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S/O Natural Birth Post: Doulas

Lolita0626Lolita0626
in 2nd Trimester
I'm considering having a natural birth and am very interested in getting a doula. Does insurance generally cover the costs of hiring a doula, and if not - what are the average costs?
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Re: S/O Natural Birth Post: Doulas

  • UrbanHippieMamaUrbanHippieMama
    I'm in Canada, and insurance doesn't cover doulas.  We're still getting one, cause for a natural homebirth (and for DH) I really feel like we'll need one.  Around here the cost is $400-$700 depending on experience and what they offer.
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  • peachypearpeachypear
    I don't believe that doula services are generally covered by insurance - but it's worth checking on your plan. In my area, a doula seems to run about $600 for standard delivery services: pre-birth meeting(s), full coverage at birth (including laboring at home, if you wish) up until about 2 hours after birth. Post-birth services are generally $20/hr. That's all just a rough estimate.
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  • kassannkassann
    Insurance doesn't cover or at least I've never heard of them covering. I trained as a doula and my first few births I did for free until I became licensed. The gal we're looking to work with is charging $500 and less if we take a class that she offers first which is $250. It's totally worth it!
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  • JacquelineR.JacquelineR. member

    We hired our doula for 1100. . . The range in the DC area is 900 to 1300 depending on experience, services, training, etc.  She also comes to your house once labor is established and stays with you until about an hour after birth.  The cost includes two prenatal visits, and 1 postnatal visit, and takes photos and writes a "birth story".  Our insurance does not cover doula services.

     

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  • mjonette@gmail.commjonette@gmail.com
    I don't think most insurance will cover a doula, although it would be a good idea for them to, since a doula can sometimes cost less than an epidural, and definitely costs less than a c-section, but I guess that is beside the point. We hired a doula with our first, and she was amazing. We are planning to hire her again for this birth. She only charges $300, but isn't really out to make a bunch of money on this either. I think doula's in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area (our city) usually run between $500 and $1000.?
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  • Katesters9Katesters9
    Ask your hospital, too. Ours has volunteer doulas that are on-call if you want them.
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  • cmw&tdmcmw&tdm member

    I'm using a doula this time.  The service costs $450 for us, be we are in a fairly LCOL area.  I didn't check into insurance, but I'm sure it's not covered.  However, we are filing it with our FLEX plan.

    GL!

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  • shauna060708shauna060708

    Our doula will have just finished up her formal training about a month before we are due and will have only attended 8 births but she also only costs $175 since she is just getting started.  Since I was waivering on getting one anyway, I am happy to get a relatively new one that costs much less than our area avg ($600-900).  Her fee covers the interview(s), 1 prenatal visit, the birth, and 1 postnatal visit.

    None of this is covered under our insurance and I don't believe that we can use FSA money for it either.

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