Atlanta Christian Doula Contract 2024
Letter of Agreement
What is our role? As a birth doula, my role is to support you & your family physically, mentally, and emotionally throughout your birth journey. This support begins during pregnancy and continues through your fourth trimester. I help provide education to aid in making informed decisions about your birth. I assist in communicating your needs and desires to your birth attendants. Tools used during labor include but are not limited to: massage, counter pressure, rebozo techniques, breathing techniques, acupressure, aromatherapy, and movements for pain relief and labor progression. I am independent and self-employed. As your doula, I work for you, not your caregiver, provider, or hospital.
Doula services include:
- Dedicated 24/7 on-call support 38 weeks (35 weeks for twins) through birth of baby
- Prenatal support session(s), minimum of one being in-home
- Education and resources shared as requested
- Text/Phone/Virtual availability during pregnancy and early labor
- Support during active labor (or when client requests)
- Support approximately two hours during initial postpartum
- Postpartum support session in home
- Unlimited phone and email support during initial 6 weeks post birth
- Referrals to other providers as needed
1. This agreement is between Atlanta Christian Doula (the “doula”) and (the “client”) whose name is addressed above. Upon signing this contract, a non-refundable retainer of $500 is due to the contractor. At that time, doula support will be mutually agreed upon and will be rendered as defined in this contract. This retainer is non-refundable due to doula's limited availability. Upon receiving payment, doula will reserve client’s birth on their calendar. The remaining balance of $950 (unless specified differently on separate financial agreement) is due by 37 weeks gestation. There is an additional $100 travel fee if client is located outside a 20 mile radius of zip code 30115. If the remaining balance is not paid by 37 weeks, the doula's obligation to provide support at the birth is nullified until payment is received. In the event client goes into labor before 37 weeks and/or before balance is paid, doula can attend birth if payment plan is agreed upon. Doula cannot guarantee presence at birth before 38 weeks due to scheduling but will do everything in her power to be there.
2. Limitation of Services. Doulas are not medical providers and do not provide any medical advice. Doulas do not perform clinical tasks, such as listening to fetal heart tones, assessing dilation, or checking blood pressure. Doulas do not make any decisions for client or speak to staff on client’s behalf. Rather, doulas help to facilitate discussion with client’s care provider.
3. Scope of Services. Due to COVID-19 and restrictions at birth locations, doula support can be either virtual or in-person. Client understands that doulas must operate within the laws and regulations in their shared community. Prenatal Support Sessions can occur in-person or virtually, via phone or a video chat service, such as Zoom or FaceTime. These support sessions last approximately one to two hours. Prenatal support can involve birth preferences formation, childbirth education, and emotional support. Support during labor includes 24/7 availability during on-call window to answer questions via text/phone. In the event in-person support is allowed, doula will join the client when client requests. In the event in-person support is not allowed, doula will provide support virtually (to include phone, text, and video communications as decided by the birthing person). Doula agrees to provide client and partner with at least two different options to communicate during labor. Doula support might look like words of encouragement, breathing techniques, position suggestions, information about the labor process, suggestions to communicate with providers, and questions to ask care team. Postpartum Support Sessions can occur in-person or virtually via the phone or a video chat service, such as Zoom or FaceTime. These support sessions last approximately one to two hours. Doulas will provide information on postpartum care, breastfeeding, and newborn care after the birth. If doula cannot help, doula will find referrals for additional support (such as IBCLC, dentist for tie revisions, pelvic floor therapy, mental health therapist, etc.)
4. Communication. Client is responsible to keep in contact with doula in the weeks leading up to client’s birth. Keep doula updated with appointments and if there are any significant changes in the birth plan. In early labor, notify doula via call or text, so that she can prepare accordingly. If doula do not respond to text within 30 minutes, please call (478-244-3657). Doula will be available to answer questions & help guide your family during early labor. If client goes into active labor and doula has not already been notified, notify doula as soon as active labor has been established. Doula may need up to two hours from active labor notification, or notification of when doula's presence has been requested, to arrive at client’s birth depending on birth or home location. Doula needs 30 minutes from active notification to support client’s birth virtually.
5. Refunds due to unexpected situations. Client acknowledges that by hiring a doula, they are retaining her for their birth window. As a result, doula set aside time, energy, and resources to support client. Unexpected situations are common in birth, but do not necessarily result in a refund. If client no longer wants birth services before 36 weeks, a refund (minus the retainer fee) will be issued. If client no longer wants birth services after 36 weeks, a partial refund of 50% is available. If client decides to not call or notify doula during labor, a refund is not available. If client delivers baby precipitously, a refund is not available as long as doula arrives within the specified timeframe of two hours. Precipitous births are not the fault of client or doula. If client has a planned cesarean birth, a refund is not available. Doulas will still offer support before, during, and after birth.
*** Cesarean Section: this is not a surgery that is anticipated to happen at the time of hire. In the event you have a cesarean section, planned or emergency, all fees will remain the same for support. Doula will stay and offer as much support as the medical staff will allow. It is up to client to secure doula's place in the operating room if desired. If scheduled, doula will meet client at their home or the hospital prior to scheduled time. Doula will accompany client in the operating room if allowed by medical staff, and offer emotional support and infant feeding support after the birth. If for some reason doula is not allowed to be present in the operating room (emergency, policy, preference, etc.), doula will join client after the birth in the recovery area if allowed or designated postpartum room to provide emotional and infant feeding support after the birth. At home, postpartum support is available and can be arranged after the birth.
*** It is the client’s responsibility to ensure place of birth (hospital, birth center or home birth midwife) is aware of doula and doesn’t have guidelines against doula support. Doula is not responsible if medical staff does not allow in-person or virtual support. If the client has a c-section or is in an emergency situation, it is client’s responsibility to discuss doula’s presence in the operating room (OR) or birth space. If doula is not allowed in the OR (vaginal or cesarean birth) or into birth-space virtually or in-person, no refund is available. If doula is unavailable or does not answer text or phone-calls within the specified time, a refund is appropriate.
6. COVID Specific Information. Due to constantly changing restrictions due to COVID-19, doula and client have agreed that virtual support will replace in-person support in the event hospitals, birth centers, or homebirths are not allowing extra visitors or a state, local, or federal governmental agency restricts such access. Additionally in the event that either doula or the birthing family are displaying symptoms of COVID-19 and/or have knowingly been exposed to a person testing positive for COVID-19 within the previous 14 days, virtual support may occur for the safety and well-being of all parties. Doula and client agree to be transparent and vigilant in monitoring their own health and exposure to COVID-19. Due to the fact that transmission can occur asymptomatically, client cannot hold doula responsible for unintended exposure nor can doula hold client responsible for unintended exposure. Doula agrees to inform the client if she has a fever over 100 degrees F and/or have had known exposure to a person testing positive for the virus within the previous 14 days. In the event doula develops symptoms during birth, she can leave immediately upon agreement with client. In the event doula or client contracts COVID-19 within 2 weeks following birth, they agree to notify each party of their positive test. Client understands that he/she is purchasing services with a known risk of being exposed to COVID-19. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, client on her own behalf and on behalf of her born or unborn child, waives any and all liability against doula except for intentional or grossly negligent misconduct.
7. Birth Outcome. Doula is not liable for any birth outcome. Doula cannot guarantee a certain birth outcome such as an unmedicated or vaginal birth. Client is responsible for choosing a care provider and birth location that best suits their personal needs. Doula will help facilitate communication between client and provider, and offer emotional and physical support, but ultimately cannot impact the course of birth or decisions made by client and provider. Doula will support client during pregnancy, labor, and in the postpartum period in whatever choices the client makes. At no point will doula take over, exclude partner, or assume decision-making during birth.
8. Privacy. Doula respects and maintain client’s privacy by following HIPPA guidelines. Doula will not post any images or any identifying information on social media without explicit permission by client.
9. Weather. If doula is unable to attend birth due to extreme weather conditions (blizzard conditions, hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, etc.) or an act of God, doula and client shall attempt virtual support and/or a back-up doula will be called. If virtual or back-up support is not available due to extreme weather, all monies will be applied to additional postpartum sessions due to doula being on-call and available during client’s birth window.
10. Sickness/Emergencies. If doula is unable to perform due to sickness, emergency, or causes beyond doula's control like road closures, hospital restrictions, etc, doula and client shall attempt virtual support and/or a back-up will be called. If virtual or back-up support is not available due to these scenarios, all monies will be applied to additional postpartum sessions due to doula being on-call and available during client’s birth window.
11. Technology. If doula is providing virtual support during birth, neither doula nor client can guarantee fail-proof technology. Doula will provide client with at least two options to contact doula during birth. In the rare event there are multiple technical malfunctions and doulas cannot provide support via both options, all monies will be applied to additional postpartum sessions due to doula being on-call and available during client’s birth window. Doula is not responsible if client forgets to bring a device, if device isn’t fully charged, or if client forgets to use device.
12. The client agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless doula against any and all damages, liabilities, and costs (including attorney fees) asserted against or suffered by doula relating to any breach by the client of any term of this agreement. Doula shall also have the right to seek an injunction to prevent any violation of this agreement.
13. Doula will not tolerate any emotional, physical or verbal abuse. If an abusive situation arises at the reasonable discretion of doula, then doula can leave and the retainer and any balance will be kept. If there is any issue with services provided, client will not slander doula in any public form and will reach out to doula to address any concerns.
By electronically signing below, you agree to the Terms & Agreements of this contract.