Questions to Ask When Interviewing a Doula (and my honest answers)

The Traverse City Doula and Birth photographer

Picking a doula is personal. It is not just about who has a certificate or who has the cutest birth bag. It is about feeling safe, supported, and seen. You deserve someone who knows birth, trusts your body, and will stay in it with you when things get intense, quiet, funny, weird, or powerful.

These are the deeper questions I encourage you to ask when choosing your doula, and I added my own answers so you get a feel for how I work with families.

1. If my labor is long, do you ever charge more?
No. Birth takes the time it takes. I stay with you. I never want you worrying about finances while you are in labor.

2. When do you join me in labor?
Whenever you feel you need support. I do not wait for a certain dilation. If you want hands on help early at home or later at your birth place, I come.

3. Is childbirth education included?
Yes. When you book support, we do personalized childbirth education that fits your body, your birth place, and your goals. We practice positions, breath work, and comfort tools so you feel ready.

4. How often will we talk or meet before birth?
We do in person visits and bi weekly check ins. I want you feeling steady and informed, not guessing or googling at 2 am.

5. Do you support my partner too?
Yes. I help partners feel confident, included, and ready. They can call, text, ask questions, and join in practicing comfort tools.

6. How do you help with advocacy?
I remind you of your choices, help you think through options, and support informed decision making. I also help suggest pauses and moments of privacy when your care team comes in, so you have space to breathe and process before agreeing to anything.

7. What comfort techniques do you use?
Hands on support, massage techniques, aromatherapy, guided movement, breath work, birth ball and peanut ball support, TENS unit, rebozo scarf, grounding tools, and nervous system care.

8. What continuing education have you done?
Spinning Babies workshop, herbalism for birthworkers, lactation support, trauma informed care, aromatherapy for birth, newborn care, and proper peanut ball techniques and more! I am always learning because birth is always teaching.

9. How do you support postpartum?
In home visits, lactation help, newborn care education, emotional support, herbal healing, and checking in so you do not feel alone in the early weeks.

10. What happens if you are sick or at another birth?
I work with trusted backup doulas. You will know who they are ahead of time so it never feels random.

11. Do you know my birth place or provider?
Most likely yes. If not, I take time to learn how they work so we all walk in feeling steady and connected.

12. How do you show up when birth feels intense?
I stay grounded, steady, and right beside you. I help you breathe, move, rest, and trust your body. I am there to remind you that you were made for this, even in the parts that feel big and wild.

Birth deserves support that goes beyond checkboxes. You deserve someone who cares about the messy, sweet, raw, holy, funny, quiet, and powerful parts of this journey.

If this sounds like the kind of support you want, reach out. I take only a few birth clients per month so I can be fully present for each family.

You deserve care that helps you feel safe, strong, and heard in one of the biggest moments of your life.