Earth
your doula
Agreement for Birth Doula Services
What is a doula?
A birth doula accompanies a woman in labor to help ensure a safe and satisfying birth experience. Your doula will draw on professional training and knowledge to provide the best emotional support, physical comfort and communication ensuring that you have the information you need to make informed decisions as they arise in labor. Your doula 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. LoveLyfeDoulas are independent and selfemployed. As your doula, I work for you, not your caregiver or hospital.
You will be provided with consistent and caring support from the time of contract signing. You are entitled to the support included in your selected package (see chart below) which can include 1 Prenatal Support & Education Session, assistance in compiling your Birth Preferences, support for nonemergent topics via phone/text/email between 9am7pm, oncall for your birth 247 from 36 weeks gestation, continuous physical and emotional support during labor, and postpartum support via phone/text/email for two weeks after birth.
We will remain in touch by telephone and or email. Please update me after your midwife or OB visits so I can follow your progress and address any questions or concerns that may arise during your pregnancy. If you have selected the Tier 1 package, maintain contact with us leading up to your birthing time and I will join you at your birthing place when you call me. If you have selected a package with a prenatal session (Tier 2, 3) I will meet with you and your partner at your home before labor to become acquainted, and discuss your priorities, fears and/or concerns surrounding your pregnancy and upcoming birth. I will assist you in drafting your birth preferences or reviewing and optimizing a birth plan you may have already drafted. I will discuss how best to comfort you in times of discomfort or fatigue, and how you and your partner foresee working together. Tier 3 also includes a second prenatal home visit where we will practice hands on comfort measures, breastfeeding options, belly binding, and health (postpartum).
When you are in labor
*Please call your doula when you think you are in labor, even if you do not yet need her.*
Your doula can answer questions and make suggestions over the phone. Early labor can last 812 hours and is best spent resting so that you will save your energy for active labor and pushing. Talk with your doula periodically during early labor and you will decide together if the timing is right for your doula to come assist you in active labor. This usually happens around the time that mama is no longer feeling conversational and cannot speak during contractions. Generally, if you can speak through your contractions it is too early to come. Allow approximately ninety minutes for your doula to get to you from the time you ask her to come. Your doula will meet you at your home, hospital or birth center when you are in active labor. Except for extraordinary circumstances, your doula will remain with you throughout active labor and birth. Most mothers have only one doula present at their birth, please choose Tier 3 for your package. For births in excess of 12 hours,
Medical Induction of Labor
Should medical induction of your labor become necessary, I can discuss with you the options for induction outlined by your healthcare provider so that you are fully informed and know what to expect. Most commonly, mothers receive a medication called Cervadil overnight and go to sleep. In the morning it is removed and they are usually started on a Pitocin drip. Some providers prefer a cervical balloon for induction, which is generally also placed overnight and checked periodically until it comes out around 4 cm dilation. Occassionally, the Cervadil and/or Pitocin really jump start labor quickly and things can progress sooner than overnight or it could be slower progress requiring a second Cervadil to be placed and you will have more time to rest before labor really starts. Induction of labor means that you will be in the hospital for a longer period of time prior to the birth and prior to being in actual active labor.
For a scheduled labor induction, once you have established an active labor pattern you and your doula will decide together if the timing is right for your doula to come assist you. Allow approximately ninety minutes (unless I’m a different city) for me to get to you from the time you ask her to come. Your doula will meet you at your hospital or birth center once your medical induction has progressed and you are in active labor. Except for extraordinary circumstances, your doula will remain with you throughout active labor and birth. For inductions and births in excess of 12 hours,
After Birth
Your doula will usually remain with you for one to two hours after birth, until you are comfortable and your family is ready for quiet time together. Your doula will take photographs and help you initiate breastfeeding, if desired. If you have selected a package with a postpartum session (Tier 2 & Tier 3) your doula will return to your home within a week to two weeks after the birth for a postpartum check in. I will review your birth experience and get feedback about your experience with your doula as well as provide you with additional resources for your family’s postpartum support needs.
Liability
LoveLyfeDoulas work as an adjunct to your health care providers (midwife, obstetrician, nurse, pediatrician) and in no way am I a substitute for their care or expertise regardless of any professional training, educationg or licensure your doula may additionally hold. The responsibility for clinical management belongs to the client and her health care provider. My services are strictly NONMEDICAL. Families who choose to utilize my services take full responsibility for their own health and medical Services. LoveLyfeDoulas assist you in making informed decisons about your options but we cannot choose for you or be held liable for the results of any decisions that you have made with or without our input. I am not responsible for nor am I trained/license to handle your clinical care during any medical emergencies concerning your baby or family that may occur while I am present with you, except to call “911” and offer emotional support. Doulas will not do maternal or fetal assessments (vaginal exams, blood pressure, fetal heart tones, etc.). You are responsible for any risk incurred prior to arriving at your planned birth place.
Contacting the doula in a timely manner, or precipitous (fast) labor, fees are nonrefundable. This also includes, but is not limited to, disaster, strikes, government regulation, civil disorder, Acts of God, or some emergency, which makes it not viable, illegal or impossible to travel to provide the contracted doula services. Once your doula is en route to your birth, the full fee will be retained NON-NEGOTIABLE!
Breech of contract will result in legal actions.
***FEES***
I only offer BIRTH ONLY SERVICES FOR CLIENTS OUT OF STATE RETAINER FEE $1350
Contract are sent via Email for signature and video call is required NON- NEGOTIABLE!
IN STATE CLIENTS are as follows BELOW
● EDoula Support $300
● Tier 1 $950 retainer 50% is required at signing of contract the remaining balance is required by 38 weeks non-refundable fees (Birth only)
● Tier 2 $1250 retainer at prenatal retainer at prenatal (Two formal visits prior to birth) and two visits after birth. 1st visit is meeting and expectations signing of contract where 50% of non-refundable fees are due. 2nd visit is care
● Tier 3 $1375 retainer at contract, prenatal assessment (I visit three times after birth) which includes three meal preps for each visit (please refer to above portion) non-refundable fees
The nonrefundable fee for birth doula services vary. Please indicate which service you desire by circling the package during consultation. Require 50% of the fees to be included with your signed contract as a retainer for my services and the remainder of the service fee in full by 37 weeks. Payment Options: Cash, or PayPal
This consultation is not intended to be a substituTe for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your personal physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. any and all consultations given here are of my own personal beliefs, resources, and researches. This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.