Riding the Feast or Famine Rollercoaster in Your Doula Business
Riding the Feast or Famine Rollercoaster in Your Doula Business
If you’ve been a doula for more than a minute, you’ve probably felt it.
The surge of inquiries that fills your calendar—and your heart—with excitement.
The silence that follows a stretch of contracts and makes you question everything.
One day you’re booked out, the next you’re wondering if anyone even knows you exist.
Welcome to what I call the Feast or Famine Cycle—a reality of doula work that no one really talks about.
You're Not Doing Anything Wrong
Let me say this first: if you're currently in a slow season, you are not a bad doula.
You’re not failing.
You’re not behind.
You're simply experiencing a natural part of entrepreneurship.
After 15 years of running a postpartum doula agency, I still go through it. Just last week I was wondering if I should scale back agency work and go all-in on coaching... until a stranger in a coffee shop reminded me exactly why I started this work in the first place.
(You’ll hear the full story on the podcast—trust me, it’s a good one!)
Why This Happens
Unlike a 9–5, our income and client flow aren't steady by default. And if you came from a corporate background, that unpredictability can feel really uncomfortable.
But here's the truth: the feast or famine cycle is normal—especially in your first few years as a doula.
It doesn’t mean you need to revamp your website or slash your prices.
It might just mean you need to pause, breathe, and go back to your foundations.
What To Do During a Slow Season
Here are a few things to focus on when the client flow slows down:
✅ SEO: Is your website showing up when local families search “doula near me”?
✅ Social Media: Are you still showing up online—even when you’re not booked out?
✅ Networking: Have you connected with other local birth pros lately?
✅ Content Creation: Could you write a blog post, record a video, or repurpose a client story?
✅ Mindset: Are you remembering your why?
And above all—trust that this cycle will shift. It always does.
Let’s Normalize This
In the latest episode of the Doula Darcy Podcast, I’m talking openly about this rollercoaster ride. If you’ve been feeling like something’s wrong with you or your business, this is your sign to let go of that fear.
🎧 Click here to listen now or find it on your favorite podcast app.
You are not alone in this.
You are doing enough.
And you are not doing it wrong.