What's a Doula usually cost?

[*~*SewHappyNow*~*]

Curious as to how a Doula would structure their fees in regards to the different services they provide. I would imagine most insurances do not cover doulas. I'm mainly interested in Birth Doulas.

[KeysMama]

Originally posted by Lea
Curious as to how a Doula would structure their fees in regards to the different services they provide. I would imagine most insurances do not cover doulas. I'm mainly interested in Birth Doulas.
Some insurance companies do. Some doulas work on a sliding scale for what you can afford. Some do some pro-bono or volunteer work ( especially some that are just starting out) and some like me work on a flat fee. $350. I give so much time to my clients, it usually ends up being about $5 per hour...I do some childbirth prep with them at their home, 2 prenatal visits, lots of phone calls, loaning books and tapes, open phone line for questions, and the whole labor and at least 2 pp visits with breastfeeding help.
Shop around, check the local childbirth teachers, nursing schools, midwifery schools, and doula groups . Also your Midwife and occasional OB offices keep info handy. My Pediatrician gives out my card so check with Ped offices too.

[HeatherE]

Here in northern Va, doulas are charging around $800. But the cost of living is high here so that's why it's so steep. you can get doulas who need their 3 recomendations for certification at a cheaper cost usually (i'm doing it for free until I'm certified. ) That's a nice way for the parents to save money and for the doula to gain experience. Good luck! Warmly, HeatherE

[Helix]

my insurance wuldnt pay so it was $400.

[jjdoula]

My standard fee is $300, of which $100 is the retainer fee, for me to hold their due period ( two weeks before and after their due date) open for them, then $200 payable when we do our post partum visit 1-2 weeks after the birth.

Some people ( doulas ;) ) question the retainer fee..we have had a lot of debate at times in our doula community in Colorado. but I have had too many situations where I have done a couple of prenatal visits, lots of phone support for questions, so on,,then the last minute had the client schedule a c-section ( not their fault, but I really spent a lot of time on them!) or opt not to have a doula because their friend would be there,,or something like that. My time and knowledge is valuable...it is totally fair for me to value it myself and expect to be compensated!

BUT my fee,,it is soo flexible. My most recent client to deliver paid my daycare expenses as a retainer fee, then will be tutoring my daughter in math ( she is a math teacher)....I have a client due in February who is paying part of my fee and crocheting me a couple amazing afghans..I am trying to "woo" a potential client right now who gives private voice lessons,,I would love to trade that!

A lot of doulas will trade..look around.

[gurumama]

my doula charged $400 for one prenatal, all phone calls/questions, the birth, and a postpartum visit. But we also took a private childbirth refresher course from her (4 hours for $75) and she was our pp doula ($20 an hour, 3 hour per day minimum). We live near Boston, so the cost of living is fairly high here.

The doula services weren't covered by insurance, BUT the pp doula services were submissible for dependent care spending accounts (pre-tax accounts) through my employer, as she was providing "child care". Cool!

mel

[somemama]

Depends on where you live, I guess. I paid $200 for mine this year.