Make your birth doula contract

You have to make a contract. It’s intimidating. Nobody wants to share theirs. We’re probably all self-conscious about how ours compares to other doulas. What do you put in it? Where do you start? How do you word it? Let’s talk about it.
 
A contract protects the doula. It clarifies what they do and don’t do. Any client signing it is stating they understand this. They’re also agreeing to pay your fees. Don’t procrastinate. Get it over with. You’ll feel better after it’s done.
 
Let’s set it up. This is how I have mine. It is not done by a lawyer. You should get an attorney to review yours. Throughout this blog, I’ve copied pieces of my contract, italicized, and in green font.   
 
At the very top you may want to add a title to the document such as
“contract of hire for birth doula services.”
 
Next you want your information.

• Company
• Name of doula
• Website
• Email
• Phone number

I put a box around that section.  
 
SERVICES

• General description – Give a few sentences about the basics of birth doula services.
• What services include – You may want to say how you offer support (in-person and over the phone or video chat), locations you support, and what types of births you support.
• Birth doula services do not include – I list a few bullet points of what is not included in this such as transportation, cleaning, child care, attendance of intentionally unassisted births, etc.
• Time frame of services – How early can they hire you? When do your services end?
• On-call availability – When does your on-call period start?
• Time of arrival – This section clarifies expectations for how quickly you can get to them once called. I recommend using language such as “Please allow a minimum of two hours to arrive” instead of saying something like “Will arrive within two hours”. You may get there sooner, but don’t break your contract over it. Mine also says to please consider drive time from Fairborn, Ohio. I don’t share exactly where I live, but this gives them an idea of how far I’m driving.
• Duration of shift – How many hours in a row can you or will you work? Do you want to mention allowing small breaks for food? Is there a time limit for max amount of hours you’ll support a birth?
• Inability to provide services – What happens if the hospital won’t let you in? Will you offer virtual support or refund? Mention your sick policy here.
• Back-up doulas – Do you work with a back up doula? Be straightforward about this. If you do, mention when you would call them in. Do you cover the cost or does the client? Do you guarantee back-up support?

 
CONFIDENTIALITY
Make a statement about confidentiality. Mine says,
 
All medical and personal information shared is confidential. I do not disclose when someone is in labor, if they have given birth, details about their birth, or information about their baby. It is also confidential when a person is a client.
 
After that I have a social media section where I mention that I do not talk about my clients on social media without permission. I may ask permission for reasons such as reviews, promotion, a welcome baby post, or educational opportunities.  
 
RELEASE OF INFORMATION TO THE HEALTHCARE TEAM
In this section, I ask permission to share relevant information with the healthcare team. There is a space for them to sign and date if they give this permission. Mine says,
 
The doula is asking permission to release relevant information to the healthcare team as necessary for the health, safety, and wellbeing of the client or by client preference for the doula to communicate. Please sign and date below if you grant permission for this release.
 
FEES
Here is where you want to clarify what your fees are and when they are due. Here is mine as an example.
 
The standard package included 3 prenatal appointments and 1 in-person postpartum appointment.
Fee: $1200
 
Fees are non-negotiable. All clients have the same fee. This is for all types of birth (vaginal or cesarean, medicated or non-medicated) with any outcome.
 
50% of the total fee is due at time of hire.
The remaining balance is due by 36 weeks.
Birth support will not be provided without full payment.
 
If you do a sliding scale, talk about it here and mention the requirements and the price.
 
Scholarship amount or discount applied

• None
• $______
• _______ % for a total of $______

 
REFUND POLICY
You need to have a refund policy decided. Many doulas decide the birth itself is a certain percentage of the fee. They may also decide to have a non-refundable retainer fee. Mine is in green here.
 
The retainer fee is 50% of the package fee. This secures the client’s due date and the doula’s availability for that month. That is non-refundable.
 
If the client wishes to end services before the birth, all but the retainer fee will be refunded.   
 
If the doula misses the birth through no fault of her own (i.e. the client did not notify in a timely manner), no refund is given.
 
If the doula misses the birth through her own circumstances (such as illness), 40% of the total package fee is returned.

TERMINATION OF SERVICES POLICY
After you share your refund policy, you should clarify that the client can terminate services and there are situations the doula can as well. Mine says,
 
The client is able to end services at any point for any reason. 
 
The doula may end services for reasons including the following: violence, unsafe environment (including presence of drugs), unhygienic environment (including excessive smoke or allergens), threats, harassment, mistreatment, change in planned birth location, or incompatibility with expectation of care.
 
Note: I am unable to provide care in a home with a cat. I’m highly allergic. While I discuss this matter before scheduling a consultation, please note that if a client gets a cat after hire, I will have to terminate services unless we can arrange appointments to be done in another home.
 
Notice that I mentioned in my contract about an allergy of mine. I am sadly very allergic to cats. Some breeds actually make my eyes swell shut. I cannot be in a house with cats. I actually ask about pets in the home before I schedule a consultation.
 
What are some situations you want to be able to end a contract with someone?
 
CLIENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Be clear about what responsibilities they have. How soon do they need to notify you? Some examples,

• It is the client’s responsibility to understand a doula’s role and scope of practice before hiring.
• It is the client’s responsibility to notify the doula as soon as labor is suspected.
• It is the client’s responsibility to notify the doula when the client is ready for in-person doula support to begin.
• In the event of an emergency, preterm labor, or an unexpected outcome during pregnancy, notify the doula as soon as you are able.
• If the client switches to a different care provider, please inform the doula of this change.

 
CLIENT INFORMATION

• Birthing woman’s name
• Phone number
• Email *the invoice will be sent to this email
• Home address
• County of residence
• Estimated due date
• Intended location of delivery
• Name of provider for maternity care

 
AGREEMENT TO HIRE SERVICES
This is where the action comes in. Will they say I do? Is it a match?
 
I, (type a line long enough to handwrite a name), hereby agree to hire (your name) of (your LLC) for birth doula services as agreed upon in this contract.
 
I understand this agreement becomes active upon payment and that without payment this contract will be null.
 
I understand the doula’s role of support.
 
I understand medical care is not included in doula services.
 
I understand the fees, refund policy, and termination policy of this business.
 
(line)
Print your name
 
(line)
Sign your name
 
(line)
Date
 
Symbols “doula portion” symbols
 
(line)
Doula signature
 
(line)
Date
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ta-da
You did it. You made your very first contract. See, that wasn’t so scary. Open a document. Do your outline. You are welcome to use the outline I have here. Draft. It doesn’t need to be perfect today. Get it drafted. Go from there. And remember you are always allowed to update your paperwork. You can tweak things as you go. You’ve come this far. Don’t let the intimidation of a contract hold you back.