Letter of Agreement Describing Doula Services, Limits, and Fees
What is a Birth Doula?
As a birth doula, I accompany you in labor and draw on my professional training, knowledge, intuition, and experience to provide physical, emotional, and informational support, and as needed, communication with other members of your birth team to make sure that you have the information you need to make informed decisions as they arise in labor. I can provide reassurance and perspective to you and your partner, make suggestions for labor progress, and help with relaxation, massage, positioning and other techniques for comfort. I can provide breastfeeding assistance and support and general herbal reference pertaining to the childbearing year. As a doula I also provide a lending library of books and optional labor tools available for your use. Upon hire, I will be available as a resource via phone or email. I am independent and self-employed. As your doula, I am working for you, not your caregiver or hospital.
I will meet you and your partner (if applicable) for an initial consultation to see if we are a good fit for each other and after hire, we will have at least 1 prenatal appointment and a postpartum planning session if desired. During prenatal visits we will become acquainted, talk about self care during pregnancy, explore and discuss your priorities and any fears or concerns, discuss your birth plan and plan how we might best work together. I also want to know your own best ways of coping with pain and fatigue and how you and your partner foresee working together. These visits are a time for us to learn and practice what will be most helpful for you in preparation of your birth. We may also talk about plans for homebirth transfer or other situations as is helpful.
I will also inform you of times when I am unavailable for labor support. To cover those times, I will arrange one or more qualified back-up doulas.
I am available by phone and email during regular business hours for non-emergency questions or concerns. If you suspect you may be in labor, please notify me immediately so I can begin to make arrangements if needed and leave promptly when you are ready for me to come.
When You are in Labor
I prefer that you call me at 385-505-4082 when you think you are in labor. I can answer questions and make suggestions over the phone. We will decide if I should come right then or wait for further change. Ideally I will join you and your partner (if applicable) once you are in active labor. I may need a minimum of 1.5 hours to get to you from the time you ask me to come. We will also decide where to meet--at your home, the hospital, or birth center. Except for extraordinary circumstances, I will remain with you throughout labor and birth.
After Birth
I usually remain with you for one or two hours after birth, until you are comfortable and your family is ready for quiet time together. I can also help with initial breastfeeding, if necessary. I am available to answer questions about the birth or your baby. I provide 1 in-home postpartum visit following birth to see how you and your baby are doing and to review the birth. I will also bring a nourishing meal to this visit. I also offer full or partial postpartum doula services as an additional service and various add ons listed below.
As a Doula, I do NOT:
- Perform clinical tasks, such as blood pressure, fetal heart checks, vaginal exams, and others. I am there to provide only physical, emotional, and informational support. If you choose not to hire a medically trained provider (midwife or OB), you understand that I am not a replacement and that I am not permitted to provide medical care or give medical advice.
- Make decisions for you. I will always encourage you to listen to your body and your intuition. If necessary I will help you get the information necessary to make informed decisions. I will also remind you if there is a departure from your birth plan and encourage you and your partner to advocate for yourselves and your birth preferences.
Failure of a Doula to Provide Service:
I will make every effort to provide the services described here and to provide a backup doula in the case of emergency. If I am unable to perform service because you do not call me, you will still be responsible for costs.
Traditional Postpartum Care
What is a Traditional Postpartum Doula?
A traditional postpartum doula (practitioner) is a non-medical, traditionally trained, postpartum care provider who comes into the home to offer mother-centered support for an agreed upon period of time. Postpartum services emphasize nourishing food preparation, gentle body work, herbal healing, or warming therapies. They may also offer educational resources or practical home or infant support.
As your postpartum doula/practitioner I may make herbal remedies to support your healing and may offer herbal reference as needed. I will meet you during pregnancy if desired for a postpartum planning session and provide a planning guide if needed/desired.
Obligations of the Client
The Client(s) agrees to inform the Practitioner of any special needs, food or herbal allergies, physical limitations/injuries or customs they may have during the postpartum time. The Client(s) agrees to be present the agreed upon times of service and if they are not available the Client agrees to contact the Practitioner as soon as possible to reschedule care.
Obligations of the Care Practitioner
The practitioner will make every effort to be on time and with the Client at the agreed upon times/dates. If the Practitioner is unable to come due to sickness or other emergencies the Client or their representative will be informed as soon as possible, and every effort will be made to reschedule.
Packages and Investment
50% of the total amount is due on the date this contract is signed as a retainer fee. The remaining amount is due by 36 weeks pregnancy. Payment plans must be discussed prior to signing this contract and agreed upon by both parties and put in writing in the contract.
My services are as follows:
Complete Birth Package $1,850
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
Getting Started
- 30-minute complimentary pre-booking consultation
Prenatal Support
- 1-3 in-home prenatal visits including birth plan creation and/or discussion
- Postpartum planning and guide
- Herbal gift box including: pregnancy and postpartum teas, herbal massage oil, healing salve for mama and baby, warming womb salve, herbal peri spray, and sitz bath herbs
- Access to lending library
- Availability via texting, phone, and email from time of hire through last postpartum visit
- On call from 37 weeks until your birth
- Resources and referrals
- Herbal knowledge and reference
Birth Support
- Continuous Labor and Birth Support
- Partner support during labor
- Emotional, physical, and informational support throughout labor
- Breastfeeding support immediately after birth
Postpartum Support
- 1 in-home postpartum visit - birth processing and breastfeeding follow-up
- A nourishing meal brought to you postpartum
- Resources, referrals, and herbal knowledge to support recovery
Nourished Mother Package $2,750+ (Complete Birth Package and First Forty Days Postpartum Package Bundle*)
Complete Birth Package (All offerings above) AND
First Forty Days Package
(Weekly visits are a minimum of 4 hours each, over the course of 5 or more weeks. Package starts at 20 hours of support, additional hours $50)
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
Getting Started
- 30-minute complementary pre-booking consultation— A chance to connect, ask questions, and see if we’re a good fit
Postpartum Planning and planning guide
Herbal Postpartum Recovery Box— A full assortment of essential herbal remedies to support healing and complimentary refills as needed during the care period including: pregnancy and postpartum teas, skin healing salve for mom and baby, warming womb balm, herbal body oil, peri spray, and sitz bath herbs.
Weekly In-Home Postpartum Visits— Each visit is mother-centered and may include any of the following:
- Preparation of nourishing traditional foods to support recovery and lactation (see “Meal Planning and Preparation Services” below)
- Preparation of an herbal (sitz) bath, yoni steam, and/or foot soak
- Guided meditation for birth processing and integration
- Belly binding support
- Traditional Bodywork or Rebozo Closing Ceremony:
- Application of warming womb salve and Mayan abdominal work
- Rebozo sifting and body alignment
- Rebozo binding (“Closing of the Bones”)
- Warming practices including Moxibustion (mother warming) and castor oil packs
- Breastfeeding support
- Placenta burial facilitation
Meal Planning and Preparation Services (optional-client covers cost of groceries)
- Nesting support and pantry stocking
- Complimentary weekly meal planning and grocery list
- Optional grocery pickup during work hours
- Batch cooking
- Ancestral Foods— Preparation of warming teas, broths, snacks, and nutrient dense meals that are easy to digest, promote healing, and support lactation
Educational and Practical Support Available
- Light housework such as dishes, laundry, or basic tidying
- Infant/childcare as needed when mother is resting or bathing
- Self care education: various massage techniques, holistic pelvic care and core support, cesarean section scar care, yoni steaming, and more
- Resources or information on topics such as breastfeeding, co-sleeping, cloth diapering, wool care, elimination communication, diastasis recti, pelvic organ prolapse, and more
- Access to lending library
- Local resources and referrals
- Herbal knowledge and reference
- Availability via texting, phone, and email from time of hire through end of contract and as needed in the first year
Add ons available for Birth & Postpartum Services:
- Womb steaming education and all supplies (including stool, pot, and herbal blend for 30 days- $150
- Mothers Blessing - $250
- In-home Rebozo Closing Ceremony - $150 (included in postpartum package)
- Placenta Encapsulation - $200
*Bundled package includes 1-3 prenatal visits including postpartum planning, one postpartum recovery box and guide. Postpartum visit described in birth package is replaced by expanded postpartum visits from First Forty Days Package.