Help ! I want a doula but cannot afford one !

Photo Captured at Hershey Hospital

Hiring a doula is one of the best decisions you can make for yourself. The expertise and compassion she brings to your birth is worth its weight in gold. With a price tag of $800- $2,000,a doula can fit into even tight budgets. Sometimes you just need to get creative.

Cut down on unnecessary baby gear:

There are some baby items that you absolutely need, like a car seat. But you do not need one for each car (some people even get one for grandma’s car) and they do not need to cost $500 each. Try to cut back on baby items that are not a necessity and put that money aside to pay for your birth education and support.

Save a little each month:

Most of us put a little money aside each month for fun — whether it’s a vacation or a shopping spree. It’s never too early to start saving towards your birth, even if you are not pregnant yet. Put a couple of dollars aside here and there and it adds up quickly.

Put doula services on your registry:

Pregnancy is a time in your life when friends and family want to help in any way they can. Take them up on the offer. When they ask you what you need for the baby tell them, “We want a positive birth and postpartum experience. We are planning on hiring a birth doula, childbirth educator, postpartum doula, or placenta services and would love if you could contribute to these services.” Check out our online store for gift certificates.

Flexible spending accounts:

Most flex accounts cover birth doula, postpartum doula and placenta encapsulation expenses. Call your provider and ask!

Payment Plans:

Lancaster Doulas accepts payment plans for all of our services. We know how hard it can be to pay for services outright. We can help you create a personalized payment plan to fit any budget.

Have a yard sale:

This is a great way to get rid of unwanted items lying around the house AND pay for a valuable service.

Trim excess spending:

Take a couple of months to cut back on unnecessary spending. Eat out less often, cut back on $5 coffees, switch to a less expensive cable package. These are great ways to save money for birth support.

Ultimately, hiring the right birth and postpartum support can actually save you money. A doula can help reduce your medical bill by lowering your risk of high cost medical interventions and procedures.  So, really, how can you afford NOT to have one?