How Do I Find the Right Doula? | Questions to Ask
You have done your research, you know the benefits of hiring a size friendly doula and now you want to find the right one for you! The questions below will help you during your search!
Your next step is contacting a birth doula for a phone or in-person consultation. This conversation allows you to get to know one another and see if you connect. This is an important step and below are some questions you may like to ask!
Where have they trained?
How long has they been a doula?
How many births have they attended?
Have they supported plus size parents before?
How many clients do they take each month? And what happens if two clients are in labor at the same time?
What is their philosophy on birth?
Why did they choose to become a doula?
What are things they can do during labor to help you?
How can they help support your partner so they feel more involved if they choose?
Do they have special skills, like hypnobirthing training, Spinning Babies, lactation support, placenta encapsulation, etc.?
What is their fee? Do they have different package options and if so, what is included in each?
Do they take payment plans?
How many prenatal visits are offered and what is usually covered during those visits?
When are they officially “on-call” for you?
Does their service include unlimited calls, texts or emails during pregnancy?
When will they come to you on the day? As soon as labor starts? When active labor is established?
In the event they cannot make it to you during labor, do they have a back-up doula?
How can they support you in the event of a cesarean?
How long do they stay after the birth and can they assist wifeeding?
What happens in the event of a long labor? Do they stay the entire time, take breaks, call for a back up doula?
These questions are an excellent place to start when you begin looking for the right doula for you. You may decide to interview more than one person or you may speak with someone and just click!
Here at Fat & Pregnant, you can search the size inclusive birth professional directory! These practitioners specializing in fertility, pregnancy and postpartum care have gone through our certification process so you can be confident that they have the knowledge and tools to provide services free of weight bias.
From doulas, midwives, acupuncturists, yoga teachers, childbirth educators, HAES-aligned nutritionists and more— you will find a professional near you and/or offering compassionate services online. Want to become certified as a Size Inclusive Birth Professional? Check here for more information and upcoming training dates.
Certify as a size inclusive birth professional!
To learn more about my virtual and in-person birth doula support services or book in for a consultation, you may get in touch here!
Are you a doula, midwife or other practitioner looking to ensure you are supporting your clients in a size inclusive way? My training is perfect for you! Learn more here and register for an upcoming training.
