Positive Body Mind and Baby Blog by BreeAnn Moore

Affording a Doula When You Don’t Have the Money

4/15/2016

Doulas have fees that can range anywhere from about $350 - $1,200, depending on location, training/experience, and cost of living in your area. That can be a stretch for some budgets, especially right before adding a baby (or two!) to the family. If you want a doula, and you find one you like and who feels right for you, the cost is actually a small hurdle to get over. Here are some ways you can choose to make this investment in yourself, your birth and your baby happen:

Ask about a payment plan. Breaking up the cost into smaller, more manageable monthly payments is a win for everyone.
Consider using a credit card. This might be a good option for you if you feel VERY strongly about having a doula and absolutely NO other options. Follow your intuition. Do what it takes. Consider this as a last resort, but do consider it, maybe for only part of the fee. If this is a route you want to take, Paypal credit comes with 6 months of no interest and most people can qualify. Keep reading for other ideas that don't involve going into debt.
Ask if she would consider a sliding scale. A sliding scale is where you pay what you can honestly afford. Note: doulas who do this rely on other clients who can afford the full fee to make up the difference so they can serve women who are truly in need.
Offer something in trade for part of her fee. I’ve traded haircuts, energy healing, massage, business mentoring and marketing, handmade clothing and childcare for my services as a doula. Other ideas are house cleaning, web or graphic design, lawn care, gift cards, etc.
Buy baby items second-hand. Thrift stores (like Savers and Kid-to-Kid) are often great places to find gently used baby clothing, furniture, and other items, even maternity clothes and nursing bras! Also check craigslist and KSL.com classifieds. Buy a pack n’ play instead of a crib – costs half as much, AND it’s so easy to take with you when you travel! You name it, you can find it used, and it will STILL last through several kids. The one item I suggest getting new is a car seat. Car seats expire after 5 years, and if they’ve been in an accident they should be gotten rid of. Avoid getting these used if you can help it. Another tip for baby clothes: your older siblings or in-laws who have kids might not be using their baby clothes if they have older children. Ask if you can put them to use so they don’t have to store them! Or ask good neighbors, friends, and fellow church congregation members if they have baby clothes they are willing to give away or sell to you at a low cost. Same goes for other baby items. Where there is a will, there is a way, and this from a person who has been there, done that. My first home birth was made financially possible by getting things secondhand from amazing people in my neighborhood, church, and family.
Ask for friends and family to pitch in for part or all of your doula’s fee instead of other baby shower gifts. Do you really need a wipes warmer? Or eight packages of size one diapers? More baby clothes. Most likely not (especially if you get most things secondhand). If you feel very strongly that a doula would benefit you at your birth, do what it takes to make it happen. You’ll be so glad you did!
Sell items in your home in good condition that you no longer want or need. There’s a local resource for this! Search Utah Birth Services Yard Sale Group on Facebook, or type this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/556731837798994/
Work from home or pick up a few extra hours at work. What can you do to make a few extra dollars? Can you recycle aluminum cans? Can you clip coupons? Can you eat out less? How about joining a reputable company in selling a valuable product like doTerra essential oils, Norwex cleaning supplies, or Usborne books? Help others and make a little extra money to afford your amazing doula!

A note on doulas in training: there’s a wide-spread belief that a doula in training (meaning one who still needs to attend a few births to certify with a doula training organization) is the way to go because hey, they’re free, right?

Now days, most doulas in training do not offer their services for free. Some will offer them for a reduced cost or are more willing to trade. Realize this: the service they are providing is incredibly time consuming and valuable. If they value themselves, they will most likely ask for a fee, even a small one. And believe me, you want someone attending you in birth who is confident enough in their abilities to ask for compensation. This isn’t about entitlement, it’s about the value of a service being offered. Please respect that, and I promise, with the options mentioned above, you will be able to work with just about any doula to find an arrangement that works for you.

That said, there ARE doulas who will offer their services to low-income and in-need families for a reduced cost or free. If you are in a situation where you honestly can’t pay a doula anything, or could only afford a portion of her fee, then speak up! Talk to doulas in your area and be honest about your situation until you find one willing to support you in your desires. We are human people, we know that it can be hard sometimes, and we really want to help you. We’ll work to find something that benefits both of us, and everyone will be better for it.

Also realize that not everyone NEEDS a doula. If none of the above seems to be an option or paying for a doula doesn’t appeal to you, consider whether you really need one. If this is you, there is a lot you can still do to prepare, which is the topic of another blogpost I might write someday. But here are some tips: 1) Get a care provider (doctor or midwife) who supports YOU and the birth you desire to have. Don’t settle for anything less than someone who respects and listens to you. 2) Be sure your husband or boyfriend or anyone who will be in the room supporting you truly supports the kind of birth you’re planning to have and won’t change their minds in the middle of your birth. You deserve someone to support you fully! 3) Do your research, and DO take a childbirth education class! Learn everything you can about birth, and make sure your husband learns some ways he can support you and help you have the safe, positive birth experience you desire.