Birth Doula Contract
Introduction:
I am so excited to welcome you as my client. Please read this document carefully before signing or accepting it, as it outlines the terms, expectations, and boundaries of our relationship and the support I provide. By signing or accepting this agreement, you acknowledge and accept the terms outlined below. It is important that you make an informed decision about whether my services are right for you. Please contact me before proceeding if you have any questions or concerns.
As your doula, my primary goal is to support you and your family as you navigate pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. As my client, you are a priority, and I aim to provide care that honours your individual journey and needs.
My role is to offer emotional, physical, and informational support throughout the duration of our time together. I may provide resources and evidence-based information to support informed decision-making; however, I am not a medical professional and do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. I will support you in exploring evidence, options, and your intuition so you can make decisions that feel aligned for you.
Services and Support
• Prenatal Support:
Throughout your pregnancy, I will offer tailored prenatal sessions designed to help you prepare for birth and postpartum in a way that is specific to you. These sessions may include, but are not limited to:
Debriefing previous birth experiences
Exploring fears or concerns around birth
Discussing birth preferences and options
Birth education and resource sharing
Birth mapping and preparation
Building confidence and trust in your body and ability to birth
• Virtual Support:
Throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, I offer unlimited virtual support to ensure you feel supported as questions or concerns arise. Unless urgent, please allow up to 24 hours for a response, as I may be attending a birth or caring for another client.
• Postpartum Support
If postpartum support is included in your package, sessions will be tailored to your needs on the day of the visit. Postpartum support may include, within my scope of practice:
Birth debriefing
A nourishing meal or snack at each visit
Light household decluttering
Aromatherapy support
Self-care practices (e.g. belly binding, foot soaks)
Emotional support, guidance, and reassurance
If support outside my scope is required such as in-depth lactation consulting, medical advice, or mental health care I will provide referrals to appropriately qualified practitioners.
On-Call Availability:
I will be on call for your birth 24/7 from 38 weeks gestation until the birth of your baby. During this time, I will remain within approximately two hours of your planned place of birth.
While I may still be able to support births that occur before 38 weeks, on-call availability is formally guaranteed from 38 weeks onward.
A backup doula will be arranged in the unlikely event that I am unable to attend your birth due to illness, emergency, or another birth commitment. This support is provided at no additional cost and will be discussed further if required and agreed upon.
Labour & Birth Support:
By choosing me as your doula, you agree to notify me when labour begins or if there are any changes or developments related to your birth, including a scheduled induction or planned caesarean.
In the case of a long labour, I will provide up to 12 continuous hours of in-person support. I may then take a short break to rest, eat, and attend to personal needs, including feeding and connecting with my child, so I can continue to support you effectively.
In the birth space, my priority is to remain present and focused on supporting you. Support will be responsive to your needs in the moment and informed by our prenatal discussions and preparation. While I do not provide medical advice, I can support you in understanding information, communicating with your care team, and advocating for yourself where previously discussed and agreed.
Following the birth of your baby, I may remain with you for up to four hours postpartum, depending on your needs, birth experience, and environment.
Changes to Birth Plans:
If you choose or require a caesarean birth, my support remains available to you before, during (where possible), and within the first 24 hours following birth.
If you choose not to notify me, update me, or invite me to attend your labour, birth, or postpartum support, a refund will not be offered.
Additional Services:
Additional prenatal or postpartum sessions are available at an additional cost. While advance booking is preferred, I will do my best to accommodate requests where possible.
Additional prenatal or postpartum sessions: $250 per session
Boundaries & Timeframes:
• Communication:
For non-urgent communication, responses will be provided within 12–24 hours between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. This includes emails, text messages, direct messages, and phone calls.
• Postpartum Visits:
A minimum of 24 hours’ notice is required for postpartum visits. This allows adequate preparation to best support and nourish you. Last-minute visits (within 24 hours) may be possible but may not include food or certain elements of postpartum care.
Fees & Billing:
• Payment Plans
If paying via a payment plan, an invoice for the agreed deposit will be issued to secure my services. Remaining payments must be made on the agreed dates. Failure to make payments without communication may result in termination of support.
• Upfront Payment
If paying upfront, an invoice for the full agreed amount will be issued. Payment must be made in full to secure services. Failure to complete payment without communication may result in loss of support.
• Invoicing
Invoices are issued via Hnry and sent to your email. Payment options include card payment or bank transfer.
Cancellations, Rescheduling & Termination:
• Prenatal Sessions
Prenatal sessions may be cancelled or rescheduled with a minimum of 24 hours’ notice. Cancellations with less than 24 hours notice will require a $25 late cancellation fee.
If I am required to attend a birth and cannot attend a scheduled prenatal session, birth attendance will take priority. I will notify you as soon as possible and reschedule for the next mutually suitable time. A minimum of 24 hours is required between attending a birth and a prenatal session.
• Birth Attendance
In rare circumstances, I may be delayed or unable to attend your birth due to emergencies, concurrent births, extreme weather, road closures, power outages, or family emergencies. In these cases, a backup doula will be offered at no additional cost.
If you or your support people fail to contact me during labour or request my attendance, no refund will be provided.
If your birth is missed for any reason (including emergencies or communication failures), one additional postpartum visit will be added to your support.
• Loss of Life
In the event of pregnancy or infant loss, this contract may be adjusted or terminated based on your wishes. Postpartum support remains available following any loss after booking.
• Termination of Contract
If you choose to terminate doula support at any time, no refunds will be provided; however, no further payments will be required.
I reserve the right to terminate this agreement if I believe the relationship is not a good fit, if I feel unsafe, or if circumstances beyond my control prevent me from providing effective support.
Limitations & Liability:
I am not a medical professional. Any information provided is not medical advice and should not replace advice from a qualified healthcare provider. I will not perform clinical assessments or medical procedures, including but not limited to vaginal examinations, fetal heart rate monitoring, or blood pressure checks.
While doula support has been shown to reduce intervention rates, support physiological birth, and improve emotional outcomes, no specific outcomes can be guaranteed.
Services are not confirmed until payment has been received and this contract has been signed. Any known scheduling conflicts will be disclosed prior to signing.
Agreement:
I agree to hire Courtney Hellyer – The Birth Haus for doula support under the terms outlined in this contract.