How much is a doula?

[AnnaK]

We live a long way from family and have a lovely little boy who is desperately clingly (19 months). I am due to have a 2nd in April, and if it is during the day and when ds goes to nursery, fine and if it is at night, then also fine because a neighbour could probably come and spend the night, except maybe at weekends because they go away. The upshot of all this is that I am quite likely to have to labour alone this time and while everything went like a textbook last time, that doesn't mean it will again and I am a little scared of being in a situation with noone to speak up for me.
I am considering a doula... Any advice gratefully received. Many thanks.

AnnaK, there is a great website here

I had a doula for the birth of my ds, for pretty much the same reasons as you...she was fantastic. Whereabouts are you? Would recommend her if you're in London...

Sorry cant help you with a professional doula, but i was going to have to labour alone, until i approached the Nct (not my branch, but one near to the hospital i was booked into). One of the counsellors agreed to meet me at the hospital and she was really supportive, couldn't have been nicer.
Dh took me to the hosp and then went to look after our dd.She didnt ask for a fee ,so i gave a contribution to the nct of £70(9 years ago).
Hope this helps.

I had a fantastic doula who's based in Tunbridge Wells & I'd thoroughly recommend her. She charged £500 and that included 2 antenatal visits (lasting over 2 hrs each), lots of phone calls & emails, the labour & birth (4.30am - 2.30pm when i was on the postnatal ward all cleaned up & settled) and 2 postnatal visits. I also had her help postnatally as well. If you're in Kent, CAT me & I'll send you her details.

Many, many thanks. I am actually based in Birmingham (should have mentioned that before!) but contacting the NCT sounds like a good idea.

Another thing to consider is taking on a doula that is a trainee. I think that for births they need to have experience with two women before becoming 'recognised'. As a trainee they only charge expenses.
As the most important thing is that they are on your wavelenth and you feel comfortable with them I can't see that it matters whether they are recognised or not, they just have to be someone you are happy to have around. Most husband/partners are not experienced birth partners after all.

Anna
I had one for my second birth and can't recommend it enough. It was a VBAC after a horrible first time c-section and I think what she did was help me not to panic at the beginning so that when it really got bad, I was still OK. She's gone to Oz now, but I paid her £300. I ended up with a forceps delivery and stitches to my armpits (nice!) but you know, the next day I was saying to DH, 'Well, that wasn't too bad, was it?' He almost fell over.
And I am NOT brave. I think I just somehow managed not be really really frightened this time.
Best of luck. I really recommend it.