EBB 376 - How to Find and Interview a Doula with Team EBB Members Julie Fors and Chanté Perryman

Evidence Based Birth®

Rebecca Dekker

Pregnancy, Health & Fitness, Childbirth, Parenting, Birth, Medicine, Kids & Family, Doula, Obstetrician, Midwife

4.6 • 978 Ratings

🗓️ 5 November 2025

⏱️ 48 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Hiring a doula can be one of the most impactful choices you make during pregnancy, but how do you actually find the right one? In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Dekker talks with Team EBB members and experienced doulas, Julie Fors and Chanté Perryman, to share insider tips on finding and interviewing a doula with confidence.

Julie and Chanté walk you through where to begin your search, the most important questions to ask, and how to know if a doula's personality and philosophy are the right fit for you and your partner. They also tackle misconceptions about doula work, explain backup plans and postpartum support, and discuss how insurance and Medicaid are changing access to doula care.

(06:19) The pillars of doula support
(09:06) Where to start your doula search: Google, recommendations, and directories
(12:20) Why interviews are essential before hiring a doula
(17:49) Key questions to ask a potential doula (style, philosophy, postpartum support)
(23:58) Backup doula plans and long labors
(29:45) Common misconceptions about doulas and how to clear them up
(33:30) Shifts in doula access: insurance, Medicaid, and nonprofit programs
(37:06) How childbirth education and doula support work together
(39:09) Tips for finding a postpartum doula and planning ahead
(42:46) Overcoming nervousness about reaching out to doulas

Access the EBB Signature Article, "Evidence on: Doulas" for all the scientific research on doulas + a comprehensive list of doula directories and interview questions!

Resources

Something new is coming! Join the waitlist: ebbirth.com/waitlist

Get the Evidence on Doulas Tearaway Pads: ebbirth.com/shop

Search the EBB Instructor Directory: directory.evidencebasedbirth.com/

Learn more about the EBB Childbirth Class: evidencebasedbirth.com/childbirth-class/

For more information about Evidence Based Birth® and a crash course on evidence based care, visit www.ebbirth.com. Follow us on Instagram and YouTube! Ready to learn more? Grab an EBB Podcast Listening Guide or read Dr. Dekker's book, "Babies Are Not Pizzas: They're Born, Not Delivered!" If you want to get involved at EBB, join our Professional membership (scholarship options available) and get on the wait list for our EBB Instructor program. Find an EBB Instructor here, and click here to learn more about the EBB Childbirth Class.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, everyone. On today's podcast, we're going to talk with Shantay Perryman and Julie Fours about how to find and interview a doula.
0:11.3	Welcome to the evidence-based birth podcast. My name is Rebecca Decker, and I'm a nurse with my PhD and the founder of
0:18.1	Evidence-based Birth. Join me each week as we work together to get evidence-based
0:23.1	information into the hands of families and professionals around the world. As a reminder,
0:28.6	this information is not medical advice. See eBbirth.com slash disclaimer for more details.
0:36.7	Hi, everyone. Before we get started with today's episode, I wanted to let you know that something new is coming from EBB later this month.
0:44.3	We have been wrapping up final touches on a project that we've been working on all year, and I wanted to give you a few hints as to what's coming very soon.
0:54.4	So here are your hints.
0:55.8	I'm going to give you three.
0:57.5	Hint number one, doulas from around the world
1:00.2	have been sharing info with us about what has been changing in birth work.
1:04.9	And some of these changes include increasing insurance coverage
1:08.2	for doula care, increasing pressure to have an induction,
1:12.6	and rising intervention rates.
1:15.4	Hint number two, this project was inspired by doulas
1:20.0	and shaped by doulas.
1:22.2	And hint number three, this secret project
1:25.0	is unlike anything we've ever released before. So if you're all interested in what
1:29.9	this project is all about, I highly recommend you get on our wait list for this new release.
1:35.6	Just go to eBbirth.com slash waitlist and sign up today for special perks and early access.
1:42.7	And if you want to send your guest to us as to what this
1:45.8	project entails, feel free to email us at info at evidence basebirth.com and submit your
	...

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