How to choose your Doula
Doulas have been supporting women during pregnancy and labor for as long as we have been birthing babies. If you are unfamiliar with what a doula does, I have summed it up for you here:
“ A doula is a person who provides emotional, physical and informational support during pregnancy, birth and post partum. Some doulas have also specialized to support bereaved families, families on their fertility journey, or even offer sibling support services.
A doula is not a medical provider and it is out of scope to perform medical checks. Doulas provide resources and can support you as you are making the decisions that are right for your family. Many doulas have additional skills that they offer to their clients, for example birth photography, aromatherapy, acupressure and massage.
Each doula is unique but they all focused on the mother’s emotional and physical well-being.”
You see, doulas are pretty amazing and I can assure you, the right doula for you is out there! I strongly believe that a doula can benefit any birthing person. Maybe you do not want support during the delivery, and that is ok! A doula can provide education, resources, information and emotional support during your pregnancy to leave you empowered and confident in your abilities.
So, how should you pick your doula? There are many, many doulas in your area and that is good! They each bring unique personalities and skills to the table. I would encourage you to interview a few different doulas before you make your choice. You should really feel a connection with the person that will accompany you on your journey to parenthood.
Some things you may want to consider when choosing your doula are:
Personality - do you “click” and feel a connection
Shared believes and morals
Training and certifications - a doula does not need to be certified to be amazing, but sometimes a certification can give you a little bit of a warm and fuzzy feeling.
Who did the doula certify with? Is it an agency that aligns with your believes?
Additional skills - massage therapy, acupressure, photography, placenta encapsulation, …the list goes on. What is important to you?
Experience - how long has this doula been working in the field, how many births have they supported? Where have they worked?
Languages spoken - this can be important if you do not speak the language spoken by your medical providers, for example if you are stationed overseas.
Volunteer work
Affiliations
Reviews from former clients
Insurance - this is a really important point to consider. A doula should have liability insurance.
Clauses in the contract you may feel strongly about
Backup doula availability
Think about why you want to hire a doula and what the most important thing this person needs to bring to the table is. Make a list and come up with questions ahead of your interview. Many doulas offer free consultations (I know that I do) that give you an opportunity to get a feel for the doula and see if they are someone you would like to work with.
It is never too early or too late to hire a doula. I love it when my clients hire me early on in their pregnancy, but I also have some really strong bonds with the families that hire me later on their journey. Connect with your doula frequently, ask questions, and share your feelings or worries with them. We can be much more helpful when we know a little bit about what goes on in your life!
If you are interested in hiring a doula and you are located in the Colorado Springs area, feel free to reach out to me! I would love to connect.
7Blessingsdoula@gmail.com