How I set my fees...

Many couples wonder why birth doulas charge what they do! With such a large range in fees, here are some things to consider:

Doulas are on call for four weeks, two on either side of your due date. If your doula has children, this often means that her partner is on call too, to ensure someone is able to be with the kids! When doulas are on call, their whole life is adjusted to ensure they are available when their clients go into labour.

Doulas spend anywhere from 5 to 30 hours providing support during a birth. It is impossible to know how long a birth will be, but when prenatal visits and postpartum follow up are included, many doulas will spend at least 20 hours and upwards of 40 hours supporting a family!

During a birth, it is not uncommon for a doula to spend hours on end on her feet, providing hands-on support such as massage without a break! It is this continuous support that doulas are well known for, and for which they are so valuable a service during a long labour.

Doulas' fees often vary depending on experience, education and certification. Another factor might be her related skills - does she also offer prenatal education or breastfeeding support? These skills will be present in her doula support making her a very valuable resource during birth and in the weeks following.

Professional Birth & Postpartum Doula Support

As your doula, I am your personal support, helping you to navigate your intimate journey through pregnancy, birth and new parenthood.

Get to know me better here , and call for a free interview to further discuss my services. I am available to work with families in Nanaimo, Parksville, Errington, Qualicum, Ladysmith, Chemainus and Duncan.

Below is a brief description of the support I provide, the packages available, and the associated fees. If my fees create a hardship financially, I actively accept a sliding scale- please contact me to discuss your options.

Birth Doula Support

What’s included:

2 prenatal meetings of 1-2 hours each
24/7 on call availability 2 weeks either side of your due date
full labour and birth support from the time you call me until 1 hour after your baby is born
2 follow up postpartum visits, of 1-2 hours each
6 weeks of phone availability for questions/concern

Costs for Birth Doula Support:

My standard fee is $700
If you require additional support prenatally, my hourly rate is $20.
If my fees put doula support out of reach for you, please contact me to discuss my sliding scale rates.

Postpartum Support

What’s included:

2 prenatal meetings of 1-2 hours each
either hourly support or a “package” of support
phone availability for questions and concerns
“on-call” to begin support anytime once your baby is born
assistance with: breastfeeding, older siblings, light housework, meal planning and preparation, information related to new parenthood, accompaniment on errands/appointments etc.

Costs for Postpartum Support:

Nanaimo area is $20/hour, min. 2 hours/visit.
Packages of 20 hours for $400 or 40 hours for $800.
South of Ladysmith or north of Parksville is $25/hour, min. 3 hours/visit.

Breastfeeding Counselling

If you are seeking support with breastfeeding, I offer this within my doula support, or as a stand alone option. Most often I come to your home for breastfeeding support.
Costs: $20/hour

Combined Package of Birth & Postpartum support:

Includes: Full birth package as mentioned above plus 20 hours postpartum support
Costs: $1000