A doula can really enhance your childbirth experience and your postpartum months to come. Your birth doula will be at your side along with your partner and care provider, as part of your team for constant, round-the-clock support during labor and birth. Or maybe you would like a postpartum doula to help you through the transition into parenthood and family. Either way, finding a good fit for you and your family is critical.

A doula's education, experience, training and credentials are important. When doulas have DONA International certification, you know that they have had the best education and training available. You can also be assured that they have a strong sense of professionalism and integrity.

You will also want to consider whether you and your partner feel comfortable with an individual doula. You will need to feel that this doula is supportive of your hopes and expectations about labor, childbirth and parenting, in addition to having a strong professional background and credentials. That is why we recommend the following four-step hiring process when hiring a birth or postpartum doula.

Step 1: Locate a short list of doulas.
Obtain names of DONA International doulas using our easy online doula locator.

Step 2: Conduct a telephone interview.

To hire a birth doula, ask the following questions:

What training and education do you have?
What is your philosophy about childbirth and supporting women and their partners through labor?
When do you try to join women in labor - at our home or at the place of birth?
Will you meet with us to discuss our birth plans and the role that you will play in supporting us through childbirth?
May we call you with questions or concerns before or after the birth?
Do you work with one or more backup doulas for times when you are not available? May we meet them?
What is your fee, what services does it include and what are your refund policies?
Will you provide references?
To hire a postpartum doula, ask the following questions:

What training and education do you have?
Have you had a criminal background check, a recent TB test and do you have current CPR certification?
Tell me about your experience as a postpartum doula.
What is your philosophy about parenting and supporting women and their families during postpartum?
May we meet to discuss our postpartum needs and the role you will play in supporting us in the postpartum period?
What additional services do you offer?
May we call you with postpartum questions or concerns before the birth?
When do your services begin after birth?
What is your experience in breastfeeding support?
Do you work with one or more back up doulas for times when you are not available? May we meet them?
What is your fee? What is your refund policy?
Step 3: Check credentials and references.
If the doula is a DONA International certified doula, you can confirm her certification by using our online doula locator. DONA International certification is a meaningful measure of a doula's commitment and professionalism.

Step 4: Conduct an in-person interview.
It is a good idea for both you and your partner to meet doula candidates to decide if they are compatible with your family. Are they kind, warm and enthusiastic? Are they knowledgeable? Do they communicate well? Are they good listeners? Are they comfortable with your choices or do they seem to have their own agenda? Do you feel at ease with them?

The way that you feel with a doula is more important than the number of births that they have attended or how many new families they have nurtured. You may want to interview more than one doula and make comparisons before choosing your doula.