Leaving to become a doula/midwife
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Anonymous
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I have been a nanny for over 10 years. I have also worked in pre school settings. I have a degree in family development and human studies. I am thinking of leaving nannying to become a doula. Eventually a midwife.
Now I know I'll take a salary cut. I was making 72k as a nanny and wondering if a goal to make that in a year of hard work building a doula business. Services I'd also include -post partum care - cooking healthy meals for delivery - baby nurse services - sleep training - placenta encapsulation - lacatation classes - massage/essential oil services I would take on two maybe three births a month. Looking to charge between 1200-1500 a birth. It would be our second income and our savings/supplemental income. Wondering if any DC area Doulas could share start up tips with me. |
Anonymous
| Sounds like a fantastic plan. I studied midwifery years ago. Loved it. Am also in the DC area. |
Anonymous
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You can easily make what you were making as a nanny as a doula. It might take a while to build up your business, but if you are good it's not too hard.
Where do you live? Do you know any other Doulas or Newborn Care Specialists that you can network with? Doulas where I live make at least $25/hr for single babies. My friend's family just paid over $2000 just for a birth doula to be at the hospital during delivery and do the placenta encapsulation and nothing else. |
Anonymous
| Don't you need to at least complete nursing school become a registered nurse before being a midwife? |
Anonymous
| Are all of those extra services included as a doula? If so, that sounds great. If not, be aware you're overpricing yourself compared to the (very good) competition in this area, especially as a newcomer. |
Anonymous
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I would eventually go back to get a masters in midwifery and take the pre req nursing classes.
It seems like the starting fee for Doulas are 800+ just for the birth and two consult appt . I would structure varying packages with fees for each. |
Anonymous
| It sounds about right. |