Having been in your shoes; concerned about how we could afford the pregnancy, the birth, the baby things, a photographer, Doula, and unpaid maternity leave. We have made it our mission to provide our services to families in an affordable and flexible way! We get it, Mama, life is full of ups and downs and the last thing you want to do is worry more than necessary when you should be enjoying your pregnancy. We didn’t have a Doula with our first pregnancies because we thought we “couldn’t afford it” either. Our biggest regrets (now our biggest passion) are that we didn’t find a way to make it happen! Our experiences left us scarred emotionally & mentally…
We want to prevent that outcome for You!
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I am a first-time mom and I don’t think I can afford your ‘Full Circle Package’, but I need it!
A: If you hired us at 18 weeks pregnant and you pay-in-full by 38 weeks, You are only paying 10 payments of $50 for our biggest package!!! And yes, we can take bi-weekly payments!
Q: What else can help me afford your services?
A: Here at Full Circle Doula Collective, we have created unique ways to help you! You have a few options: 1) Our most popular option is our “Registry“. This is just like it sounds, a way for your friends/family to contribute to a gift that will literally last a lifetime! You don’t have to worry about returning the same 5 outfits, the dozen baby blankets, the wrong brand of baby bath, or the unnecessary wipe warmer. You can simply provide them with the registry link or put it on your baby shower invitation, we take care of the rest! 2) Aside from our flexible payment plan, when you combine our services, you get them at a discounted rate! You want the birth Doula, the Infant Sleep mentoring AND the placenta encapsulation? You got it, all in one place! No searching around, no weeding through the referrals, no contacting 3 different people, and you save money by booking more than one service! Bam! 3) We are happy to create an invoice & letter for you to send to your insurance company or HSA/FSA for (normally partial) reimbursement! 4) If you have something equally as valuable for trade, we consider those too! 5) This sounds easier said than done, but I assure you that if you can find ways to cut some spending in your budget (eating out, buying used baby equipment [except cribs & car seats], or any other unnecessary spending), you will find more money! Or have a yard sale, just get creative!
Q: Do you offer free Services?
A: As businesswomen who are passionate about the work we do we have a soft spot for helping others but please understand that as much as we want to help everyone out, no birth is “Free”. We spend money on childcare, time away from our family, gas, food, business associated costs, etc. If you feel in your heart that you really need the support and you have NO way of repaying, please shoot us an email explaining your situation and if we are unable to help we will try to find you a Doula in training that may be able to offer you discounted services.
Q: I can’t seem to get my spouse on board!
A: First, don’t come at them with “I want a Doula at the birth & she’s going to cost $800.” Sit them down, tell them you need a moment of their time to hear your concerns and rephrase this into something that explains YOUR WHY, like: “After our last birth, remember how I felt ______, how the birth didn’t go as planned, how you were so exhausted after trying to help me the whole time, how my postpartum was _____, how I was such a basket case during pregnancy?” {Whatever your why is} “Well, I have found a solution to that, this time around! I would really love it if you would consider meeting with a few Doulas to see what they can do for us. Oh, you don’t know what a Doula is?” <Pull out your arsenal of information you have prepared! And if you need the arsenal, contact us!> Then when he asks what it will cost, which is probably why you’re feeling nervous about the convo in the first place, you can play it cool and respond something like: ” Well the fees range anywhere from $500-$1200, it varies Doula to Doula. However, there are these options (see Answer #1 at the top). I also plan to do x,y,z to create the funds.” Bonus: If you have mutual friends that you know used a Doula, let your partner know & encourage him to talk to them about their experience. Chances are, your partner wants what is best for you & baby, and if it benefits him as well, he will be willing to hear you out. On the other side of that though, empower yourself to stand up for what you want. This is your body and your birth, and no one else gets to make decisions for you. Having your partner’s support is important, and so is making sure you have what you know you need, it is not “selfish” or a “luxury.” This experience will affect you for the rest of your life and your child too! You have the chance to change the future generations with your birth experience!
Q: My Doctor/Midwife says I don’t need a Doula
A: Did you ask them why they felt that way? Is it because they had a poor experience with a Doula before? Because they feel threatened? Did they say it’s because “the staff can provide the same care as a Doula”? Having worked in hospitals myself, I can tell you that the staff cannot provide the same care. They may have well-meaning intentions, but you never know when it’s going to be busy or understaffed. The medical staff has charting, paper-work, other patients, emergent situations, and simply cannot sit in your room to support you the entire time. More importantly, they aren’t there when you have a quick question/concern in pregnancy, they can’t show up to your home to support you before you head to the hospital, their views may be biased, no previous relationship with you prior to your labor and birth. They don’t come to check on you after you’ve gone home, often times they don’t have a vast knowledge of resources available to you in the community, there’s no continuity of care before or after your last 6 week check up. It is our belief that when a team of birth professionals collaborate in the best interest of you and support your wishes, that’s when you are provided with the best care and most positive experience! A Doula works for you, they aren’t obligated to answer to anyone else!
Q: We want to have minimal people in our birthing space. Just me and my partner!
A: We think that’s AWESOME when couples take charge of their surroundings to protect their experience! We firmly believe that labor/birth is not a spectator sport. This is actually a conversation we have with all of our clients, especially those questioning whether to have family attend. The best part about our Doula care is that we make it our goal to create an experience that brings you guys close and working together to bring that sweet babe earthside. That’s when oxytocin is created, a stronger bond is formed, and we are kind of like a “behind the scenes” wedding planner. We’ve been known to step back or step out for a while when we see that a couple is handling it like a boss! We are there as your partner’s “wing-man”, relieving them as needed and supporting them, to support you! They know you, we know birth, together we are a great team!
Q: What’s the difference between a Midwife & Doula?
A: A Midwife is basically the same as having a Doctor, they provide the medical care, taking vital signs, providing cervical checks, measurements, keeping track of you and your baby’s health. A Doula does not provide any of these things. We are solely alongside you for the purpose of mental, emotional and physical support. We can provide pain management techniques, education, information, resources, referrals, we are there with you from the time you reserve our services, to 4 weeks postpartum. You want your Midwife well rested for when the big moment arrives, so she has to get adequate sleep, while a Doula can be providing ongoing support during that time! We’re available via phone, email, in-person, and at your labor and birth, we are basically at your fingertips anytime you need us!
One Mama said: “I had both! I wouldn’t have it any other way! Births are long, and often at night… my Midwife arrived around 1 a.m. and was able to catch some rest between checking on me while my Doula saw to my more basic needs, like hip squeezes, drinks, filling the birth pool, and so forth. I believe this resulted in a Midwife who could be extra-present and extra-attentive closer to the delivery time.”
Q: This is our first baby, what the Heck is a Doula?!
A: In a nutshell, we empower, support, and educate women and men to create and maintain their vision of the perfect birth experience! What does this actually look & feel like? This looks like; a girlfriend who’s highly educated & informed in all things pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum! Someone who supports what you want or need. The friend that tells you the truth, but in a way that’s respectful and supportive. The friend that cheers you on and picks you up when you fall. The friend that understands and empathizes with you, but also don’t let you sit in that rut. A friend that you can call with the weirdest question or send a “gross” picture. The friend that has or will see you naked and not bat an eye. She’s got ‘girl power’ that you can’t help but feel like a total bad-ass, when you’re around her. She wipes your tears, holds your hand, looks you dead in the eye when you’re ready to give up and she reminds you that you can do ANYTHING. Or, she elbows nudges your partner to do the same. She brings him and you a cool drink of water, a snack, and encourages you both to get closer. If your Doula doesn’t know the answer, she’ll find it. She won’t shove it down your throat though because; she values your personal journey and realizes that the first steps in easing you into parenthood are through encouraging you to make your own educated decision. Your Doula knows the “tips & tricks” of getting a baby to descend or turn, and when to step-in or step-back. Your Doula reads your cues before you even knew that you needed that thing, at that exact moment. Your Doula is there if there are complications and you, your partner, or your baby need her support. She’s the one who takes the awkward away & helps bridge the gap of communication when your care provider springs something on you. Your Doula isn’t attached to your birth outcome, whether it matches what you wanted or not. She believes in you and understands that birth cannot be controlled. She is your partner’s “Wing-man”. She’s the one that is all about YOU, while everyone else is all about your baby. She has that added touch when she brings the candles & affirmation flags to your space. Your Doula might rub your feet, paint your toes, host a ‘Mother’s Sprinkle’, henna your belly, set up a meal train, bring you a postpartum meal and remind you to rest and relax. Your Doula can spot a perinatal mood disorder from a mile away & can refer you to the help you need. She wants to help create an experience that leaves you and your partner with life-long memories that you can’t help but look back on and smile while doing an air fist pump! Without taking any of the credit, after-all YOU ‘RE THE ONE WHO DID IT!
*If you have any more questions we can help you with, please don’t hesitate to contact us!