https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 17 Apr 2026 16:25:11 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-was-your-doula#post-2376516 Thu, 03 Dec 2015 09:36:38 +0000 daniellemybelle 2376516@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: You never know who reads this and I would hate to upset anyone. My doula was/is a wonderful lady. I'm not Gold or I would wall you. If you want, you can wall me your email address, I can email you and then you can edit/delete it? :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-was-your-doula#post-2376313 Wed, 02 Dec 2015 22:59:38 +0000 SupernovaJ 2376313@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also want to add that our doula serves the NJ/NY area and while her hospital rate is ~$750 as part of the hospital-based holistic program (meaning you deliver at the hospital where she is an employee), she also takes independent clients from other surrounding areas and for this, her rate is more. She is highly skilled and experienced having attended nearly 250 births if not more. Her rate as an independent doula is in the neighborhood of $1200 (as of 2014 when I delivered). I personally wouldn't pay much more than this as you can definitely find some highly skilled and experienced doulas in this range! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-was-your-doula#post-2376173 Wed, 02 Dec 2015 20:14:41 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2376173@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: why would you skip a doula in hindsight? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-was-your-doula#post-2376153 Wed, 02 Dec 2015 19:46:44 +0000 daniellemybelle 2376153@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Funny to see my super old thread bumped!</p> <p>This is such a personal thing but honestly I think I could have done without our doula. We did up paying on the high end. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-was-your-doula#post-2376091 Wed, 02 Dec 2015 18:37:06 +0000 SupernovaJ 2376091@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our doula was $750 via the hospital option but she can go up to $1200 for the extra bells and whistles. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-was-your-doula#post-2375126 Wed, 02 Dec 2015 05:02:50 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2375126@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are interviewing doulas from two different co-ops. One stated their price on-line by experience. We chose the unior doula level with 11-50 births; the rate is $850. The other co-op ranges from $500-$1,200, but I doubt we will choose a doula with a rate more than $900.</p> <p>@raintreebee: I read a bunch of interview questions online for doulas and vaccinations didn't come up on any of the lists. However, I would prefer to have a vaccinated doula. Thanks for the reminder to inquire about their status. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-was-your-doula#post-1365893 Wed, 22 Jan 2014 03:14:15 +0000 raintreebee 1365893@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are paying $1500. We couldn't be choosy since very few doulas were willingly to get vaccinated. In NYC, the cheapest I found with experience (above 20 births) were $1000. Most that were recommended to me were highly experienced and above $2500!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-was-your-doula#post-1365843 Wed, 22 Jan 2014 00:57:39 +0000 Arden 1365843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SupernovaJ: I'm a doula. We rarely get tips (the fee is all-inclusive usually) but if a labor is incredibly long or we went above and beyond in some way (got vomited on, caught the baby in the back of the van on the way to the hospital...Ha!) then occasionally the client will give us a "bonus". It's never expected though, and it rarely happens. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-was-your-doula#post-1365840 Wed, 22 Jan 2014 00:45:13 +0000 SupernovaJ 1365840@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>bump bump.</p> <p>this might be the silliest question ever, but do you tip your doula? the hospital i'm delivering at offers a holistic birthing center and will put us in touch with their network of doulas. the price is $750. just wondering if there are any other fees commonly associated with doulas. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-was-your-doula#post-975945 Tue, 30 Jul 2013 14:07:09 +0000 daniellemybelle 975945@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: That's a good point. We definitely want an experienced doula, but what's most important to us is a good personality fit! We have met some really nice ladies but I am still looking for that "click." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-was-your-doula#post-975386 Tue, 30 Jul 2013 11:53:04 +0000 JoJoGirl 975386@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: Keep in mind the ones who do it full-time are going to charge more and have more experience. We talked to a cheaper doula who was 'doing it for experience before applying to nursing school to be a midwife'. That's awesome for you, but please point me in the direction of the one who has been doing this for 20 years and charges double, thanks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-was-your-doula#post-975382 Tue, 30 Jul 2013 11:50:59 +0000 daniellemybelle 975382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zippylef: Great article, thanks for sharing! I know doulas work hard for their fees and that the ones with higher fees have good reason to charge that much! I was just curious what the average was. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-was-your-doula#post-975127 Tue, 30 Jul 2013 10:44:36 +0000 loveisstrange 975127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I thought I'd post this to keep the higher price some doulas charge in perspective. </p> <p><a href="http://www.jodithedoula.com/2012/08/19/whats-in-a-fee/" rel="nofollow">http://www.jodithedoula.com/2012/08/19/whats-in-a-fee/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-was-your-doula#post-975018 Tue, 30 Jul 2013 10:16:09 +0000 cmomma17 975018@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: $500 and worth every penny (and I think she raised her rates after our birth).<br /> Certified, tons of experience. 2 pre-natal appointments, 1 post-natal (plus brought us food), the birth itself, loaned us books and a birth ball, took photos of the birth (amazing), unlimited phone calls and emails.<br /> Couldn't have done it without her!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-was-your-doula#post-974989 Tue, 30 Jul 2013 10:11:27 +0000 daniellemybelle 974989@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow, the majority are $1000+! That definitely puts it in perspective for me.</p> <p>I love hearing how happy all of you were with your doulas. It reassures me that we're doing the right thing by hiring one. We just need to keep looking to make sure we find the best doula for us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-was-your-doula#post-974263 Mon, 29 Jul 2013 23:26:43 +0000 Mrs. Twine 974263@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ours was $800. Even though we ended up birthing in the hospital it was totally worth it. She was there for all of early labor, provided support at the hospital prior to the c-section, and did several follow-up visits which were so helpful when my emotions were feeling raw still. She even brought a thoughtful gift! My experience would have been much poorer without her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-was-your-doula#post-974259 Mon, 29 Jul 2013 23:19:59 +0000 Corduroy 974259@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>$1000, half when we hired her at 7 months and half at 9 months(ish). Her fee was "a sliding scale between $800 and $1500." We almost didn't hire her because we had no idea what to pay her based on that info. We're living comfortably but she lives in a more expensive area. I still don't know which side of the scale she would have put us on.</p> <p>We finally decided to offer her what we had expected to pay a doula, $1k. We couldn't justify paying more since there was a chance we could end up with a scheduled C-section she couldn't attend or she could have been stuck in traffic or something. Plus, even though I checked her references she was just somebody I found on Craigslist. She seemed trustworthy but what if she disappeared? The fee included 3 pre-natal meetings (two with massage), up to 18 hours of labor, and a postpartum visit.</p> <p>She ended up spending 47 hours with me while I was in labor. She was fantastic the whole time. I have no idea how she kept going and kept me going. We ended up tipping her (if that's the right word) $500. She wasn't expecting it at all but she definitely earned it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-was-your-doula#post-974024 Mon, 29 Jul 2013 20:37:43 +0000 mrskc 974024@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>$500. It included a few sessions before the birth where we went over my birth plan, child birth lessons and coping techniques. She also came for a follow up visit postpartum and is available as much as needed the first year for breastfeeding help. She was worth every penny! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-was-your-doula#post-973998 Mon, 29 Jul 2013 20:24:41 +0000 JoJoGirl 973998@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It depends a LOT on geography! In the Boston area they range from $800 for a less experienced doula to around $1500. Ours had a sliding scale of $1050-$1250 and she was PHENOMENAL. She's attended over 160 births and does this full-time; she was by far the most experienced one we spoke to (including the one charging $1500). I'm obsessed with her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-was-your-doula#post-973964 Mon, 29 Jul 2013 20:10:29 +0000 Mrs. Pen 973964@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjazz: ooooh right- I do remember that! I remember I was excited we were both going to a birth center.. Then we both ended up with emergency transfers- too ironic! And our babies are just two months apart!</p> <p>Your doula sounds incredible! What a blessing you found her :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-was-your-doula#post-973962 Mon, 29 Jul 2013 20:09:13 +0000 birdofafeather 973962@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>ours was $800, but we paid upfront and got a discount so we paid $720. she was worth it for sure! we had a couple pre-birth meetings to go over any questions we would have. i had a VERY quick labor so she was only there for about 2.5 hours before our daughter was born, but she was integral to getting the natural birth i wanted! she also picked us up pizza after i gave birth and it was awesome. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-was-your-doula#post-973959 Mon, 29 Jul 2013 20:07:33 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 973959@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ours typically charges $850 (for 3-5 prenatal appointments, the birth, and follow up appointments), but because she's a family friend, she's giving us a great deal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-was-your-doula#post-973957 Mon, 29 Jul 2013 20:06:20 +0000 maybebaby 973957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had a student doula who was completing her certification. $250. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-was-your-doula#post-973953 Mon, 29 Jul 2013 20:05:32 +0000 BSB 973953@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@aprk: @mrsjazz: Ah, good to know. Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-was-your-doula#post-973884 Mon, 29 Jul 2013 19:35:52 +0000 Boheme 973884@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>$0 - My doula needed another birth to finish her DONA certification. She was amazing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-was-your-doula#post-973865 Mon, 29 Jul 2013 19:29:27 +0000 blackbird 973865@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>$400, including two prenatal visits and a post natal. My epidural didn't help the sciatic nerve pain-she did a lot of massage!! Held a leg, etc. I felt calmer with her there and she explained stuff to me as it was happening. I got to 9cm on pitocin before I got my epidural so she was very helpful </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-was-your-doula#post-973856 Mon, 29 Jul 2013 19:25:06 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 973856@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>$800 and worth every penny!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-was-your-doula#post-973768 Mon, 29 Jul 2013 18:44:27 +0000 mrsjazz 973768@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pen: Yes, though I hadn't planned on it. We were going to birth at a birth center but ended up transferring to the hospital because of meconium. I needed her even more at the hospital! They had me hooked up to a monitor in a small triage room for 5 hours and I had to pee every 15 minutes and the nurses barely checked on me. She knew how to unhook the machines and put them back on. She snuck me vitamin water, massaged me, and just helped me keep it together. I love her!</p> <p>@bluestriped bee: With our doula, we paid half the money up front when we booked her and the other half a couple of weeks before our due date. We didn't tip her, though we did end up hiring her for more services postpartum. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-was-your-doula#post-973763 Mon, 29 Jul 2013 18:43:01 +0000 aprk 973763@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: we paid our doula half when we signed the contract and half at 38 weeks. No tip, all inclusive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-was-your-doula#post-973749 Mon, 29 Jul 2013 18:37:10 +0000 Mrs. Pen 973749@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjazz: that sound amazing! Did you birth in a hospital? </p>