Joanne,
Re: CL
Agree with you $1.8k for a CL is far too expensive when it does not include cleaning and laundry for hubby.
Just to share with you. Since this is your 1st baby, with advantages of PIL living near you, you can infact try confinement without a CL.
Like me, when I had my 1st boy, i did it totally without a CL. My MIL would cook lunch and dinner for me, make 2 flask of red date tea to last me for 1 whole day (FIL bring over since I not staying with them) I look after the baby myself, as a newborn, they will be busy sleeping away, waking onli every 2 hr to be fed. I bath him twice a day, meaning onli 4 pcs of infant clothes to be washed daily, using diaper, use and throw without extra nappy to be washed. My HB and my clothes washed in machine. HB help with hse work.
My baby sleep together on the same bed with me during day time and i just nurse him when he is awake and sleep together with him so that i don't have to rush to carry him when he cries.
My MIL would pop by everyweek to make sure diapers and milk powder are stock up for enough. This really help me to save $$ and at the same time don't have to put up with another extra's person's style of hasndling things.
For No. 2, I'm actually glad that a got my CL's help cos i more busy with my 1st than my newborn. He wants me to play with him, sing to him and bring him for his walk walk that kind of thing. Had it not been for my CL, i think most probably gone mad, handling a toddle and a newborn.
Hope the above help with your decision. But bottomline, discuss with your hubby cos his pressence, support and hand on help a great deal