Why oh why....

[wanderinggypsy]

oh why doesn't my insurance plan cover a doula?

The college of midwives of ontario is giving me a runaround, making me second guess my choice of going with a midwife locally.... if I could have a doula, I'd be comfortable with the OB who delivered my two boys. But I can't pay out the thousand or so dollars for doula care!

I have a fantasy of going to stay at my mom's apartment in toronto later in pregnancy and using a midwife there. I'm sure the selection is much better in the city. Here in bumpkin-ville it's SLIM PICKINGS.

[juliaaaah]

Oy, I'm sorry. Are the midwives cheaper than the doula+OB?

Maybe you could find a doula who isn't quite certified yet, but needs to be at a certain amount of births. I'm sure they'd go for free! That might not make you comfortable going with your old OB, but it would work with the midwife, mayb?

[CarolynnMarilynn]

In Ontario, midwives are free for residents.

[treemom2]

Really, doulas are thousands of dollars in Canada? Maybe I should move there In Utah and North Carolina they tend to run about $300 per birth. In fact, the most I've heard of them charging is $700 and that is only in the more expensive states.

Like a pp said, if you can find one who is not quite certified and needs the births to help with certification they will usually have reduced or free fees. Also, most doulas I know will work with you depending on your financial situation--have a sliding scale.

[grneyes328]

Originally Posted by juliaaaah

Maybe you could find a doula who isn't quite certified yet, but needs to be at a certain amount of births. I'm sure they'd go for free!

this is exactly what I'm doing, and I'm really looking forward to it. Plus, she is a LLL leader too, along with being a doula in training, so I'm sure to get some good help starting to breastfeed.