs, while doulas who are mothers themselves certainly will bring an added dimension of understanding to their care. On the other hand, experienced mothers may be more opinionated about the “right” way to do things, based upon their own beliefs and experiences. Look for someone capable of flexible, non-judgmental support or, if she has an agenda, make sure it’s the same as yours!)
  • Do you have experience with other clients whose situations are similar to mine (first-time mothers, natural/medicated birth, same hospital, home births, older mothers, single mothers, VBAC moms, etc.)?
  • How much do you charge? Under what circumstances would I receive a refund?
  • What is included in your fee (prenatal/postnatal visits, phone support)?
  • Do you work with a backup doula? If so, will I be able to meet her?
  • Do you have any references from families for whom you have provided services that I can check?

Additional questions for birth doulas

  • How certain are you that you will be able to attend my birth? Do you have any other commitments during that time period?
  • How do you picture yourself supporting me and my partner during the birth?
  • Do you provide labor support in the home for women planning hospital deliveries?
  • Do you only work as a birth doula or can we also hire you for postpartum work if needed?

Additional questions for postpartum doulas

  • Are you available for overnight help, weekend help, daytime help, etc.?
  • How much experience do you have with providing breastfeeding support?
  • What services do you provide or exclude? (For example, some doulas may be willing to do some sibling care, scrub out a bath tub, or walk the dog, while others may not. Really think through what it is that you need and then ask questions to determine if the doula can meet your needs. In some cases, parents might be better off hiring a babysitter or nanny if their concerns revolve around balancing the needs of a two-year-old and newborn twins.)
  • Do you have any add-on services (such as bringing meals, sharing information regarding alternative therapies for healing, massage, etc.)?

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