Birth Doula Packages: What’s Included (and Why Doulas Deserve to Be Paid Well)
BY: REBECCA BELENKY OF LOS ANGELES BIRTH
Los Angeles birth doula, Rebecca Belenky supporting a pregnant client in labor
When people start looking for a birth doula, one of the first questions is usually: “How much does a doula cost?” And right behind that is: “What exactly am I paying for?”
That makes total sense. It can be hard to picture what doula support looks like in pregnancy and labor—especially if you’ve never experienced it before. Birth is a major life transition, and investing in professional support can feel unfamiliar. You may wonder, “Will a doula truly make a difference?”
But when you hire a doula, you’re not hiring a set number of hours—you’re hiring a steady, professional presence to guide and hold you through a rite of passage. You’re inviting someone into one of the most intimate experiences of your life. You’re paying for the experience of being deeply cared for: calm nervous-system support, evidence-informed guidance, and the kind of training and hard-earned wisdom that comes from being in different birth rooms again and again.
And there’s a practical reality underneath all of that: a doula structures her life around being available to you. Birth doesn’t happen on a schedule. So doula care isn’t a tidy, per-hour service—like booking a massage where you know it’s 60 minutes, and then everyone goes home.
That’s why most doulas create packages. Packages protect families from the unpredictability of labor and make this work sustainable for the people who do it.
And this support isn’t just valuable in a vague, feel-good way—research backs it up over and over. A large Cochrane review on continuous labor support (including support in a doula role) found meaningful benefits for birthing parents and babies, including a lower likelihood of cesarean birth and fewer negative feelings about the birth experience. The review also noted other improvements, such as shorter labor, reduced need for certain interventions, and higher Apgar scores for infants.
Why birth doula support is usually packaged (not hourly)
Most birth doulas build packages because birth doesn’t follow a predictable schedule.
A package typically includes:
Prenatal preparation (education, planning, emotional support)
On-call availability as your birth approaches
Continuous support during labor and birth (which could be 4 hours… or 40)
Early postpartum support and integration
In other words, you’re not purchasing a set number of labor hours. You’re investing in care that encompasses the entire experience.
And from the doula side, packaging helps create something essential: sustainability.
The truth is, being a birth doula means living with a unique set of demands that you can’t itemize on an hourly invoice.
The invisible labor of doula work
Being a birth doula includes the in-person time you see… and a whole lot you don’t see.
A doula is often:
Tracking the mental calendar of due dates, provider plans, special circumstances, and shifting needs
Supporting clients through anxiety spirals, decision fatigue, and “is this normal?” moments
Holding space for fear, grief, uncertainty, and relationship stress
Coordinating backup plans and staying ready for changes
Answering texts at odd hours because that’s when questions (and contractions) show up
Staying on-call and close to home for weeks at a time
In my Green Bottle Method post, I discuss how demanding this work is: being on call 24/7, holding space through labor, and the significance of carrying the mental and emotional load.
That’s not a complaint—it’s an honest description of care work. And it’s one reason doulas deserve to be paid well.
“But what if my birth is fast?” or “What if my labor is long?”
This is exactly why hourly pricing doesn’t fit birth support very well.
A fast birth still requires:
Prenatal prep and planning
weeks of on-call availability
the ability to drop everything instantly
the experience to assess what’s happening quickly and respond to your unique birth situation.
A long birth requires stamina, regulation, and sustained presence—sometimes for days.
Packages protect the client from unpredictability and protect the doula from a process in which we can’t realistically “clock out.”
A note on sustainability and access
I care deeply about access. I also care deeply about birth workers being able to pay rent, take days off, and remain healthy enough to keep serving families.
That’s why I like methods that help us talk about money with honesty and nuance.
In my post, The Green Bottle Method, I share a tool that helps families assess their financial capacity when considering sliding-scale support—so reduced-fee spaces can go to families with true need, while families with more resources pay equitably, supporting the sustainability of birth work.
If you’re someone who feels weird talking about money, you’re not alone. Most of us were not taught how to do this well. But the conversation matters—because care work is real work, and it has to be sustainable if we want it to remain available.
(If you want to go deeper into this, you can read the full post here: The Green Bottle Method: Sustainable Doula Fees.)
What’s included in my birth doula packages (Los Angeles Birth)
My packages are built to offer steady, all-encompassing support—so you feel prepared, supported, and empowered as you enter your birth and postpartum time.
I currently offer three tiers:
Birth Doula Package ($5000) — Most popular
This package includes full-spectrum birth support, plus postpartum integration.
Includes:
3 prenatal sessions (2 hours each)
One hour hands-on body balancing session
Lactation Education Basics
Birth planning call
Ongoing scheduled phone check-ins leading up to the birth
On-call leading up to the birth
Attendance of birth
3 daytime postpartum sessions (2–3 hours each)
This is for families who want to feel deeply held—before, during, and after birth—without needing the extended postpartum layer.
Premium Birth Doula Package ($6000)
This is the most supported option—birth + a bigger postpartum container + early lactation support.
Includes:
3 prenatal sessions (2 hours each)
One hour hands-on body balancing session
Lactation Education Basics
36-week birth planning call
Ongoing scheduled phone check-ins leading up to the birth
On-call leading up to your birth
Attendance of birth
24–48 hour post-birth lactation visit (1–2 hours)
6 daytime postpartum sessions (2–3 hours each)
Postpartum meal + snack prepared at every postpartum session
Lactation support for the first month postpartum
This is for families who want more hands-on support once baby arrives—especially if you know postpartum is where you tend to struggle, or you simply want more care built in.
Childbirth Education Package ($1500)
This is for families who want deep prenatal prep and guidance, but don’t need in-person birth attendance.
Includes:
Three private childbirth + postpartum preparation sessions (2.5 hours each)
Birth planning included
Three 30-minute Q&A calls leading up to the birth
One 2-hour postpartum session after the birth
(In-person doula support is not included in this package.)
This package is ideal if you want structured preparation, a clear plan, and a calm, experienced person to help you think through decisions—especially if you already have strong in-room support. I think of it as a “doula in your back pocket.”
Why the “whole experience” matters
People often come into the doula search wanting a checklist:
How many prenatal visits?
How many postpartum sessions?
How many hours at the birth?
Those details matter—but the deeper truth is this:
You’re hiring the way a person shows up in challenging situations. You’re hiring that person because you like the way they talk about birth. You hire them because you feel understood and seen by them, because you trust their instincts and like how they make you feel.
Birth is rarely black and white. Honestly, very little in birth and parenting is. And the kind of support that helps most families isn’t transactional—it’s relational. You’re hiring someone’s presence, communication method, nervous system, instincts, and experience.
In Closing
If you’re curious about birth doula support and what working together might look like, I’d love to connect. A consultation is the best way to assess whether the chemistry is there—and to discuss what kind of package would actually support your family.
You can start here: Schedule a free consult, or head to my Cost & Insurance page to review packages and payment options.
FAQ: Birth Doula Packages
Why do doulas charge packages instead of hourly?
Because birth isn’t predictable. A doula’s work includes prenatal preparation, weeks of on-call availability, and continuous labor support that could last a few hours or a few days. Packages reflect the reality of the job: relationship-based care + on-call availability + experience.
When should we hire a birth doula?
Many families contact me in the second trimester, but there’s no “perfect” time. If you’re feeling drawn to professional doula support—especially if you want help selecting the right care providers (Midwife or OB) it’s worth contacting me as soon as you’re curious. Some months book up faster than others because doulas can only take a limited number of clients during a calendar month.
What’s the difference between your Birth Doula Package and Premium Birth Doula Package?
Both include prenatal support, on-call, and birth attendance. The Premium package adds a stronger postpartum container—more daytime postpartum sessions, built-in meals/snacks at each visit, early lactation support shortly after birth, and a month of lactation support. It’s designed for families who want more hands-on care after the baby arrives.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes, many doulas (including me) offer payment plans because it makes support easier to access and helps families spread out the investment over pregnancy. If you’re interested, we can talk through timing and what feels realistic.
What if I go past my due date?
That’s normal. Your on-call window covers the range where birth commonly happens. We’ll stay in touch as situations change, and I’ll help you stay calm and clear as you navigate the waiting, appointments, and any conversations about induction.
What if I’m induced or planning an induction?
Doula support can be especially helpful during induction because the pace and intensity can feel different from spontaneous labor, and there may be more decision points. We’ll talk through options, comfort measures, how to work with the medical flow, and how to stay connected to your goals.
What if I end up with a C-section?
A doula can still be incredibly supportive in a Cesarean birth. I support you emotionally, help you be informed, and help you and your partner feel grounded through the process. If a cesarean happens, we also focus on postpartum recovery, processing the story, feeding support, and making the early days feel steadier.
Does doula support include postpartum help?
My birth support packages include postpartum sessions, and the Premium package includes more sessions, plus food at every visit and lactation support. Postpartum care is where many families feel the biggest shift, so I intentionally build that support into the package.
Continue Exploring Birth, Labor, and Doula Support in Los Angeles
✨ If you are still exploring your options in LA, these articles may be helpful:
Where to Give Birth in Los Angeles
An overview of hospitals, birth centers, and home birth options across LA.Doula vs. Midwife in Los Angeles
A clear explanation of roles, training, and how these providers work together.How a Doula Supports You With an Epidural
Useful background for understanding support if plans change during labor.VBAC Los Angeles Guide
Supportive, evidence-based guidance for families planning a VBAC.
About Rebecca Belenky
Rebecca Belenky is a Los Angeles–based doula, childbirth educator, and lactation educator who has supported families since 2014. Through her practice, Los Angeles Birth, she offers compassionate, trauma-informed care that helps parents feel informed, grounded, and confident through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
