You’ve read the birth stories that included one. Your best friend told you how awesome her doula was. Your care provider referred you. Or, you simply read some research that told you the benefits of doulas support.
Now what? How do you hire a doula?
The way to go about hiring a birth doula with Hampton Roads Doulas is quite simple.
- Give us a call (757-349-6618) or complete our form on the Contact Us page. You’ll receive a call back from our office by the following business day. You’ll speak with someone from our office. We know how busy life can get when you are expecting your child! As an agency, we take the work out of searching for the services you want most. We’ll go through the process of finding you the perfect doulas, childbirth education class, lactation services, and placenta encapsulators.
- On that call, you’ll set up your first meeting with one of our doula teams. We take the time to learn about you and your family and carefully choose the perfect team for you! This will take place in the comfort of your own home, so no need to go anywhere! (That’s right, one less appointment to head out the door for!)
- Between this call and your personalized consultation, you’ll receive our comprehensive Welcome Magazine via email! You’ll find information on our extensive services, including pricing, contracts, and other pertinent literature.
- Your meeting will take approximately an hour. During this time together you’ll delve into more of what you’re looking for, what exactly our support of you looks like, and what you can expect from this professional relationship. Ask your doulas any questions! You can leave your doulas with a signed contract if you haven’t alright signed or email it to us!
- Once your contract is signed, voilà! Welcome to Hampton Roads Doulas! Your doula team is on call 24/7 for the rest of your pregnancy & you’ll communicate with them throughout the rest of your time together. You’ll be happy to see them again for your prenatal visit!
We often hear, “What questions should I ask a doula?” or “What should I look for in a doula?”. It’s important that you ask the questions that are most important to you and your family, and that simply looks different for everyone. However, here’s a list of what you could ask on that initial phone call or at the meet and greet.
• When do they go on call?
• What systems do they have in place in the event that they can’t attend your birth (such as at another birth, sick with a contagious illness, and death/emergency in the family).
• Are they supportive of all birth choices?
• What made them become a doula?
• Do they have referrals/resources in the community?
• What is their relationship like with the hospital you are delivering at?
• How will they work with your care team?
• How will they incorporate your partner during this journey?
• Do they have a contract?
• Are they charging an amount commensurate with a reliable professional?
• What other services do they provide? If they don’t provide it, who do they refer to?
• What level of training/certification do they have?
Have questions? We’d be more than happy to speak with you about your own birth goals and how we can help make this a memorable experience for you.