How much does having a Doula cost?

[amme]

Hi Everyone,
I'm just wondering how much does having a Doula cost (sorry if this has already been discussed somewhere else)?
I like the idea but i am in tassie so i dont know if there are any down here!
Can anyone help me out?

[JanetF]

From my experience it usually costs about $200-$400 depending on her experience but there is no set fee. Most take installments and you get a whole lot for your money! Students are normally free so that's an option too. They are absolutely essential if you're birthing in a hospital. Check out the bubhub resources links for doulas in Tassie. There are also some national doula sites with listings. If you don't find one, let me know and I'll check out my extensive birth contacts. The birth group I run is about to start IRL meetings in Hobart so we have lots of women who might be able to offer you help.
:)

[amme]

Thanks Janet!
Your always so much help and you always offer quality advise :)
I thought it would have been so much more than that for such an essential service, i am really amazed.
I'm not even PG yet so i have no real rush to find one as yet, but when i am i will definatley looking for someone.
Can i ask what IRL meetings are?
Thanks again.

[JanetF]

Very kind of you :) IRL = In Real Life as opposed to online :)

[mummy2pj&bood]

The doulas asutralia website says something about $800 as a standard fee, with about 4-6 appts (I forget now) and the delivery. It can be adjusted to suit what you need tho, I think you'll find most doulas happy to work with what you want and how much $$ you have, thats been my experience so far anyway.

Ali

[DoulaFelicity]

There's no standardisation of Doula fees at the moment (something which was a hot topic at our recent National Doula conference - we're working towards it :rolleyes: ), so it's hard to pinpoint a figure. It really depends on the Doula in question, the specific skills she brings, the costs she will incur through being your Doula, the time she puts in, her reference library and birth aides that she can make available to you...there are so many different reasons why different Doulas charge different fees.

As a straightforward figure, I'd say anywhere between $800 - $1,200 seems to currently be the norm (though, as Janet said, there are Doulas who charge less. There are even Doulas who charge more!). Doulas are worth every penny. But - the work is done for passion, and I would feel confident in saying that there is no Doula on Earth who is unwilling to negotiate. Basically, at the end of the day, you will end up paying no more than you can afford. (I know of one Doula who accepted her payment in carrots! :D ) There are sliding scales...there is negotiation...and every Doula will do some free work, where it is needed, where she can.

It's a matter of first finding a Doula that you click with and that you want at your birth. Then, talk fee. You can't really put a price on a positive birthing experience, which a Doula will help occur. Nor should women be deprived of Doulas because they can't afford them.

Blessings,