Every Birth Lancaster
Letter of Agreement
Your doula will draw on her knowledge and experience to provide emotional support, physical comfort and information to help you make informed decisions during 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. Your doula is independent and self-employed. Your doula works for you, not your
caregiver or hospital.
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Prenatal
Your doula prefers to meet with you and your partner at least once before labor to become acquainted, to explore and discuss your priorities and any fears or concerns, and to plan how we might best work together. This meeting does not obligate you to use our services but, if you do select Heather as your doula, you will need to meet with her again so that she may become familiar with your Birth Plan, including your preferences regarding pain management options and the use of pain medications. Your doula will also want to know your own best ways of coping with pain and fatigue and how you and your partner foresee working together and with her.
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Back up Doula
Your doula will inform you of times when she is unavailable for labor support and will arrange one or more backup doulas. Backup doulas may or may not provide all the additional services, such as photography or birth letter, but will provide standard doula services listed herein.
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Doulas do NOT:
~ Perform clinical tasks, such as blood pressure, fetal heart checks, vaginal exams, or other medical procedures that fall under the legal definition of practicing medicine.
~ Provide information, dosages or advise concerning prescription or alternative medication, or medical advice pertaining to you or your baby.
~ Make decisions for you. Your doula will help you get the information necessary to make an informed decision. Your doula will also remind you if there is a departure from your birth plan.
~ Speak to the staff on your behalf. Your doula will discuss your concerns with you and suggest options, but you or your partner or a family member or friend will speak on your behalf to the clinical staff.
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When you are in labor:
Your doula should be called when you think you are in, even if you do not yet need her. Together you and your doula will decide if she is needed. Your doula will usually be with you within one (1) hour from the time you ask her to come (longer if you live or are giving birth more than 15 miles from the doula's home address and/or if the drive occurs during rush hours or rain). Your doula can answer questions and make suggestions by phone. You and your doula will also decide whether to meet at your home or the birth place. Except for extraordinary circumstances, your doula will remain with you throughout labor and birth.
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Hospitals:
Hospitals have varying rules regarding doulas and other support people. Before you sign this agreement, please check with your hospital regarding policies for attendance of doulas in labor, delivery, surgery (c- sections) and recovery. If hospital policy does not allow your doula to attend your labor and/or delivery, your doula
will not provide a refund.
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C-sections:
Your doula will provide support through that process as long as the hospital will allow it. If you are having a scheduled c-section and your hospital will not allow your doula to be there, then you will receive a 50% refund after the birth. This is to account for the work you have done together prenatally; including but not limited to birth classes, birth plan prep, relaxation sessions, discussion, etc.
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Long or short labor:
The fee for doula services covers the prenatal visits, on call time, limiting the
number of additional clients, etc. You and your doula are both hoping for a birth that lasts a reasonable amount of time. If you have a very short labor, or if you have a very long labor, your doula will be there for as long as you need her to be and will not charge you an additional amount.
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Disclosure of Communicable Diseases:
You agree to disclose any communicable diseases that you have so that your doula can take appropriate precautions.
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Waiver of Liability:
As the express condition of my performance of services under this agreement, you
agree, on your own behalf and on behalf of all persons or entities you may bind under Pennsylvania law, to waive and hereby do waive any rights, claims or causes of action that you may have against your doula now and in the future with respect to your pregnancy, birth, postpartum period or the services your doula may provide and/or fail to provide to you. You expressly understand that, as doulas, we are not medical professionals and therefore cannot and will not provide you with medical care or advice.
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Fees:
Doula Packages are outlined below for your choosing. A non-refundable retainer fee of $300 is due, along with a signed copy of this letter of agreement to reserve my services for two weeks before and two weeks after your due date. The remaining balance is due two weeks prior to your due date. These fees are not refundable unless there is some unforeseeable emergency on your doula’s part that prevents your doula from attending the birth. If your doula is not called to attend or given adequate notice to attend, your doula will not provide a refund. This includes precipitous (fast) labors. Travel Fees may apply for families living one hour away from your doula’s radius.
Classic Doula Package $1,400
● Free Consultation
● 1-2 personalized prenatal visits in the comfort of your home (this can include birth plan building, condensed birth class, a guided relaxation session and/or nesting phase partner, etc.)
● Continuous email, call, and text support during pregnancy
● Access to helpful resources and my doula library
● 24 hour on-call phone and text support starting 38 weeks until the birth of your baby
● Continuous labor support beginning in active labor or early labor encouragement. Guidance on when to leave for birth place or call the midwife.
● Immediate postpartum support/lactation support following the birth of your baby until bonding is established
● 1 in home postpartum visit (between 1-3 weeks postpartum)
Premium Doula Package $1,800
● Free Consultation
● 2- 4 personalized prenatal visits in the comfort of your home (this can include birth plan building, condensed birth class, a guided relaxation session and/or nesting phase partner, etc)
● Continuous email, call, and text support during pregnancy
● Access to helpful resources and my doula library
● 24 hour on-call phone and text support starting 38 weeks until the birth of your baby
● Continuous labor support beginning in active labor or early labor encouragement. Guidance on when to leave for birth place or call the midwife.
● Immediate postpartum/lactation support following the birth of your baby until bonding is established
● 1-2 in home postpartum visit (between 1-3 weeks postpartum) This can include bringing you a meal, discussing the birth, help with breastfeeding, help with home chores or older children.
● Text/Call support as needed up to 6 weeks postpartum
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Discounts Available:
Doula:
1. 10% Referral Discount. This can be a referral from family, friends, your provider or third-party website.
2. 20% Homebirth Discount. Doula support for a home birth is a unique honor and a vital part of keeping birth sacred. The low stress atmosphere of a homebirth can apply this additional discount.
Doula + Birth Class:
3. Childbirth Class Discount: See Below
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Childbirth Education:
It is highly suggested that you take responsibility for educating yourself on birth.
If you are not an enrolled student in one of your doulas birth classes, you may choose one of three options for educational purposes. If you prefer to take another childbirth class or have already taken a childbirth class, please let Heather know. Your doula teaches Bradley Method Classes. You may receive a 20% discount for the class. This can include attending a live class (if scheduled) or your doula will provide recordings of the class for you.
1. 10 Week In Person Bradley Method Class
$400 -20% discount = $320
2. 10 Week Digital Bradley Method Class
$250 -20% discount = $200
3. Two Day Condensed Course
$150 - if you are hiring your doula after 35 weeks.
Other:
A paper copy will be provided upon our first prenatal meetings. Signatures for this agreement will also be obtained at the first prenatal meeting.