I've been emailing doulas all morning.

ClarissaExplainsItAll

I found quite a few for $450!!  That's cheap!  I emailed them and the more expensive ones, but I'm hoping I like one of the cheaper ones lol.  I made FI watch "the business of being born" last night and he came around to the idea. 

MrsSmithinOR

that's great!  I wanted a doula but DH nixed the idea-- said he wanted just the two of us (well plus the midwife) there for the delivery.  We are going to watch the Business of Being Born today, too-- maybe he'll come around!

PeonyPumps

Ours was the cheapest I found, I think like $250 ish. And she was amazing, even though this is our second, h has insisted that we have her again (she's a midwife now and we're considering having a home birth with her but if we go to a hospital she's agreed to be our doula again) even before I brought it up. He was wary at first too. But having those extra hands to rub my back or give h a few to eat something, it was more helpful than I ever expected it would be. I think it is 100% worth the cost, even if we have to pay double for her this time around. 

SchruteBucks

You can contact DONA or CAPPA and see if there are any Doula students in your are that could offer their services.  Doulas have to have so many births before they can become certified and will offer their services for much cheaper or even free in exchange for the experience. 

I had a Doula with my son and she was beyond helpful, not just during the delivery but throughout my entire pregnancy and afterwards.  I won't have one this time around because my Midwife is 100% hands on and she and her assistant will both act as Doulas. 

Tell him it's worth it even if it costs two or three times that much!

Amitchell0626

Awesome! The average here is $500-600. I lucked out though, there's one who needs to attend 2 more births for her certification so she's offering the full package (prenatal, labour, and postnatal care) for $150!!!

kacelle

Lurking, but I paid $500 for my doula at DD's birth and it was SO worth it.  Even though I ended up having an epi-free induction and wasn't really able to move around during the labour, it was amazing to have her there for support before and during the birth.  She also took photos of my and DH's first moments with DD, which are so priceless.

StefandTodd

We paid $800 for our doula for my sons birth, and she was worth every penny.

My H also wanted it to be "just us"...but then we took Bradley classes and he learned more about what birth looks like, and became more emotionally invested in us having an intervention-free birth, and he got more on board.  And once he met our doula?  Then he was really sold.  He loves her.  Even though we're looking at spending a fortune for a midwife and a home birth this time, we both still can't imagine not paying again for our same doula.