The Hidden Cost of Undervaluing Doula Work: Why Undercharging Harms the Entire Profession
As the demand for doula services increases, more people are recognizing the invaluable support doulas provide during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. However, despite this growing awareness, many agencies and organizations continue to undercharge for doula services, creating a harmful cycle that devalues the profession. This practice not only hurts individual doulas but also undermines the entire doula community—particularly those who are trying to charge a fair rate for their time, expertise, and care.
How Undercharging Harms Local Doulas
When agencies and organizations lower their rates to attract more clients, they inadvertently create a competitive environment that pressures local doulas to reduce their own fees or risk losing clients. Many families, understandably, may gravitate toward the "cheaper offer," not fully realizing the value of the doula services they are receiving. This puts local doulas who charge fairly for their time and expertise in a difficult position—they’re often the ones who suffer the most, as they are seen as the more expensive option in an environment that doesn’t reflect the true worth of their work.
This devaluation doesn’t just affect independent doulas. Those working within agencies are often paid low wages that barely cover the extensive time they dedicate to their clients, including the physical and emotional labour, driving long distances, and being on call for births. It is not uncommon for these doulas to struggle to make ends meet after covering their own costs, including gas, vehicle maintenance, and other expenses tied to their work.
The True Cost of Doula Services
Being a doula involves far more than just attending births. Doulas provide emotional, physical, and informational support during some of the most significant moments in a family's life. This work often includes prenatal visits, postpartum care, long hours at births, and sometimes traveling significant distances. Additionally, many doulas make themselves available 24/7 as part of their on-call services, ensuring that families feel supported throughout their pregnancy and birthing journey.
Doulas who work in agencies that undercharge are often required to cover larger service areas, leading to even more time spent on the road and more wear and tear on their vehicles, with minimal compensation for these added expenses. The costs of travel, combined with the emotional investment doulas put into each client, add up. Yet, when agencies and organizations devalue this work by offering lower rates, they fail to adequately compensate doulas for these hidden costs.
Undervaluing the Profession Hurts Everyone
The real harm of undercharging is twofold. First, it directly impacts the doulas themselves, who are often overworked and underpaid. Second, it lowers the overall perceived value of doula services, making it harder for doulas who charge fair rates to justify their pricing. When agencies offer services at a lower cost, they contribute to a misunderstanding about the value of doula care, positioning it as a "budget option" rather than the highly skilled, essential service it truly is.
Doulas who attempt to charge a fair rate for their services are often forced to compete with these lower prices, leading to a race to the bottom where the true cost of doula work is never recognized. This not only affects the financial stability of individual doulas but also risks driving experienced, skilled professionals out of the field, further depleting the quality of care available to families.
Sustainable Solutions: Fair Compensation and Access for All
The solution to this issue is not to simply lower prices across the board, but to create more sustainable models for doula work. Agencies and doulas alike should advocate for fair pricing structures that reflect the time, expertise, and care that goes into doula services, while still making these services accessible to families from all financial backgrounds.
Options such as payment plans, sliding scales, and pro bono services for families in need offer a way to strike this balance:
Payment Plans: These allow families to spread the cost of doula services over time, making it more manageable while ensuring doulas are fairly compensated.
Sliding Scales: This model enables families with more resources to pay higher rates, helping to subsidize services for those with fewer financial means.
Pro Bono Work: Doulas can set aside a number of pro bono clients each year, focusing on marginalized or underserved communities, while still ensuring that the bulk of their work is paid at a sustainable rate.
The Time for Change Is Now
It’s time for the doula profession to move away from a model that devalues the incredible work doulas provide. Agencies and organizations must reconsider their pricing structures, ensuring that doulas are fairly compensated for their time, travel, and emotional labor. Additionally, families must be educated on the true value of doula services and encouraged to invest in the kind of care that can make a lasting difference in their lives.
By advocating for fair pay, we not only elevate the profession but also ensure that doulas can continue to offer the compassionate, skilled support that families deserve. It’s time to stop undercharging and start valuing doulas for the life-changing work they do.