Remember the MySpace questionnaires that listed like 100 questions? I was talking to a client the other day about those! This blog post is going to be a little more fun and I am going to answer about 50 questions in regards to my doula care.
Click here for 75 questions to ask the doula you are thinking of working with; some of the questions are actually in this post. Their answers will give you insight on if you should request their services.
Let’s go!
When should I inform you that things are happening?
As you approach your “due date”, even if you are not in need of in-person support yet, updating me lets me support you through the early stage of labor. When you feel
– cramps, low backache, or menstrual like symptoms
– increased Braxton Hicks contractions
– nausea, diarrhea, or upset stomach
– bloody show and/or loss of mucus plug
– contractions
– your water breaks (or you think it did)
It is important to keep me updated so I can support you during this stage and know when to leave the house. I have a handout that talks more about when you should call me so you can keep it handy for when that time does come.
Are there any books or workshops that you recommend to pregnant couples and/or new parents?
Two great books come to mind when it comes to birth
– The Birth Partner and Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn both by Penny Simkin
They have all the details about before, during, and after birth.
I have quite a few other resources that would benefit you if you’d like to check them out here.
Our childbirth classes are available to you depending on which birth package you choose. You can also add a one day intensive class or 6 week birth course for $300.
Can you help us draw up our Birth Plan/Birth Preferences if needed?
Yes. I would love to help with this. This service is added into every package we have. If you do not decide on one of our packages, we can discuss this over the phone.
When will you join me in labor?
I will join you in labor within two hours after you ask me to head your way.
How long after I give birth do you stay with me?
I will happily stay by your side for 1-2 hours after birth to ensure a seamless transition. If you’re keen on breastfeeding, we will gladly assist you in establishing a strong latch.
Can I call you at any time, or do you have “office hours”?
I have set office hours, 7am-5pm, unless I am on call. If you believe you are going into labor or have an important question, call me when need be.
What do you bring with you to a birth?
I often bring for clients
- a fan
- your birth preferences
- massage tools
- heating pads
- battery powered candles
- speaker
- a laboring gift package (if we haven’t gifted it to you before the birth)
Everything else like a birthing ball, peanut ball, rebozo (or a sheet), can be found at the hospital. I can bring extra tools if you are laboring at home.
Do you offer any add-on services?
- partner education
- birth plan assistance
- breastfeeding support
- childbirth class
- email ,text, or phone up to 6 weeks postpartum
- postpartum support
- perinatal nutrition
How many prenatal meetings and postpartum visits do you provide?
We offer customizable packages with set visits or you can choose the number of visits you prefer. Our packages and other services can be found here.
When do you go on call for me?
On call begins when you are 38 weeks.
What if I go into labor before or after your on-call time?
I go on call at 38 weeks until you have your baby. If you go into labor beforehand, I cannot guarantee my presence but I will try to the best of my ability to get there.
Are there practices you do not readily or happily support during labor/birth, like epidural, cesarean, and induction?
I am truly here to support you in whatever decision you make. The only thing that I want is for you to make an informed decision and to not be scared into making a decision. If you have any doubts whatsoever about what someone is telling you then please ask or think it over before jumping into anything; especially if it is not what your plans are.
Will you attend a prenatal appointment with us?
If me attending a prenatal appointment with you would make you more confident then I would be glad to go. I do believe that you should go with questions in mind, call me afterward so we can discuss anything you were not sure of. Sometimes, depending on the provider, you will see what they are like without a doula in the room.
Do you have experience with breastfeeding instruction?
Yes I do.
Do you help with breastfeeding?
I can certainly help with breastfeeding. We should go over some education before birth on breastfeeding to prepare you. I will be there after birth to help with latching and your comfort.
What’s your experience and training with breastfeeding?
I have a blog post about my experience with breastfeeding if you would like to read it. I have a support group for moms and dads in feeding their children how they please called Whip the Nip. I created it after my struggle with breastfeeding. I wanted to have a community that I could not find so I started this community.
I wanted to further that passion so I found a breastfeeding counselor program at IDI.
Do you offer placenta encapsulation?
I do not offer placenta encapsulation at this time.
Have you ever experienced any tension with clients or medical professionals? If so how did you handle this?
I did have tension with a medical professional once solely on my end. The physician would not allow mom to sit up like she wanted and said that gravity does not help the baby come out; I was floored to say the least. I reminded my client about our conversations in how she wanted to sit while pushing. We discussed it out loud so everyone in the room could hear.
The best way to get through to a physician or to someone in the room not allowing mom to do as she pleases is to talk loud enough to mom so the people in the room hear and understand. Most the time, if a doula is in the room, the room seems to be a lot less stressful and demanding; this physician thought I was just a friend even though I introduced myself as her doula.
What coping techniques do you find most helpful?
Everyone is different so I cannot say that these techniques will be beneficial for you. From what I have seen, the best coping techniques are when mom goes into her own zone. When she listens to music or glides off to a dream land while bouncing on a birth ball or sitting backward on the toilet.
What are your tactics for pain?
If you are not wanting medication, there are a couple tactics I would use. If you have back labor, I would suggest using a cold rag or frozen water bottle on the lower back for 10-15 minutes at a time (someone else like myself would do this for you).
Position changes. Choose a position, stick with it for at least three contractions to see if that position is working for you or not. If you change positions every contraction because it isn’t working then you won’t be happy in any way and can get frustrated which could lead to slowing labor.
Breathing exercises are important as well as having loose lips, hands, shoulders, and an overall body.
Water, water, water.
Visualizing somewhere warm and calming like the time you went to the beach and took in the salty air.
What techniques do you use to help me through labor and birth?
Techniques we use all depend on you. We can practice different comfort measures that seem comfortable to you while you are pregnant but when it comes down to labor, you could completely flip flop your desires.
How do you feel about epidurals or any pain medication?
They are your decision to make. If you are not wanting any pain relief, we can come up with a code word so if you can’t take the pain any more, you can say that code word.
If you are wanting any pain relief, we can go over the options for those during our prenatal visits.
How do you work with a husband or partner?
When you decide to work with Twyned Doulas, your partner will receive a questionnaire. The questionnaire asks about their fears or concerns, how they want to be involved, if they want to learn any comfort measures, and more. We provide them with tools to get prepared for labor and postpartum. During labor, we will be there to provide water, food, comfort, and assistance with however they may need it.
Do you have experience with birth complications?
The only experiences I have had were with high blood pressure and wanting a VBAC but not being able to have one because of complications.
Have you attended births that have ended up as a c-section?
Yes I have.
Have you attended home births?
I have not as of yet but I cannot wait to experience one! I can only imagine how much more relaxing a home birth will be. Midwives are wonderful at letting you take charge.
At what point in labor would we meet up? How should I contact you during labor and at what point? Is it okay if it’s in the middle of the night? Are you always on call?
We will meet up when you ask me to head your way. Normally, I will walk you through any doubts or provide comfort tips over the phone. I will head your way once you decide you would like me to be with you. You can text or call me to ask any questions. Please CALL when you believe you are in true active labor and want me to come to the birthing location.
Do you stay for the entire labor and childbirth, or do you have a time limit for long births?
After a certain amount of hours (depending on which package you decide on), I will charge by the hour. If I am at your birth for 12 hours, I will need to take a break for food and rest. I will not call in a back up doula unless absolutely necessary.
What’s your backup arrangement like? Do I get to meet her?
At this time, I have a group of doulas which I can call on to be my backup. You will not get the chance to meet them ahead of time. I am working on putting together videos for backups so you can see what they are like.
How often is your backup doula used?
My backup doula is used if my children are sick. I have childcare set up for my children when they are not sick. They may also be used if you have an incredibly long labor (36+) and I need sleep.
Do you make any visits before the birth?
Yes! You can have as many visits as you would like but we often do two; one for birth related and one for postpartum related.
Do you offer any postpartum care or follow-up? Does that require an additional fee?
I offer one or two postpartum follow ups depending on the package as well. You can always add more care. Check out our minimums and fees here.
How far away are you from our chosen place of birth?
At this time, we are located in Dallas, GA. The birth locations we attend (minus home birth locations and birth centers) can be found at the bottom of our website. Let’s discuss this on our free consultation!
What sort of births have you supported, and do you specialize in any in particular?
I have supported cesarean, all natural birth, and epidural birth in hospitals. I do not specialize in any particularly. I work with you no matter the birth you choose (other than free birth). I cannot attend free birth (if a Midwife or other provider is not present).
What if I give birth before you arrive?
If you give birth before I arrive, I will still be there for your 1-2 hour postpartum. We will be by your side within two hours after you instruct us to head your way.
What happens if we decide prior to birth that we no longer want a doula?
If you choose to cancel your birth support package, your fee will be refunded minus your $250 retainer and any fees owing for rendered services (including meetings, phone/text support, on-call availability, or any other support services provided).
Have you ever given birth, and, if so, did your birth experience inspire you to be a doula? Why? Did you have a doula? What did you learn from your birth experience?
I have given birth three times; two boys and one girl. I had no idea that doulas existed until after my third child was born. I wanted to be certified in breastfeeding counseling so I researched. I came across IDI which had the best breastfeeding counseling course which also had doula courses. I jumped all in. I started the courses and finally found what I am aligned with! I truly wish I would have had a doula especially with my first two children.
I would have been informed instead of blindsided. I found to like all natural birth more than an epidural and Pitocin. Neither of those options sat well with me and gave me terrible back labor/postpartum pains. We can chat all about my labors if you want to hear about them in person; I may make a blog post about them too.
Do you have children? Do you have childcare arrangements if I go into labor at any time of day or night?
I have three children. I have childcare all set up for them. When I am on call, I will notify my childcare and let them know. If my childcare falls through, I also have my husband, my parents, my brother, and two aunts that can step in to help.
Do you offer full or partial refunds for any reason?
We discuss this when we chat in our free consultation. Refunds all depend on the circumstances but it is possible to get a refund. All of the refund information is set in our contract. You will not receive back the $250 retainer for your birth.
Do you offer any financial assistance/scholarships/discounts?
We do not offer any financial assistance, scholarships, discounts, or sliding scales. We do however offer a payment plan so you will not have to pay the entire fee up front.
What happens if you can’t make it to my birth?
If I cannot make it to your birth which is possible but not likely, a backup doula will be called in my place. If neither the backup doula nor I can make it because some extremely unlikely event occurs, there will be no charge for birth services minus the retainer.
What happens if you have two people in labor at the same time?
If I have two people in labor at the same time, my backup doula will be called.
What are your fees? What is included in your doula package?
We have three different packages which can be found here. Packages are all different but have something along the lines of phone, text, and email support for x amount of weeks after delivery, on call at 38 weeks, two+ prenatal visits, partner education, birth plan, birth + 1-2 hour after birth, one + postpartum visits, breastfeeding support, and access to our library of books and resources.
We can add or subtract anything from these packages to tailor it to your exact wants and needs.
Our packages start at $1,899. You do not have to use our packages. We also have virtual and a la carte services which can be found on our services page.
What happens to my fee if, for instance, I need an emergency c-section and labor support is no longer needed?
We will still provide support in any way we can during the cesarean and immediately after or one additional 2 hour postpartum visit. There will be no refunds.
Is your fee due in full or do you have a payment schedule?
You can pay in full or we can talk about a payment schedule. All fees are due by 36 weeks.
How much of a deposit is due and when?
For birth services, $250 non-refundable retainer is due. Any other service, a 50% non-refundable retainer is due upon contract signing.
How would you describe your doula style?
My doula style is calm, collective, and I lean into your actions. I will not push you into changing positions but will suggest positions that may be beneficial based on the stage of labor you are in or how you are reacting to pain. I am hands on if you ask for me to be but will also give you your space.
If you have loved ones coaching you as well, I will make sure they are taken care of. That could be giving them water, asking if they need something eat, calming them down, or showing them how to support you.
I am not a cheerleader that yells during pushing but rather a cheerleader that says you’ve got this and gives you the mirror to see your baby’s head coming earthside.
Being informed is big, big, big. I will not be loud and angry toward providers but I will speak out loud for them to hear me.
Why did you become a doula? What do you love most?
I became a doula for two reasons.
- to provide you with the birth and postpartum that you truly deserve.
- to give women a voice in their birth.
Seeing how women are treated and not being given the respect they deserve during prenatal appointments or in the hospital room, struck a nerve in me. I want you to be informed and know what your provider is speaking of. I want you to know your choices.
I love seeing a family empower themselves in this experience and get to hold their new baby. I also love taking care of the new mom in her postpartum. Mama should be resting, healing, and cherishing her new baby instead of taking care of all the tasks around the home.
What skills, qualities, and abilities do you feel you have to offer us?
As a birth and postpartum doula and mother of three, I have a deep understanding of the physical and emotional needs of new parents. I offer personalized support, including comfort measures, emotional support, and non-judgmental guidance. I am a skilled communicator and advocate for my clients’ needs in a respectful and professional manner, working effectively with the entire birth team.
How do you most often support women in labor?
Before labor, I help you know how to advocate for your wishes and what to expect during labor and postpartum. I most often support women in labor with words of encouragement, reminding mama to find a special place that brings her some sort of peace, assist with position changes, and physical support like lower back massages.
My favorite ways to support mama is actually four ways
- remind her to pee so she has an empty bladder
- be the calm she needs when everything else may feel chaotic including dimming lights and turning on music
- breathe with her when she starts getting too overwhelmed by contractions
- three position changes – have her do circles on the birthing ball, sit on the toilet, or place a peanut ball in between her legs and rock on the bed.
What do you do to stay current with your knowledge and/or certification?
Any chance I can, I am listening to podcasts, reading birthing books and articles, talking with other birth nerds, and investing in community groups. I have taken a course called Doula Jumpstart with Birthworker.com and loved it so much!
Do you have any extra/special skills or certifications outside of labor and birth support?
I am certified as a Breastfeeding Counselor, Perinatal Nutrition Educator, Childbirth Educator, and Adult & Infant CPR with Red Cross. I have my Associate’s Degree in Marketing Management and am a professional photographer. Will add photography services to packages one day!
Thank you for reading this blog post all about our services. I hope you have a lot more understanding of who we are and how passionate we are about birth work.
Are you obsessed with pregnancy, birth, and babies just like I am? Thought of becoming a doula but just don’t know where to start? Check out the Birthworker Academy!
* Please note that some of the links within this content may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if a purchase is made through them.
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