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| Description of Labor Doula Services, Limits and Fees What is a Doula? As a labor doula, we accompany women in labor to help ensure a safe and satisfying birth experience. We draw on our knowledge and experience to provide emotional support, physical comfort and, as needed, communication with the staff to make sure that you have the information you need to make informed decisions in labor. We can provide reassurance and perspective to you and your partner, make suggestions for labor progress, and help with relaxation, massage, and positioning and other techniques for comfort. We are independent and self-employed. Planning Meeting: I like to meet with you and your labor partner at least once before labor to become better acquainted, to explore and discuss your birth plan priorities and any fears or concerns, and to plan how we might best work together. I welcome the opportunity to meet with your physician or midwife at a regular scheduled prenatal visit. We might decide on more meetings and will remain in touch by telephone or e-mail on a more frequent basis as your birth approaches. Please call me after provider appointments to keep me abreast of any changes you may be having (such as inductions, due date changes, progress that makes labor more imminent). Availability: We will be on call for you 24 hours a day beginning two weeks before your due date and ending two weeks after your due date. This is actually your likely due �month.� You will have my telephone number as well as a pager number to reach me at all times. I will inform you of times when I am unavailable for labor support or let you know when I am available. I will do everything possible to stay completely available for this 4-week period of time. When you are in labor: I prefer that you call me when you think you are in labor (between 7am- 11pm), even if you don�t need me. You can call me anytime once labor is established if you need me- no matter the time of day. I can answer questions and make suggestions over the telephone. We will decide if we should meet you then or wait for further change. (I usually need at least one hour to get to you from the time you ask me to come depending on where you live or where the hospital is located.) We will decide where to meet- at the hospital or at your home. Always try to reach me first via my telephone, then page if you get my machine at home. After your birth: I usually remain with you after your birth until you are comfortable and your family is ready for quiet time together. We can also help with initial breastfeeding, as needed. I am available for telephone contact to answer questions about the birth or your baby, I plan to see you approximately one week postpartum to follow up with the birth, go over birth details and how you felt I did at your birth, and to give you your birth story. Doulas do not do: Doulas do not perform tasks such as blood pressure, fetal heart checks, or vaginal exams. Our role is one of nonintervention and non-medical. We are there to provide physical comfort, emotional support, and advocacy. Doulas do not make decisions for you. We will help you get the information necessary to make an informed decision. We will also remind you if there is a change in your Birth Plan. We will discuss your concerns with you and suggest options, but you and your partner will speak on your behalf to the clinical staff. We will only act as a liaison between you and the staff if you ask us to do so and when appropriate. Failure of doula to provide service: I will make every effort to provide these services. If failure to attend your birth is due to my unavailability and I fail to provide back-up, there will be no further charge for my services. I usually keep the downpayment in all circumstances as I have usually provided prenatal care and turned away other potential clients to be there for your birth day(there can be exceptions). If it is due to your failure to call us, or a cancellation of our services after the 38 weeks, I will keep the full fee. This is due to having provided prenatal services, having been on call and perhaps declining other possible clients due to overbooking. In the case of a cesarean I will still provide labor support. And monies are still due. Fees: Our fee for the services described here is $350 to be paid as follows: $175 as a retainer fee, due when you select me as your doula. Name of doula selected: _________________________________signed Christy Borovoy $175 balance due two weeks prior to your due date(or in some cases at your postpartum visit), which is _______________, which would make the balance due on ___________. Christy Borovoy Crowning Achievements Doula Service Client: _________________________________________ Clients spouse/partner__________________________________ Print client name:___________________________________________200___(rev.3/02) |
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