Distance to client

midoula · 01-16-2007, 08:07 PM

What is the maximum distance you would be willing to travel for a doula client? I have had a few people inquire who were a little farther than I had originally thought I would be working with but now I am wondering if I should do it. Just wondering what others out there have done.

tchatters · 01-16-2007, 08:11 PM

I took a client that was over an hour away from me and it was not a positive experience. I had to spend two and a half hours in the car total each time I visited her. I wouldn't do it again, but that's just me! It was compounded by being up above the snow line and a Christmas due date so the traffic and the risk of snow was really high.

AussieDoula · 01-16-2007, 08:23 PM

Check out this thread (click underlined link): How far will you travel for a client?

midoula · 01-16-2007, 08:39 PM

Thanks!

It sounds like others do travel as far, if not farther than the one person who was interested. Maybe I will contact her again. She is just 50 miles (all interstate) from my house.

doula Michele · 01-16-2007, 09:29 PM

WOW.. i wish all my clients were as close as 5o miles.

elang99 · 01-16-2007, 09:50 PM

I won't travel any further than about 45 minutes - since I have a daughter I would have to arrange a baby sitter for etc. - i don't want to add more time on if I dont have to.

mammamayI · 01-19-2007, 12:13 PM

I guess it depends. I'm in SE Michigan, in Northern Oakland County. I am actually in an ideal place, because just about everywhere is an hour away at the most. Most of the hospitals I work at are within a half hour, although I've recently had births in and around the flint area which may be closer to 45 minutes away.

I have decided that there are some hospitals I simply am comfortable working at, but not going to home visits in the surrounding areas. I'm not a scardey cat, but I am a woman alone, usually in the dark, so I try to use common sense. Sooo, I will talk to them frequently on the phone in early labor and then meet them at the hospital. Most of the time the women in that situation (dangerous neighborhood) will even suggest that we meet at a common place outside of the home for prenatals before I ever bring it up...then I go during the day, usually on a weekend, for the postnatal.

I DO try to stick to clients who are within 45 minutes...but have certainly traveled farther. I have had clients downriver (ended up being a nightmare both times--too far!, one in particular was a quick birth and went into labor in the heart of rushhour, luckily I was working with my partner for that birth, as SHE lives much closer and made it, but I didn't get there until fifteen minutes after the baby was born, and I left for the birth as soon as she called), as well as clients in the plymouth/canton area, which worked out just fine. If they are well outside of that range, though, probably past an hour, I consider where the hospital is. If it 's between my house and hers, then I'll probably take it. IF it's very near their house or beyond it, I'll probably refer her to another one of the doulas in the area whom I trust (usually my partner, who lives in the one direction that is usually too far for me to go).

DouLaura · 01-19-2007, 12:33 PM

Most of my clients birth at one of 6 hospitals that are 30-45 minutes from my house. However there is one hospital that is 1 hour 45 minutes from me that I will go to because of the hospital, the DR there, the midwife there, the staff there. It is just such as awesome place it is worth any drive. Plus the drive is 3/4 interstate so traffic isn't really an issue. The other 1/4 part is a curvy, mountain highway where you have to really be on the lookout for deer at night, that part isn't fun at 3AM after a long birth :-)
But for me, I will do it!