Seems like I come on here in spurts but I have another question.
Doula mania is starting in the Dominican Republic, we are closer than ever to getting Midwives accepted. Word has gotten out about "Midwives for the Dominican Republic" (my organization) and "Doulas Dominicanas" (which I am a part of even though I'm not Dominican hehe).
About 2 weeks ago I was part of a wonderful homebirth here in Santiago with a wonderful physician. He was quite hands off as he was not sure what was expected from him and let me do my "thang".
Anyway, my question is...now I get several emails a week from pregnant women here that want me to be with them during their labor and birth. They want a doula or midwife, and they want someone in the hospital with them to be their advocate and explain to them whats going on, especially expats. The hospitals are mostly now allowing us doulas in with our clients. I have the woman ask the doctor about it prenatally to feel them out, to see whether they are accepting or against it.
Anyway, the homebirth I "attended" was a friend and so I did not charge her but of course, in the US and everywhere else, Doulas and Midwives charge.
I have no idea what to charge people. I would like to know, for the women, what would you feel comfortable paying here in the DR for a doula during your labor and birth? And for the men, what would you think is fair to have someone with your wife during that time.
I would see the client 2 or 3 times prenatally just to go over how they want their birth, what they expect from me, how their doctor is, etc. I usually go to the client at THEIR convenience during the labor, for some women that's really late in the labor, for some its really early. I stay with the client during the whole labor (unless I get there and they are only like 2cm) and for 2 hours after the birth of the baby to help with breastfeeding, assisting the mom in washing up, making sure the bleeding is under control, etc.
Since most are hospital births, most clients do not want to go to the hospital until the last minute. Therefore, being a L&D RN and Midwifery student is an asset because I can check the client and let her know how dilated she is whereas regular doulas can't do that. Also, I can check Fetal Heart rate, and do different clinical things that the average doula cannot do. Then the client can go to the hospital when she's 8 or 9 cm and her risk of being talked or pressured into a C-section is much lower (C-sections for babies whose heads are already engaged and in the pelvis are much harder than C-sections for babies floating around in the uterus during early labor).
Of course, there's more involved but that's the jist of it. I'm just at my wits end trying to think of what to charge and I'm getting more and more requests. In the US, a doula package is usually $800-$1,500. I have no idea what to charge here. Also, once I think what a regular doula would charge, then I need to add just a smidge for the extra clinical skills that I bring to the table. This is excellent for women who want to go to the hospital "at the last minute", they don't have to guess about when the time is right, and they have a clinically experienced nurse with them in their home who can keep track of their labor and also who can recognize and identify deviations from the normal and know if its necessary to get to the hospital a little earlier.
I have no idea. If anyone has any suggestions for DR doula pricing...please let me know. I don't want to make it financially a burden for any woman but I also don't want to low ball myself as it is very hard work.
Thanks again,
SHALENA
Doula mania is starting in the Dominican Republic, we are closer than ever to getting Midwives accepted. Word has gotten out about "Midwives for the Dominican Republic" (my organization) and "Doulas Dominicanas" (which I am a part of even though I'm not Dominican hehe).
About 2 weeks ago I was part of a wonderful homebirth here in Santiago with a wonderful physician. He was quite hands off as he was not sure what was expected from him and let me do my "thang".
Anyway, my question is...now I get several emails a week from pregnant women here that want me to be with them during their labor and birth. They want a doula or midwife, and they want someone in the hospital with them to be their advocate and explain to them whats going on, especially expats. The hospitals are mostly now allowing us doulas in with our clients. I have the woman ask the doctor about it prenatally to feel them out, to see whether they are accepting or against it.
Anyway, the homebirth I "attended" was a friend and so I did not charge her but of course, in the US and everywhere else, Doulas and Midwives charge.
I have no idea what to charge people. I would like to know, for the women, what would you feel comfortable paying here in the DR for a doula during your labor and birth? And for the men, what would you think is fair to have someone with your wife during that time.
I would see the client 2 or 3 times prenatally just to go over how they want their birth, what they expect from me, how their doctor is, etc. I usually go to the client at THEIR convenience during the labor, for some women that's really late in the labor, for some its really early. I stay with the client during the whole labor (unless I get there and they are only like 2cm) and for 2 hours after the birth of the baby to help with breastfeeding, assisting the mom in washing up, making sure the bleeding is under control, etc.
Since most are hospital births, most clients do not want to go to the hospital until the last minute. Therefore, being a L&D RN and Midwifery student is an asset because I can check the client and let her know how dilated she is whereas regular doulas can't do that. Also, I can check Fetal Heart rate, and do different clinical things that the average doula cannot do. Then the client can go to the hospital when she's 8 or 9 cm and her risk of being talked or pressured into a C-section is much lower (C-sections for babies whose heads are already engaged and in the pelvis are much harder than C-sections for babies floating around in the uterus during early labor).
Of course, there's more involved but that's the jist of it. I'm just at my wits end trying to think of what to charge and I'm getting more and more requests. In the US, a doula package is usually $800-$1,500. I have no idea what to charge here. Also, once I think what a regular doula would charge, then I need to add just a smidge for the extra clinical skills that I bring to the table. This is excellent for women who want to go to the hospital "at the last minute", they don't have to guess about when the time is right, and they have a clinically experienced nurse with them in their home who can keep track of their labor and also who can recognize and identify deviations from the normal and know if its necessary to get to the hospital a little earlier.
I have no idea. If anyone has any suggestions for DR doula pricing...please let me know. I don't want to make it financially a burden for any woman but I also don't want to low ball myself as it is very hard work.
Thanks again,
SHALENA