Birth Doula Fees and Contract

My Role:

As your birth doula, I am hired by you and I am working for you personally, not your caregiver or hospital. My main goal as your doula is to help you have a satisfying birth experience, as you define it. As a birth doula I provide you with continuous emotional and physical support during labor and birth. I also provide you and your partner with informational and educational support during your pregnancy, labor and birth. I will help to encourage clear and effective communication with your health care team to ensure that they understand your labor/birth goals and that you have the information needed to make informed decisions regarding your baby’s birth. As a doula I do not question or judge your choices, I am here to support you. I will strictly observe client confidentiality and all information that you share will be kept between us.

I do not:

As I doula I do not preform medical tasks, such as but not limited to, vaginal checks, blood pressure, fetal heart checks, etc. I am not a trained medical professional. As a birth doula I am there to provide only physical and emotional support, as well as advocacy and education.

As a doula, I do not make any decisions for you. I am there to help you get the information you need to make your informed decisions. I am there to encourage informed consent from your care provider. I will remind you if there is a departure from your birth plan, and I will verify if this is your informed decision.

As a doula, I do not speak to the medical staff regarding matters where health care decisions are being made. I can discuss your concerns with you, make suggestions, and help you to understand your options. I will support you in discussions with staff as your advocate, making sure you have the opportunity to discuss concerns, but you or your partner will speak on your behalf to the medical staff.

As a doula it is not in my scope of practice to transport you to your intended birth location.

Initial Consult:

This is like an interview of sorts. During this appointment we have the opportunity to get to know each other, and see if we will work well together. We can discuss your birth goals and the role that you imagine a doula will play in your birth. I encourage you to ask me any questions that you may have. It is very important that you and your partner are comfortable with me and with my role in the birth. If you or your partner decide that we do not fit well, I encourage you to say so, and I will be happy to refer you to a list of local doulas with whom you may have a better connection. If you do decide to hire me as your doula, you must sign this contract and return it via email or in person. The deposit is required in order to reserve your due date on my calendar. A payment receipt for the deposit will be given at this time.

Prenatal Visit:

This meeting is usually in your home. In this appointment we go over the goals for the upcoming birth, discuss concerns or fears, comfort measures during pregnancy and labor, create a supportive postpartum plan, and go over any other areas of interest for birth preparation. We will make a plan for when you expect me to come to the birth. Some clients want support at home before they transfer to the hospital or birth center, others want me to meet them there. We will work together during this appointment to make a plan that works best for you and your partner.

Availability: (Non-Immediate)

I am available to you by phone, text, or email immediately following the signing of this contract and payment of deposit. I am available Monday through Friday 9 am to 5 pm for non-immediate questions/concerns. I aim to respond as soon as possible, but may take up to 24 hours. If there is an emergency you should always contact 911 and your health care provider immediately.

On-Call:

I am on call to you and your family to attend your birth from 38 weeks to 42 weeks of pregnancy. If you happen to go into labor before or after this period, I will still make every effort to be there. During this period I will be available for you by phone/text at all times. If for any reason, I do not answer when you call, please leave a message and I will return your call as soon as is practicable.

In Labor:

I ask that you call/text me when you think you are in labor, even if you do not yet need me. This gives me the chance to make arrangements for my kids and clear my schedule. I can answer questions and make suggestions over the phone, and we can decide if I should come to you then or wait for further change. I can meet you at your home or your planned place of birth, we will make this plan ahead of time. Once you confirm that you are in labor, we will then plan to check in with one another every hour, or as often as you prefer, by phone. It is up to you to decide at what point in your labor you want me to come and be with you. I usually need approximately one hour to get to you from the time you ask me to come, but depending on our distance from one another this could take longer. Once you call me and let me know you’d like me to come and begin supporting you, I will make every effort to be there within in one hour. Except for extraordinary circumstances, I will remain with you throughout your labor and birth.

After Birth:

Circumstances permitting, I generally stay with my clients one to two hours after birth. I can help to protect the golden hour after birth, as well as help initiate breastfeeding. For cesarean births, I may stay longer. I will remain with you until you are comfortable, and your family is ready for quiet time together. Each situation and birth is different and my duties will vary depending on your needs. Even once I go home, I am available to answer questions about the birth, breastfeeding, or your baby.

Postpartum Visit:

I will arrange a postpartum visit within a few days after the birth. I will come to your home for this appointment. During this visit, I can provide breastfeeding support, baby care tips, referrals to community resources, and a chance to discuss your birth experience.

Failure to Provide Services:

If you cancel doula services after entering this agreement but prior to six weeks before your estimated due date, your deposit of $400 will be forfeited and nothing more will be owed. Cancellation of services within six weeks of your estimated due date will result in a $600 charge.

If my failure to attend your birth is due to an error on your part during the period in which I am on call (38-42 weeks), including but not limited to failing to call me or deciding against have a doula present at the birth full payment for my services is required pursuant to this contract.

If I am unable to attend your birth due to a rapid labor (baby is born less than two hours after you call me and ask me to come), I will provide 4 hours of postpartum doula support once you are discharged from the hospital, at no cost to you. This can include assistance with breastfeeding, laundry, cleaning, baby care, cooking, etc. My full fee applies.

Any other circumstances out of my control that result in my absence at your birth will be addressed on a case-by-case basis, and may result in a refund of your deposit and/or wavier of your remaining bill.

If for any reason you decide to have a cesarean section and that you do not want a doula to attend the birth, you will still be required to make full payment for my services pursuant to this contract. Please note that under these circumstances a doula can still support you through a cesarean section birth. I will also provide 2, four hour, postpartum sessions to help you around the house as well as with breastfeeding and newborn care.

If you try calling me, are unable to get in touch with me within two hours from your first call, and your baby is born without me attending the birth or if I do not attend your birth as a result of negligence on my part, you will receive a full refund of all fees paid.

Fees:

My birth doula fee varies by the package you choose. There is a $400 deposit due when we sign our contract. This holds your due month a spot on my schedule. The final payment is to be paid at your prenatal visit. Payment must be completed before I am on call for you. When possible I am able to offer sliding scale prices to a small number of clients. We can discuss this together.

I charge a $50 returned check fee.

I charge a $100 travel fee for clients outside of my surrounding area. This is a one time fee added to your the price of your chosen package.

Birth Packages:

Package 1- $1000

• Consultation

• One prenatal meeting

• On call for you from 38-42 weeks

• Phone and text support throughout pregnancy

• Birth attendance

• One hour immediate postpartum

• One in home postpartum visit

Package 2- $1200

• Consultation

• One prenatal meeting

• On call for you from 38-42 weeks

• Phone and text support throughout pregnancy

• Birth attendance

• One hour immediate postpartum

• One in home postpartum visit

• Placenta Encapsulation

Package 3- $1200

• Consultation

• Two prenatal meetings

• Assistance with birth plan

• On call from 38-42 weeks

• Phone and text support throughout pregnancy

• Birth attendance

• One hour immediate postpartum

• One in home postpartum visit

Package 4- $1400

• Consultation

• Two prenatal meetings

• Assistance with birth plan

• On call from 38-42 weeks

• Phone and text support throughout pregnancy

• Birth attendance

• One hour immediate postpartum

• One in home postpartum visit

• Placenta Encapsulation

Package 5- $1400

• Consultation

• Two prenatal meetings

• Assistance with birth plan

• On-call from 38-42 weeks

• Phone and text support throughout pregnancy

• Birth Attendance

• Two hour immediate postpartum

• Two in home postpartum appointments

Package 6- $1600

• Consultation

• Two prenatal meetings

• Assistance with birth plan

• On-call from 38-42 weeks

• Phone and text support throughout pregnancy

• Birth Attendance

• Two hour immediate postpartum

• Two in home postpartum appointments

• Placenta Encapsulation

I/We have read this contract describing the doula’s services and agree to enter into a client-doula relationship for pregnancy and birth.

Pregnant Person:__________________________________________________________________________

Date:____________________________Phone #:____________________________________

Partner:_____________________________________________________________________________________

Date:____________________________Phone #:____________________________________

Doula:_______________________________________________________________________________________

Date:____________________________Phone #:____________________________________