Berkeley Parents Network: Affordable Doula

Berkeley Parents Network

Affordable Doula

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > Health & Medical > Affordable Doula

Good doulas in the 500 or less category?
Inexpensive Doula?
Can't afford a doula - alternatives?

Good doulas in the 500 or less category?

Sept 2006

Are there any good doulas out there who are closer to the $500 or less category? Or any SUPERB recommendations? baby coming!

Rachel Alkire is a trained doula, infant massage therapist and does acupressure bodywork. She is having a special rate (very low charge or no charge I can't remember which) for her doula clients who schedule regular acupressure sessions with her during their pregnancy - also low priced. Her email is: rachelalkire[at]hotmail.com or 510-684-8633 She is a great bodyworker - I recieved Tui Na (chinese massage) from her last week that was amazing Kari

I am a childbirth educator and there is a doula-in-training who is taking my class as part of her certification process. I have really enjoyed getting to know her and it sounds like she has been a great help at the births she has attended. I'm sure you could conatct some of her past clients for references. At this point, I believe she is not charging very much as she works on getting her certification. Her name is Moana Minton and can be reached at 510-866-6898 or moana.minton[at]gmail.com. Good Luck! Kim

Call Stacia Biltekoff at 510.543.8411, she was my doula and I recommend her highly. She met with my husband and I a few times before I went into labor and we felt completley at ease in her company. She has a very calming presence and an amazing ability to meet you where you are at during labor. My fondest memory of my labor is Stacia patiently following behind me as I walked in circles around my house pausing for each contraction with her hands surrouding my hips and back, supporting my whole being it seemed. She has an incredible gift and is extremely knowledgeable about labor, birth, and post-partum care. She is very skilled at getting the partner involved in supporting during labor and has a very good relationship with the drs and nurses at Alta Bates. Good Luck to You

Just wanted to also recommend Moana Minton for doula services. My son was her *first* birth as a doula, on April 10. I know she has done several since then. She was incredibly calming. I had more than one serious pre-existing health conditions that required me to be induced at 37 weeks, went through 3+ days of labor, then had a c-section due to infection... but the entire time, Moana was by our side, encouraging me and helping me make important decisions the entire time. I don't think she could have asked for a more intense first doula experience, but she held strong the entire time!! She did not ask for money, but we donated $300 because we were so grateful for her services. Moana.Minton[at]gmail.com - Email her! If you want more info, I would be happy to give it to you. betsy

Inexpensive Doula?

Aug 2005

I am due in early October & I just started looking for a doula. I know finding a good one is important, but I haven't found anyone I can afford. Can anyone recommend an inexpensive doula in or around Berkeley? Qualities I'd like in a doula: calming presence, able to suggest positions/help with pain, supportive of my husband and not just me, able to explain hospital procedures clearly, not too granola-y, etc... Margaret

We used a wonderful doula named Jacqui McClure. We interviewed a few for the birth of our son a year ago and she was the one we felt the most connection with. My husband was not keen on the idea of a doula at first, but Jacqui is very calming and helped us both feel more confident about our birth experience. My labor was rather long and difficult and I can't imagine going through it without her - she was wonderful. Jacqui is also a massage therapist for both infants an adults and she has varying packages she offers that are very affordable. She also taught an infant massage class and provided a day of massages for my mother's group. She has a massage studio (http://www.backtolifewellnesscenter.com/) and lives in Alameda, where she emphasizes supporting women, mothers and mothers-to-be. Jacqui can be reached at douladoula at sbcglobal.net or 510-435-3530. Airdri

I have a good friend who is training to be a mid-wife and who has performed doula services in the past. I believe her price is reasonable. If you like, email me and I'll give her information to you directly. alison

I would like to highly recommend Jenny Kepler as a wonderful (and affordable!) doula. She attended the birth of our son in early March. She met with my husband and I several times beforehand, discussed our desires, fears, and she helped us prepare our birth plan for the hospital. Jenny is very knowledgeable, kind, and enthusiastic. She has a beautiful, sweet spirit and it came through during the rough times of my delivery. She was helpful to me, was open-minded with trying new positions for labor, did some massage and acupressure. She was also a huge relief to my husband, who at times really needed a break (I had a long labor!). Jenny was a great person to look to as an advocate in the hospital, she worked well with my midwife and the hospital nurses too. She also offers belly casting, which is always a plus! Jenny can be reached at jenny-kepler at yahoo.com or 510-472-8280. Happy birthing, Jennifer, James and little Memphis

Can't afford a doula - alternatives?

Oct 2002

This question is mostly an ''Advice'' question but a bit of a ''Recommendations'' question. Has anyone used a birth coach other than full doula services for hospital labor & delivery, so as to save some money? Or are there doulas who charge by the hour rather than by the delivery?

We are expecting child #3 around Christmas this year. Although both of my previous deliveries were without complication, the second one (when we hired a doula) was much better, as I was able to deliver without an epidural anesthetic and I felt much better afterwards. We used our doula only for the last 2-3 hours at Alta Bates hospital, & we were able to manage the earlier labor without her, at home. I would love to find someone just to help me manage the later stages, help reduce my anxiety and get through the contractions. At Alta Bates for both births, the staff were competant medically but did not help with pain or anxiety, and I felt the first nurse really encouraged the epidural too much because she was busy with another labor. I feel that in order to again avoid medication, I will need to again hire a birth assistant of some sort.

So here's the question. We just can't afford $600 right now, especially for just a couple of hours of help - and given that the third delivery is likely to go quite quickly, that may be all we need.

Has anyone used a professional who is not hired to provide full doula services? As in, is there such thing as someone who could do massage, or help with pain and anxiety management, just for the late labor? anonymous, please

Alta Bates has doulas on staff for free though they are a first come first serve. Also I had a nurse-midwife join me during labor after pushing for 3 1/2 hours and she really helped progress things in a natural way. I actually had an expereince in December with my nurse who really tried to get me to go through all the alternatives before getting medication -- I was the one who couldn't hold out past 6. I know it feels risky to wait until you get there but you could get lucky and have lots of options for people to help you deliver the way you want. Delivered at Alta Bates in Dec

I don't know about charging an hourly rate, but I do know that many local doulas charge less than $600. Some use a sliding scale. Others simply charge less because they have less experience. I would also think that even a more experienced, usually more expensive doula would be willing to consider a limited-service, lower fee arrangement like you suggest. Check out the files kept by Birthways and Birth & Bonding and make a few calls. Holly

I am an ALACE (Association of Labor Assistants and Childbirth Educators) trained Doula in training who has only attended one birth. I am very interested in attending more births, but have recently moved back to the Bay area and I have not been focusing on attracting more clients (though I am planning to.) I would be very interested in helping you with your birth at a very resonable rate. If you are interested call me and we can discuss working together further. Melissa

You might consider meeting with a new doula, who would most likely be very willing to provide services for free as a way to get more experience. One other thing to consider is that you really can't be sure what the next labor will be like, so it might be in your better interests to have someone lined up just in case you need one more/longer than you originally planned. Because of this uncertainty with labor most doulas are unwilling to hire per hour. However, I am sure there are exceptions! Try calling Birthways in Oakland, Natural Resources in SF, or the Nurture Center in Lafayette. Another good resource is Doulas of North America (www.dona.org). Good luck and congratulations! Laurel

greetings ~ although we had intended to use a doula with the recent birth of our son, it didn't end up working out. however, i've found out a lot through that experience (& we will definitely use one in the future) there are /many/ doulas who will work with you for the experience. & a lot know of different massage, accupressure, other methods for pain & anxiety. granted, you're not likely to get the most experienced people for free, but that doesn't always matter. i'd check out the DONA (doulas of north america) site & maybe do some other searches to try to find people & then conduct some interviews. in order to be certified, one has to not only go to classes, but attend so many births ~ so you're likely to find someone you click with who could assist you for significantly less. i'm pretty sure alta bates even told us they had doulas available. best of luck & feel free to contact me if you want anymore info/advice & i'll do my best :) julia

This is perhaps not the answer you are looking for, but why not take a girlfriend who has at least one child herself (so that she knows what's going on).

I did not have a doula but had my best friend with me who (16 years ago) had a long labor followed by a C-section because baby's head was too big. So she had seen it all before. Plus, like me, she had had back labor. She was really wonderful doing acupressure and taking turns with my husband pressing against my lower back. Also that allowed each of them to sneak out to get some food or to nap for half an hour without leaving me all alone. She was already with me during most of my labor at home.

Another thing if you don't want an epidural: Tell them right away to never ever offer you one. Make it very clear that you'll ask for it, if you want one. Also tell your husband/partner that you'll first tell him if you want one. He should then tell you to try without one for another fifteen minutes. According to the doula who tought my Lamaze class, in most cases that gets you ''over the hump''. In my case that resulted in me getting (after shift change) a nurse who had three kids herself all without epidural. And she was really helpful during my more than three hours of pushing. She was like a cheerleader which was exactly what I needed. Ina

There are many new doulas, some trained, some certified, that actually volunteer at Alta Bates. I know of one specifically who is a wonderful person and who I believe to be very competant. She has done 5 births as a volunteer, but just hasn't gotten out there to get paid clients.

I think you would be in good hands using a newly trained doula and they would likely charge less and be more flexible about hours. Laria, mother and postpartum doula

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