We asked several doulas the same questions, with the intent and desire to share with you the doula’s expertise and perspective as a birth partner, and to help you discern if a doula might be right for you in your own birth process.

The questions we asked are as follows:

1. What are the top three things someone should consider when choosing a doula?
2. What tip or tips would you like to share with mother’s to be?
3. What is your favorite thing about being a doula?
4. And a “bonus” question: Is there an experience you’ve had as a doula that you would like to share?

This month’s interview is with pre-natal and labor doula, Tanya Quinn. Tanya has been supporting women, their partners and birth team since 2003. She is a strong advocate of a woman’s inherent ability to make informed choices that are best suited for her body, spirit, and baby. She has worked with single mothers, mothers who have labored with and without medication as well as VBACs in private homes, birthing centers and hospitals.

Her source of inspiration and guidance stems from nature, our collective ancestors, mentors and intuition. Through ritual, blessings, guided hypnosis, self-exploration, education and encouragement she has served to empower women to co-create the pregnancy and birth they desire.

She can be found at http://www.communeloveprosper.com or http://www.tspaceonline.com

What would you say are the top three things someone should consider when choosing a doula?

Comfort
Pay attention to the ease and comfort you feel in the doula’s presence. Listen to your gut. A sense of trust and mutual respect will allow you to express your true voice, open up and let go.

Support
Consider the primary type of support you are looking for – Emotional, Physical and/or Spiritual. Do you desire a mothering figure to nurture you, massage you throughout your labor or someone to give your partner a break? Maybe you are looking for a strong advocate of your birth plan and someone to provide you with education and resources. Does the idea of a woman holding space, creating a peaceful and calm environment and guiding you in relaxation sound appealing? A doula can provide a broad spectrum of care. Again listen to your inner wisdom to guide you.

Another thing to bear in mind is her time commitment to you. Is she available throughout your pregnancy or just during your labor? How many clients does she serve at one time?

Experience
Do you feel she has the experience and disposition to support you and your partner’s needs through pregnancy and labor? Please note that all the experience in the world may not matter if you do not feel comfortable with her.

What tip or tips would you like to share with mother’s to be?

Your body knows what to do, you have everything you need, educate yourself to make informed choices, allow fears and doubts to come to the surface, respect them without judgment and release them, stay in the moment, breathe in love, trust, welcome the unknown and celebrate life.

What is your favorite thing about being a doula?

Each pregnancy and birth is an intimate celebration of transformation and life for mother, child and family. Whether she is preparing for her first or fourth child, bearing witness to such a miracle and rite of passage is a humbling honor.

Is there an experience you’ve had as a doula that you would like to share?

There are many tools that can help support you through your pregnancy and labor such us proper nutrition, knowledge, holistic therapies, comfort measures and support but at the end of the day all you really need is a deep trust in the natural process of birth and love. The rest will work itself out.