Michigan Doula Survey

Designed and circulated by Patty Brennan
November 2012

Our Sample

  • Total Respondents = 200
  • 127 trained at Center for the Childbearing Year (DONA International trainer Patty Brennan); 67 trained elsewhere (various trainers and organizations); 6 had no formal training
  • 67% of respondents completed doula training between 2009–2012

Certification Status & Experience Level

What is your certification status?
41% = Not certified
37% = Working towards certification
20% = Certified birth doula
4% = Certified birth and postpartum doula
2% = Certified postpartum doula

If certified, how long did it take you from completing doula training to becoming certified?
48% = 1–2 years
38% = Less than 1 year
11% = 3–4 years
3% = > 4 years

If you have chosen not to pursue certification, why not?
44% do not think certification is necessary for doula work
35% do not want to be constrained by scope of practice limitations
33% think certification costs are an obstacle
20% think certification requirements are an obstacle

When asked to identify resources that might have been helpful in becoming a doula:
68% wished they could have been mentored by an experienced doula
33% said financial assistance for cost of training
30% said financial assistance for cost of certification

Are you currently practicing as a doula?
57% are currently practicing as professional doulas
19% are engaged in volunteer doula work only
15% are not active as doulas
9% are taking a temporary leave of absence from doula work

If you are not currently practicing as a doula, why not?
59% other (lots of reasons)
24% not practicing due to conflict with another job
22% not practicing due to logistical challenges (i.e., babysitting, transportation)
22% felt that doula work was not financially viable for them
14% chose a different career path

Experience Level of Responding Birth Doulas
32% = 1–5 births
17% = 6–10 births
14% = 11–20 births
14% = 0 births
13% = 31–100 births
5% = 21–30 births
5% = >100 births

Experience Level of Responding Postpartum Doulas
45% = 0 families served
36% = 1–5 families served
8% = 6–10 families served
7% = 11–20 families served
3% = 21–30 families served
1% = 31–100

Fees Charged & Insurance Reimbursement

Fees Charged for Birth Doula Services
41% = $400–$600
27% = $601–$850
26% = < $400 5% = $851–$1,000 1% = > $1,000

Fees Charged for Postpartum Doula Services
57% = $15–$20 per hour
31% = $21–$25 per hour
8% = $26–$30 per hour
4% = > $30 per hour

Top Three Sources for Obtaining Clients
65% = Past customers/word of mouth
43% = Friends/family
35% = Social Media
17% = Referrals from affiliated certifying organization

How often do you encourage your private-insurance clients to submit a claim to their insurance company for reimbursement of doula services?
34% = Never
30% = Always
18% = Sometimes
18% = Rarely

If you have not encouraged private-insurance clients to submit claims for reimbursement for doula services, why not?
46% = Believe it is unlikely insurance companies will reimburse
35% = Think the process seems complicated
21% = Concern about potential for increased regulation if reimbursement is mainstreamed
12% = Believe parents won’t bother to follow through

Have any of your clients submitted an insurance claim for reimbursement of doula services?
55% = No
25% = Unsure
20% = Yes

What were the results for insurance claims submitted?
66% = I don’t know
11% = Claim was rejected
10% = Mixed results for multiple claims
9% = Full reimbursement
4% = Partial reimbursement

Insurance companies who have reimbursed:

  • HAP-HMO full reimbursement
  • BCN-HMO full reimbursement
  • Anthem
  • United Healthcare
  • All Health Savings Plans (HSAs) cover completely
  • One company put it towards their deductible
  • One company paid partial towards “labor support” but denied “childbirth education” and “follow-up home visit”
  • German-based company covered completely, even postpartum doulas for weeks after birth

Doula Demographics

Age of Doula
41% = 30–39
34% = 20–29
15% = 40–49
7% = 50–60
3% = > 60

Race/Ethnicity of Doulas
88% = Caucasian
7% = Other (various)
5% = African American

Education Level of Doulas
39% = Bachelor’s degree
37% = Some college
20% = Graduate education
4% = High school or equivalent

Family Income Levels of Doulas
20% = $50,000–$74,999
17% = $40,000–$49,999
16% = $30,000 –$39,999
12% = $20,000–$29,999
11% = $75,000–$100,000
9% = $10,000–$19,999
8% = Over $100,000
7% = Under $10,000

Which of the following best describes the area you live in?
42% = Suburban
30% = Rural
28% = Urban

Doulas as Mothers
37% = 1–2 children
30% = 3–4 children
20% = None
9% = > 4 children
4% = Expecting first baby

Favorite Doula Resources (Top Mentions Ranked)

Websites:

http://www.Kellymom.com
http://www.Spinningbabies.com
http://www.Childbirthconnection.org
http://www.Mothering.com (forums)
http://www.center4cby.com

Books:

Penny Simkin, The Birth Partner
Penny Simkin, The Labor Progress Handbook
Ina May Gaskin, Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth
Patty Brennan, The Doula Business Guide

Notes

The doula sample was gathered from the following sources:

  • My own list serve database (over 4,000 contacts); doula trainer since 1999; DONA-approved birth and postpartum doula trainer since 2002 and 2003, respectively
  • Forwarded to other trainers in the state, including CAPPA, ICEA, and DONA
  • Social Media outreach (especially two Facebook Michigan doula groups)
  • Participants in a web-based nonprofit volunteer doula program known as Michigan Doula Connection (http://www.MichiganDoulaConnection.org)

The survey was online through Survey Monkey and remained open for one week.

Doulas were given a choice of e-books (PDF downloads) as an incentive for participation.

For some questions, respondents were limited to one response, while for others, they were invited to check all that apply. That is why the numbers do not add up to 100% in some cases.

I have not included all the survey questions in this report as some were specifically designed to help me with marketing my business.

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