Should you hire an independent doula or go through a doula agency? And if you're a doula, which model makes more sense for your career?
I'm joined by Anna Rodney, founder of Chicago Family Doulas and Birth & Baby University, to talk about the pros and cons of both options. We get into doula matching, backup support, vetting, conflict resolution, pricing, and the questions parents should ask before hiring anyone.
We also look at the decision from the doula's perspective. Working independently gives you control over your business, but it also means handling your own marketing, interviews, billing, paperwork, scheduling, and backup plans. An agency can take much of that work off your plate, but not every agency operates the same way.
Whether you're trying to hire a doula or deciding how you want to work as one, this episode will help you understand the differences and figure out which model makes the most sense for you. This episode is not about saying one option is better than another. It’s about helping families understand the differences so they can make the most informed decision for their unique needs, personality, and birth or postpartum goals.
In This Episode We Discuss:
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Independent doulas vs doula agencies
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Co-doula and backup doula models
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Birth doula support structures
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Postpartum doula team coverage
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Matching clients with doulas
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Questions families should ask during interviews
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The importance of backup support
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What red flags to watch for when hiring support
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How agencies and independent doulas structure care differently
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Finding the right fit for your family
Anna is offering everyone 50% off any of their classes using code 50BBU at check out
Link to classes: https://birthandbabyuniversity.com/classes/
Anna Rodney is the founder of Chicago Family Doulas and Birth & Baby University, where she has dedicated her career to helping families feel supported, confident, and cared for during pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenthood. With a master’s degree in education and over a decade of experience in birth and newborn care, Anna brings both expertise and heart to every family she serves.
Through Chicago Family Doulas, Anna leads a trusted team providing in-home birth and postpartum support, helping parents navigate everything from labor preparation to newborn care and recovery with compassion and professionalism. Through Birth & Baby University, she educates families about pregnancy, birth and baby and trains the next generation of doulas, equipping them with the skills and confidence to support families at the highest level.
Anna is a certified labor and postpartum doula, childbirth educator, lactation educator, and newborn care specialist, and is deeply passionate about ensuring no family feels alone during one of life’s biggest transitions. Her work is rooted in creating calm, building confidence, and ensuring families have the support they deserve from day one.
Chicago Family Doulas:
https://www.facebook.com/chicagofamilydoulas
https://www.instagram.com/chicagofamilydoulas
https://www.tiktok.com/@chicagofamilydoulas
https://www.youtube.com/@chicagofamilydoulas
https://www.yelp.com/biz/chicago-family-doulas-chicago
Birth & Baby University:
https://www.facebook.com/birthandbabyuniversity
https://www.instagram.com/birthandbabyuniversity
https://www.tiktok.com/@birthandbabyuniversity
https://www.youtube.com/@birthandbabyuniversity
Anna Rodney:
https://www.facebook.com/annarodneydoula
https://www.instagram.com/annarodneydoula
Get access to discount codes for our favorite products and check out our Amazon Storefront lists for "Must Haves" during the Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Newborn phases HERE.
Are you a parent interested in learning more from Ciarra? You can check out her class offerings HERE.
For the pre-recorded, self-paced Birth Basics Class, click HERE.
For the pre-recorded, self-paced Newborn Sleep Class, click HERE.
Are you interested in training to become a birth doula? Check out Ciarra’s Birth, Baby! Academy Birth Doula Training and Certification HERE.
Online, self-paced Birth Doula Training and Certification Program with Birth, Baby! Academy
This podcast episode is also on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with close captions, you can find the channel HERE.
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The information provided on this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Reliance on any information provided here is solely at your own risk.
Birth, Baby! Podcast was originally produced by Ciarra Morgan and Samantha Kelly.
Ciarra Morgan:
www.EmpoweredBeginningsATX.com
www.BirthBabyAcademy.com
Samantha Kelly:
www.beautifullymadedc.com
