Virginia Doulas

For some reason doulas are not valued in the true sense of the word “value”.  For some reason when a doula is hired they are thought of as missionary work.  That their work should be at no cost or low cost.  Being a doula is a mission yes, but it is more than that.  Doula work is an occupation just as any other line of work, we just do it passionately.  Being a doula is a 24 hour job, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.  Our phone is always on and we are always on call.  We schedule our family life around our work as well as any personal well being appointments.  We take our work seriously and we work hard for each family.  Our cars still have to be serviced or we would not be able to attend the births, our car payments have to paid.  Our phone bills have to be paid or we couldn’t receive the calls.  Our house payment has to be made, food needs to be put on our table, our children still need clothes, shoes and insurance.  We need internet to do our job well.  Outside of that our children still have birthdays and holidays to be supplied for too.  If a doula is paid $500.00 a birth and takes only 2 births a month that is only $1000.00 a month, which if they are able to get 2 births a month for a year that is 12,000.00 a year.  According to the government $12,000.00 a year is poverty level. 

What is the value of a doula?

(Source: virginiahypobirthing.com)

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