The Price of a Doula in Alberta and How to Pay for One
The cost of a doula can vary wildly based on many factors. Most often the cost of a doula will depend on the demand in each area. New York for instance has one of the highest prices for doula care and can reach as high as $5000! Luckily here in Alberta it’s more accessible. In Alberta doulas cost between $700 and $1650. This price will vary from one area to another.
I will focus this article on certified doulas only. Certified doulas charge what they need to in order to do this for a living. That means they make enough to keep doing this important work month after month and year after year.
It means compensating for time lost with family such as a birthday, Christmas, or the first day of school. It compensates for the time away from family during the birth and prenatal visits not to mention the stress while on-call, which can be up to 4 weeks!
When looking for a doula, I recommend using www.doulamatch.net. They makes it easy to view lots of doulas at the same time. Your search will including their prices, their availability for your due date, and the area they serve.
However, some doulas are not listed on doulamatch. If you are having trouble finding an available doula using doulamatch, I would recommend checking out the local doula association directory linked below or just good old-fashioned Googling.
Below is a quick overview of the price of doulas in Alberta based on location.
Calgary
Certified birth doulas in Calgary cost between $800-1600. This varies due to experience, trainings, and confidence. The majority of doulas in Calgary cost between $1000-$1300 with only a few doulas charging outside of this range. The Calgary area has the most doulas out of any area in Alberta and you will find a large variety of doulas to choose from depending on how early you start looking.
Postpartum doulas in Calgary charge between $30-$40/hour.
The best place to look for doulas in Calgary is on the Calgary Doula Association website.
Edmonton
Certified birth doulas in Edmonton cost between $850-$1350.
Postpartum doulas in Edmonton charge between $25-$35/hour.
The best place to look for doulas in Edmonton is on the Edmonton Doula Association website directory.
Red Deer
Certified birth doulas in Red Deer cost between $700-$1500 with most doulas falling between $850-$1500.
Red Deer has several doulas in the higher ranges. It is important to note however that several of these doulas serve both Calgary and Red Deer.
Postpartum doulas in Red Deer charge between $30-$45/hour.
The best place to look for doulas in Red Deer is on the Red Deer Doula Association website.
Lethbridge
There are only a few doulas serving the Lethbridge area. Certified birth doulas in Lethbridge cost between $650-1650.
Postpartum doulas in Lethbridge charge between $35-$45/hour.
Since I couldn’t find a list anywhere else, I’ve created a list of doulas currently serving the Lethbridge area here: https://www.birthsherpa.ca/
https://www.neosdoulacare.com/
http://mothernurtureservices.ca/
https://www.villagebirthservices.ca/
https://www.rachelneilsondoula.com/
Doulas from other cities that also serve the Lethbridge area are:
https://www.capacitybirth.com/
https://www.meganboonedoula.com/
Grande Prairie
There are about 10 doulas serving the Grande Prairie area. Doulas in Grande Prairie charge between $850 and $1100.
Postpartum doulas in Grande Prairie charge between $25-$35/hour.
Some places I would recommend to find a doula in the Grande Prairie area is at www.olivetreebirthservices.com/, https://www.bigsisterdoula.com/, https://www.serenitychildbirthservices.com/,
Medicine Hat
Medicine Hat has the fewest doulas out of all these cities. I’ve only been able to find 2 doulas serving the Medicine Hat area. The certified doula is charging $900 while the other is working on certification and charges a discounted rate.
The only postpartum doula in Medicine Hat charges $30/hour.
Check out Lori Sawatsky for doula services in Medicine Hat.
Rural Doulas
Some doulas serve not just in the city, but the rural area surrounding the city. For example Little Doula on the Prairie serves not just in Edmonton, but in Wainwright, Viking, Camrose, and Wetaskiwin. Another example is myself, I serve Calgary, but also most of southern Alberta including Cardston and Lethbridge and everywhere in between. Or Rachel Neilson serves the Lethbridge and Cardston area. If you live in a rural area, I would expect the doula to charge a bit extra to compensate for additional gas mileage.
Paying for a Doula
I know paying for a doula can be difficult! If you have to pay it all out of pocket, having a doula may seem out of reach. But there’s hope! Below I outline a few options to help support you in paying for doula services.
Insurance
While many insurance companies have the option for doula care it is not included in all plans.
Check out my article here to see the breakdown of which insurance companies cover doula services and when. Please also check how much they cover as they will likely not cover the entire cost of a doula.
Be Her Village
This website lets you do crowd funding for all your birth and postpartum needs! It’s a unique way to create a baby registry, letting people contribute to things that will be the most beneficial in your parenting journey.
You can choose to add anything from doula services, childbirth education, pelvic floor therapists, lactation consultants, mental health supports and more! Check out their website here to learn more!
Family and Friends
Many family and friends are invested in helping you have a successful parenting journey.
Instead of getting a million baby clothes that they will only wear once, consider asking family and friends for donations put towards your doula services.
Budgeting
Once you find out you are pregnant, try and save $100-$150 dollars to go towards your doula support.
By saving a little a month, you will be less overwhelmed with the big ticket price.
Consider buying some used baby items. Most used baby items have only been used a handful of times before baby outgrows them. Just be sure to always buy car seats brand-new!
Pay in installments
Many doulas have the option to break up your payments into 2-4 payments. By paying in smaller amounts, it can be an easier price to pay.
Most doulas require the full payment by 36 weeks pregnant. If this won’t work for you, please let them know and see if they are willing to be flexible on this deadline.
Uncertified Doula
Doulas that have completed training and have not yet finished their certification can be a good option for those on a tight budget.
Uncertified doulas often have discounted rates.
This just means that they lack experience, not that they lack passion for the work.
Having a doula that you trust is often more important than having a doula with a million hours of experience.
That said, some trainings, such as Spinning Babies may increase your likelihood of a vaginal birth if baby’s position is an issue, or it may decrease your time in labor.
In Conclusion
I know paying for doula services can seem intimidating. It is no small price. But you will never regret investing in your birth.
Like your wedding day, you will remember every birth for the rest of your life.
Let a doula help make it a positive experience so that you will enjoy remembering it for many years to come.
This information is true as of December 2022. These prices are subject to change at the discretion of each doula.
