My first reply!

fearlessbirth · 03-23-2006, 09:59 AM

So I checked my 'doula' email this morning and had an inquiry about my services! I am SO excited. She did want more information about me so I replied. I can't believe someone contacted me so soon! I did ask how she heard about me...I am curious now! I hope she wants to set up a no-obligation meeting with me!

teachinmamaof4 · 03-23-2006, 10:09 AM

Oh how exciting!!

Hope everything works out! Can't wait to hear!!

fearlessbirth · 03-23-2006, 10:26 AM

Thanks! It was hard to refrain from being like 'tell me your whole life story! i love birth! pick me! pick me!' Lol But I was very good and professional. Lol

moncton doula · 03-23-2006, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fearlessbirth

Thanks! It was hard to refrain from being like 'tell me your whole life story! i love birth! pick me! pick me!' Lol

Too cute...I've been there! In fact everytime I get a call I still rein myself in!

MothertheMother · 03-23-2006, 12:23 PM

Yeah! I got my first email like that in December. I remember reading it thinking "am I ready for this???"

I was excited and scared all at the same time. She didn't end up hiring me but only a week later I got another email and she ended up being my first client. Good luck

and don't get too dissapointed if she doesn't hire you. Every little thing is a little more experience. After my first meet and greet I didn't even care (well, not as much anyway) if they ended up hiring me because I was just thankful to have that experience.

good luck again!!!

fearlessbirth · 03-23-2006, 12:36 PM

You're right Christy! That's a great way to look at it. Even if she doesn't hire me after (if) we do a meeting, I'll consider it a dress rehearsal.

tlcdoula · 03-23-2006, 04:25 PM

How cool - hopefully she will e-mail you back.

fearlessbirth · 03-23-2006, 05:33 PM

Oh! She just did e-mail me back and wants to meet with me for a consult. I am very excited. Oh, and I got more info. 23 y/o student, 1st baby, wants medical-free birth. That's all the details I have right now. Will keep you posted. Lol

tlcdoula · 03-23-2006, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fearlessbirth

Oh! She just did e-mail me back and wants to meet with me for a consult. I am very excited. Oh, and I got more info. 23 y/o student, 1st baby, wants medical-free birth. That's all the details I have right now. Will keep you posted. Lol

Woohoo - even better. One step closer to signing her on

When you go for the interview just let her great personality shine and I am sure it will go great.

DL · 03-23-2006, 08:10 PM

I'm so glad that you're going to Interview with her!!!!

You'll have to keep us posted, 'k'?

Tashina Marker · 03-23-2006, 11:20 PM

fearlessbirth · 03-30-2006, 10:38 AM

So we're meeting tomorrow night for the consult. Any advice? This is the first time I'm doing all this from scratch...this is what I have so far...

She asked what she needed to bring. I told her at this meeting, it's basically just to get to know each other and for her to decide if she wants to hire me as her doula. All she needs is any questions she may have. I told her I'll have the contract with me IF she wants to sign it but it's not required and of course she can have all the time she wants to decide but that I won't be committed to her for her due date until it's signed. I figured it will be like a 30-60 minute meeting??? Then I told her once I'm hired we'll set up 2 prenatals, discuss birth plans, expectations, etc. at that time.

Anything else I should know? Bring up? Say? I don't want to go too much in depth since it's just a meeting and not a prenatal yet.

I know people's opinions and practices vary on the cost, etc. but do you think a $50 dep with contract is fair plus $200 due by 30 days after the birth? I'm not charging the full $500 I will in the future in exchange for her doing evals for me. (which I'll bring up at our initial mtg as well). Is $250 too steep?

MothertheMother · 03-30-2006, 11:04 AM

I only charged $150 for my first birth and about half way through I decided I was worth much more than that. I also realized I would do it for free in a second! hahaha. I think half of your areas going rate is a good place to start. I plan on charging $300 when I am certified (at least until I get more experiece). Since the first birth made me realize $150 was not enough until then I decided to add$50 per birth till I hit $300. In other words my first as $150, the one I am signed for now is $200, the next will be $250...I feel I need the experience to charge more.

As far as the meet and greet goes, I do go over the contract line by line so they understand every part (and I know they understand every part) and then I send it home with them. I tell them to take it home and make a decision and when/if we meet again we will sign it. I think asking leading questions is the best thing for this meet. How are you feeling, any problems, who's going to be at the birth, like you were talking to a friend. Not a list of questions you want to get the answers to. Oh, and offer any references you may have. I tell them I think they should interview more than one doula to be sure they pick the right person. That is just part of my philosophy. I do tell them I will give them names and numbers if they want them. I know you don't want to hand off a client but most people will hire the first doula they interview so don't worry about it! I think it adds an air of professionalism and concern that they have the birth they want. It has worked for me so far! Just relax, be yourself and listen, listen, listen. You are going to be great. Oh and listen to some relaxation music on the way and do some deep breathing before you go in!!! lol

fearlessbirth · 03-30-2006, 11:49 AM

Thanks Christy! The relaxation CDs are a GREAT idea. In fact, I just got SEVERAL of them at the dollar store! All kinds, in fact.

AND since my last post, I was called to be someone's back up in May! How exciting!

DL · 03-30-2006, 02:32 PM

I just wanted to say that I agree with Christy's suggestions. It's difficult for us to say what is a fair fee since we're not in your area. Anywhere from volunteer births to up to around half the full charging rate sounds like what a lot of the doulas around here do, too, for their first few births. The trend does seem like more new doulas are now charging. This is a personal thing (how much to charge), but whenever you feel comfortable charging more, experience-wise, then go for it!

You're right, Cathy; you don't have to go in armed with a lot of educational information for the Interiew. If they bring stuff up that seems deeper than you're willing to get into right then, you can explain that that is one of the topics that you will be covering during their Prenatal visits. Like Christy, I also read the contract to them line-by-line (I always feel awkward doing that, but it is the best way, IMO). I always leave a copy with them so that they can discuss it and make the decision later if they so choose. I explain my birth philosophy with them, what I do/don't do as a doula, the services that I'm offering, and ask them if they have any questions. Bottom line is.....let the conversation flow, and just be yourself! If it's meant to be, you'll "click" and they'll want to hire you. If not....well, then, it's best that you don't work together anyway!

You'll do great!

Please let us know how it goes!

Btw....this is totally my opinion, but if you want to go as much as 1/2 their total fee for the non-refundable retainer, I think that's fair. That's what I do; I consider the retainer as not only as reserving their space on my calendar, but also as paying for the Prenatals and on-call time. Half at contract signing, and the other half by 2 weeks after the birth. I consider the second half to be paying for the labor support and Postpartum visit. Most doulas do ask for the balance before the birth, but I've found that so many of my clients come to me within 2-3 weeks of the birth, so it would be very difficult for them to come up with the full amount all at once. So far...I've not had any problems with people paying the second half 2 weeks after the birth (usually at our postpartum visit). I'm just rambling way to much, so I think I'll end this for now!

I'm excited for you!