I've been researching doulas in NYC, and it seems like the average fee here runs about $1000. I'm planning to give birth with an OB (but one who is VERY pro-natural birth) in my hospital's "birthing center" (which is more conservative than a standalone BC but still very supportive of natural deliveries.) So. Would you spend $1000 on a doula? We can afford it, I guess, but it's still a large chunk of change for us. Along those same lines, would it be worth paying $250-500 for someone with less than 25 births under her belt?
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Re: Would you pay $1000 for a doula?
only you know the answers to those questions.
Pay the $250 for someone with less births. I paid $300 for my doula the last time - she was in training and had only attended 3 births before. She was amazing and I hired her again.
I would never pay $1000 for a doula, but I live in a low cost-of-living area.
I would not pay $1,000 for a doula, but then again, I wouldn't pay for a doula at all. I think it just depends on the type of person you are, how you labor, and what kind of support you have. I did a lot of research on natural pain management and my DH and I took a hypnobirthing class. When the day came I told him what I needed and he did it. I am one of those women that likes to zone out and doesn't really want to be talked to or touched. My DH spent the last five hours of my labor, silently pouring water over my stomach while I was having contractions. In my case a doula would have been a waste because I didn't really need much. That's just my two cents, for some women $1,000 would be well worth it, it just depends on the person.
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Ditto this. We're not hiring one, but 1K is really high for a doula around here. But we don't live in NYC either.
Why not try and interview both, and also think about what do you actually want you doula to do for you? Just help out with some laboring/delivery postions, pitch in when DH gets tired and butt out of any and all medical decisions, or someone to be your medical advocate to keep you and practitioners "on task" so to speak. This might gauge whether you need the "in the trenches" experience, or just a helpful, supporting hand.
Just some food for thought that might help with decision making
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I had a midwife for my last birth, but she wasn't there the whole time and there were several key points where a doula would have come in handy. So for ME, it is worth it and I am paying $1100 for our doula, switching midwife practices and driving about an hour for my attempted VBAC (the c/s probably changed my view on what was "necessary").
My new midwife group actually encourages having a doula present.
That being said, we interviewed different doulas at different price points and levels of experience. I immediately felt comfortable and empowered by the doula we hired. I'm sure there are plenty of doulas that are cheaper or less experienced that would be awesome, but you need to figure out who you click with and what feels right to you. Good luck!
Ha! I guess I couldn't do the on call at all hours thing right now (and I have to keep in mind that not everyone has a 6 hour labor like I did- I can't imagine being with a laboring woman for 20+ hours...). Perhaps when the kids are grown...
We were living in San Francisco when DD was born, and paid $900 for our doula. Worth.every.penny. DH was fantastic, too, but I had a LONG labor (induced with Cervidil overnight followed by Pitocin) and the poor man would have collapsed from exhaustion if he had had to get me through it alone. It was worth $900 just for him to be awake enough to enjoy the birth of his daughter, nevermind everything she did for me!
DS was born here in Dallas, and I never would have paid $1000 for a doula. Even the most experienced doulas only charged around $750. Ours cost $400 and we LOVED her. When hiring a doula, I think that fit/comfort level is MUCH more important than her experience level.
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I agree with this. I have been teaching TBM for 2+ years and have been a doula 3 times for my students. I charged them $250. If you do go with someone with less experience like this, it is important that they are still knowledgeable. Often times, a newbie like myself is even more passionate & eager to assist than someone who's done it hundreds of times before.
I was expecting to pay $1k (I live east of SF) but the doulas in this area are reacting to the recession and our doula, who has attended over 300 births is charging us $750. We also paid $350 for our bradley class.
I would talk to your husband, my husband wants the doula present, and would have paid more to have her there b/c he thinks its important for him, he wants the extra support.
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I wouldn't pay that much where I live, but if $1000 is the going rate in NYC, then yeah, I probably would.
Ours is $600, and I still think that's expensive for where I am (ND). Unfortunately, our doula is now the only one practicing in our area, because the other two have taken extended time off to raise their young children. Since she has the monopoly on the market, I guess she can charge whatever she wants.
Anyway, I will say that our doula is pretty amazing. She teaches my prenatal yoga class, and has the calmest presence about her. I know that will be invaluable during labor. She also takes pictures on her professional-quality camera during labor & delivery if the mom wants (and I do).
Will your ins cover it at all? Supposedly, mine has the reputation of covering some of the doula fee (although if you call and ask without the code, they say no - I'm prepared either way).
I'd probably pay for someone with fewer births who you click with - our area up here is so small that the more experienced doulas only have about 60 births under their belt - those with more usually end up going into midwifery.
The entire make a difference thing depends so much on your personality and the situation you're in (back labor? baby malpositioning during labor, etc). A doula for us would have been invaluable at the last birth - it may not have prevented my c/s, but I think a good doula would have made sure that things got discussed a lot more before it happened which would have made the experience better.
I am (in the SF area) although I loath to spend so much money...She seemed to have a middle-range rate, has been to many births, just finished her midwifery training, and has worked with my midwife before (in addition to having had one of her kids with my midwife...).
I think in NYC you are not really going to get a better price for someone with experience. On the other hand, if you feel very confident in you husband you may not want the cost.
Your OB will not be there the whole time and you husband will definitely need someone to take the pressure off once in a while I would say. Not to mention you have no idea how long you will be in labor!
Hey, I'm in NYC and hoping to do the same thing (give birth at the St. Luke's birthing center with my OB). I have not considered a doula because my OB is so awesome and supportive, so I don't think it's necessary. In about a month or so, I can give you better insight and let you know how it went...
Another NYC mom-to-be here.
I'm expecting to pay at least $1000 for a doula. My OB has a few that she's worked with and recommends especially for patients who want to go natural--they're all very experienced and $1000 to $1800 for a birth. I definitely want someone who works well with my doctor and the hospital staff, so I'm leaning toward using one of them.
We paid 700 because she is such a great source of support throughout the whole experience. We forfeited classes and just purchased the Birthing from within book to read on our own.
I think she is worth every dime especially because she is available by phone and email 24/7 and she has already helped me tremendously. I am even considering tipping her.
If cost is an issue, some insurances will reimburse for your doula.