Ep 197: Ask These Questions Before Hiring a Doula

In this episode of the Aligned Birth Podcast, hosts Dr. Shannon and Doula Rachael discuss the essential role of doulas in the birthing process. They explore how to choose the right doula, the different types of doulas available, and the key questions to ask when selecting one. The conversation emphasizes the importance of trust, emotional support, and effective communication between the birthing person and their doula. Listeners are encouraged to consider their own birth philosophy and intuition when making decisions about their birth support team.

Transcript

Aligned Birth Podcast (00:01.832)

Hello, this is the Aligned Birth Podcast. You have both hosts here today, Dr. Shannon, Dula Rachel, and we've got a birthy topic for you. This one is essentially like questions you might want to ask your Dula, how to pick a Dula, what to look for when looking for...

So we're going to talk a little bit about like, okay, what are the maybe a few little bit with the types of doulas and then dive into some of the questions. This kind of came about as Rachel and I were just talking about, you what do we want to talk about on the podcast or what are we seeing a lot of lately or what's coming up in our offices and practices lately. But there's this Facebook group called Georgia Moms for a Better Birth. And it's one of the few Facebook groups I'm in because there's a lot there's sometimes there's too many.

I do like that one. And there was someone in there that asked this question. And I was like, that's such a good question. And so, and there were some beautiful answers, but I'd like one of this episode to maybe go in depth a little bit more than just, you know, a little Facebook answer. So that's what we're talking about today. So I'm excited that we have Dula Rachel to talk with about this today. Hi, Rachel.

Rachael (01:23.604)

Shannon, so good to see you. Very excited for this conversation. This is something I deal with daily is helping people figure out what they need to know about doulas and how to help people find the best doula for them. You know, I like to say that while everyone deserves a doula and should have a doula, not every doula is for every person. It's a very intimate time. It's a very vulnerable time. So it's important that you choose a doula who you align with, meaning

what you want from your birth and your pregnancy and what they are offering and the connection and energy are aligned more than you I don't know like you you blindly choosing which no one that I know blindly chooses a doula but it's important that the matches is there because that's going to benefit the birthing person and the doula

So it's just as important for doulas to care that their potential clients are asking these questions and if they're not asking them that they're offering at least some of these pieces of information to the potential client because it needs to be a magical in both directions.

Aligned Birth Podcast (02:16.337)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (02:33.197)

Mm-hmm, and I know in some cases I'm if I'm doing something that is unknown a lot of times I'm like, I don't even know what to ask I don't even know what I don't know and so you don't want to get in a situation where you ask the dual you're like So what should I ask? What do I need to know? But I think the importance of it too and you kind of mentioned this is that we're looking at like support trust and confidence during birth and that's how the duo Hope is hopefully going to align with all of those things

Rachael (02:40.684)

What to ask? Yeah.

Aligned Birth Podcast (03:01.029)

And then a little bit further, it's more of helping you feel safe in the birth space, which allows you to be vulnerable in the birth space, which allows you to surrender in the birth space. And that's kind of, I mean, that's ultimately what needs to happen. But yeah, they see you. And so you gotta be comfortable with that. They see, yes, yeah.

Rachael (03:23.562)

Yes, you gotta trust them yeah, you got to trust their opinions and their energy and Feel comfortable with them. Yeah, cuz they're a doula is in the birth space more than any of the other providers They're they're like ideally continuously with maybe a few breaks in there and I thought

Aligned Birth Podcast (03:38.212)

Exactly.

Aligned Birth Podcast (03:42.415)

Yeah, so tell me, sorry, now I was gonna say start with like what a doula does and kind of lead into, okay, it's different than that OB, it's different than the midwife, you know?

Rachael (03:51.254)

Yeah, yes. yeah, we're different for sure. I was going to say though that I feel like I've evolved. I've been in this work for 11 years and what I used to think was important for people to know like...

what I bring to a birth, like tangible things, my what's in my birth bag, what skills have I learned, like how many like my hip squeeze or my robozo skills or you know and I feel like now while those things are important I'm I'm always like my greatest tool is my hands, my voice and my energy like because

Aligned Birth Podcast (04:22.407)

That's so true. But it's kind of like when people say like, no one's asked what your GPA was. It's like, who are you as a person? It's those type of things.

Rachael (04:31.022)

Yeah, yeah. Because the emotional part, like you were saying, and the surrender and the vulnerability is so much more important than the physical tools, but those tools are important. We need to know about it. I get it. Sometimes people want to know that, but I feel like over time I've learned that the most important thing are those other things. So, okay, types of doulas. So, doula can apply to a lot of different...

Aligned Birth Podcast (04:38.469)

Mm-hmm.

they're still important.

Rachael (04:56.502)

types of support. But in this regard, we're talking about birth doulas. And, you know, there are there are full spectrum doulas who could also be a birth doula. So full spectrum is going to be from like preconceptive support, infertility support, miscarriage support, all the way through birth and postpartum. So that's like your full spectrum doula.

So in that they are also a birth doula, but our questions today are specifically for birth doula. And then some people are just birth doulas, like me. I'm just a birth doula. Not just, but you know what I'm saying. I'm not the full spectrum. I'm not a postpartum doula. And then there are postpartum doulas who offer that in-home, in-person, longer-term support for mom and baby after the birth.

Aligned Birth Podcast (05:28.891)

to us.

Aligned Birth Podcast (05:35.504)

Yeah. Yeah.

Rachael (05:52.362)

And some birth doulas are postpartum doulas. Some are both and some are just postpartum. But birth doulas specifically are someone that you hire during pregnancy, typically around end of first trimester, beginning of second trimester. I think that's optimal time. And they are along the ride with you from the time you hire them all the way through the early postpartum phase. Their goal is to offer that educational

support, informational, emotional support as you're growing a baby, navigating, you know, this new territory and preparing for your birth. And then during the birth, that's their bit. The biggest thing they offer is that in-person emotional physical support from, know, around active labor. It varies for people, but in general, birth tools are joining you in active labor and staying with you for the rest of the labor, that in-person support.

offering guidance for positions to do, reminding you of to drink and eat and change positions and you know stuff like that. They're also there... sorry, were you gonna say something?

Aligned Birth Podcast (07:01.402)

No, I was gonna say allowing you to get out of thinking brain and to surrender into birth brain. Yeah.

Rachael (07:05.079)

Yes.

Exactly, that's such a good way of putting it because if you're the one having to think of everything you need to be doing, you are staying in your thinking brain. And really for birth to progress effectively, efficiently, we need your thinking brain to turn off and your primal primitive brain to fire. And in order to do that and feel safe, having that trusted support person who is in the birth space for you, they do not in our area specifically, they're not part of the hospital, they're not with the nurse or the OB, they're not part of

practice. They are independent. They work for you. So they are there making sure your needs are being met, your voice is being heard, and that you have the information and tools to get through your birth so that you feel good and satisfied and healthy and happy on the other side of it. Because what we've learned or what I know I've learned through all my years of being a birth doula is that we can't guarantee like having a birth doula does not guarantee an outcome. It doesn't say you will have a vaginal birth. You will have an unmedicated birth.

There are goals that we can strive towards, but ultimately the BERT Duel is there to protect the experience and help you navigate your journey, whatever. Like sometimes it's straightforward. We can go A to Z without many twists and turns. Sometimes there's lots of bumps in the road that you have need help navigating, and that's where the Duel can really shine. know, navigating decision-making, making sure, you know, we're not there to push our agenda.

We're there to make sure your preferences are being heard and respected and that you have the information you need to make decisions for whatever comes up. And advocacy, that's part of advocacy too. A birth doula is a great advocate. I think that's one of very important thing that you should look for in a birth doula is that they are confident in advocating. That doesn't mean they're telling medical staff what to do. That doesn't mean they're telling you what to do. That means...

Aligned Birth Podcast (08:55.206)

Exactly.

Rachael (08:56.29)

They're protecting your decision-making, making sure your voice is being heard, keeping you in the driver's seat, being a bridge builder. That's what we are. We're like, medical care team has what they need and want and prefer and are working with, and then you have what you need and want and are working with. And we're there to kind of bring everyone together and get on the same team. No one's there working against each other. And that's how with talking about how we complement OB and midwife.

Aligned Birth Podcast (09:04.84)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (09:18.3)

Mm-hmm.

Rachael (09:25.43)

I get that question a lot as far as like people thinking that that's the role that we are filling or that they need one or the other if they have a doctor or midwife, they don't need a doula. And that's not true. know, OB and midwife, those are the clinical providers. They are looking out for the clinical well-being of mom and baby, making sure that everyone basically stays alive, alive during birth as as straightforward as that sounds. And the experience I think is important to some providers, but it is not their top priority.

Aligned Birth Podcast (09:31.068)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (09:35.368)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (09:47.09)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (09:54.664)

Mm-hmm.

Rachael (09:54.71)

But they can make diagnosis, they can measure fetal heart tones and blood pressure and prescribe stuff and all that clinical, the clinical side of things. Same thing with the nurse, the nurses on that clinical team as well. And then doulas are there really for that, protecting that emotional experience and making sure again that you feel not just, again, a lot of people say as long as baby and mom are safe and healthy, then

Aligned Birth Podcast (10:22.502)

Mm-hmm and healthy then I'll be happy

Rachael (10:24.418)

then we have a successful birth. Yeah. And to many like clinical providers, is like, that's it. And then we need that. We need that. But because that is, that's their main training and that's their area of focus. Sometimes making sure you're feeling safe and informed and that that decision-making process is being protected and all of that just is extra work that they're not.

Aligned Birth Podcast (10:31.12)

That's their goal. Right. We're not saying we don't, but there could be more.

Rachael (10:54.008)

That's just not how the system is set up to support it. And so having the birth doula in there, they're filling that gap that that is usually between what people want and what their provider can give them. And so bring in the birth doula plus a good supportive loving partner, whether that be a sister, an aunt, a boyfriend, husband, wife, whatever. That's like, you need all those components in the birth space to have that safe and healthy and satisfying birth that you're looking for.

Aligned Birth Podcast (11:01.223)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (11:06.193)

Hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (11:13.885)

Mm-hmm.

Rachael (11:23.822)

So does that did I answer it? I'm always wordy. Rarely can I surmise it so like briefly.

Aligned Birth Podcast (11:25.392)

Yeah, that sets the stage. Yes, that was such a good, yeah. That was, yes, I know. That was so good. No, and I think that touches on everything. And even that last little bit you said that the Dula compliments the other support person that's there. If you have another support person there.

you know, hopefully you do, but it allows them to also be in their own capacity. So I do want to like hit home because some people are like, yeah, you know, my husband's gonna be there or my mom's gonna be there and like that's good and all, but like if they're not trained and so going through some of these questions of like, they, do they know these things? Can they handle these things? They're too connected to you, like, but having that person there allows you to be vulnerable as well, but then having a doula there can allow them to care for you how you need. Does that make sense? I don't know.

Rachael (12:22.606)

I'm so glad you brought that that up. Yeah. No, no, no. Because that is exactly how we talk about when people are sort of like, wait, how does this work? I feel like my husband could be a good support for me or my mom. Just like you said everything you said and they are, but we like to say like we know the phrasing we've started or we've said for a long time is we know birth intimately. Your partner or loved one, whether it be your mom or your husband.

Aligned Birth Podcast (12:22.64)

But yeah, so I wanted to like, you said it, but I was like, that deserves a little extra.

Aligned Birth Podcast (12:34.502)

Yeah, and they are good support, but they're not. They may not be trained.

Aligned Birth Podcast (12:45.244)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (12:51.068)

Yeah, sister, whatever you have.

Rachael (12:51.538)

They know you intimately and they're going to be on an emotional level with you that we can never fill or replace. But they're going to have more bandwidth available to support you in that way because they're not having to also be driving the decision making and what positions do I do and how do I cope and how do I breathe and like...

Aligned Birth Podcast (13:06.834)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (13:12.049)

Mm-hmm.

Rachael (13:12.374)

And we're able to come in with a level head because it's not our loved one going through this intense thing. While we recognize and honor it, we can be more like calm and at ease in that space versus the loved one who might go on the highs and lows with you.

Aligned Birth Podcast (13:23.644)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (13:28.506)

Yeah, exactly, exactly. It allows them to not be exhausted by birth too.

Rachael (13:36.214)

And most partners are elated. They're like, and it's usually once they've gone through it with a doula, they're like, I get it now. Whereas before it was hard for them to understand how having another person in such an intimate time could be beneficial. Most dads and some moms and sisters who have been present are like, wow, thanks. You made this so much easier. So.

Aligned Birth Podcast (13:41.786)

It's once they got through it, yeah.

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (13:56.529)

Yeah. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Exactly. Okay. So, what questions? How do you, how do you want to approach this? Do you want to go? Yeah. You start. I don't know.

Rachael (14:10.114)

Yeah, so.

I think let's just go through the questions that are good to ask and put it out there. So this is a good note taking episode, I think. If you're looking for a doula, I also think this is good. I know we have a lot of doulas who listen too. I think it's also good for doulas to know what people might be asking so they can be prepared. And then for some of the most important things, offer it up. Like for example, one of the ones is what is your birth philosophy?

Aligned Birth Podcast (14:21.864)

yeah.

Aligned Birth Podcast (14:40.306)

Mm-hmm.

Rachael (14:40.654)

if someone does not outright ask me that, and again, some people don't know to ask, like you said, so, but that's a good way for me to highlight my view on birth and show more about the insight and how my approach will be. And so even if you're a doula and so it goes both ways, like knowing kind of some really good questions that the client might want to know, even if they don't ask it, can be part of your, you know, your consultation that you're offering it up.

Aligned Birth Podcast (14:56.712)

Mm-hmm.

Rachael (15:11.104)

in a get to know you way. So that is one of the ones here we have under experience and philosophy is what is your birth philosophy? So if you're a newer doula, you want to work on this answer and you want to work on really like how you view birth and how you want to support people and how you show up for people in the birth space. And then if you're the birthing person, this is how you find someone who's in alignment with you. Like if you know you want an

epidural, you know, you've made that decision and you meet with someone who is like, who's a birth doula and there are birth doulas out there like this and that's okay because birth doulas have their niches but they might be like, I really believe birth should be uninhibited and you know, left to unfold as is without intervention and that's their like philosophy on birth and how they support people and you know you want an epidural, you know you're going to be induced or something like that. There's, that's not aligned.

Aligned Birth Podcast (15:51.431)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (16:09.527)

Mm-hmm, and it's I think it starts yet. You got to come up with your birth philosophy to whoever you know pregnant person like you know like what is your birth philosophy? Mm-hmm What would your response and some of the questions you you you're not gonna be able to say like well? How many births have you attended like okay? You can't answer that as being pregnant, but some of the other questions if you're asking them It's kind like okay. Well what what is what is my answer to this that way? Then you can go through and see okay. This doesn't line or does not mm-hmm

Rachael (16:09.942)

Right, you have some.

Rachael (16:15.06)

Yeah, yeah. When you're asking these questions, think about what is important to you.

Rachael (16:33.261)

Yes.

It is a thought provoking experience. then so that's another reason it's so important. So thanks for highlighting that too. So also to experience is asking, you how many births have you attended? That is a really kind of good insight. And I believe there are really well, like really amazing doulas who have only attended a handful of births. You know, if they're newer, that shouldn't always be a deterrent. There are some advantages to like a newer doula. They're fresh out of their training, you

Aligned Birth Podcast (16:38.95)

Mm-hmm.

Rachael (17:05.838)

they're gonna have the latest education, know, so only being a new Duel or maybe only having attended, you know, maybe less than 10 births or something isn't always a downside. So I don't want that to be like you've got to have someone that's attended 200 births or something, but if you really, really, really value experience and that's super important to you, then you need to look for that Duel who is more experienced, but understand, you know, someone can also say they've been a Duel for 10 years and only have attended 10 births.

Aligned Birth Podcast (17:19.781)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (17:25.361)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (17:33.775)

Right. Yeah, maybe like years of experience versus those births. Yeah, those are two different. Yeah, those are two different things.

Rachael (17:34.55)

So, you know, understanding like.

Rachael (17:40.214)

Right, or I could have been a doula for a year and attended 100 births. So, you know, kind of get into that. And as a doula, get confident talking about your experience, and especially if you're newer. If you're more seasoned, it's easier because you're more seasoned, but if you're newer, you've got to kind of really be confident in your answer there.

Aligned Birth Podcast (17:44.645)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (17:57.116)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (18:00.815)

Mm-hmm.

Rachael (18:02.454)

And then how do you support unexpected situations? I think this is kind of like one of those like job interview type questions that I always hated. But I do think, you know, it can give you some insight into the doula and their approach because there's lots of unexpected things about birth that come up. So having them be able to elaborate on that or share some examples with you, I think would be great.

Aligned Birth Podcast (18:06.749)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (18:10.44)

Yeah

Aligned Birth Podcast (18:30.962)

Mm-hmm.

Rachael (18:32.866)

So next is some other questions. Let's see, under availability and support style, will you be available for phone and or text before labor? All doulas have some sort of like general type of service, like things that are included in their service, but it varies greatly. So figuring out, I'm hiring you, I'm...

Aligned Birth Podcast (18:40.486)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (18:46.716)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (18:57.562)

Yeah, what's included and what that looks like.

Rachael (19:01.838)

15 weeks pregnant, it's a long way until the birth. What's your phone and text support look like prior to labor, right? And let them tell you, I don't think there's a right or wrong way. Everyone does it slightly differently.

Aligned Birth Podcast (19:11.186)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (19:17.18)

Well, yeah, and every duel has got their own, maybe they have children and children are different ages. Like they have their own availability style. So yeah, it's not, I like that you were kind of like, it's not like, it should be some certain way. No. But having a plan, you know.

Rachael (19:24.372)

Exactly and no but I think there can be one I think something to highlight here too and the point of this is reducing gaps and expectations. If you hire someone without asking about how they're going to support you prior to the birth with an expectation that you're going to talk to them every week and they're like no I really don't do my first check-in until 35 weeks.

Aligned Birth Podcast (19:38.694)

Mmm... Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (19:45.192)

Mm-hmm.

Rachael (19:52.962)

That's a gap in expectation, right? And so asking some of these questions can help narrow that gap. Same thing again, Dula is offering this information. Some people don't know to ask it, so you can offer it and narrow the gap in expectations. And that's where disappointment exists, right? Okay, so another question is, do you work in a team or solo? Lots of different.

Aligned Birth Podcast (19:53.03)

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (20:12.646)

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (20:20.038)

And it's again, not that there's a right or wrong for the doula in that aspect, but that's just a simple of, what's the process of, what's your availability? How many clients do you, yeah, yeah, like am I gonna get you? Yeah, yeah.

Rachael (20:22.485)

Nope.

Rachael (20:30.988)

Like, am I going to get you? Yeah, yeah, Yeah, because then that leads into what is your backup plan? And again, I don't even think most people know that birth doulas really almost always should have or do have a backup doula or two in place for the for because we don't know exactly when the client's going to into labor and we don't know what's happening in our lives. There's like an unexpected event that would mean we're not available. There's just no guarantees. And if you're hiring typically a doula.

Aligned Birth Podcast (20:37.639)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (20:46.407)

Yeah.

Aligned Birth Podcast (20:53.554)

Mm-hmm.

Rachael (21:00.564)

may be a partnership right so you need to know what's going to happen if they're unable or unavailable to you when you go into labor. Okay so practical and logistical questions. What services are included in your fee? This feels like an obvious one but it's good to know have them run you down start to finish what's included.

Aligned Birth Podcast (21:02.621)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (21:10.834)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (21:26.214)

Mm-hmm.

Rachael (21:28.738)

Do you provide any postpartum support? So some doulas do like a postpartum follow-up visit and that's different than like postpartum doula support, right? So like we usually do one, cause sometimes people see that in our, in our bulleted, like we have bulleted service or what our services include and it says like postpartum follow-up visit and that's just one as the birth doula, we're just doing one. But if you have a postpartum

Aligned Birth Podcast (21:36.956)

doulas. Yes. I'm glad you mentioned that because that is yeah. Yeah, that's gonna be different.

Aligned Birth Podcast (21:47.014)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (21:52.86)

Mm-hmm.

Rachael (21:56.898)

doula, they are coming lots of times.

Aligned Birth Podcast (21:59.197)

They may come for a certain specified amount of time, a certain specified number of days and be more involved. yeah, clarity on that.

Rachael (22:03.488)

Yeah, right, right. And then how do you handle hospital policies, inductions, cesarean bursts, things like that. I think that can be enlightening into again the doulas. It's kind of you're getting more to the root of a doula's like philosophy or approach and how they handle these things that might come up.

Aligned Birth Podcast (22:19.334)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (22:26.385)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (22:30.418)

Do you ever have, I guess I'm thinking, you've got specific moms, like if someone's specifically working on a VBAC then, or that vaginal birth after cesarean, do you ever have where, and obviously these questions can go more in depth, but are they ever asking specifics of like,

Tell me how you handled a specific, like have you dealt with a situation like this and like, when you give like a real world example, like, well, yes, I had a patient one time or a client one time who blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Does that ever come up or do you try to keep it generalized in the answers? Does that make sense?

Rachael (23:07.404)

Yeah, great question and it totally varies. I like to draw on lived experience to help kind of paint a clear picture about what it could look like. But if I don't have one, then I would speak more generally about how I would approach that or based on what I know about like where they're birthing or what if they're a VBAC after cesarean.

Aligned Birth Podcast (23:15.591)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (23:28.946)

Where they're birth,

Aligned Birth Podcast (23:34.952)

Anyway, I know.

Rachael (23:36.606)

be back, you know, because knowing that piece of information would maybe change, you know, we know that that presents differently. And so we would definitely want to make sure and that's why like us as DULAs, we, our agency, we do an intake form. So we get some of that information so that it can help us answer those questions. Again, that's a good tip for DULAs. And if you are a birthing person looking for a DULA,

Aligned Birth Podcast (23:42.93)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (23:46.599)

Yeah.

Aligned Birth Podcast (23:55.346)

Yeah.

You know what to do. Yeah.

Rachael (24:05.984)

you know telling them if they haven't asked where you're giving birth if you're a first time second time third time mom if you're going for a vaginal birth after cesarean if you know you want an epidural if you know you want to have medicated like all of that because like for example if for hospital policies if someone come reaches out to us and we know where they're giving birth because we asked on their intake form and then they tell us they want a water birth but that place doesn't do water bursts we want to tell them

Aligned Birth Podcast (24:33.746)

Mm-hmm.

Rachael (24:36.148)

upfront. Hey, here's what I know. You know, here are some other places you can explore if that's still really important to you. But sometimes people only can give birth at one location because of insurance and then go, okay, well now I know. Love being a truth teller. So a doula who is being honest with you and not painting always a perfectly rosy, butterfly picture is good. You want people to be honest, share real lived experiences or if it's not a lived experience that they've had, they have at least the knowledge.

Aligned Birth Podcast (24:37.895)

Yeah.

Aligned Birth Podcast (24:49.98)

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Rachael (25:05.912)

to talk about inductions, talk about cesareans, talk about different hospital policies. I try not to go too far down the road with inductions or cesareans in consults, but I reassure them, like we have entire separate conversations if you need an induction. You'll get a whole extra hour conversation with us. But understanding how they handle it is good. Like how, like for an induction, when do you come?

Aligned Birth Podcast (25:17.33)

Right.

Aligned Birth Podcast (25:23.77)

Yeah, if that starts to get thrown around. Yeah, yeah. Okay.

Yeah.

Aligned Birth Podcast (25:34.45)

Mm-hmm.

Rachael (25:34.53)

Like if you know you have to be induced or maybe that comes up unexpectedly, a question you need to ask your doula is when will you come support me if I have to have an induction or a cesarean? Because that does look different than a spontaneous labor. So that's a great point. That's a good way of looking at for that question. OK, communication and comfort. Let's see. How do you handle conflicts with the medical team?

Aligned Birth Podcast (25:44.232)

Mm-hmm

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (25:51.037)

Yeah.

Rachael (25:59.896)

That's a great give give you some insight into their philosophy and approach. How do you help the partners feel involved, which we touched on that earlier. I think that's a great question to ask. And can you provide references from previous clients? I think that's very reasonable for someone who's going to be in this type of situation with you. You know, that's why we really push, we really try to have a lot of Google reviews.

Aligned Birth Podcast (26:08.935)

Yeah.

Aligned Birth Podcast (26:18.3)

Mm. Mm-hmm.

Rachael (26:27.462)

They're on our website testimonials like people love to hear real life experiences with someone that they're going to be working like this with. So having those ready to go and being perfectly confident to share those with someone inquiring for your services I think is important.

Aligned Birth Podcast (26:29.97)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (26:37.542)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (26:46.022)

Yeah, no, I like those questions, especially asking of like the client testimonials too. And usually folks want to share. They want to share their experience with doulas and loves sharing their birth stories as well.

Rachael (26:53.07)

you

Aligned Birth Podcast (27:06.234)

Okay, so, and this is, it's very generalized. So again, too, we've covered like there might be specific things that you would want to ask, but hopefully we've covered some things where it's like, I didn't even think about like the birth philosophy or like getting some, you know, like fine tuning that. What would be some red flag things that, like red flags in maybe a doula response or a question that you could ask that may be give you some insight.

that this person may not align with you.

Rachael (27:37.676)

Yeah, absolutely. I think it's important to know what would be concerning in this interaction or interview. But I think one of the most important things is lack of transparency for their fees or any of their policies. Like all doulas have contracts and refund policies and cancellation policies and payment structures and all of that. So if they're not forthcoming with that and letting you like see the contract prior to hire or

Aligned Birth Podcast (27:42.791)

Mm-hmm.

Rachael (28:07.826)

or being evasive about their fees or wishy-washy, you know, that's not the kind you want it to be clear and straightforward and transparent. That's at least how we like to be. And I think that that could be a red flag. Pressure to make certain choices. Like say we're having an interview, you're interviewing me and you tell me you want an epidural or you know you have to be induced and I try and persuade you to not do that or do it differently. I don't.

Aligned Birth Podcast (28:29.447)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (28:35.514)

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah, there's a difference between educating and then that persuasion of like this is how the epidural is administered. This is what birth might look like once you have the epidural. Like if those questions come up versus a any sort of bias that they might have concerning.

Rachael (28:37.632)

I that's ethical.

Rachael (28:51.404)

Right.

Rachael (28:59.054)

they're pushing on you yeah yeah yeah and we walk that too

Aligned Birth Podcast (29:00.959)

Epidurals, so there's it can be a fine line But yeah, like you can ask the questions and they should be able to give you a non-judgmental answer

Rachael (29:07.718)

Non-judgmental straightforward, no pressure or judgment. Like this comes up with, I was talking about, if someone shares in a consult with us that they are wanting a really low intervention, unmedicated birth, but they've chosen to birth at a hospital that we know has higher incidence of induction or intervention and cesarean ray or something like that. We can gently approach that and say something like, we hear you saying you want X, Y, Z.

Aligned Birth Podcast (29:10.301)

Mm-hmm.

Rachael (29:37.41)

Here's what we know about your practice or this place or in our experience. Those don't sound like they're in alignment. We are happy to explore that further with you, answer questions, provide additional options if you want. We support you 100 % that this is what we're hearing and seeing. If you want to explore that further, you us know. And then sometimes they can be like, ooh, tell me more. Or I can see them thinking, no, I'm probably pretty sure where I'm going to stay, where I'm going to stay. Like, I'm good. Cool.

Aligned Birth Podcast (29:37.479)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (29:48.093)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (29:58.054)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (30:04.892)

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Rachael (30:06.988)

Like that's it, you know, but we have to kind of be true tellers without putting pressure on, right? And then I think unclear philosophy would be a red flag to me. Like if they're not, if they haven't been able to articulate how they approach people in their view of birth and supporting people, you know, it doesn't, you know, I think that could be concerning or a red flag. Yeah.

Aligned Birth Podcast (30:08.669)

Mm-hmm.

Right. Yeah.

Aligned Birth Podcast (30:22.237)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (30:29.66)

Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Aligned Birth Podcast (30:34.8)

Yeah. I know and I've shared multiple times and a lot of times I tell the moms in my office, like I go through a list of questions when I'm working with moms about like, go, you know, who is on your birth support team? Sometimes I ask questions that are very, very vague just to kind of see where, who do we consider?

Rachael (30:42.734)

you

Aligned Birth Podcast (30:59.24)

as a birth support team member and who don't, you know, like it's just kind of fun to hear. I, again, too, you're not trying to give, trying to give experience and knowledge, but, without, I mean, you're going to have some bias, but not like in a judgy way. Cause I know with both of my births, I did not have a doula. And so I think that's why I talk so much in the office about, you know, like, so do you, do you have a doula? Like, I'm like, this is what they do. And I try to explain it as well.

Rachael (31:22.464)

you

Aligned Birth Podcast (31:28.102)

to or even asking them questions of like, you know, as you go along in some of the meetings that we're gonna, because I see them pretty often as compared to you. So I just like watching moms go through and navigate this space and form these teams and every team looks different and that's okay, you know, we're allowed to, and you know where you might need support and things too, but it is really fun to work with.

moms and watch them form those birth support teams or say, know, yep, I've got my childbirth education class coming up this weekend and we're gonna go through these things. Cause sometimes I'm asking questions where they may not have thought about it too. like, well, have you, I'm like, I need you to practice birth positions, right? Like, and they may, if they're not having a doula or their childbirth education maybe doesn't have that and they don't know about it, like it's kind of, I need to know. That's right.

Rachael (32:20.802)

but you're planting a seed by bringing it up. Yeah.

Aligned Birth Podcast (32:23.354)

It's a lot of seeds. And that's where each, almost like each birth team member, you kind of get more seeds and some germinate and grow and some don't. But as long as you are aware of it, I feel, and you have the words used. That was the biggest thing for me. And that's why I like to talk about it a lot is not once was the word doula used in any of my OB appointments. Granted, this is a long time ago, it like 15 years ago. But still, that wasn't used.

Or at least to a point where I don't remember. You know? Like, and so that's what I kind of want to change. And so that's what I like with this podcast too. So. Mm-hmm.

Rachael (32:55.341)

Yeah.

Rachael (32:59.458)

Mm-hmm.

Yeah, no, and that's why I appreciate your approach to your patients and like so many of those adjacent practitioners who work with people who are pregnant, you know, you don't know who's going to come in to a pregnant person's journey, but ones who are willing to share information, share resources, share about the birth support team, plant those seeds.

Aligned Birth Podcast (33:09.638)

Mm-hmm.

Rachael (33:25.376)

and give them tips about, you know, if you're hiring a doula, just like anyone you hire, bring into your life. I think asking thoughtful questions is important, no matter.

Aligned Birth Podcast (33:33.798)

Mm-hmm.

Rachael (33:34.734)

I feel like going through the birthing process taught me so much about my medical autonomy and advocacy. I'm in charge of my own care and this is one of those steps. And I think you should do this with your provider too. Knowing your provider's philosophy on birth, how they handle inductions, how they handle cesareans, what's their experience supporting the birth you're going for. All of these questions can be also... Yeah, and I think it's a journey where...

Aligned Birth Podcast (33:50.824)

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (33:56.56)

You can ask these questions. And just different formats. Yeah.

Rachael (34:03.252)

Even going through these questions, like you said, makes you think. Like if you're just asking what's your philosophy on birth without thinking about your. So I think if you're willing to do that and if you're hiring to do that, I think you are like you care about your experience, but it's a journey and it's going to kind of make you dig in and explore options and think about things that are important to you. And that's a gift in of itself. So, you know, yeah.

Aligned Birth Podcast (34:11.186)

What's your own? You're not gonna know.

Mm-hmm.

Aligned Birth Podcast (34:28.891)

Mm-hmm.

Yeah, I love it. So yes, this is, it's not an all encompassing list, but I think this is a really good start, you know, for someone to formulate their own things and ask questions.

Rachael (34:41.494)

and

about lists too is it's not just a list. Kind like how we when we talk about birth plans they're not just lists and trust your trust your intuition. Part of hiring a doula is very intuitive and being a mother is intuitive so let's like start practicing using our intuition as soon as possible and it starts here.

Aligned Birth Podcast (34:49.39)

Mm-hmm. Let's check it off.

Aligned Birth Podcast (35:07.174)

That's right. I even wrote that note in here and I didn't even talk about it. The whole, cause that leads into that whole vulnerability. Being able to lean into trusting your gut, using that intuition. How are they answering questions? How does it make you feel? I mean, we don't want to do everything based on feelings, but do you feel that you can be yourself with this person and do you feel that they're going to support you? So, yay.

We hope you have loved this episode. And hopefully you took some notes. If not, go back and listen to it again and take some notes and start asking questions. And tune in next time for another episode.