How Much Does a Doula Cost in Berlin? Prices, What’s Included, and Why Quality Comes at a Price

Many families in Germany start exploring doula support when they realise that, while birth itself is covered by health insurance, continuous emotional and personalised support often isn’t.

Money can feel like a taboo topic, especially around health and care. Some doulas choose not to share their prices publicly.

But it matters to me that you know how much I charge and what is included, so you can calmly decide whether this feels right for you.

Doulas don’t choose this profession to get rich ;) I personally left a high-paying career in digital work to become a doula because of passion and commitment. Supporting families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum is deeply meaningful to me. But this dedication comes with really big investments in time and care for which your doula will need to be fairly compensated.

Doula Prices in Berlin: What’s the Range?

In Berlin, birth doula prices generally range from €1,200 to €3,500, depending on experience, availability, and what is included in the support package.

Doula care in Germany is not currently reimbursed by public health insurance, which means it is usually paid out of pocket.

My Birth Doula Package in Berlin costs €1,700

I am Anne Matei, a Berlin-based birth doula, certified and experienced. I charge €1,700 for comprehensive birth support.

My "Empowered Birth" package includes:

• A non-binding initial call, to see if we are a good fit and to answer first questions

• Four prenatal meetings

• On-call availability from 14 days before your due date until birth

• Unconditional presence at your birth — whether labour lasts a few hours or several days

• One postpartum meeting to talk through and integrate your birth experience

• Support via calls/messages in the first 6 weeks post birth. You have someone to talk to, in the depth of the postpartum.

There are no hourly limits during labour, no extra charges for long births. Just caring support throughout.

I offer a wide range of services, from massages, to planned C-section support or 1-1 sessions to talk about breastfeeding or birth plans.

A Transparent and Respectful Booking Process

After our initial call, if we both feel aligned, I share my service contract with you. You are given time to review it at your pace, ask questions, and suggest adjustments if needed.

We then take the time to talk again, go through any open points together, and only move forward once everything feels clear and comfortable for you.

I want to work with clients who are feeling confident about working together. You need to find the doula who is right for you. Rushing or forcing your decision would not lead to positive outcomes — neither for you, nor for me

Why Does a Doula Cost This Much?

When I am on call for you, I block my calendar completely. Your birth becomes my priority, day and night.

This means:

• I organise my family life around your possible birth window (I don't plan a weekend away, I may miss an important family event, I may have to pay extra for childcare, taxis to reach you fast in the middle of the night etc.).

• I stay available for long labours, inductions, "early" or "late"births, this magical uncertainty...!

• I plan for backup support when necessary, so you are not left without care

• I offer continuous, personalised emotional and physical support to you and your partner during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. To do this well, I need to maintain balanced mental health and good physical health. Supporting you fully is a real investment on my side both in time and energy.

• I invest in my professional development by attending mentorship, training, and psychological support, which helps me provide grounded guidance during challenging births.

• I spend significant time networking and building relationships with midwives, doctors, and hospitals, so I can collaborate effectively and understand the systems you’ll interact with. If I haven’t yet worked in your hospital, birthing centre, or with your home-birth midwife, I make the effort to visit the location or/and meet them beforehand. Much of this is invisible labour.

• I also:

  • Carry professional insurance

  • Pay taxes

  • Work in a fully legitimate and ethical framework

    
    

My pricing reflects the time, responsibility, availability, and emotional labour involved, and allows me to offer this work sustainably.

Doula vs Midwife in Germany: What’s the Difference?

Midwives are medical professionals who provide essential clinical care. In busy Berlin hospitals, they often care for several birthing people at once and work in shifts.

A doula is not a medial professional, she is working for YOU not for the hospital. Your doula:

• Is only there for you and to support your interest

• Does not change shifts: you’ll be supported by me from our initial meeting through to the birth and postpartum meeting.

• Focuses on emotional support, comfort, presence...

• Is supporting objective and informed decision making without pushing her own agenda

  
  

A doula does not replace a midwife — she complements the medical system.

Health Insurance Covers Only the Basics

In Germany, birth and medical care are mostly covered by public health insurance, unlike in countries like the U.S., where private support is common.

But what is included in Berlin is often the very basics.

This means many parents may experience:

• Feeling lonely on busy wards at delivery and after

• Limited time with staff

• Language barriers, especially for international families

• Lack of emotional continuity

• Occasionally receiving biased advice based on staff agendas

For a more personalised experience, more and more families pay out of pocket for a doula. A doula fills these gaps by offering calm and knowledgeable presence, emotional safety, continuity, and advocacy.

Is a Doula Worth It?

YES! Full transparency: I am a doula — so yes, I am biased, but this belief isn’t just personal.

The benefits of a doula are fact-based. Research shows that continuous one-to-one support from a doula during labour is linked to:

• Shorter labours

• Lower caesarean rates

• Less use of medical pain relief, including epidurals

• Higher satisfaction and sense of control

These benefits are strongest when the support person is not hospital staff, but there solely for the birthing person and their partner; this is exactly what a doula provides.

A doula doesn’t guarantee a specific birth outcome, but offers continuous support, helping you feel held and cared for no matter how your birth unfolds.

What Does Your Baby-Budget Go Into?

The birth of your child happens once. The experience will stay with you for a lifetime.

Doula support is an investment in:

• Your emotional wellbeing

• Your sense of agency during birth

• Your partner’s experience

• How you remember this life-changing moment

But it is a budget for some families. You may explore different ways to support financing your doula care.

✨ Conscious Prioritisation

 Many families spend up to €1,000–€1,500 on prams, toys or new clothes, things your baby may use for a relatively short time. If you have a limited budget you may choose to invest less in equipment and more in support. You could privilege buying second hand items for example.

✨ Crowdfunding or Family Gifts

Asking family and friends to contribute to doula support instead of material baby gifts can be a practical option.

✨ Payment Plans

I am happy to explore instalment options whenever possible, to adapt to different financial situations.

Quality Over Quantity

I usually support around one birth per month. This allows me to be fully present, well-rested, and emotionally available for each family.

Anne Matei is a birth and postpartum doula based in Berlin, supporting French-, English-, and German-speaking families. She accompanies births in hospitals, birth centers, and home births (alongside midwives). Read what families say about working with her in client testimonials. Feel free to get in touch to schedule a non-binding introductory call.