Average work schedule

DoulaYvonne · 03-14-2007, 02:23 PM

What is your typical schedule when you are hired to pp doula for a family where this is their first baby? Do you generally start off 5 days/week, then wean yourself away from them? Or do you pretty consistently offer 2 or 3 days/week for a number of weeks? How many hours per day is typical?

I'm sure there are extremes on both sides, I'm just wondering what is average.
Thanks!

Amydoula · 03-14-2007, 08:49 PM

First time mom with no complicating factors usually I do 3 days the first week, of 3 hours each day, and then 2 days the next week, and 2 days the next week after that, on average. If there are issues it is usually a longer stint.

sacredma · 03-14-2007, 09:10 PM

usually i do 5 days a week, 4 hours a day for the first two weeks, sometimes only the first week. often times it continues another week and then we cut down to 2 or 3 days a week, sometimes 3 hours a day.

captivatedlife · 04-19-2007, 07:22 PM

good question, thanks!!!

tlcdoula · 04-19-2007, 11:05 PM

I don't have an average. I just come when they need me. For some families that might be several times a week and for others it might be once a week. I think it depends on how much family support they have.

Doula Network of LI · 05-04-2007, 10:05 PM

I agree with what most of you have said.
Usually I tried to persuade my clients to use me for the first week in full, then 3 days the second week and 2 days the third. This seems to work just fine. Of course, if they wanted more I would do more and if they wanted less I would. My only requirement is that it is a three hour min. per day.
I dont do weekends or nights.