I will take on postpartum mamas for a
minimum of 3 hours a day/twice a week (6 hours - which works out to $120 or $100 even if they have a "gift certificate"). I set a minimum so that I am being covered for drive time and compensated for taking time away from my own family. After all, what good is it for me to drive an hour each way to someone's home only to work for an hour - that's two hours I'm not being paid for. So I set a minimum time requirement to make it "worth" (for lack of a better word) me driving out that far to help a mama.
I also set
maximums; 5 hours a day, 6 days a week (30 hours - which works out to $600 or $500 if mama has a "gift certificate"). Setting maximums ensures that I am still able to fill my own role as a mother, and spend time with my family. It sounds harsh, but I would never neglect my own family's needs for another's. My loved ones come first and it is part of my responsibility as a mother and a wife to make sure I spend quality time with them. This means not overextending myself for a client, no matter how much they may need support (in which case I will happily refer them to others who may help fill their needs).
Mamas can contract me for any amount of time in between the minimums and maximums I have set. You may set different guidelines according to your own needs, but this is what works best for me and my family in this area (once we relocate, I will shuffle the fees and likely raise the hourly rate to $25).
The longest I have worked with a family was 7 weeks (3 hours daily/4 days a week). Mama wanted someone to help around the household after lunch until her husband arrived home, so it worked out well for her.
When deciding on where to set your fees and any minimum/maximum hour guidelines, some things you might consider are: travel time/gas prices, adjusting your fees and minimum hours required for overnight care, what needs the family may have, and various other things you might come across.
Then decide whether you will determine hours and fees on a case by case basis, if you will set solid hours and fees, or if you are willing to work somewhere in between.
If you are going to set up guidelines similar to mine and your trainer's (where you only accept clients based on a minimum/maximum number of hours) then it may be helpful when you are deciding fees to consider the furtherest you will travel, the most you would do for a mama, and how it will affect your family to be away from them. Using the "worst possible scenario", you should come up with a figure that will best compensate you for the work you will be doing.
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Originally Posted by Sandythedoula
What other basics should I be prepared for in case that first mama calls
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It really depends on what you plan to offer. Do you have a bag or "kit" ready for postpartum work? Depending on when and how long you are supporting families will dictate what (if anything) that bag should contain.
Are you planning on offering any types of postpartum information? Would handouts or a binder work best for what (if anything) you plan to give mama? This information could include such things as breastfeeding, infant care, family bonding, and much more (the ideas are limitless depending on how in depth you prefer to go).
I would say the most important thing you will need to know beforehand is what you will be charging. You don't want to be caught off guard and blurt out a quote that completely devalues your time and effort. It's okay to charge what you feel you are worth.
I hope some of that has been helpful, let me know if you have more questions about postpartum work.
