How do I go about hiring a doula?
I encourage pregnant women and their partners to meet and interview with at least three doulas. It is important to get a feel for different personalities and to learn of a doula's other areas of expertise that might be used to support you. These areas might include massage therapy, childbirth education, nutritional support, prenatal yoga, etc. When interviewing potential birth doulas, one of the most important considerations is your own instinct - Are you comfortable with this person? Will you feel comfortable sharing the intimate experience of childbirth with her? The following are some questions you may want to ask when interviewing doulas to find out more about each individual's skills, perspective and experience:

• How do you support women who want to have a natural childbirth?

• How do you support women if they want or decide to use pain medications or an epidural?

• How do you support the father?

• What kinds of things do you bring with you to the birth to help the mother (i.e., birth ball, aromatherapy, hot/cold packs, etc.)?

• What kind of training and experience do you have as a doula? How many births have you been to?

• What other skills or certifications do you have that might support a mother?

• Have you worked with my doctor/midwife before?

• Have you worked at my chosen hospital/birth center?

• What is your relationship with my care provider and hospital/birth place?

• What other services do you provide?

• What is your on-call availability? Do you use back-up?

• What is your fee and what does that include?

• Please give me three references of clients you have worked with recently.

For a list of names and numbers of doulas in the Santa Cruz area, call Birth Doulas of Santa Cruz County at 831-429-BABY, Community Doulas at 831-471-6262, or Birth Network at 831-425-3373.