Hire a Doula: Women Plannin a Natural Childbirth
Scenario
Emma is planning a natural childbirth and wants to hire a doula. She struggles to define her birthing preferences, finds it hard to locate doulas who match her needs nearby, and feels uncertain about selecting the right doula and agreeing on services and fees.
Job Map
| Difficulty | Job Step |
|---|---|
| 3.4 | 1. Decide what you want in a doula |
| 3.2 | 2. Find doulas near you |
| 2.8 | 3. Contact potential doulas |
| 2.8 | 4. Set up interviews with doulas |
| 3.1 | 5. Meet and talk with doulas |
| 3.4 | 6. Choose the doula you like best |
| 3.6 | 7. Agree on services and fees |
| 3.0 | 8. Sign a contract with the doula |
Themes
Theme 1: Aligning Personal Preferences with Doula Services (Average Difficulty: 4.25)
This theme addresses the challenge women face in understanding their own birthing preferences and finding doulas whose services align with those preferences before initiating contact.
- (5) Increase the ease of aligning doula services with personal preferences [before contacting doulas]
- (4) Increase the clarity of personal birthing expectations [before searching for a doula]
- (4) Decrease the uncertainty about what to look for in a doula [before contacting anyone]
- (4) Decrease the confusion about doula roles and services [during planning]
Theme 2: Finding and Accessing Suitable Doulas (Average Difficulty: 4.17)
This theme focuses on the difficulties in locating doulas who match specific preferences, qualifications, and availability within one's locality.
- (5) Decrease the difficulty of finding doulas who match your preferences [near you]
- (4) Increase the number of doulas found [within your locality]
- (4) Increase the amount of trustworthy doula recommendations received [from reliable sources]
- (4) Increase the ease of finding doulas with specific qualifications [in your region]
- (4) Decrease the uncertainty about doulas' availability [when contacting them]
- (4) Increase the flexibility of doulas' availability [for interviews]
Theme 3: Making Decisions and Agreeing on Terms (Average Difficulty: 4.0)
This theme covers the challenges in selecting the right doula, negotiating services and fees, and understanding contractual agreements to ensure alignment with personal needs and expectations.
- (4) Decrease the difficulty in making the final doula selection [after interviews]
- (4) Increase the confidence in your choice of doula [before hiring]
- (4) Decrease the uncertainty about making the right decision [when choosing a doula]
- (4) Increase the alignment of doula choice with personal needs [before finalizing]
- (4) Decrease the difficulty of negotiating services and fees [with the chosen doula]
- (4) Increase the clarity of services included [in the doula's package]
| Job Step | Difficulty | Outcome Statement |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Decide what you want in a doula | 5 | Increase the ease of aligning doula services with personal preferences [before contacting doulas] |
| 4 | Increase the clarity of personal birthing expectations [before searching for a doula] | |
| 4 | Decrease the uncertainty about what to look for in a doula [before contacting anyone] | |
| 4 | Decrease the confusion about doula roles and services [during planning] | |
| 3 | Decrease the time it takes to identify desired doula qualities [when starting the process] | |
| 3 | Increase the ease of understanding different types of doulas [before making a decision] | |
| 3 | Increase the confidence in your support needs [during pregnancy planning] | |
| 3 | Decrease the difficulty in prioritizing doula qualities [important to you] | |
| 3 | Increase the quality of your doula selection criteria [before beginning search] | |
| 2 | Increase the amount of information about doula services [available at this stage] | |
| 2. Find doulas near you | 5 | Decrease the difficulty of finding doulas who match your preferences [near you] |
| 4 | Increase the number of doulas found [within your locality] | |
| 4 | Increase the amount of trustworthy doula recommendations received [from reliable sources] | |
| 4 | Increase the ease of finding doulas with specific qualifications [in your region] | |
| 3 | Decrease the time it takes to find available doulas [in your area] | |
| 3 | Increase the quality of information about doulas [during search] | |
| 3 | Decrease the time it takes to compile a list of potential doulas [for contact] | |
| 2 | Increase the ease of accessing doula directories [online] | |
| 2 | Decrease the cost of searching for doulas [by using free resources] | |
| 3. Contact potential doulas | 4 | Decrease the uncertainty about doulas' availability [when contacting them] |
| 3 | Decrease the time it takes to contact doulas [after finding them] | |
| 3 | Increase the ease of reaching doulas [via preferred communication method] | |
| 3 | Increase the response rate from contacted doulas [during initial outreach] | |
| 3 | Decrease the time it takes to receive replies from doulas [after contacting them] | |
| 3 | Decrease the discomfort in reaching out to strangers [when contacting doulas] | |
| 3 | Increase the confidence in proceeding to next steps [after initial contact] | |
| 2 | Decrease the difficulty of scheduling initial contact [with potential doulas] | |
| 2 | Increase the quality of initial communication with doulas [during first contact] | |
| 4. Set up interviews with doulas | 4 | Increase the flexibility of doulas' availability [for interviews] |
| 3 | Decrease the time it takes to schedule interviews [with selected doulas] | |
| 3 | Increase the ease of coordinating interview times [with doulas] | |
| 3 | Increase the number of doulas willing to meet [for interviews] | |
| 3 | Decrease the stress of setting up multiple interviews [within a timeframe] | |
| 3 | Increase the clarity of interview expectations [for both parties] | |
| 3 | Decrease the confusion about what to discuss during interviews [with doulas] | |
| 2 | Decrease the difficulty of arranging convenient meeting locations [for interviews] | |
| 2 | Decrease the time it takes to prepare for interviews [with doulas] | |
| 5. Meet and talk with doulas | 4 | Increase the clarity of doulas' services and philosophies [during interviews] |
| 4 | Increase the confidence in evaluating doulas' experience [during interviews] | |
| 4 | Decrease the uncertainty about doulas' roles and responsibilities [after discussions] | |
| 3 | Decrease the discomfort during interviews [with potential doulas] | |
| 3 | Decrease the time it takes to assess doulas' suitability [during meetings] | |
| 3 | Decrease the difficulty in comparing different doulas [after interviews] | |
| 3 | Increase the quality of rapport built with doulas [during meetings] | |
| 3 | Decrease the confusion about fees and services [discussed during interviews] | |
| 2 | Increase the quality of doula interviews [by preparing relevant questions] | |
| 2 | Increase the ease of discussing birth preferences [with doulas] | |
| 6. Choose the doula you like best | 4 | Decrease the difficulty in making the final doula selection [after interviews] |
| 4 | Increase the confidence in your choice of doula [before hiring] | |
| 4 | Decrease the uncertainty about making the right decision [when choosing a doula] | |
| 4 | Increase the alignment of doula choice with personal needs [before finalizing] | |
| 3 | Decrease the time it takes to decide on a doula [after meetings] | |
| 3 | Increase the ease of comparing doula options [based on your criteria] | |
| 3 | Increase the satisfaction with your doula selection [before proceeding] | |
| 3 | Decrease the stress associated with choosing a doula [during decision-making] | |
| 3 | Increase the clarity of factors influencing your decision [when selecting a doula] | |
| 3 | Decrease the regret over potentially missing better options [after choosing] | |
| 7. Agree on services and fees | 4 | Decrease the difficulty of negotiating services and fees [with the chosen doula] |
| 4 | Increase the clarity of services included [in the doula's package] | |
| 4 | Decrease the uncertainty about additional costs [that may arise] | |
| 4 | Increase the confidence in the value received for fees paid [before agreeing] | |
| 4 | Increase the transparency of refund and cancellation policies [before signing] | |
| 4 | Decrease the confusion over service expectations [during agreement] | |
| 3 | Increase the ease of discussing payment terms [with the doula] | |
| 3 | Decrease the time it takes to finalize service details [before contracting] | |
| 3 | Decrease the stress associated with fee negotiations [with the doula] | |
| 3 | Increase the satisfaction with agreed services and fees [before contracting] | |
| 8. Sign a contract with the doula | 4 | Increase the clarity of contract terms and conditions [in the agreement] |
| 4 | Decrease the confusion over responsibilities outlined [in the contract] | |
| 3 | Decrease the time it takes to review the doula contract [before signing] | |
| 3 | Decrease the difficulty in understanding legal language [in the contract] | |
| 3 | Increase the confidence in the contractual agreement [before signing] | |
| 3 | Decrease the uncertainty about what is legally binding [in the contract] | |
| 3 | Increase the satisfaction with the final agreement [after signing] | |
| 3 | Decrease the stress associated with signing legal documents [with the doula] |
