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Why Telling New Doulas to Work for Free Is Bad Advice
- Kendra Lonon
- Oct 10
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 2
If you’ve recently finished your doula training, you’ve probably heard it: “Do your first few births for free to get experience.”
It might sound supportive, but here’s the truth: doing births for free doesn’t just hurt you. It undervalues the work, sends the wrong message to families, and weakens the profession as a whole.
The Problem With Free Births
It doesn’t allow you to recoup your investment. You’ve already spent money on training, books, and certification. Working for free means you can’t recover those costs or build momentum toward sustainability.
It sets a precedent. Families begin to believe doula care is optional or only worth paying for once you’re “seasoned.”
It teaches families to look for students. Once people know doulas are offering free services, they seek out students instead of valuing the role as a whole.
It diminishes your confidence. Instead of beginning your journey from a place of worth, you start by internalizing that your work is not worth compensation.
It devalues the profession. Every time doulas work for free, it reinforces the false idea that this role is a luxury, not a necessity.
The Nuance With Discounting
What about discounts? This is where nuance matters.
Discounting can be optional if you choose it strategically. For example, charging half the going rate in your area while you’re certifying still communicates value.
Discounts should be temporary. If you decide to lower your rate, do it with a clear timeline, and make sure families understand your standard fee.
Discounts should never be given out of fear of rejection or desperation. This is a quick way to burn out and build resentment.
Bonuses work better than discounts. Instead of cutting your price, offer something that strengthens their experience. For example, a personalized birth plan review, an additional postpartum check-in, or a digital recovery guide. The goal isn’t to add more, but to add what’s meaningful.
Permission to Charge
You are not “less of a doula” because you are new. You’ve trained, prepared, and are offering real support to families. You deserve to be compensated for that.
Free births are not the rite of passage some make them out to be. Your rite of passage can be choosing to charge a rate that honors your work, while still allowing space for growth and learning.
A Better Way Forward
When you start your practice from a place of value, you set the tone for sustainability. That’s why I created The Doula’s Notebook Collection — resources that give you clarity and confidence as you begin, so you don’t have to start from fear or burnout.
Begin with the eBook, From Training to Clients, to help you build confidence and start serving.
Written by Kendra of Heart-Centered Birthwork™
Each reflection is a note from my own experience. I share these lessons to help doulas and birthworkers create sustainable practices that honor both families and themselves.
Explore more tools and reflections at Heart-Centered Birthwork™
