Doula and Budget

pfefferlel

Hi ladies,

For those of you who have hired a doula, would you mind sharing the running rate or how much you ended up paying for the doula'a services, and what those services covered? I'm meeting with a few different doulas over the next few weeks and feel as though knowledge is power here also, is it completely tactless to try to negotiate a rate, or should I just take it or leave it? Thanks in advance for your help!

Yasm33na

I'm studying to be a doula and to get my certificate I need to help three women through their pregnancies- if you check on doula international, you may find a student who would do it for free . I know I will. If not, there are lists of doulas there that I'm sure would be willing to help for a good price.

deepoceanmama

Most of the doulas that we've looked at have been around $600, which includes prenatal check-ins, services at birth (some of them include placenta encapsulation and photography, if you want), and one post-natal check up with you and baby. It seems like a pretty reasonable rate to me, honestly!

whoberry

I've been told the going rate here (east coast) is $600.  But I've also heard that those who are just starting out charge less.  I am planning to use a volunteer doula.  The nursing school where I am delivering has a volunteer doula program.

wtfisup

The ones I looked at here were around $300 for birth, + $250 for post-birth services, optional. 

We decided not to do one. I just didn't think it was the best investment. We're doing a lot to prepare for birth, have an amazing midwife who is also a friend, and in place of a doula, one of our best friends is a labor and delivery nurse who will come support us if needed for free. Ultimately, I decided I'd rather spend that money on hiring help after the baby is born, if needed, to help with laundry or cleaning, or just spend it on takeout. 

abastian00

Depends on where you are - I'm in NYC and expect to spend $1,000+ for a doula, and most that were recommended to me were in the $1,500-2,000 range. We still haven't decided if it's worth that huge sum!

tbmadeamistake

I spent $750 on mine two years ago.  She covered a couple pre-natal visits so we could talk about what I wanted and how to handle labor/delivery.  She came to the hospital when I called to tell her I had been admitted at 3cm.  She stayed the entire labor/delivery, and then came to the house once after labor to see the baby and go over how I felt about my experience. 

 

bebemac

wtfisup said:

The ones I looked at here were around $300 for birth, + $250 for post-birth services, optional. 

We decided not to do one. I just didn't think it was the best investment. We're doing a lot to prepare for birth, have an amazing midwife who is also a friend, and in place of a doula, one of our best friends is a labor and delivery nurse who will come support us if needed for free. Ultimately, I decided I'd rather spend that money on hiring help after the baby is born, if needed, to help with laundry or cleaning, or just spend it on takeout. 

Sounds like a fabulous idea to me!

ElTrain5

In Chicago for an experienced Doula the rates are about $800-$1500, that includes 1 or 2 pre natal appointments, phone calls, labor from home to hospital, breastfeeding assistance, and at least one or two post partum visits. Edit: To add that there is a large volunteer doula network in Chicago that provides free services to people that meet income requirements, as well as a number of doula's who will work on a sliding scale based on income.  Basically, if you really want a doula and cost is an issue, there's always someone willing to volunteer or work with you on price.  Doulas seem like a pretty awesome bunch of women

Sprinkles86

I live is south flirida miami and i went to the gathering place they have doulas that range from $400-$1500

Our doula has done about 100 natural deliviries and is costing us $500 plus i get three free classes like newborn class hospital preparation class and cpr certification through the gathering place
The doula acompanies us to classes if we like and we get a chsnce to bond before i give birth

Were super excited! Good luck

zolastele

San Francisco Bay Area is $1500-$2000. DH and I are still thinking about it, it's pretty steep.

pfefferlel

Thanks ladies! Very useful info. Just priced out a recommended center and the prices compare to what I'm hearing here. they said the rate is $400, $600, or $750 depending on the level and experience. Still thinking on whether this is the route we want to go. Will think on it!

deepoceanmama

wtfisup said:

The ones I looked at here were around $300 for birth, + $250 for post-birth services, optional. 

We decided not to do one. I just didn't think it was the best investment. We're doing a lot to prepare for birth, have an amazing midwife who is also a friend, and in place of a doula, one of our best friends is a labor and delivery nurse who will come support us if needed for free. Ultimately, I decided I'd rather spend that money on hiring help after the baby is born, if needed, to help with laundry or cleaning, or just spend it on takeout. 

I should add that, while I think $600 is reasonable for the amount of labor that goes into doula-ing (totes a word; I'm an English teacher and I made it so), DH and I also decided it wasn't worth the investment. We're taking Bradley Method classes ($250), which are ultimately designed to teach your husband to be your doula. He feels better about that anyway, and would rather be my primary support system once we're in there.

tbmadeamistake

I will add, without an ETA because I don't want to scroll up because I'm lazy today, that I ended up not really using my doula.  After all the chatting we did about pain management techniques (I like a firm hand, massage, etc), she ended up stroking my arm and whispering at me...until I told her to go away and get my husband, who up until that point had been napping.  He stepped up, but I ended up getting an epidural, so she futzed with her camera while I napped.  She held a leg back while I pushed, took a bunch of pictures I had specifically told her not to take (yes, now, it's nice to look at them, but I don't think I'd miss them if they weren't there, I said no pictures for a reason).  And...then she left because she had another woman in labor.  Now, that's only my experience, and yours may be, and hopefully will be, very different, but make sure that you click with whomever you choose and you make sure that they use the techniques that you want. 

crossfitkiwi

In Seattle I have seen prices from $500-$1500. Most include 1-2 pre and post natal visits. Placenta encapsulation ranges $100-$200. A lot provide lactation support too.

We met with a few doulas and the one we hired is costing $950 which includes: 2x prenatal visits, 2x postnatal visits, unlimited phone/email support and of course the birth. She has been a doula for 5 years and also runs birth classes. We spent a lot of time talking about her role during the birth and how she will help DH be involved and work with him. I loved her attitude and she was really familiar with the hospital I'll be delivering in - so I'm feeling pretty positive about the whole thing.

It's a lot of money but it was important to us. I'm a FTM and we have no family or close friends in Seattle or even the US, so really wanted us to have the extra support. I want to stay at home as long as possible and I'm hoping that having someone with us who has seen it all before will help keep the calm and help us have a good experience.

SarainColorado2013

In Denver they seem to range from $600-$900. We just hired a pair that work as a team and are paying them $800 - half now and half at 37 weeks or something. Lots of friends told me a good doula is worth it. One nice thing about the ladies we picked is that they are lactation counselors and one of their prenatal visits will be a breastfeeding class - so I won't need to sign up for a separate class.

ElTrain5

Just wanted to add that there are some really great benefits to having a doula. And it's definitely important to interview a few and make sure you really connect with the one you choose so you get the best experience. Not every doula is going to gel with every woman and what she wants out of her labor experience. Here's some brief stats on some benefits of using a doula: