Some doulas work fulltime, with 9 to 5 shifts. Others work three to five hour shifts during the day, or after school shifts until Dad gets home. Some doulas work evenings from around 6 pm until bedtime, 9 or 10 pm., and some work overnight. Some doulas work every day, some work one or more shifts per week.

I prefer bulleted lists of things that are provided (emotional and physical support, books and resources, discussion of options, timeline or birth story) and things that are not part of doula services (medical tasks such as blood pressure or vaginal exams, speaking for the woman, decision-making).

If you've never had a baby, you may be worried about your ability to understand the needs of the birthing or postpartum woman. Sure, going through labor and delivery will add an extra level of empathy. However, it's absolutely not necessary to be a mother in order to be a doula.

The doula is a professional trained in childbirth who provides emotional, physical, and educational support to a mother who is expecting, is experiencing labor, or has recently given birth. Their purpose is to help women have a safe, memorable, and empowering birthing experience.

Postpartum Doulas in smaller towns will charge between $25-$35 per hour depending on your clientele. Per year, this would be about $48,000-$72,800.

The Doula profession is a great fit for those seeking a career that would allow them to earn a living wage, and also stay at home with their children, or homeschool their children while working. Doula work is flexible, although the hours are often on-call, you can set your own schedule and work independently.

Basic Package fee- $825 which includes 2 prenatal visits, support throughout labor, birth and the first few hours postpartum, and two postpartum visits/calls; one a few days after birth and a phone call or visit/ massage a few weeks postpartum.

Demand for doulas is high, particularly since the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that every birthing woman should have a doula. Doulas have a special skill set and invest a lot of time into each of their clients.

Expectant mothers matched with a doula had better birth outcomes. Doula-assisted mothers were four times less likely to have a low birth weight (LBW) baby, two times less likely to experience a birth complication involving themselves or their baby, and significantly more likely to initiate breastfeeding.