Congratulations! You are expecting a new bundle of joy in your life! You may be a little preoccupied planning the nursery, getting supplies ready, and daydreaming about whom your new addition will look like and what type of personality they may have. At some point during your pregnancy, you may have wondered how am I going to get through labor? How can my partner support me? When do I go to the hospital? What if the pain is just too unbearable? What are my options while I am in labor? What types of birthing positions are available? Are there any pain medications I can have besides an epidural? Or you may have some of the following emotions running through your mind: fear of labor, fear of pushing out a watermelon (AKA your baby), stress, confusion, anxiety, joy, happiness, and excitement. Whether you are feeling one of those emotions or all of them, it may have crossed your mind to hire a doula to help support you through your pregnancy and labor.

Just as a quick refresher, a doula is s a non-medical professional who accompanies women and their partners in labor to help ensure a satisfying birth experience. But how in the world do you pick a doula that is right for you? Do you decide to go with a doula who has been to 200+ births or one who may not have that “status” but has a phenomenal tool belt of knowledge and ways to help a birthing family? Do you go with a doula that has the cheapest price? What about a doulas “on call” period? Does the doula you are interviewing even have that – because let’s face it, after paying to have the support, you will want your doula there! These are just a few situations that doulas encounter on the regular and trust me, there are plenty more! So how do you choose a doula that is right for you and your partner? How do you choose a doula that will provide the most enjoyable and positive birthing experience?

First, you want to make sure that your doula will even be available during the time-frame that your birth should take place! Not only this but determining if the hospital or birthing center is within the doulas driving range is a key factor as well. Secondly, during your initial interview with your potential doula, you want to make sure that they are able to answer any and all of your questions! Since doulas are not medical professionals, we may not have all of the answers and frankly, we should not give you medical advice; but your doula should have resources that they can send you or guidance on where to find information. Third, do you hang up the phone or leave the interview feeling really comfortable and reassured? The last thing you want is to chat with your doula and feel uncertain about the role they will play, the support they will give or feel that some of your questions were left unanswered. You want to feel comfortable, reassured, and excited to move forward with the doula! After all, this person will be up-close and personal with you while going through the most private experience of your life. Fourth, did you feel supported by the doula? Did the doula work with you when you said you wanted an epidural or did they encourage you to go natural because that is “best”? It is SO important to find a doula that supports you and your partner and what your birth plan is going to be! You do not need someone to fight you on the details of your birth, but instead, you need an advocate who will fight for your rights and wishes during labor. Lastly, does this financially make sense? Unfortunately, this is a serious question that many couples go through. You may love a doula but might not financially be able to afford the services. If this is the case, ASK the doula if there are any payment plans or special packages that they may be able to accommodate for you. You never know and it would not hurt to ask if you really felt like the doula was a great fit!

Picking the right doula for you may seem daunting. You may feel overwhelmed at the amount of doulas you connect with and just can’t imagine having to pick one (I hope this is the case for you)! But in the end, please make sure that you ask the right questions and that your partner feels comfortable too. As long as you follow the five tips above to picking a right doula you will surely be in great hands!