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Compesation for homebirth sitter?

544 views 9 replies 7 participants last post by  srlpenny 
#1 ·
Through most of my pregnancy I had planned for my kids to go to a friend's house when labor starts- however my friend has recently developed some personal issues, and that isn't such a good option anymore. So through my local mom's group I met a woman who wants to become a doula who is willing to come to my home to baby sit my 7 and 2 year old kids during the birth. I like that the kids will be nearby- and dd wants to be present for the birth. She has very generously offered to do it for "whatever I can afford" - which is wonderful of her, but I have no clue how to figure out what is fair to pay her for this.

Any experience or ideas here? Should I just come up with a number ahead of time or base it on whether its a long or short labor she's here for? This seems like such a strange question to figure out. I looked at hiring an actual doula at one point, but couldn't afford those fees on top of paying our midwives.

Thoughts? Advice?

Thanks,
 
#2 ·
I was going to pay between $100-$200. I couldn't find anyone willing to come sit my only child during the HB of the second. If it's a really long labor, I might pay more. I would generally not pay so much, but seriously, it's not like I could get away with paying a regular sitter and I needed the flexibility to happily labor not worrying about my kid.

Liz
 
#7 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by tygrss View Post
How do you even go about finding a sitter for a homebirth? I'm really interested in this.
I got very lucky to be honest- I belong to a local yahoo group for like minded mamas- basically people who would fit in at MDC (many are members here too). Anyway, I posted to the group a few months ago that I was debating hiring a doula or like minded person to be with the kids during birth, and this lady responded. She would like to someday be a doula, so feels drawn to do this.

If you have any resources to contact like minded women, LLL meetings, or such, you may be able to find someone in a similar situation- interested in birthing. Good luck!
 
#8 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by JamieCatheryn View Post
I hired a good friend, a teen girl, to watch DS, paid her $120, figuring that was some moneay for being on call all month then about min wage hourly while she actually was here.

That sounds like a reasonable way to figure out how much.... Thanks. And it is in line with around what others are saying.
 
#9 ·
I tried networking through my local LLL and letting everyone know (aside from family I didn't want there) what I was looking for, but no dice. My HB MW has a great net list/forum and maybe yours might too, where other HB mamas might know someone or be willing to watch the kids for you.

Liz
 
#10 ·
We had a "childcare doula" for our last birth and she had a sliding scale, we paid her $300 I'm pretty sure.
That included being on call for ONLY us the 2 weeks before and after my EDD, 2 prenantal visits with my kids with me there, and one 2 hour visit for which I HAD to leave, that way my kids really knew her when it came time for the birth.
She was amazing and worth every penny.
 
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