Birth doula

Expecting parents, usually first-time parents or those wanting continuous support, who pay you directly.

A fixed package fee covering prenatal meetings, on-call time, support during labour and a postnatal visit. Some doulas add extras like birth preparation sessions.

• Calm, warm and good at listening
• Comfortable being on call at any hour
• Knowledge of birth and newborn basics
• Respecting clients' choices without giving medical advice

• Doula work is not regulated as a health profession, so check what insurance cover (public liability, possibly professional indemnity) suits you
• A Working with Children Check may be needed in your state or territory, check with your state authority
• Hospitals and birth centres have their own rules about support people, so check them and stay within a non-medical role
• Being on call affects family life and other work, so plan backup arrangements with another doula
• Births are unpredictable and income can be uneven, so don't count on a fixed number of clients

Startup costs are typically around $800 to $3,000, depending on your training, insurance and materials. These are estimates, so compare your own options before you commit.

Monthly revenue is typically around $500 to $3,000, depending on how many clients you take on. Births are unpredictable and income can be uneven, so don't count on a fixed number of clients.

Doula work is not regulated as a health profession, so check what insurance suits you. A Working with Children Check may be needed in your state or territory. Also check hospital and birth centre rules for support people and stay non-medical.