How to respond to the question "Is it really worth having a Doula?"

This episode is a special replay from the WOMAN podcast hosted by my beautiful Sacred Birth Worker graduate and doula, Maria-Lisa. She has been running her birth business and podcast successfully in Berlin for the past few years, and I’ve had the joy of being invited on multiple times.

I wanted to bring this conversation over to the Sacred Birth Work & Biz Podcast because it speaks directly to something every independent birth worker encounters sooner or later:

How do you confidently answer the question, “Is it really worth the money to hire a doula?”

So many of you tell me you face this exact question in consultations, community conversations, and casual encounters. And it can feel confronting, especially when you are heart-aligned, service-oriented, and not naturally inclined toward “selling” yourself. Who is, really?

In this episode, you’ll hear us explore:

• Why this question arises so often
• What to say when someone asks, “Why should I pay for a doula if there are midwives and doctors at the hospital — or if I’m planning a home birth?”
• How to share evidence-based benefits of continuous support without sounding defensive or salesy
• How to lovingly reframe the conversation around worth, value, safety, and the long-term wellbeing of the whole family
• Why partners cannot and should not be expected to carry the entire load alone
• How to clearly explain that a doula works only for the birthing woman, not the hospital and not the institution

You’ll also hear powerful language you can borrow when someone says:

“I don’t want to spend the money.”
“Isn’t a doula just a luxury?”
“My partner can do that.”

This conversation is honest, grounded, and deeply validating of the work we do as independent birth workers. It reminds us that we’re not offering “extra support”, we’re offering continuity, advocacy, emotional and spiritual safety, trauma prevention, and a presence that can truly change the trajectory of a woman’s birth experience.

If you’ve ever felt unsure how to articulate your worth, found yourself discounting your fees, or stumbled when someone questioned the investment, this episode will give you the clarity, language, and confidence you need.

Let this be your reminder:

Your work has immense value.
Your presence changes birth outcomes.
Your support is worth investing in.

Tune in, take notes, and use whatever resonates next time someone asks you the question we all know well:

“Is having a doula really worth it?”