Agreed. I paid $500 for my doula for DS' birth. I think her fee's gone up now but it's not above $650. And she has YEARS of experience and is a certified Bradley method instructor. $1200 is crazy talk.
I know, it definitely seems crazy. I truly believe it's a reflection of where I live though. Turns out this other doula I'm talking to, her fee is actually $2000 but she charges $1200 for clients of my MW because she's part of her practice. They must have some kind of agreement or payment situation, I dunno.
But regarding where I live, it's the same with everything. NYC is just really expensive. We plan to stay in our railroad 1 bdrm apartment with our baby. We live in a pretty desirable neighborhood and I've checked and I wouldn't be able to find a decent 2 bedroom in my hood for under $2800/$3000 if we decided to move. And that wouldn't necessarily be with laundry and a dishwasher. Even milk is expensive.
The cheapest fee for a doula I've come across was $800 but my MW said that doula rarely takes on births anymore. But I might take a bradley class with that doula so I'll ask if she really works as a doula anymore.
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