Some good reading and some questions you can ask!

Here is some good reading about Doulas:

The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin, PT, CD(DONA)

The Birth Book by Dr. William and Martha Sears, RN IBCLC

Special Women, Polly Perez

"The Whole Nine Months," Parenting, Gayle Pryor, May 1992, p34.

Active Birth by Janet Balaskas

Good Birth, Safe Birth by Diana Korte and Roberta Scaer

Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way by Susan McCuthcheon

Silent Knife: Cesarean Prevention & VBAC by Nancy Wainer Cohen & Lois Estner

Natural Birth After Cesarean: A Practical Guide by Johanne C. Walters , Karis Crawford

Easing Labor Pain by Adrienne Lieberman

Here are some questions you can ask a prospective Doula:

Is she certified?
Does she provide prenatal and/or postpartum visits?
What can you expect during these visits, if offered?
How many births has she attended?
Can she provide references?
What form of training has she had?
What types of births has she witnessed (Cesarean, epidural, intervention free, VBAC, teen birth, etc.)?
Her fee? And does she have a sliding scale or other arrangements available?
Has she ever worked with your care provider or at your place of birth?
Does she has back-up arrangements available?
What will her role be in early labor?
Will she provide labor support at your home prior to going to the place of birth?
Is she familiar with many methods of childbirth?
How does she define her role during labor and birth?

You and your partner really need to like the prospective doula

Bobbi Fargo

Miracles of Birth Doula Services.

Tubal Reversal Club group owner

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