"It’s really important to hire a doula who you have been able to meet and interview ahead of time and feel very comfortable with—to make sure that they are a good 'fit' for you and your needs," advises Dr. Jessica Madden, MD, board-certified pediatrician and neonatologist, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and Medical Director of Aeroflow Breastpumps. You should make sure the doula clicks with your partner and lives close enough that they can be with you on short notice. "I would also make sure that you and your doula share similar approaches to medical intervention," Dr. Madden adds.