DOULA CERTIFICATION EXAM ACTUAL EXAM
1. Which of the following is not a responsibility of the doula? a. Providing
emotional, spiritual, and physical support for the expectant mother and her partner
throughout the pregnancy.
b. To provide only information that is based on evidence.
c. To advise the mother and her partner what the doula believes is best for them.
d. Meet the mother's primary healthcare provider.
ANSWER: C
2. The technique of attention focusing: a. Always uses a visual object as the
focus of attention.
b. Diverts the mother's attention away from her labor pains by having her
concentrate on something else.
c. Is used by the mother's partner when timing contractions.
d. Is encouraged by the doula while helping the mother and her partner create the
personalized birth plan.
ANSWER: B
3. The birth plan includes: a. Names of mother's support team.
b. A Plan B in case of difficult labor or other unexpected events.
c. Personal statement from mother describing her beliefs, values, and preferences.
d. All of the above.
ANSWER: D
4. When the doula identifies a mother's need that s/he doubts is in her scope of
practice, s/he: a. Does the best s/he can.
b. Asks the mother's partner what they think.
c. Keeps an eye on the situation.
d. Refers the mother to the appropriate resources for her needs.
ANSWER: D
5. Which of the following statements is false? a. Women who have doula
support require less pain medication than women without doula support.
b. Women with doula support report more negative feelings about their experience
in childbirth than those without doula support.
c. A doula provides continuous physical, emotional, spiritual, and informational
support to the expectant mother and her partner during labor, delivery and in the
immediate postpartum period.
d. Hygiene, better overall health, and antibiotics were responsible for a dramatic
drop in maternal morbidity and mortality in the 20th century.
ANSWER: B
1. Approximately 80% of our waking hours are spent in some form of
communication. Which form accounts for half of that 80%? a. Writing
b. Reading
, c. Listening
d. Speaking
ANSWER: C
2. What type of listening are we engaged in when we are attempting to scrutinize
what is being said? a. Informational
b. Critical
c. Selective
d. Appreciative
ANSWER: B
3. A listener can show that they have been paying attention to a speaker by: a.
Asking relevant questions
b. Summarizing what the speaker said
c. Reflecting on what the speaker said
d. All of the above
e. None of the above
ANSWER: D
4. The main point of negotiation is: a. To reach agreements without causing
barriers to communication
b. To get what you want
c. To explain why your cause is more urgent
d. To avoid a fight
ANSWER: A
5. What is the biggest obstacle to developing and projecting confidence? a. Fear of
public speaking
b. Fear of failure
c. A soft speaking voice
d. Talking too fast
ANSWER: B
1. Which statement is correct? a. When a woman is pregnant, she should rest
as much as possible because she won't be able to when the baby is born.
b. Most women don't feel like eating much when they are pregnant because of the
nausea of "morning sickness."
c. A pregnant woman should only eat meat that is well done and should avoid
drinking unpasteurized milk or cheeses made from unpasteurized milk.
d. Pregnant women should not personally use tobacco but second-hand smoke
doesn't count as something that increases the risks for an unborn baby.
ANSWER: C
2. Which statement is correct? a. The doula should meet the client's care
provider on the day of the delivery.
b. The doula should call the hospital or the birth center ahead of the delivery and ask
if and when s/he and her/his client can visit and take a tour of her facility of choice.
1. Which of the following is not a responsibility of the doula? a. Providing
emotional, spiritual, and physical support for the expectant mother and her partner
throughout the pregnancy.
b. To provide only information that is based on evidence.
c. To advise the mother and her partner what the doula believes is best for them.
d. Meet the mother's primary healthcare provider.
ANSWER: C
2. The technique of attention focusing: a. Always uses a visual object as the
focus of attention.
b. Diverts the mother's attention away from her labor pains by having her
concentrate on something else.
c. Is used by the mother's partner when timing contractions.
d. Is encouraged by the doula while helping the mother and her partner create the
personalized birth plan.
ANSWER: B
3. The birth plan includes: a. Names of mother's support team.
b. A Plan B in case of difficult labor or other unexpected events.
c. Personal statement from mother describing her beliefs, values, and preferences.
d. All of the above.
ANSWER: D
4. When the doula identifies a mother's need that s/he doubts is in her scope of
practice, s/he: a. Does the best s/he can.
b. Asks the mother's partner what they think.
c. Keeps an eye on the situation.
d. Refers the mother to the appropriate resources for her needs.
ANSWER: D
5. Which of the following statements is false? a. Women who have doula
support require less pain medication than women without doula support.
b. Women with doula support report more negative feelings about their experience
in childbirth than those without doula support.
c. A doula provides continuous physical, emotional, spiritual, and informational
support to the expectant mother and her partner during labor, delivery and in the
immediate postpartum period.
d. Hygiene, better overall health, and antibiotics were responsible for a dramatic
drop in maternal morbidity and mortality in the 20th century.
ANSWER: B
1. Approximately 80% of our waking hours are spent in some form of
communication. Which form accounts for half of that 80%? a. Writing
b. Reading
, c. Listening
d. Speaking
ANSWER: C
2. What type of listening are we engaged in when we are attempting to scrutinize
what is being said? a. Informational
b. Critical
c. Selective
d. Appreciative
ANSWER: B
3. A listener can show that they have been paying attention to a speaker by: a.
Asking relevant questions
b. Summarizing what the speaker said
c. Reflecting on what the speaker said
d. All of the above
e. None of the above
ANSWER: D
4. The main point of negotiation is: a. To reach agreements without causing
barriers to communication
b. To get what you want
c. To explain why your cause is more urgent
d. To avoid a fight
ANSWER: A
5. What is the biggest obstacle to developing and projecting confidence? a. Fear of
public speaking
b. Fear of failure
c. A soft speaking voice
d. Talking too fast
ANSWER: B
1. Which statement is correct? a. When a woman is pregnant, she should rest
as much as possible because she won't be able to when the baby is born.
b. Most women don't feel like eating much when they are pregnant because of the
nausea of "morning sickness."
c. A pregnant woman should only eat meat that is well done and should avoid
drinking unpasteurized milk or cheeses made from unpasteurized milk.
d. Pregnant women should not personally use tobacco but second-hand smoke
doesn't count as something that increases the risks for an unborn baby.
ANSWER: C
2. Which statement is correct? a. The doula should meet the client's care
provider on the day of the delivery.
b. The doula should call the hospital or the birth center ahead of the delivery and ask
if and when s/he and her/his client can visit and take a tour of her facility of choice.
