Employing a Doula

If you decide that you may need some extra help during your labour or afterwards, it is worth arranging to meet with a few doulas before the big day. Have a cuppa with them and see how well you get on. Ask as many questions as you like about their experience, the sort of help they are able to offer, what they cannot offer and so on. It is so important to be comfortable with the person who is going to be supporting you during this exciting, exhausting and challenging time. Most doulas charge a flat fee for supporting you during labour and birth usually somewhere in the region of £300 - £500. This will include several ante-natal visits, being on-call for two weeks either side of your due date and at least one post-natal visit. Post natal doula's usually charge by the hour. You can expect to pay between £10 and £20 per hour. Trainee doula's are expected to keep their charges at the lower end of the scale and some doula's will only charge for their expenses. Many doula's will operate a sliding pay scale in order to be as inclusive as possible.