The Economics of a Doula's Fee
The economics of professional labor support work are a mystery to many people. I offer this information so that you'll have a better idea of what you're paying for:
Hours - Couples having a first baby may imagine that I'll only be spending a few hours with them during the labor and birth. In reality, an eight-hour labor would be considered speedy; most first labors last longer than 16 hours; the longest continuous time I've spent providing labor support is 48 hours. Average time spent with a woman for her labor and birth is about 13 hours. I spend another 4 hours in prenatal and postpartum meetings, and another hour or two in phone calls and emails. A fee of $400 translates to an hourly rate of about $20/hour, before expenses and self-employment taxes.
Scheduling Clients At times, I may turn away potential parents to be available for you, as there is a large commitment made in time both before, during, and after birth. During that time I provide you with a way to contact me 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Any good doula respects this commitment. For these reasons a doula who is able to attend 2-3 births each month would be very lucky indeed. I will not go out of town (unless family emergency) and am available to you at all times. My family may need to take 2 cars when we go out. I must always have arrangements for my children and other responsibilities just in case.
Expenses - As a business I have professional expenses; phone, computer connection and website service, cell phone, brochures, business cards and advertising. In addition, I maintain a small library of books and videos for clients' use, and must invest in a variety of 'tools' to be used during labor. I also must account for the fees of certifications, affiliations, memberships and subscriptions.
No one becomes wealthy doing labor support work. Most independent doulas in the
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