My first Postpartum job

heathenmamaof5 · 09-12-2006, 11:19 PM

Well I finally got a referal for postpsrtum work!

A gal called the collective looking for a PP doula for Wed, Thurs, Fri and Sat nights, seems her dh has a business trip and she wants me to give babe a bottle in the middle of the night so she can get some sleep. This is their 4th baby so sleep is very important to this mama.

It's going to be busy. I'm doing a baby fair all day Thurs, Fri, and Sat. I'll get home between 7 and 8 in the evening and then be at the mama's house around 11 pm til 6 am. I'm charging $75 a night. Kirk says I priced it too low, what do you all think? My way of thinking is that I'll mostly be snoozing on the couch so why charge them $25 an hour. It just seemed kind of steep.

Anyway, it's been a real good day today!

motherstouchdoula · 09-12-2006, 11:54 PM

Congrats!!! That is awesome!!

sacredma · 09-13-2006, 08:09 AM

women in my area that are night doulas charge their regular fee, $30 an hour.
it is your time and you will have your sleeping totally disrupted.
in the future, its better to charge your full fee, as this is an extremely valuable service.
if they hired a baby nurse, they would pay a lot of money for it.
happy for you that you got the job!
mavis
www.gentlecaredoulaservice.com

doula Michele · 09-13-2006, 08:21 AM

75$ seems reasonable enough, unless baby decided to have a sleepless night!
I would never in a million years get 25-30 hr for doing it. ( not that you could pay me enough anyway! LOL)

I guess, you will learn quick enough if you charged enough, and you will certainly know for next time.

Michele

fearlessbirth · 09-13-2006, 09:48 AM

Congrats, Jill!

Hmmm...I have wondered about how much to charge for overnights, if I work them, for PP clients. Yes, most charge $25-$35/hour but $75 does seem reasonable considering you'll be sleeping some. HOWEVER, I have learned my lessons when it comes to the $$ end of a doula business and am going to start treating myself better.

See how it goes...if you feel you were fair, then great! But if you feel you were unfair to yourself then you'll know for next time. It's all about learning what's best for you.

DoulaYvonne · 09-13-2006, 10:58 AM

Way to go!! Hope it works out for you!

Amydoula · 09-13-2006, 08:06 PM

Congrats! I won't take anything less than $25/hr. for overnights though, my nightime disruption isn't worth it for anything less. That is the high end of what I charge for days.

heathenmamaof5 · 09-14-2006, 01:03 AM

Hmmmmm, yeah dh is pretty upset with me

the funny thing is I discussed the whole thing with hime first and then called the client. What's a gal to do? So from now on it's $25 an hour. Oh well, live and learn right?

The missed sleep issue doesn't bother me too much. Remember for 11 years I was either pregnant and/or breastfeeding. I'm used to interupted sleep. With the twins it was astronomical! I'm bringing Season 2 of Lost, the client has a 52 inch wide screen TV

so I'll doze on the couch and watch TV. And the best part is I get to snuggle a 7 week old baby. I love babies, that's why I had 5!

I'll let ya'll know how it goes.