Hi All,

I'm currently working as a doula in Montreal, which is a large city and has a very rich doula community and seems to have enough clients to go around. ie: I'm as busy as I'd like to be most months.

We're toying with the idea of moving away from the city into a much more rural area. My fear is, obviously, about how I will make my living. My job isn't our primary income, but it is still nice for me to contribute.

So, I'd like to know- for those of you working in a non-urban area: how does this work for you? Do you keep busy doing doula work or CBE or something else? Are there other doulas in your area? Anything you could tell me would be helpful.

Thanks!

I am in a rural area, closest hospital is an hour away, and it still works for me. You just need to be willing to travel farther distances. There is about 3 other doulas in my area and we seems to have as much business as we want most of the time - there are dry spells. Good marketing is also key. Good luck!

Yes, you may have to be willing to travel. I, too, live in a rural area and NONE of my business is local.

I did a market analysis for my community and the breakdown went like this: 135 average births per year in my parish (county), 80% of those paid by medicaid (out of cost range for most families), with about 80% of remaining that would request an epidural going in the hospital, leaves me about 8 women in my target market per year. I have to travel if I am going to doula. My average client lives an hour or more away from me. It works.