• What is her philosophy of birth? Will she support your goals and beliefs about birth?
  
• Is she certified or what training has she had?
  
• What is her scope of practice? (that is, the limits to her practice, what she does and does not do to assist you)
  
• What is her experience? How long has she been a doula?
  
• Can she provide you with references?
  
• What are her fees?
  
• Does she work with a partner or student? Can you request or reject that she work with another doula?
  
• What is her availability? For how long before and after your due date will she be in town? What are the closest due dates of her other clients.
  
• How do you contact her? Phone? Home? Cell? Pager? Daytime? Nighttime?
  
• How many prenatal visits does she provide? How many postnatal visits?
  
• How often may you call her during the contract period?
  
• What is her role in early labor?
  
• Will she come to your home in labor? When?
  
• Will she help you create a birth plan?
  
• How will she work with your partner in birth?
  
• How will she work with your primary care provider and with nurses and other hospital staff?
  
• Will she attend a prenatal appointment with you to meet your caregiver?
  
• Tell her any major physical, emotional or psychological concerns you have and ask how she will address those.

This is your birth. You are looking for a woman who will serve you in accordance with your specific needs. Doulas aren't competitive. We don't want to be hired someone who isn't confident in us. We'd rather refer you to others, and we expect that you will interview more than one. A good match is almost always mutual - we tend to be chosen by the women we are most happy to serve.