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Yours Truly Doula Services - Vanessa Cory
Letter of Agreement Describing Doula Services, Limits and Fees
As a birth doula, I accompany women in labor to help them have an emotionally safe and satisfying birth experience. I completed my training and certification through DONA International and Stillbirthday Academy, which allows me to attend your birth under their organizations. I draw on my professional training, knowledge and experience to provide emotional support, physical comfort and, as needed, help you decide what to communicate with the staff to make sure that you have the information you need to make decisions as they arise in labor. I can provide reassurance and perspective for you and your partner, make suggestions for labor progress, and help with relaxation, massage, positioning and other techniques for comfort. I am independent and self-employed. As your doula, I am working for you, not your caregiver or the hospital.
BEFORE LABOR:
I will meet with you and your partner once in your home at 36 weeks to become better acquainted, to explore and discuss your priorities and any fears or concerns. We will go over your birth plan or put one in place if you haven't already. We'll plan how we will work best together as well as practice breathing and relaxation techniques, comfort measures and positions that will be useful during labor. More prenatal meetings can be scheduled for an additional fee. For general questions or concerns that do not need immediate answers and are not calls or texts having to do with labor or signs of labor, my calls and text hours are from 8am-8pm and I will do my best to respond promptly within those hours. If you wish to talk on the phone, a text beforehand will help me remove myself from any distractions so we can talk thoroughly.
DURING LABOR:
I ask that you call (not text) when you think you are in labor, even if you are just feeling crampy, having bloody show, or do not yet need me. If I don't answer please call back in 5 minutes. Please do not second guess yourself, especially if this is not your first baby. I am on call for you 24/7 and do not mind phone calls, even overnight. This allows me to be fully ready to walk out the door in a timely manner once you ask that I come to you. I can answer questions and make suggestions over the phone. We will decide if I should come to you immediately to begin providing support, or wait until further change. I usually need approximately one to one and a half (1-1.5) hours depending on traffic to get to you from the time you ask me to come. We will also decide where to meet - at your home, the hospital or the birth center. Except for extraordinary circumstances, I will remain with you throughout labor, birth and for one to two hours after delivery. While I can help you navigate when to call your midwife or when to leave for the hospital or birth center, it is your sole responsibility to decide when to have your midwife arrive or to arrive at your birth destination on time. For clients who wish to stay at home as long as possible and wish to arrive at the hospital or birth center further along in labor, I cannot guarantee arriving at a specific dilation. I am not responsible for unassisted birth. In the case of unassisted birth, if I am with you, I will call your midwife and/or EMS or instruct another individual to do so and will do my best to have them on the phone while you deliver. Because I am not a medical provider, I am not responsible for birth emergencies or outcomes and cannot assist in emergencies or deliveries.
AFTER BIRTH:
I remain with you for one to two (1-2) hours after birth, until you are comfortable and your family is ready for quiet time together. I can also help with initial breastfeeding if necessary. Twenty four (24) hours after you deliver I will follow up with you to see how you and baby are doing. Within one (1) week of your birth, I will visit you in your home for a postpartum visit where we will talk through your labor and delivery and I can answer any questions you may have. I can also help with breastfeeding if needed. To be able to serve all of my clients well and to ensure you are doing well, this postpartum meeting should be scheduled no later than two weeks postpartum if absolutely necessary.
WHAT DOULAS DO NOT DO:
As a doula, I do not:
• Perform clinical tasks, such as blood pressure, fetal heart checks, vaginal exams, and others. I am not able to give medical advise and will refer you back up your provider for any medically related questions, concerns or needs. I am there to provide only physical comfort and emotional support. I will not catch your baby in the event that your provider does not arrive in time or you do not make it to the hospital or birthing center before delivery. You or your partner will be responsible for catching.
• Make decisions for you. I will help you get the information necessary to make an informed decision. I will also remind you if there is a departure from your birth plan.
• Speak to the staff on your behalf. I will discuss your concerns with
you and suggest options, but you or your partner must speak directly to the clinical staff.
• Essential oils, herbs and tinctures are considered medical therefore you are responsible for thoroughly researching if you are interested in using essential oils or herbs during your pregnancy, birth or postpartum. You, your partner or a family member or friend will be responsible for applying or diffusing essential oils at your request or help with ingesting herbs or tinctures.
CLIENT PRIVACY:
Your privacy is of my utmost concern. I will never share photos or private information including your baby's birth announcement or birth details without your permission. If you have any extraordinary privacy concerns, please be sure to write them down and share them with me (doula) at the prenatal meeting at your home.
FEES:
My fee for the service described here is to be paid as follows:
Total: $1800
• $900 non-refundable holding deposit. Once this is received with this signed contract, your due date will be reserved.
• Remaining $900 must be paid at or before your 36 week home visit.
• Fees can be paid via Venmo (@Vanessa-Cory) with “Doula Services” in the comments.
• Home visits can be scheduled earlier but no later than 36 weeks.
Additional fee terms:
• In the unlikely circumstance that I am unable to attend your birth, I will send a trusted backup doula and will pay them directly.
• In the very unusual circumstance that myself or my backup doula are unable to attend:
(a) If the inability to attend your birth is due to my error, the remaining $900 paid 4 weeks prior to your due date will be returned ($900 total).
(b) If failure to attend is due to circumstances beyond both parties' control, the remaining $900 paid 4 weeks prior to your due date will be returned, the $900 deposit will not be returned. This does not apply to me not being allowed in the operating room during a cesarean section whether scheduled or unexpected. I will virtually support you and will be there before and/or after if allowed by the hospital.
(c) Refusal of accepting back up doula support will result in no refunds.
• COVID regulations and restrictions in hospitals are always changing and can be unpredictable. If me not being allowed to attend and support in person is due to COVID restrictions, no refund will be given. I will continue to support you virtually. To find out the most current regulations and restrictions, calling your labor and delivery and asking for the charge nurse is your best bet in finding out accurate and up-to-date information.
• If failure to attend is due to client or client’s partner not contacting me in adequate time or you choose to not have me attend your labor and/or birth, no refunds will be given.
Fees do not change based on birth outcome.
Please type your name and today's date below to indicate that you have read and accept the terms of this agreement.
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