In the last few months I have noticed quite a lot of advertisements for Doulas in my local area.
I have an 8 month old daughter and whilst I was pregnant I was aware they existed, but thought they were just something celebrities got. I don’t live in a particularly affluent area. I am always out and about at pram walks and baby groups and none of the mums I have ever spoken to hired one either. I would think you would have to be really quite wealthy to consider getting one, or really nervous of birth and postpartum?
I was looking at a website and she charges £2k for the birth alone, obviously she would have to be on call for weeks, it could be a very long labour, and then I think some time postpartum was given to help establish breastfeeding. Any further sessions postpartum are an additional fee (obviously this is just one website, other Doulas could be priced totally differently). What happens if she has 2 clients giving birth at the same time?
My daughter was premature due to restricted growth, I had a c section so never experienced labour, if had paid for a doula I don’t think I would have got my money’s worth.
Has anyone had a doula? Are they worth the cost?
Not slagging off Doulas or anyone who has used them, just genuinely interested.