7 Benefits of Working for a Doula Agency (and 1 Con)

1. Supportive community

Doula work can be lonely. If you’ve worked as a solo doula at all, you know that you are a one-person show. Even in Sioux Falls, which has a vibrant birth community, being a solo doula can feel like being on an island when you have wins to celebrate or feel defeated.

Doula agencies offer the comradery of being part of a team. Our agency has monthly meetings where we get together in person to discuss our work, and an active text thread where we work together to take care of our clients. Everyone cheers for each other in our wins and surrounds each other with support.

2. Built in backup

Very few other careers require a person to commit to putting their life on hold for a month at a time, 10 months into the future. That’s what solo doula work is like… someone will contact you in October to ask if you have availability in May or June of the next year!

When clients hire a doula from a doula agency, they understand that teamwork is a perk for the doula AND the client. If something comes up during the time that you are on call for someone, you simply ask someone from the team to cover you. Clients have the peace of mind of knowing the back up doula is already vetted by the agency, and can get to know the back up ahead of time. You can take the time off that you deserve, knowing your client will be well-cared for in your absence.

3. Room for growth

Our agency is very excited about growing doulas! Part of our mission is to make our community the best place to be a doula. We support our doulas in their interests and help them pursue growth in whatever way that looks for them. Burned out doulas don’t last long… we want to help our doulas make this a career, not just a blip in their work history. We aim to nurture our doulas in furthering their experience, helping them through obstacles, and cheering them on! This should be a goal of all agencies, not just ours.

4. IC’s can take their own clients

Did you know that an independent contractor can run their own business as well as work for an agency? If you’ve got your own clients, you are welcome to bring them to the agency in order to utilize all the perks of the agency, or you can take them on 100% independently.

5. No backend work

Marketing, tax IDs, nurturing local resource relationships, maintaining a social media presence, building a website, SEO, taking inquiries, courting potential clients, onboarding, handling contracts, payments, taxes, offboarding…. if this sounds overwhelming to you, you are a good candidate to be an agency doula.

Solo doulas are a one-person show. You wear all the hats! As an agency doula, you get to show up for the client and do the work.. The agency handles the rest.

6 Clients come to you

Building off of the previous reason… as an agency doula, the clients come to you. A big hurdle as a solo doula is finding clients, especially if they are a newer doula. The agency has a steady flow of clients looking for support.

7. The value of agency

Clients get excited about the prospect of working with an agency. It makes it so easy for them. They can get all of their needs met in one place, rather than seeking out all of the roles separately. It’s a smooth experience, from start to finish. There is value to this! And agencies are just as valuable to the clients as they are to the doula.

… And 1 con…

By working with an agency, you pay for what you get. Running a business costs money (even if you’re doing it solo), so most agencies take a portion of what the client pays. This is called the agency fee.

Agency fees vary from business to business. The range is usually between 25% and 40% of the client fee. This money goes to all pay for all of those benefits listed. To doulas who see the value of all of those benefits, it’s a no brainer. But if you are very business-minded and enjoy the challenge of wearing all the hats, agency doula life might not be for you.

Renee is co-owner of Transitions: Doula & Life Services in Sioux Falls, SD. Renee’s goal is that every person has their very best birth and postpartum. Renee helps birthing persons and their partners accomplish this goal by connecting them with Transitions Doulas who provide loving physical and emotional support throughout pregnancy, birth, and beyond. In addition to running the agency, Renee also provides postpartum doula support, lactation support, and childbirth education.

Ten Reasons You Should Hire a Postpartum Doula

10. Our culture has got it all wrong.

In other cultures, there are rituals of healing nourishment, body care, special diets, and honor.

Where other cultures nurture their mothers for a period of time, the US kicks us in the ice pack and tells us to get back to life.

Is this healthy? Our maternal mental health issues, mortality rates, and dismal breastfeeding rates speak for themselves.

While you might not hire a postpartum doula for ‘round the clock care for 40 days, you can find a lot of the same nurturing in your time with them. While everyone else is looking at the baby and ready to return to life as they knew it, your postpartum doula knows that you are in a window of time known as the 4th trimester, and we honor that time. A postpartum doula allows you to slow down, rest, and heal.

9. It’s a no-judgement zone.

Postpartum doulas are judgement-free. We realize the only opinion that matters in parenting your family is yours.

We don’t care when your mom introduced solids. We don’t care that your sister found great luck with a specific bassinet. Those were their journeys, and you’re on yours. We are here to walk with you in those early parenting days, providing resources when requested, but honoring your decisions as parents. We are good at listening with curiosity and not judgement.

8. Your space will feel less chaotic.

A postpartum doula is just naturally the make-themselves-at-home type to tidy, wash dishes, put away toddler toys, all while spending time with you. When your doula is gone, and you’re world is confined to “wherever is coziest to feed the baby”, you’ll notice how much more relaxed you feel when that space is tidy.

7. We know what “normal” looks like.

And just as importantly, we notice what looks “off”. So if you’re looking for reassurance or a second-eye on something, doulas are the type you want around!

6. We can answer questions you might never ask anyone else.

If you’ve not been in the postpartum period, you might have no idea what type of questions would crop up that you might feel uncomfortable asking friends or even your provider at the six week check up. But your doula is fair game for all of that. I often tell my birth and postpartum clients, there is no such thing as TMI in this field. I’ve seen a lot, I’ve heard a lot, and my only request is that I get a heads-up if you’re going to send me a questionable picture over text so that I’m not startled :).

A lot of time, people who’ve just had a baby aren’t sure about all the things their bodies or doing, or what to expect down the road. A doula can clear up a lot of that (without all the scary Googling).

5. You’ll have evidence-based information at your finger tips.

Speaking of Googling, doulas are a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the postpartum period and newborn care. Seriously, just stay off of Google and ask an expert! If we don’t know the answer, we will put in the effort to do the research for you.

4. Two words: Overnight doulas.

Did you know that there are doulas who actually LOVE providing overnight care? Imagine… you’re winding down for the night, baby is fast asleep (for now), and your doula quietly comes in, looks at the list of things that could get done. When you wake in the morning, you’re fully rested, and your house is tidy, laundry is folded, coffee is ready, and kitchen is sparkling. (If this sounds like heaven, then you’ve got to talk to Ashlyn).

3. You need to meet your basic needs.

There’s no other time in your life where just finding the space and time to eat, shower, and sleep is this difficult. Your doula can care for baby and older children so you’re able to do jump in the shower or take a nap. A doula can prepare a meal, order groceries, cut up fruits and veggies, and all of the other things that come with nourishing yourself and your family. Our goal is to make sure that these important parts of the 4th trimester are happening.

2. Your partner will thank you.

Partners love doulas. They often have to return to work sooner than they’d like, so knowing someone will be there nurturing the family in their absence takes weight off their mind. They also appreciate the knowledge that a doula brings.

Partners are the ones who are tasked to notice if the birthing person is dealing with any postpartum mood issues, and they appreciate having a second set of eyes on their loved one.

1. You deserve it.

Everyone deserves to be nurtured and cared for in their postpartum period. Some people are lucky to have a friend or family member who can be everything they need in that time…. But even if we do have the best support system, we feel guilty asking more of those individuals than is offered.

A postpartum doula provides a service you’ve invested in, a non-judgmental ear, and an evidence-based background of knowledge you can depend on.

Renee is co-owner of Transitions: Doula & Life Services in Sioux Falls, SD. Renee’s goal is that every person has their very best birth and postpartum. Renee helps birthing persons and their partners accomplish this goal by connecting them with Transitions Doulas who provide loving physical and emotional support throughout pregnancy, birth, and beyond. In addition to running the agency, Renee also provides postpartum doula support, lactation support, and childbirth education.

Partners Deserve Doulas

Attention, Birth Partners!

The absolutely, positively, number one hesitation I hear about hiring a doula is that the partner is going to feel replaced.  If you or your partner has this concern, this is for you.

Did you know…

• Research shows: Rather than reducing a partner’s participation in the birth process, a doula’s support complements and reinforces their role

• A doula offers a visual on how to support the laboring person, and partners feel more confident and relaxed.

• Partners who used doulas report high levels of satisfaction after birth, and the birthing persons report feeling more satisfied with their partner’s role.

Of course you’re wondering, “So how DO you support the birth partner?”

• Continuous reassurance… It’s amazing how the energy changes when everyone feels safe and informed.

• Suggest ways to help the birthing person through labor and birth. Our role is to make you look good!

• Assist you with advocating for your birth plan. When decisions have to be made, and the birthing person is in the middle of transition, your doula can give you a sounding board, balanced information, and make sure your voice is heard.

• You don’t have to worry about leaving your birthing partner alone to get ice, water, nourishment, or even use the restroom. Your doula will be right there.

Let’s discuss how a Transitions doula can help YOU support your partner!

- Renee, Transitions: Doula & Life Services

Renee is co-owner of Transitions: Doula & Life Services in Sioux Falls, SD.  Renee’s goal is that every person has their very best birth.  Renee helps birthing persons and their partners accomplish this goal by connecting them with Transitions Doulas who provide loving physical and emotional support throughout pregnancy, birth, and beyond.  In addition to running the agency, Renee also provides postpartum doula support, lactation support, and childbirth education.