As a social studies teacher turned birth worker, I started out with zero business skills — and honestly, no desire to run a business. For the first decade, placenta encapsulation was just a side hustle, a way to help make ends meet while living on my then-husband's second-year teacher salary. We cut corners wherever we could, and somehow, we made it work.
But in 2020, I found myself divorced and in the middle of a pandemic, and I knew I had to figure something out. I loved processing placentas, yes, but more importantly, I loved helping moms have an empowered and enjoyable postpartum experience.
As a homeschooling mom struggling with anxiety, going back into the classroom was not an option — I wanted to be mentally healthy and present for my kids. So I set forth on a new adventure and began to learn some new skills.
I tried the "traditional" route: I signed up for courses, hired coaches, and spent a lot of money I didn't have chasing the idea that you have to "invest in yourself and your business to succeed." I ended up taking the long way to land back where I started.
The truth is, I am by no means a "Boss Babe." I'm not a businesswoman. I am not a capitalist. I'm an educator and a care worker. I have a shitty money mindset (working on it) and I absolutely loathe having to charge for my services. But the reality is, we live under capitalism, and because of that, I need to "earn" a living. I tried charging what I'm "worth," building courses and coaching programs, and quickly realized… gross. That's not me.
And to be honest, I want to work with folks who really feel it when they make the payment. Because that tells me they truly value and believe in the work I do. And that makes me want to work even harder for them.
What I Believe About Pay
I hate tipping culture. I think every worker should be paid a sustainable wage by default, and if a business owner can't do that, they probably shouldn't be in business. In my case, I am the business owner, and I've priced my services to cover my actual costs. I don’t do markups, "luxury" premiums, or discounts for paying in full. I just price based on what I need.
That said, I'm a single mom. I left a teaching career with a paycheck, pension, and health insurance to raise my kids and build this from scratch. I live simply, but two kids are two kids, and the banks don’t negotiate.
So here's where I want to explain the whole thing about tips. Basically, if you can afford to pay more than the listed price, and you believe this work is worth it, I encourage you to do so. Those extra dollars directly fund my ability to keep prices low for other families. And give me a little more wiggle room in my life.
Let’s Do An Industry Comparison
People sometimes assume doulas and postpartum helpers charge whatever they want. They don't. There are real market rates, and mine sit comfortably below them. Here's what comparable professionals charge in 2026:
Postpartum doula (hourly) $35–$65/hr
House cleaner $25–$40/hr plus tips
Birth doula $1,500–$3,000
Lactation consultant $75–$350/session
ADHD coach (executive function) $75–$150/hr
If the Prices Aren't Accessible
If even the listed price is too much right now, text me and let me know. We can figure out something that works for both of us. Payment plans, reduced-hour packages, referrals to sliding-scale resources — there are options. I would rather talk through them than have you skip getting help because of cost.
Life is expensive, postpartum is hard, and you shouldn't have to choose between your sanity and your getting your bills paid.
A Few Final Notes
You don't owe anyone an explanation for whether or not you tip. Nor would I expect one.
Every client gets the same quality of care, the same attention, and the same respect regardless of what they pay. Period.
If life changes between booking and your appointment, just let me know. We'll adjust.
I'm not trying to build an empire over here. I'm trying to build a practice where no mom has to stumble through her fourth trimester alone, where no family has to decide between eating and getting postpartum support, and where I can feed my kids, fix my car’s oil leak, and sleep at night knowing I did good work.
That's it. That's the whole thing.
Head on over to the home page and ceck out my service offerings: KARMA BIRTH SERVICES
The Green Bottle Method
