DID NOT HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE.
When my wife began labor and was admitted to the hospital, Kim informed us she wouldn't be able to attend the birth. She had Covid and offered us backups. Once labor begins, you likely won't feel like interviewing backups between contractions. You expect a personal connection with your doula and it is hard to replicate that with a stranger. Backup doesn't know you or your situation. It made us uncomfortable so we went without. This service isn't like getting a new uber because one cancels on you. You are hiring a specific person.
All the above, although not ideal, would have been fine. People can't control if they get Covid, but where Kim really disappointed us is she refused us any refund (even a patrial refund). So we ended up paying $1,750 for a single educational meeting with zero support at the hospital (other than text messages). We felt ripped off. She offered some after care support in lieu of a refund but frankly, we didn't really want to see her again at that point.
She'll say her contract provisions say we aren't entitled to a refund. She's got some punitive contract provisions she is hiding behind but if you take money for a service, return the money if you don't deliver the service. Pretty simple. So for that reason, I would discourage anyone from hiring Kim.
If you do hire Kim, be sure to litigate/negotiate all contract provisions with her in detail to protect yourself. Not many people would feel like hiring a lawyer to review a doula agreement but that might be worthwhile for Kim.
-Mike Wilson
December 09, 2022
The Faithful Doula
Birth Fee: $2500 to $3000
Postpartum Rate: $40 to $50