Is hiring a doula a rip off?

[Whyisthissohard96]

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.

I trained to be a doula but didn't practise as life kind of overtook me, but the further I am from that experience the more I realise just how unregulated it is. The problem is you have a lot of women who are very well-meaning, and some who are absolutely in it for the ego trip. Of course they rise to the top quickly and at the time/place I'm talking about, there was a doula on all the committees who was really quite scary in terms of her personality. There was almost a cult of personality. It is a difficult topic: you can absolutely aim for the calmest birth possible, but if a woman needs a section, or ends up choosing a section, then that is extremely valid and a new mother will always need support regardless. You would think these uber-doulas had never actually had empathy for women, the way they went on about it.
I actually got pregnant with twins and the local doula trainer offered to be my doula. She was lovely, if a little distant, but when I had a miscarriage, I literally never heard from her again. It was a long time ago now but I think how much a kind word could have made a difference. I think she just wanted to be at a twin birth tbh.
Anyway, I don't think it's a rip-off, but do check if your doula is going to ditch you if you end up needing a section. Some of them are that self-absorbed.