YVR DOULA BIRTH SUPPORT CONTRACT
$1500 + GST

PRENATAL EDUCATION AND BIRTH SUPPORT DETAILS

Prenatal visits will be 2-4 hours. These can be done over zoom or in your home/ coffee shop ** Please specify which you are most comfortable with** 

 On top of getting to know you and your family better, they can consist of any of the following:

• Discussing your ideal birth experience

• Discussing and working through any fears or anxieties (you or your partners)

• Discussing and practicing comfort techniques

• Running through the stages and phases of labor

• Creating a birth and/or postpartum plan

I will be giving you my personal contact information for 24/7 informational/emotional support from the time you hire me. Feel free to call, text or email me any time with any questions, concerns, or for encouragement.

What is a Doula?
As a doula, I provide emotional and physical support to a woman and her partner and/or family during her labor and delivery. I can also facilitate communication with your care provider to ensure that you have the information you need to make informed decisions regarding your baby’s birth. I 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 your comfort. I am independent and self-employed, and so, I am working for YOU, not your caregiver or place of birth.

Physical supports I can provide during your labour and birth include:

• Massage/counter pressure

• Acupressure

•  Assisting with a TENS machine

• Birthing ball positions

• Suggesting and assisting with position changes

• Creating a calming environment (lights, curtains, etc)

• Water therapy (bath, shower)

• Assisting with Hypnobirthing techniques

• Hydrating and feeding birther as well as partner, as needed. 

• Hands-on infant feeding support.

• Anything else you feel will help you have the positive birth experience you desire

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As a doula, I do not:

• Perform clinical tasks, such as taking blood pressure, fetal heart checks or vaginal exams. I am there to provide only physical comfort and emotional support and facilitate communication between you, medical staff, and care providers.

•  Make decisions for you. I will help you get the information you need to make an informed decision.

• Speak to medical staff or providers on your behalf. I will discuss your concerns with you and suggest options, as well as encourage you and your partner to voice your opinions, questions and concerns.

• Provide medical advice. I can direct you to resources that might help you answer your questions and make informed decisions on your own. If you have questions or want advice about your care or that of your baby, you should contact your care provider.

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On-call agreement:
I ask that you call me when you think you are in labor, even if you do not yet need me. This gives me time to clear my calendar for the next 24 hours. I can answer questions and make suggestions over the phone, and we can decide if I should come to you or wait for further change. I can meet you at your home or your planned place of birth. I usually need approximately one hour or more depending on where you are located, to get to you from the time you ask me to come. Once you call me and let me know you’d like me to begin supporting you, I will make every effort to be there within in one (1) hour.

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Extenuating Circumstance:
While it is always smart and helpful to have a plan, births do not always go according to plan. If you plan a vaginal delivery and a caesarean is performed, I will continue to provide support during the caesarean surgery (as allowed by hospital and/or doctor policies) as well as immediately after to help with your comfort and breastfeeding. I will also follow-up with you after the birth. If you are having a home birth and need a transfer to the hospital, I will meet you at the birthing facility and continue to provide doula support there, if necessary. I cannot under any circumstances attend a planned home birth without a midwife or other care provider present. In the event of a precipitous birth in a location other than your planned birthplace (such as home or a vehicle)
when a care provider is not present, I will provide only emotional and mental support as outlined above. I cannot provide transportation to the hospital, and an ambulance will be called.

In the unlikely event that I cannot attend your birth due to a family emergency, illness, or reasons out of my control, I will provide you with a back-up doula that practices in a similar way as I do. If they are not available, I would offer 20 hours of postpartum support in lieu of re-imbursement or refund. 

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Privacy Statement: 

All of your personal information will be kept private and will never be shared with anyone. and will be used solely to help me best support you.
I agree to take care of your personal information after the conclusion of our contract unless you give your express permission to keep it on file for future services should you want them. You can omit any sensitive information from the intake questionnaire that you are uncomfortable disclosing.
You hereby give me permission to take notes about you and your birth, including personal information about you and your child(ren). This information may be shared with my certifying organization, DONA, as well as the backup doula. I am happy to take photos of labor and delivery for your use only, and will not post to any form of social media, website, teaching class, without expressed permission.

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Responsibility of Client:
I ask that you inform me of any pregnancy-related or other health complications or conditions you may have, as well as any other special circumstances you might have or require. I also ask that you keep me up to date about what happens at your prenatal appointments from 36 weeks forward (if your cervix is dilated, any tests or procedures you might experience, anything your care provider seems concerned about, etc.). Text, email and phone is all fine for contact. I also request that you inform your care provider that you have hired a doula. If for any reason you decide not to have me at your birth after you have signed this contract, I ask that you let me know as soon as possible

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This contract has been reviewed and agreed to by the following persons designated by their signatures below:
 

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