My Goals as Your Doula

• I will support you during your pregnancy, labor, and in the postpartum period, in whatever choices you make.
• I will provide information to enable you to make informed choices.
  
• I will remain up to date on current research into birth-related issues.
  
• I believe that birth is a normal physiological process and an important journey in a mother and father’s life (partner’s life).
• I will maintain complete confidentiality of all details relating to your pregnancy and birth.
• I will strive to support you during labor to ensure a positive birth experience and to help you to achieve the type of birth you would like. 
• As I am independent and self-employed, I will be working for you, not your care provider or hospital.
• I do not perform clinical tasks such as blood pressure or fetal heart rate monitoring. I do provide physical, emotional, and educational support. As your doula, I can also provide additional services to you such as belly/breast casting, placenta encapsulation, belly binding, vaginal steams, and breastfeeding support. (Each at an additional charge)

• I will draw on my knowledge and experience to provide emotional support, physical comfort, and clear communication so that you may make informed decisions during your pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.
• I can provide reassurance and perspective to you, make suggestions to help labor progress, and help with relaxation, massage, positioning, and other techniques for comfort.
• I will be on call for you 24 hours a day beginning one week before your estimated due date (EDD) until 1 week after your estimated due date.  This means that I will carry my cell phone with me at all times, and will not leave the local area. If there is an emergency or unknown event a member of our care team from Birthing Tree will contact you and update you that they will take over your care. (Additional contact numbers for me and other care team members will be provided to you)
• I will take responsibility as your primary doula. I am the person that you first contact when you are in labor. If for any reason you are unable to contact me, or due to an emergency I cannot be with you, please contact your assigned back-up doula. I will provide contact details to you. 

• Once you have requested me to act as your doula, I will arrange a prenatal visit. During this visit we can discuss any questions you might have, fill out my prenatal intake form, and go over what your expectations of me will be as your doula. 
• The presence of a doula lifts the sole responsibility of the labor off the shoulders of your partner, allowing them to enjoy the whole birth process. I can help your partner to feel calm and informed, giving them ideas to continue support from beginning to end. At no time will I "take over" or deliberately exclude your partner. I am there to provide support to both of you at all times. Sometimes a partner likes to stay by the mother’s side during the duration of labor, while others prefer to take a break. This is your birth experience and it is important that you feel free to decide on what you want at the time. 
• I will provide a prenatal visit to configure a birth road map. 
• I will answer questions and make suggestions over the phone any time before labor begins.
• I will provide early labor support as requested, including in your home. If you request early labor support in your home this will be considered a portion of your 12 hours of labor time as explained below.
• I will remain with you once active labor has begun until one to two hours after your baby is born. Active labor begins at 6cm. Our labor doula fee includes up to 12 hours of labor time.  Should the time frame exceed 12 hours each hour thereafter you request me to attend the labor/birth/postpartum period and will be charged an hourly rate of $40 per hour.  I will take short breaks for meals and restroom breaks as time allows. I will discuss with you that you are nearing the 12 hours of labor time and will not leave unannounced or if it is deemed inappropriate based on the circumstance of labor. 
• I may utilize non-medical support techniques for labor and birth.
• I will strive to maintain a calm and peaceful birth environment.
• I will assist in providing information and supplying emotional support by telephone on postpartum care, breastfeeding, and newborn care after the birth, as requested. Please contact me if you have any concerns. If I cannot help, I will be able to provide a local referral that will best suit your needs. I will help to initiate the breastfeeding process, if your desire is to breastfeed. Please note, I am not a board certified lactation consultant, but will refer you to one if you would like. If you wish to bottle feed your baby, I will help you with the first feeding.
• Within the first 14 days after the birth of your baby, I will visit you at home or in the hospital. I will answer any questions or provide a referral to the appropriate professional that can meet your needs.

• You will complete a birth road map (if it is your desire to make birth choices prior to labor) and discuss this with your caregiver.
• You will tour your birth facility. (Provided that is a possibility, if not you will view their virtual tour)
• You will call me when you think you may be in labor, even if you are unsure if the contractions will continue, so that I may make arrangements to attend your birth.
• You will allow me approximately one to two hours (longer for out of area destinations) to reach you.

• A fifty-percent (50%) retainer based on total package cost will be due within 7 days of requesting me to act as your doula. With the remaining fifty-percent (50%) of your package due by 35 weeks gestation. (Payment arrangements may be made and detailed on the signature page.)
• If you decide not to employ me as your doula after signing this contract, the following will apply:

• Cancellation between 4 weeks and 2 weeks before your due date – all fees paid will be donated as volunteer time at a birth for a less fortunate family.
• Cancellation less than 2 weeks before your due date – nil refund

• If, after signing this contract, you plan to have an elective cesarean and do not require me to be with you immediately before and after the birth of your baby, an amended service is available. I will still provide full prenatal care and one postpartum visit. If you choose this amended package, you must advise me of your decision to have a planned cesarean at least 2 days before your estimated due date for this amended package to apply. 
• If you would like additional prenatal or postnatal visits, these are available as requested. The cost for this is $35 per hour for visits made between 9 am and 5 pm on weekdays. For visits outside of these times, or on weekends or public holidays, the cost is $100 per hour. These visits are invoiced separately.

It is my responsibility to serve my clients well and in good health. I will not bring illness near or around your family. I will not expose myself to known sources of illness. Therefore; if you become ill or your birth partner is experiencing illness on the day of labor I will not be present. I cannot allow myself to be surrounded by illness knowing I will be in contact with expectant families and newborns. Therefore in instances of COVID, flu, strep, or other communicable infection, I will not be present. Your money that has been received by Birthing Tree, LLC will be placed towards postpartum services and/or placenta services of your choice.

• I will make every effort to provide the services described here.
• In the case of a rapid birth or medical emergency, it may be impossible for me to provide these services.
• If you contact me to advise that you are in labor with reasonable time for me to arrive, but I do not attend your birth due to an error on my part, I will refund the total amount paid less the cost of any prenatal care already provided. If you are unable to contact me you are required to attempt to contact your backup doula, and leave a message for the primary doula. 
• If you fail to call me to advise that you are in labor, for whatever reason, you will not be due a refund of amounts paid. If there is a remaining balance outstanding, this will still be due.

• In some circumstances, labor progresses more quickly than anticipated. If you call me to advise that your labor has progressed very quickly and delivery is imminent or your baby has been born unexpectedly at home, I will call an ambulance and notify them of the hospital you were planning to deliver at and arrange for you to be transferred.
• If your baby arrives unexpectedly at home with me present, you or your partner will be responsible for the delivery of your baby. I will call 911 and allow them to give you directive.

I am not responsible for delivering your baby or performing any clinical/medical skills or task related to the delivery of your baby or the care of yourself.

In signing this contract, you agree that I have discussed all the points herein and you understand and agree with them.