How do I Become a Doula?

"When a woman arrives at the hospital alone, or with family/friends who are unwilling or unable to be an active support, those doulas can provide priceless assistance. The mom must be able to open herself up easily to the doula's suggestions, and be willing to let her guard down with a virtual stranger. "The downside to a hospital program," Megan continues, "is the fact that the mom and doula have no past relationship to fall back on in labor.

Before deciding to go with a hospital doula program, ask whether you're guaranteed a doula when you arrive, and whether or not you would qualify for the program. Also, you'll want to ask if the doulas work in shifts, and if the doula you're assigned when you come into the hospital stays with you throughout the birth. If the local program can't guarantee a doula, or if the doulas work in shifts (a serious downfall with hospital based programs), consider hiring a private doula.

One more thing to consider before choosing a hospital doula program is where you want your doula's loyalties. This is an important issue to consider, since one of the benefits of doula support is having an advocate. It's often possible to find a doula for much less than the average, and sometimes, for free, if you're willing to use a doula who is just training.

Laura Johnson of San Mateo, CA, a new doula who has attended a 11 births so far, says the connection you feel with a doula is more important than experience. "In my opinion," Laura says, "it's purely a matter of feeling a good connection. The doula I chose for my son's birth was not very experienced (I think my son was her seventh baby), and I had met women who had attended closer to 100 births.

Laura feels that choosing a doula who is less experienced can even work to your advantage. "You will get an enthusiastic person at a good price," Laura says. "Their value is still enormous if you feel a good connection.

When hiring a doula in training, you'll want to be extra sure to check out references. People you can speak with include the doula who trained her, the childbirth education instructor that taught the course she audited for her certification, and, of course, prior clients, if there are any. Where can you find doulas in training?

Asking other doulas in the area if they know of anyone new looking for their first few births is one way. You can also check with the local doula instructor, which you can find from the referral pages of most doula certification organizations. Since they helped train the newest doulas, they are an excellent resource for finding new trainees.

For uncomplicated births, a newer doula can be an excellent choice. You provide the opportunity for the doula to get the experience she needs, and you get excellent doula care for a very low price. However, if you're extra fearful about the birth process, or have any special needs or concerns about your birth, seriously consider finding the money for a more experienced doula.

"You can use a less experienced doula because you love her and feel that she will be able to best help you," Stephanie Soderblom suggests, "but your motivation for you care during the birth of your baby shouldn't be a financial one.".