« The Cost of Free Doula Support »
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 8:13PM Living on-call is awesome, I wrote about loving being on-call here. I always want to do more births, it's in my bones, but there is a cost for free Doula support for sure.
I don't get many request for free Doula services, but I do get many requests for low-cost or reduced cost clients - and while I'd like to attend them all, I think it's important for potential clients (the mamas and papas) to put themselves in my shoes for a while before asking.
I am on-call for you, which means everything I do in my daily life is impacted by this. From long walks, to visiting friends or family out of town, or even just making sure my cell phone is charged 24/7. It is total devotion to live on-call, and that spills down on to those who support and are supported by the Doula - perhaps a partner, her "day job", pets and her children. When I am on-call for you, arrangements need to be made for all aspects of my life to be able to drop them on a dime, and join you. This includes holidays, camping trips, birthdays and anniversaries. It's a sacrifice that birth workers make, but the toll on the family cannot be denied.
When I am called away, I lose my wages from work in order to support you. It could be a short birth, or a long one. I spend money on travel costs to and from your home for prenatal and postpartum visits, plus costs of printing materials or loss of books due to damage or failure to return. Cell phone and internet bills need to be paid on time, and always be in service - as a Doula I cannot let bills slide. For many Doulas they need to pay for childcare while they are away at a birth, and/or lost wages for her partner or parent watching the children.
Doulas are spending money on your free birth to be able to support you.
And at the end of the day, this is our profession. Doulas are constantly working at making sure they are the best Doula possible, up to date on research, have birth support supplies and materials for loan, that we have back-up Doula(s) arranged who in a rare event (illness or family crisis) will also devote their lives to being on-call - sometimes the primary Doula has to pay to get a backup for a free birth and that we are in good working (health, emotionally, physically) to be able to serve you. We've carved a space for you in our lives that is essentially more important then anything in our own lives. It's a big commitment.
So before you ask a Doula if she'll attend your birth for free, or if she offers to do so, make sure you are looking at the entire picture on how it impacts the Doula everyday, emotionally and financially.
Most Doulas offer lovely payment plans, and can reduce a portion of their fee to on occasion. I like to say that finances should never be a hindrance to being supported in birth - but often I cannot afford to take free clients, because we won't have enough money to eat or pay rent. Many Doulas are open to bartering services (hello, massage therapists!), or an exchange of equal value in non-monetary ways.
And on a personal note, sadly I've had less than amazing experiences as a Doula offering my services for free compared to even a low-cost client. Clients are often distant, less likely to call in enough time to reach the woman in labour, or fail to call at all. As if they cannot see everything behind the scenes that goes into this free birth and don't fully value you, your profession or your gift! (While not always the case, it does happen way more frequently with free clients).
Be aware of who you are hiring for free, and what she is giving to you besides waiving her fees entirely to support you (which, on a whole I think Doulas are way underpaid for the amount of hours/work/schedule). If you aren't paying her in cash, find a way to show her that you value her and her time and gift. And when your finances change down the road, maybe think of a little gift in the mail, a card and gift card maybe - 90% chance says she'll use the gift card towards other Doula clients, in some capacity or another. Because that is how devoted we are.
One of the hardest, and most satisfying "jobs" in the world.
Reader Comments (6)
It is sad for womyn, who don't see that value themselves. We must somehow be blinded. I want to uncover this.
Great post.
There are not many professions full of men in which trained professionals are routinely asked to work for free - though my husband who is an artist and graphic designer does receive this same type of request. It must be the fallacy that if you are only spending your TIME on something, you can always give it away.
Lastly, I agree - something always gets exchanged. If it is not money, bartering or some type of gift, I often find that there is a weird energy exchange that I am not a fan of. I would truly rather receive a low-end stipend or a barter for doula services. It puts us on more equal footing so we can have a more positive relationship.
Such a thoughtful post.