As your labour doula:

  • You may contact me anytime during your pregnancy up to 6 weeks postpartum, if you have any questions or need support. I will reply during daytime hours
  • I accompany birthers/families in labour to facilitate a safe and satisfying birth experience
  • I provide emotional support, physical comfort, and communication with your healthcare provider to ensure you have the information needed to make informed decisions during labour
  • I can provide reassurance and perspective to you and your partner, make suggestion for labour progress, and help with relaxation, massage, positioning and other techniques for comfort
  • I can be a constant source of support for a birthing couple in a time of ever changing hospital shifts and alternating provider schedules
  • I work for you, not your healthcare provider or the hospital

As your labour doula, I will not:

  • Perform clinical tasks and physical exams. That is beyond my scope of practice
  • Make decisions for you; I will help you get the information necessary to make an informed decision
  • Speak to staff on your behalf regarding matters where healthcare decisions are being made. I will however, discuss your concerns with you and suggest options, but you or your partner will speak directly to the clinical staff
  • Transport clients in my vehicle, no matter the circumstance
  • Replace your spouse/birth partner, rather I will work with them

Prenatal Meeting:

  • I will meet with you (and your partner) at approximately 30 and 36 weeks into your pregnancy. Each meeting will be approximately 1.5-2 hours and will cover such topics as:
    • Discussion of or assistance in creating your birth plan
    • Your knowledge of the birth process
    • Your feelings on pain medication
    • Pain management techniques
    • Labour and birth positions
    • Breathing
    • Ideal Labour and birth environment and experience
    • Nursing
    • Baby Care

Late Pregnancy:

  • Once I enter the on-call period (37 weeks – birth), I encourage clients to check in every few days to advise me how they are doing, via phone or email
  • During the on-call period, I am committed to being within 50kms of your region at all times, unless previously discussed with you and covered by a back-up doula
  • In the event I must turn of my phone, I will try to give you advance notice before this happens and will check my voicemail at least every 1-2 hours

When you think you are in labour:

  • Please call, even if you do not feel like you need support at that time, I can answer questions or make suggestions over the phone
  • I will need approximately 90 minutes to two hours to get to your from the time you request my presence
  • We can also decide if we should meet at your home or at the hospital
  • Except for extraordinary circumstances, I will remain with you throughout your labour and birth

During your labour and delivery:

  • I will provide continual physical, emotional and informational support during labour and birth
  • I will be with you from the onset of active labour until 1-2 hours after the birth
  • I may require short, infrequent brakes if the labour is longer than 3 hours, but at no time will I leave you alone without at least one member of your support team present
  • I reserved the right to be relieved by a back-up doula in the event that I am ill for any reason that I am unable to properly support you during your labour

After the birth:

  • I will remain with you for one to two hours after the birth, until you are comfortable and ready for quiet time with your family

Postpartum visit:

  • I would like to meet with you one final time within the first two weeks after the birth to:
    • See how you are physically recovering
    • Provide feeding support, if needed
    • Review the birth
    • Admire your baby :)

Caesarean section (c-section):

I will make every effort to provide the services discussed above and support you and your birth preferences. In the event that you require a c-section, I will offer my support during your surgery. Some hospitals allow only one support person in the operating room during the surgery. If you elect to have our birthing partner with you, I will meet you in the recovery room to assist with infant feeding/bonding and to answer any questions you may have.

If you require a surgical birth after attempting to labour vaginally, my fee will remain the same. If you elect to have a surgical birth and choose to retain the services offered under this contract, my fee will remain the same. In exchange, I will provide an additional 10 hours of postpartum support if I do not attend your surgical birth. If you elect to have s surgical birth and do not require my attendance, I require 30 days notice to cancel this contract and will retain the deposit fee.

Surgical birth does not nullify this contract.

In the case of a medically indicated surgical birth, a 3rd prenatal meeting will be scheduled for preparation and planning for the upcoming birth.

Global Pandemic:

In the event of a global pandemic, services will be offered virtually via video call, phone call, email and text. Please note: some hospitals do not allow cameras in the delivery/operating room, this would restrict the use of video calling and you would be required to call, text or email when you require my support. I will provide information to your and your support person on how to support you physically and emotionally. Fees will remain the same.

Failure to provide services:

I will make every effort to provide the services described in this agreement. Sometimes, this is impossible. If I am unavailable to attend your labour and unable to provide a back-up doula I will refund 50% of your total fee. If it is due to your failure to call me, I will keep, or you will owe me, the agreed upon full fee for service; postpartum care will continue as planned. If my failure to provide services is due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control (for example: natural or catastrophic events or an extremely rapid labour (3 hours or less)), my fee will remain the same, and an additional 10 hours of postpartum care will be offered. If I am unable to reach you before the baby is born, I will meet you at your home, birth centre or hospital.

Cancellation of contract:

If you choose to cancel this contract, you may do so at any point before you reach 36 weeks pregnant. Cancelling before 36 weeks means I will keep 50% of the full fee (retainer/deposit amount). I will return the balance remaining. If you choose to cancel the contract after you reach 36 weeks pregnant, there will be no refund and I will keep, or you will owe me, the agreed upon full fee for service. In the unlikely event that I need to cancel my services, you will be refunded the full amount, less any fees for services rendered to date.

Emergency delivery:

In some circumstances, labour progresses more quickly than anticipated. If you call me to advise that your labour has progressed very quickly and delivery is imminent or that your baby has been born unexpectedly at home, I will call an ambulance and arrange for you to be transferred to the hospital. If your baby arrives unexpectedly at home with me present, you or your partner will be responsible for the delivery of your baby. I will take what mesures I am capable of to attempt to keep you and the baby safe and comfortable until EMS arrives.

Fees:

Once you have decided on a support package, payment is required as follows:

50% of the fee for the package you choose. This is the deposit/retainer amount and is due upon hiring and signing this contract (non-refundable)
The remaining 50% is due 30 days prior to your estimated due date.
Payments can be made via cash, email transfer (aplombwellness@gmail.com, password: Doula), or PayPal.
NSF payments are subject to a $100 administration charge

Packages:

Virtual ($575):

  • 2 online prenatal visits (1.5-2 hours each)
  • On-call during pregnancy
  • One online postpartum visit (scheduled)
  • 6 weeks of postpartum support
  • Virtual support during labour and delivery

Birth ($1000):

  • 2 online prenatal visits (1.5-2 hours each)
  • On-call during pregnancy
  • Birth attendance
  • One online postpartum visit (scheduled)
  • 6 weeks of postpartum support

Postpartum:

  • 12 hours of care – $450
  • 30 hours of care – $1080

You will be sent an invoice via email 24-48 hours after submitting this agreement. You may choose to pay the deposit amount or the full amount at this time. If only the deposit is paid, a reminder invoice will be sent via email 37 days (5 weeks) prior to your estimated due date. The balance payment will be due 30 days prior to your due date. If you are retaining doula services after 36 weeks (or after 30 days prior to your estimated due date), payment is due in full upon securing this agreement and receiving your invoice.

This agreement is meant to be fair to both parties, so that both parties may feel secure in their mutual commitment. By agreeing to this contract, you agree to pay for services described above. In return, the doula commits to provide these services. It is understood that neither Judy Grandison/Aplomb Wellness or my representatives are to be held responsible or liable for any undesirable or unexpected outcome resulting from birth doula support. Should a disagreement occur, the undersigned agree to resolve issues amicably, therefore excluding Judy Grandison/Aplomb Wellness and its representatives from any penalty or fault. The agreement below indicates that both doula and client understand the content and terms herein.