Family Story

What Is a Doula?

A doula is a non-clinical person who is trained to help me have a healthy pregnancy, prepare for birth and parenting, and provide support to me and my family before, during, and just after birth. Doula services complement, but do not replace, medical care I may receive from an obstetrician, certified nurse midwife, or other healthcare professional.

What Can I Expect from My Doula?

My doula will meet with me throughout pregnancy and postpartum and attend my birth in-person, if I choose.  

Before Birth:​ ​During prenatal meetings, my doula can help me prepare for childbirth, talk with me about healthy pregnancy, and help me practice coping techniques to manage discomfort during labor. My doula is also available by phone and can connect me with local resources if needed. 

During Labor:​ ​My doula typically supports me by phone during early labor and joins me in-person once I am in active labor. They will stay with me throughout the duration of my labor and birth, and will provide continuous physical and emotional support, as well as encouragement, to both me and my support person, if present. A doula will also help me put into practice those coping techniques and comfort measures I may have practiced during my prenatal meetings, as well as provide new suggestions as my labor progresses.

After Birth:​ A doula usually stays for a short time after the birth. My doula will then visit me at home, in-clinic, virtually, or in the community for postpartum meetings to answer any questions about things like recovery, feeding, and newborn care, and to talk about my birth story.

What Doulas CAN Do: 

Doulas ​CAN​ offer information and support throughout the pregnancy journey, by participating in a non-clinical role. A doula can help me understand typical labor as well as my own individual birth experience and preferences. A doula can also help me get the evidence-based information that I need to make informed decisions about my care and provide physical support during my labor.

What Doulas CANNOT Do: 

A doula is NOT a clinical provider and CANNOT conduct clinical assessments or evaluations, offer or make diagnoses, prescribe medications, or make clinical care plans. Doulas ​CANNOT perform medical tasks or procedures like checking blood pressure, fetal heart rate, or my cervix for dilation. They don’t speak for me when decisions need to be made; decisions are the responsibility of me and my support person. Doulas take no personal or professional responsibility for the outcome of the birth and the choices I make during pregnancy, birth, or postpartum. Doulas do not provide childcare before, during, or after the birth. If I experience a medical emergency, I agree to call 911 or seek immediate care from a medical provider.

 

Telehealth Services

Meetings with my doula may occur via telehealth (for example, phone or video calls). I acknowledge and agree that:

o   Telehealth involves real-time audio and/or video communication with my doula.

o   There are potential risks to receiving services via telehealth, including interruption, unauthorized access, or technology failure.

o   I have the right to refuse or stop telehealth services at any time.

o   My doula will maintain confidentiality and comply with applicable privacy laws during telehealth visits.

o   If On Up provides me access to a third-party telehealth platform to use for meetings with my doula, I will comply with any applicable third-party terms and conditions for use.

o   I am responsible for providing a private and safe environment for telehealth sessions on my end.

I understand my participation in On Up’s doula services program is voluntary. I may decline or withdraw consent at any time, and doing so will not affect my health insurance benefits or access to other healthcare services.

I give permission to On Up and its contracted doula organizations and doulas to share information regarding my care with others involved​ in my care which may include my OB/Midwife, health plan care manager, public health nurses, care providers, etc.

On Up will keep my health information confidential and protected under applicable privacy laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). I acknowledge that I have received a copy of On Up’s Notice of Privacy Practices. This notice explains my rights and how my information may be used or shared.

On Up participates in certain private and public insurance plans, including MO HealthNet (Missouri Medicaid) and its contracted managed care plans. I acknowledge and agree that:

·      The following applies if I am enrolled in a MO HealthNet plan: If the services I receive are covered, I will not be billed for those services or the difference between the payment On Up receives and On Up’s billed charges. If services are not covered, I will be informed in advance. I will be financially responsible for such non-covered services only if I agree in writing before receiving them.

·      While On Up can assist in clarifying my benefits, I am ultimately financially responsible for fees not covered by my insurance plan, including co-payments, co-insurance, deductibles, and any non-covered services.

·      I will provide On Up with all relevant information needed to bill my insurance,  and I authorize On Up to bill my insurance for the doula services I receive.

·      I authorize On Up to disclose necessary health information to my insurer for the purpose of billing and payment for services I receive.

·      I will notify On Up in a timely manner of any changes to my insurance.

·      As permitted by law, if I do not timely pay any balance that remains after any insurance claims are processed and an explanation of benefits is provided, my account may be forwarded to a collections agency.

 

Authorization for Communications 

In between meetings with my doula, I acknowledge that I may communicate with On Up and my doula through various means, including text messaging, email, phone call, and voicemail. I authorize On Up and my doula to send communications to me using the phone number, email address, and/or other contact information I have provided. Such communications from On Up and my doula may contain my protected health information. I may revoke this authorization or change my information for communications by notifying my doula.

Emails

I acknowledge and agree that:

o   If anyone else has access to my email account, they may view my communications with On Up and my doula, potentially including my protected health information.

o   On Up will implement reasonable safeguards, such as encryption, as required by applicable law to protect email communications, but cannot guarantee absolute confidentiality.

o   Email is not an appropriate means of communication about an emergency. In an emergency or potential emergency, I will call 911 or proceed to the nearest emergency facility and follow the directions of emergency personnel.

Text Messaging

I acknowledge and agree that:

o   If anyone else has access to my phone, they may view my communications with On Up and my doula, potentially including my protected health information.

o   If my mobile carrier charges for text messages that I send to On Up (depending on my mobile carrier and plan), standard messaging and data rates may apply, for which I am solely responsible.

Factors Outside On Up’s Control

I acknowledge and understand that factors outside On Up’s or my doula’s control may prevent or delay my communications to On Up or my doula, or On Up’s or my doula’s communications to me. These factors may include, without limitation, technical failures due to internet service provider, power outages, failure of electronic messaging software, failure of computers or computer networks, or faulty telephone or cable data transmission. Neither On Up nor my doula assumes responsibility for any loss, damage, cost, injury, or expense due to such factors.

I acknowledge that my doula is a trained professional who makes an enormous commitment to be available to me during my pregnancy and birth. To honor my doula’s commitment to me and my family, I agree to: 

·      Arrive at my scheduled meetings in a timely manner and cancel if I am unable to attend.

·      Respond to communications from my doula within a reasonable timeframe and inform my doula as soon as possible if my contact information changes.

·      Call my doula when I go into labor. 

 

I understand that I have the right to:

·      Be treated with dignity and respect.

·      Receive services without discrimination based on my race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

·      Ask questions and receive information in a way I understand.

·      Refuse any service I do not want.

·      File a complaint or grievance without fear of retaliation.

 

I confirm that:

·      I have read (or had read to me) this Client Agreement and Consent to Doula Services.

·      I understand this is an agreement between me and On Up to receive doula services.

·      I have had the opportunity to ask questions.

·      I voluntarily consent to receive doula services from On Up and its affiliated doulas.