What to Ask When Hiring a Birth Doula
Finding the Right Doula Starts With the Right Questions
Choosing a birth doula is a deeply personal and meaningful decision. This is someone who will support you during one of life’s most powerful transitions, so it’s important to feel aligned with their style, values, and experience.
Many families feel unsure of what to ask when interviewing a potential doula. It’s not just about credentials, but also about connection, communication, and trust.
In this post, we’ll walk you through the most important questions to ask so you can feel confident choosing the right doula for your birth journey. Whether you’re giving birth at home, a hospital, or a birth center, this guide will help you prepare for that first conversation.
Questions About Training and Experience
Start with the basics. Understanding your doula’s background can give you insight into how they’ll support you during labor and delivery.
1. What certifications or training do you have?
Write down their answer and look into the training program they took, after the meeting. See what their training entailed, see if the training program meets your birth values. Does this form or education feel in alignment to how you view birth?
2. How many births have you attended, and what types?
Birth Types Include: First-time parents, VBAC, high-risk, twins, home birth, birth center, hospital inductions, unmedicated hospital births, breech birth, water birth, etc. Ensure they have experience with your current birth plan.
Experience with a variety of birth settings and scenarios shows adaptability.
3. What is your approach to continuing education?
Does this doula listen to podcasts? Read books? Is she taking additional trainings? Does she stay up to date with the most recent research? Doulas who invest in learning tend to offer deeper, more current support.
Tip: Experience matters, but connection is key. You want someone who feels confident and makes you feel confident too.
Questions About Style and Philosophy
Every doula has a slightly different approach. These questions help you determine whether your values align.
1. How do you support clients through unmedicated, VBAC, cesarean, etc. births? (ask about your desired birth)
A good doula supports your choices, not just one style of birth. There is no ‘one size fits all’.
2. What’s your philosophy around interventions and hospital birth?
Do they encourage advocacy? Do they respect your medical team while helping you stay informed? You want someone who will respectfully work with your care provider.
3. How do you support the non-birthing partner?
The right doula makes everyone feel included and supported. She supports you, your partner, and your family throughout the process.
4. How do you handle emotional moments or changes in plans?
Birth can be unpredictable, their response will reveal how they show up under pressure.
Questions About Availability and Backup
1.When do you go on-call for me?
Many doulas officially start their on-call period at 37 weeks, but it’s always a good idea to clarify this with your doula. Personally, I take a slightly different approach. From the moment I commit to working with a client, I consider myself on-call until their baby arrives. To me, birth is unpredictable, and I want my clients to feel reassured that whether their labor begins at 36 weeks or 41, I’ll be ready to show up and support them.
Which is why it’s important to ask…
2. What happens if I go into labor early or you’re unavailable?
Most doulas have trusted backup support they can call on if needed. In my practice, I have three certified doulas I trust and who are ready to step in if an unexpected situation arises. I’ve never missed a birth, but this backup plan ensures you’re supported no matter what. Furthermore, a backup doula should be provided at no additional cost to you. If a doula charges extra for using a backup, feel free to question that policy as this isn’t typical.
When interviewing doulas, ask about their backup plan, confirm they have more than one backup, and make sure there are no surprise fees.
3.How do you communicate before, during, and after labor?
Every doula has their own style of communication, so it’s important to ask about this ahead of time. Most encourage texting or calling during pregnancy for questions, and they’ll want you to call when you think labor has begun. Some doulas limit their support to pregnancy and birth, while others, like myself, also offer continued communication after the baby arrives.
Because I’m a postpartum doula as well, I naturally extend my support beyond birth. Even if a client doesn’t officially hire me for postpartum care, I still check in and remain available by text, phone call, or even in-person visits throughout the first three months.
Not every doula offers this level of ongoing contact, and some may even have policies such as taking 24+ hours to respond to non-urgent messages. Personally, I respond as quickly as possible because I know how reassuring timely answers can be. If you’re someone who feels more at ease with quick communication, it’s worth finding a doula whose style matches your needs.
4.How many clients do you take per month?
Fewer clients often means more personalized care and attention.
You Deserve a Birth Doula That Feels Supportive of YOU
When it comes to birth, the support you choose makes all the difference. Asking thoughtful questions ensures you find a doula who respects your preferences, honors your emotions, and helps you feel confident every step of the way.
At Mama Lotus, I welcome these conversations. My goal is for you to feel empowered from our very first connection. As a certified birth doula, I bring knowledge, compassion, and unwavering commitment to your comfort, safety, and joy.
I invite you to book a free consultation to see if we’re a good match for your birth journey.
