Postpartum is a deeply vulnerable time. Your body is healing, your hormones are shifting, and you’re navigating a completely new reality. Who you invite into your space during this time is important.

A postpartum doula is there to hold, nourish, and support you—but not every doula is the right fit for every mother. There needs to be trust, connection, and a shared understanding of what you need.

Here’s how to find the right postpartum doula for you, so you feel safe, supported, and truly held in your fourth trimester.

Get Clear on What You Want

Before you even begin searching, take a moment to think about what you want and how you envision your postpartum.

Ask yourself:

• Is this my first postpartum, or have I been through this before?
• What did I struggle with the most last time (if I’ve had a baby before)?
• What kind of support would make me feel the most nourished, rested, and cared for?

Postpartum doulas offer different forms of love and support—so you want to make sure the doula you choose aligns with your postpartum needs.

Maybe you want more traditional postpartum care—Ayurvedic principles, bodywork, herbal remedies, TCM approach

Maybe you had a tough breastfeeding journey last time and want a doula with strong lactation support experience.

Maybe you just want an extra set of hands, someone to listen, and a warm, grounding presence.

While I advocate for postpartum care for all mothers, it is an investment—so you want to make sure the support you choose matches your postpartum hierarchy of needs.

If you don’t know, that’s okay too. You might find through researching you are drawn to certain offerings. This is also an important part of your postpartum planning and I have mapped out all different kinds of postpartum support in my A Postpartum Guide ebook which you can find here.

Prioritise Connection

Even the most experienced and well-trained postpartum doula isn’t the right fit for every mum.

The relationship between a mother and her doula is deeply personal. You are inviting them into one of the most intimate, raw, and vulnerable seasons of your life.

• You are bleeding, leaking, emotional, exhausted.
• You need to feel safe, held, and relaxed in their presence.
• You should never feel like you have to “perform” or tidy up before they arrive.

Most doulas share a lot about their approach and philosophy on their website or social media—so start there. Once you’ve found someone who aligns with what you want, meeting them (even virtually) is so important.

I’ve always felt like an aunty or the perfect wife as a postpartum doula. I love to float into a mother’s home, feed her, hold space, and make sure all the little things are taken care of—the things that are often missed by partners.

That’s my niche, and it’s exactly what some mothers need—and others don’t. But in order for me to do that well, the mothers I support need to feel completely at ease with me.

That’s why connection matters.

Once you’ve found a doula whose approach resonates with you, reach out, chat, and see how you feel in their presence.

Questions to Ask a Postpartum Doula

When you’ve found a doula you connect with, here are some key questions to ask to make sure they’re the right fit:

• What does a typical visit with you look like?
• How long do you typically work with families? Do you recommend a certain number of weeks?
• When does support start? Do you offer any antenatal support, or is it strictly postpartum?
• Do you have an on-call period? What happens if I have my baby early?
• Can I message you or reach out if I have questions during pregnancy and postpartum?
• Do you offer overnight support?
• What’s your favourite thing about being a postpartum doula?
• What is your philosophy on postpartum care?
• How do you support feeding choices? (Do you have lactation support experience? Are you judgment-free?)
• What’s your approach to emotional support for mothers?
• Do you have experience with multiples, caesarean recovery, or special circumstances?
• Do you have a contract that we sign? (Make sure you read and understand it—it’s there to protect both of you!)
• What are your rates, and do you offer payment plans? (It’s important to make sure support doesn’t add financial stress to your postpartum.)
• What is your training and experience? (Some doulas are formally trained, others learn through hands-on experience.)
• Can you share client testimonials or references?

The Harder Questions (But Important Ones to Ask!)

These questions dig a little deeper and can help you get a sense of how your doula handles challenges, boundaries, and professional relationships.

• Have you ever worked with a client you didn’t connect with or see eye to eye? How did you handle it?
• If there’s something I feel strongly about (e.g., extended family involvement, feeding choices, sleep preferences), how do you handle situations where our opinions differ?
• What are your boundaries as a doula? (For example, do they respond to messages outside of scheduled hours? What’s their approach to emotional support?)
• Have you ever supported a mother with birth trauma or postpartum anxiety/depression? How do you navigate that kind of emotional support?

These questions aren’t about testing them—they’re about understanding their personality, professionalism, and whether their approach aligns with what you need.

Where to Find a Postpartum Doula in Australia

Searching for the right postpartum doula can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be.

The Village for Postpartum Directory makes it easy to find trusted postpartum doulas near you—so you don’t have to scroll endlessly or rely on word-of-mouth.

Find a postpartum doula here