Choosing a doula

[thesynergizer]

If you used a doula for a previous birth, or have hired one for this upcoming birth, how did you pick her? Was she recommended by someone you know? Or did you use a service like http://www.doulamatch.net and browse through the profiles? Or did you just google doulas directly and choose based

Comments

[countessof_roth]

I picked mine, no lie because she was one of my LJ friends and the few times her and I have met, she's just exuded this CALM atmosphere.

For me, it was just a personality "clicK"

[survivinglove]

I found local certified doula's on this website:
http://www.dona.org/

I sent 5 of them an email with basic questions...depending on their answers I ended up doing in-person interviews with 2...ended up with a great doula...she stayed with me for the 36 hour labor and was an incredible help!

She now lives in Portland..but said that she would come out for baby #2 if I asked her too:)

[frogs_n_turtles]

I found mine by contacting the woman that's the head of DONA certification for Indiana. I found her through facebook and went from there. She put me in contact with my doula.

[hibiscus_hedge]

I googled for my area -- she had a website (via Weebly I think) with basic information about her philosophy, etc -- email address was the most useful way to get ahold of her from there and we met up for a quick chat and clicked personality-wise. She was really calm and lovely in person.

[sirenphotos]

Referral and she is well known in my city's birthing community (she owns a pregnancy/child shop/resource store and is also a photographer). If you can get involved in the local parenting/birthing community that would help get your nap out.

[thesynergizer]

your typo made me crack up, yes, i'd love a nap too! but i'm sure you meant name. :-)

my main problem is that i live in a pretty metro/crunchy area (seattle) so there are already LOTS of doulas here. its not like cutthroat competitive, the ones i've met and talked to are all pretty nice, but its hard to get my name out when there are already so many out there.

i agree with what a previous commenter said about "we just clicked" and i totally believe in that too. i am certainly not asking how to get an unsure client to hire me over another doula, i'm just asking how to get them to be willing to meet me in the first place! :-)

[sirenphotos]

LOL didn't notice that. Oh man I always want a nap now - sure do miss them.

If you live in a crunchy area then there's bound to be events you can get involved in to get your name out.

Honestly these days it's how you market yourself (and who you know at times too).