Going rate for a birth doula in London?

[RunningGuerita]

I've just started enquiring about hiring a birth doula. The first person who got back to me quoted £750 for the birth package. I must admit I had thought the going rate was around £500 for central London. Of course we don't want to choose based on price so I would be grateful if someone could set me straight if my expectations of £500 were unrealistic....

Thanks, Gx

Think people have been slightly rude to Luciemule. She was only giving her opinion on a price which she thought wasn't fair, not commenting on a particular person. I agree with her, if I had the choice between paying £750 and say £450 for the same thing know what I would do.

RG - London doulas can even charge up to £1000. It is down to various factors, not least demand and experience (some have been to over 100 births and may have other extra skills).... plenty of London doulas charge over £650 I would say so £500 is quite low in London... but indeed trainees charge less and they can be VERY good as they are often super keen!

If you have no success on doula.org.uk, try douladirectory.org.uk

Lucie -sorry but I agree- it is unprofessional to call a colleagues' rate a rip off when you know nothing of what the colleague offers and her level of experience and her costs - teachers and nurses in London earn more - is it a rip off?

Thanks to all. I was looking for people's opinions so that I could either adjust my budget or my expectations on level of experience, so thank you to all of you for giving me your opinion regarding varying level of fees.

We're meeting with several trainee/newly qualified doulas this week and next and we'll see how we get on.

Thanks again.

Good luck RunningGuerita! I wish you all the best in your search!

It's around £500 for a package in Oxford - 2 antenatal visits, 2 weeks on call, 2 postnatal visits.

I'm not a doula, just interviewing some at the moment

Hi,

just wanted to say that Doula UK have a restriction on their trainees to only charge upto £200 for the birth package and £10 per hour postnatally.

So it doesn't mean that a trainee has to charge this amount only if they are registered with Doula UK.

Like others have said a doula may have other skills which will reflect their price.

I've heard the prices can range from £200 - £1000.

I'm a trainee doula also trained by Nurturing birth.

Evening. Don't want to put another spanner in the works, but I'm free around that time and cover London. I'm still officially a trainee Doula, charging £200 all-in. You can view my profile on Doula org uk website. PM me if you like RunningGuerita if you haven't found someone already or just have questions.

Thanks DoulaKate, we've found someone and gone with a trainee as well to save some £.

Lucie,

Mumsnet is supposed to a place for all of us to express how we truly feel. Now I feel like professionals in the industry are policing how we communicate and that's an unsettling feeling! I would rather take your point of view and advice than not. Just wanted to let you know I appreciate your opinion and what you have to say. :)

Nixxole I think she's probably over it as it was 7 years ago

HAHA didn't see that...

Still, I'd be interested to know what the running rate is in London in 2017? :)

£800 to £1,000

Thanks - i had two quotes - 1500 and 1700 so I think it went up significantly now...

I had one for £1200 for a newly registered doula.

I'm actually really surprised, I thought they would be a lot more expensive!!

joining this thread a bit late but its interesting though, RunningGuerita how did it work out in the end.