Lamaze Costs

Maggie6424 · August 2014

I found a woman who offers private lamaze classes locally. It would be about 2.5 hours and just hubs and I at her house. She doesn't publish costs, and when I asked her the rates she said "it's whatever you can afford". I was hoping you guys could weigh in on this. I have absolutely no idea what I should offer to pay, and I couldn't find anything helpful on google. I don't want to offer something that is way too high or too low, and this woman seems too nice to say something if my offer is too low. Any advice?

MuffinMom14 · August 2014

Um. I'm paying $15 for 5 2-hour sessions, but I live in WV. It's going to really depend on the cost of living in your area. I'd never pay more than $50 for it (when really, I can google it in my living room for free), but that's me and my comfort level.

I'd tell her you aren't comfortable guessing, to please give you a number. This sounds ridiculous. What if you said $1? She'd take it?

kindacrunchy · August 2014

Since it is private and not a group class I would pay her $100 maybe $150.

TheOtherJacobsons · August 2014

Wow, I guess I am really overpaying.

The regular group child-birthing class at my hospital is $148 for 2 or 3 sessions.

I am also taking private hypnobirthing classes, 5 sessions (2.5 hr) for $400. The group classes were $350.

MrsSarahRenee · August 2014

I am more at where @TheOtherJacobsons‌. I might google other teachers in the area to get a sense of what competitive pricing is.

Do you know this woman? Why is it pay what you want?
I would do $100-150 for a 2 1/2 hr private class.

golfingdarwinfish · August 2014

TheOtherJacobsons said:

Wow, I guess I am really overpaying.

The regular group child-birthing class at my hospital is $148 for 2 or 3 sessions.

I am also taking private hypnobirthing classes, 5 sessions (2.5 hr) for $400. The group classes were $350.

We are more in this range - $200 for 2 sessions.

Since your classes are private I would consider paying around $200.

mlhw NH · August 2014

We paid $145 for 5 two hour sessions of Hypnobirthing with materials.

lisamahrt · August 2014

TheOtherJacobsons said:

Wow, I guess I am really overpaying.

The regular group child-birthing class at my hospital is $148 for 2 or 3 sessions.

I am also taking private hypnobirthing classes, 5 sessions (2.5 hr) for $400. The group classes were $350.

Of everyone I have known who have paid for those hypnobirth classes thought it was worth it and ended up having the birth they wanted!

Maggie6424 · August 2014

Bradley and hypnobirthing classes run around $400 out here, and they're like 12 sessions. We can't commit to the same day/time for that many weeks.
No, I don't know this woman. I found her on the registered lamaze teacher site. I read a lot of bio's and she also teaches a comfort measures class at a hospital. I want to be able to get out of it what I want, and not be in a class of strangers. We did a birthing class at our last hospital when I was preg with DS1. It was basically a waste of time. The woman showed us how to use a tennis ball, a pillow, and the wall to help ease pain. I want to focus more on my mind and breathing this time.
There are a lot of low income families where I live, and her bio says that she doesn't feel a woman shouldn't be able to have this service just because she can't afford much.

Maggie6424 · August 2014

I was thinking $50 would be ok.. That's $25 an hour, and we're driving to her.

golfingdarwinfish · August 2014

Maggie6424 said:

Bradley and hypnobirthing classes run around $400 out here, and they're like 12 sessions. We can't commit to the same day/time for that many weeks.
No, I don't know this woman. I found her on the registered lamaze teacher site. I read a lot of bio's and she also teaches a comfort measures class at a hospital. I want to be able to get out of it what I want, and not be in a class of strangers. We did a birthing class at our last hospital when I was preg with DS1. It was basically a waste of time. The woman showed us how to use a tennis ball, a pillow, and the wall to help ease pain. I want to focus more on my mind and breathing this time.
There are a lot of low income families where I live, and her bio says that she doesn't feel a woman shouldn't be able to have this service just because she can't afford much.

I wouldn't use this statement as a way to take advantage of her or pay her less than she is worth.

Maggie6424 · August 2014

golfingdarwinfish said:

Maggie6424 said:

Bradley and hypnobirthing classes run around $400 out here, and they're like 12 sessions. We can't commit to the same day/time for that many weeks.
No, I don't know this woman. I found her on the registered lamaze teacher site. I read a lot of bio's and she also teaches a comfort measures class at a hospital. I want to be able to get out of it what I want, and not be in a class of strangers. We did a birthing class at our last hospital when I was preg with DS1. It was basically a waste of time. The woman showed us how to use a tennis ball, a pillow, and the wall to help ease pain. I want to focus more on my mind and breathing this time.
There are a lot of low income families where I live, and her bio says that she doesn't feel a woman shouldn't be able to have this service just because she can't afford much.

I wouldn't use this statement as a way to take advantage of her or pay her less than she is worth.

That's not what I'm trying to do.. by any stretch of the imagination.. $25 an hour is almost double what I make.
ETA: I was stating that to explain why she doesn't have "set" rates.

MrsSarahRenee · August 2014

What kind of training/certifications does she have? If she is trained and qualified, I think $50 is too low personally.

She preps for your class, gives you materials (potentially). I think $100 would be low but it depends again on her expertise, experience and what it goes for in your area.

Driving to her doesn't factor in for me personally.

andrieya · August 2014

Mine was $350 for a two day (10 hour) course

Maggie6424 · August 2014

She is a certified instructor. Her class that she teaches at the hospital is 2.5 hours and is $30 per couple including materials. The labor classes at our hospital are $75, but that's nine hours total. Everyone seems to be all over the place with how much they paid/would pay. I think I'm just going to tell her I'm not comfortable making an offer and tell her to give me a rate.
Thanks for the input ladies!

pnwlover12 · August 2014

...free on youtube?

TheOtherJacobsons · August 2014

I think it really all depends on what the costs are in your region. I am in California, so everything is expensive here.

MrsSarahRenee · August 2014

Maggie6424 said:
She is a certified instructor. Her class that she teaches at the hospital is 2.5 hours and is $30 per couple including materials. The labor classes at our hospital are $75, but that's nine hours total. Everyone seems to be all over the place with how much they paid/would pay. I think I'm just going to tell her I'm not comfortable making an offer and tell her to give me a rate.
Thanks for the input ladies!

Then $50 sounds appropriate if the 2 1/2 hr group is $30. I am in MA and classes run high in my area.

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