Hiring a Doula: What You Need to Know

Me, practicing comfort measures on a client during a prenatal meeting

​Welcoming a baby into the world is one of the most transformative experiences of a lifetime. As new and expecting parents prepare for labor, delivery, and the postpartum period, many consider hiring a doula—a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support. But before you make that decision, it's important to understand what a doula does, what they don't do, and how to find the right fit for your family's needs.

What Is a Doula?
A doula is a non-medical professional trained to support individuals through pregnancy, labor, birth, and/or the postpartum period. There are different types of doulas:

Birth doulas assist during pregnancy and labor.

Postpartum doulas support families in the early weeks after birth.

Some doulas also offer bereavement, abortion, or adoption support.

A doula does not replace a doctor or midwife, and they do not perform clinical tasks like fetal monitoring or vaginal exams. Instead, they are your advocate, coach, and emotional rock throughout your birthing journey.

What are the benefits of hiring a doula?
Studies have shown that having a doula can lead to:

• Shorter labors
• Lower rates of medical interventions (e.g., epidurals, cesareans)
• Increased satisfaction with the birth experience
• Higher rates of breastfeeding success
• Reduced postpartum anxiety and depression

When should you start looking for a doula?
Ideally, begin researching doulas in your second trimester. This gives you enough time to interview a few candidates, build a relationship with the right one, and schedule prenatal sessions. But I always say, it's never too early to start your search because many of the good doulas are booked well in advance.

Here are key factors to consider before hiring a doula:

1. Training and Certification
Not all doulas are certified, and certification is not required to practice. However, reputable certifications (from organizations like DONA International, ProDoula, CAPPA, or ICEA) ensure a standard level of training and ethics.

2. Experience
You may want to know how many births they've attended or how many families they’ve supported postpartum. Experience often translates to better intuition, adaptability, and calm under pressure.

3. Style and Philosophy
Some doulas are hands-on, others are more reserved. Some lean into natural birth advocacy, while others are supportive of medicated or cesarean births. Choose someone whose philosophy aligns with your own.

4. Availability
This will likely be a top priority when choosing your doula. Ensure their on-call window matches your due date, and ask how many clients they take on per month.

5. Backups
Life happens and when it comes to your birth support, you want to make sure that you are covered even in emergency situations. Ask if the doula works with a backup doula in case they are unavailable when you go into labor.

6. Investment
Doula services range widely in cost. It can be anywhere from $800 to $2,500+ depending on your location and the services you receive. Having a budget is a great place to start so you can narrow down your choices. Some doulas offer sliding scales or payment plans so be sure to ask when conducting interviews. Also, check if your insurance or FSA/HSA covers any part of the fee. Be sure that you are comfortable with your investment.

7. Services Included
Many doulas offer packages that include particular services. The most  common things included with birth services and support are prenatal visits, labor/birth support, and postpartum check-ins. You may also inquire about additional services like lactation counseling, childbirth education, or massage therapy.

Overall, these considerations should help you navigate what type of doula you want for support and the particular services you desire. Based on your preferences, needs and budget, you can start the interview process. Many doulas offer complimentary consultations for your convenience.

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Doula support during a home birth

Questions to Ask When Interviewing a Doula
When interviewing potential doulas, use these questions to guide the conversation:

1. What inspired you to become a doula?
2. Are you certified? Through which organization?
3. How long have you been practicing?
4. How many births have you attended (or postpartum clients have you supported)?
5. Are you available around my due date?
6. When do you go on-call for me?
7. Do you work with a backup doula? Can I meet them?
8. How many clients do you take on per month?
9. What is your philosophy on birth?
10. How do you support clients who choose epidurals, inductions, or cesareans?
11. How do you handle challenging situations, such as long labors or unexpected complications?
12. How many prenatal visits are included?
13. Will you help me create a birth plan?
14. When should I call you when I go into labor?
15. Will you come to my home or meet me at the hospital/birth center?
16. How long will you stay after the birth?
17. Do you offer postpartum support? What does it include?
18. Do you provide lactation support or referrals?
19. Will you check in with me after the birth?
20. What is your fee, and what does it include?
21. Do you offer payment plans or a sliding scale?
22. What is your refund or cancellation policy?
23. How do you prefer to communicate (text, email, phone)?
24. How do you build trust and connection with your clients?
25. Do you have any client testimonials or reviews from your past clients?

Hiring a doula is a deeply personal decision, and the right match can be an invaluable part of your birth or postpartum experience. Take the time to interview several doulas, listen to your intuition, and choose someone who makes you feel heard, respected and supported.

Remember, the goal isn't just to hire a doula, it's to welcome a trusted guide on one of the most important journeys of your life.