Birth Doulas
Helping families feel empowered to make informed choices about their care in pregnancy, birth and parenthood. Providing physical and emotional support throughout labor, birth and the early postpartum hours.
Learn more about Doulas
Postpartum Doulas
Helping families make a smooth transition into parenthood by providing assistance with newborn care, breastfeeding support, household duties and emotional support in the postpartum period.
Other Types of Doulas
Supporting families through all of life's transitions with specialized care tailored to unique needs. From fertility journeys to loss and grief, these doulas provide compassionate guidance during some of life's most profound moments.
Hiring a Doula
You are welcome to contact any of the doulas directly to set up a complimentary consultation. It is never too early to contact a potential doula! Our schedules can fill up quickly, so if you feel a particular connection to someone, contact them soon to ensure their availability!
A doula consultation, is a good opportunity to ask any questions you might have about a doula's experiences, approach and philosophy. It is also a time to learn whether or not you feel that the two of you would be a good fit in working together.
Once you've decided which doula you'd like to hire, you can contact them directly. Most doulas have clients sign an agreement of services and pay a portion of their fee up front. In general, the remainder of the fee is due prior to services are rendered.
A Note About Doula Fees
Doula fees are set by each individual doula, team or agency. The average fee in the Rochester area for birth doulas is around $1,000 and $30-$35 for postpartum doulas. The bulk of these fees are formulated by the nature of what their services entail:
- Unlimited text, email & phone support throughout time of contract
- Prenatal and postpartum visits
- On call access to birth doulas 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from 38 weeks until baby is 1-2 weeks old
- Availability for continuous care throughout the entirety of your labor and birth regardless of whether or not it's a few hours or a few days
- Childcare costs, travel fees, administrative and business costs, etc.
- Level of experience and training
There is a misconception that newer doulas can offer their services for free. However, to create a sustainable work environment for themselves and their community, most new doulas establish a fee that provides them with a living wage.
If you are concerned about paying the fee for doula support services, please consider the following:
- What items could you sell, or could you host a garage sale, to cover the cost?
- Could you put doula support on your shower registry?
- Do you or your family members have any services that could be exchanged for a portion of the fee?
Some doulas do work with sliding scale fees or are able to exchange goods or services for their support. Some doulas state this and/or their fee on their individual websites. Please contact the doula you are interested in to inquire further.
Have More Questions?
We have a dedicated FAQ section with answers to many common questions.