I turned to several doulas in our Choice Mom-friendly network for their input.

Stefanie (Discover Birth, Toronto): "Unfortunate circumstance. The DONA scope of practice clearly states that doulas may offer information and perspective but do not encourage/recommend certain choices. A doula could discuss how a client’s philosophical views would be a good fit with a midwife, but should not recommend a switch from her doc to a midwife. A doula could indicate that a certain hospital’s policies are more in-line with the client’s preferences but should not recommend a switch. So I’m sorry to say that this would be outside of the DONA scope of practice if this is a DONA doula. Clearly if she’s not a DONA doula, there are no regulations saying whether she can say this or not.

I’d suggest that a client must always be comfortable with her OWN choices. A doula is there to support a client’s choices. If the client thinks these options are a better fit, then great. If she’s not comfortable with these ideas, then maybe it’s really not the right doula for her. The question she should be asking is what’s next? Will there be ‘restrictions’ on what she can do in labor? When it’s time to go to the hospital (according to the doula)? What medications or interventions are ‘required’. I think this situation has some red flags at this point and I would suggest she proceed with caution. Some of those statements worry me."

Nichi (My Healthy Beginning, Minnesota): As a former DONA doula myself, Stefanie, I'd say you hit the nail on the head. Even as a current non-certified doula attending births, the "restrictions." or shall I say, "personal preferences" she is perhaps pushing onto her clients is a huge red flag for me. The client should be very comfortable with her doula and what their choices are as birthing parents. The doula is there to offer support and education to the parents. She may offer recommendations, but I don't know that I've ever seen requirements such as those come from a doula.

Gina (Childbirth Collective, Minnesota): It is never the doula's role to restrict a woman's choice, be it birthplace, caregiver, or anything else. However, this doula does have the right to limit her practice so she is working within her comfort zone. She can say "here's where I am willing to work" but not ask a woman to change her plans. A productive discussion of the woman's desires and the options available within various hospitals or clinics may lead the woman to choose to change, but it must be their choice. Choosing to change based on the doula's preference, because they hate to keep looking for example, is still the woman's choice, but it MUST be discussed with that understanding. Imagine the woman says "okay, I'll change to where you told me to" and then has an unsatisfactory experience. That is not only bad for the woman, it's bad for the doula because she took the power of choice upon herself rather than empowering the woman.