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What is a doula?
As a birth doula, I accompany people in labor to help ensure a safe and satisfying birth experience. I have completed the DONA International approved Birth Doula Training at the Simkin Center for Allied Birth Vocations at Bastyr University, a 32-hour course covering all aspects of pregnancy, labor, childbirth, breastfeeding, and post-partum care, and have been certified with DONA International. I also draw from my experience attending births in all settings and of all types. I draw on my professional training, knowledge and experience to provide emotional support, physical comfort, and as needed, communication with the staff to make sure you have the information you need to make informed decisions as they arise during labor and 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 comfort. I am independent and self-employed. As your doula, I work for you, not your caregiver, hospital or birth center.
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Before Labor
Once we have decided to work together and have a signed contract, I like to meet with you and your partner at least once, preferably twice, before labor to become acquainted, to explore and discuss your priorities, fears or concerns with birth, to discuss your birth plan and to plan how we might best work together. I also want to learn about your best ways of coping with pain and fatigue, and how you and your partner foresee working together. We may also decide on other meetings, and will certainly want to remain in touch by phone and/or email.
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Availability, On-Call Period, Back-Up
I am available 24 hours a day by phone, text message or email to answer questions, offer encouragement, or discuss your concerns. Checking in after each of your doctor/midwife appointments is a good routine to establish, and will ensure that we are all continuously on the same page. I have a lending library of books, DVDs and other materials that I am happy to share in preparation for your birth.
My on-call period for your labor begins two weeks before your due date. This means that I agree to always be within two hours of you and will be ready to join you when you are ready during your labor. I always work with a back-up doula. In the rare event that I may be unreachable by phone during this period (e.g.: emergency with my medically complicated child, meetings where cell service is limited or doctor appointments), I will let you know to contact my back-up during that time, and will let you know as soon as I am reachable. I will also inform you of times when I am unavailable for labor support and my back-up partner(s) will step in for me.
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Scheduled Procedures
As a childbirth educator and leader in the local and national childbirth professional community, I maintain a busy schedule of classes, lectures, and board meetings. In the event that an induction or Cesarean is planned for your birth, when possible, I request that you coordinate the scheduling with my schedule. Of course, should you go into spontaneous labor, I will cancel any other commitments I may have to be with you, but if it will be scheduled, I appreciate being able to work around my teaching schedule.
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When you are in labor
I prefer that you call me when you think you are in labor, even if you do not yet need me. I can answer questions and make suggestions over the phone. We will decide if I should come right then or wait for further change. I usually need 1.5-2 hours 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 birth center. Except for extraordinary circumstances, I or my back-up will remain with you throughout labor and birth.
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After birth
I usually remain with you for one or two hours after birth, until you are comfortable and your family is ready for quiet time together. I can also help with initial breastfeeding. I will remain available to you by phone, text or email until the end of our final visit.
I will contact you the day after the birth to check in and see how you are doing. I will then follow up with an initial home visit within two weeks after baby is born, and an optional second visit four to six weeks later. These visits are an opportunity for us to talk about having a newborn at home, check in with breastfeeding, and process the events of the birth.
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Covid-19 Specific Information
Until King County has entered Phase 4 of the Governor's Reopening Plan, all non-labor support (such as prenatal appointments and postnatal appointments) will take place virtually using online video platforms such as Zoom or FaceTime. In the event that a reliable online platform is unavailable, non-labor support may take place by telephone.
It is the client’s responsibility to ensure place of birth (hospital, birth center or home birth midwife) is aware that client plans to have in person doula support, and that birth location doesn’t have guidelines against doula support. While doula will do her best to stay up to date on local hospital policies, the doula is not responsible if medical staff does not allow in-person or virtual support. If doula is not allowed in the birth space including hospital room, operating room, birth center or other birth-space, virtually or in-person, no refund is available.
Should the client's planned birth location or clinical provider disallow additional support persons at the client's labor (such as hospitals restricting labor support to one person), the doula will provide support virtually (to include phone, text, and video communications). Doula agrees to provide client and partner with at least two different options to communicate during labor. Virtual doula support might look like words of encouragement, breathing techniques, position suggestions, information about the labor process, suggestions to communicate with providers, and questions to ask care team. A specific plan for support will be developed with the client.
In the event that either doula, the client, the client's partner, or anyone else attending the birth is displaying symptoms of COVID-19 and/or has knowingly been exposed to a person testing positive for COVID-19 within the previous 14 days, virtual support will occur for the safety and well-being of all parties.
Doula and client agree to be transparent and vigilant in monitoring their own health and exposure to COVID-19. Doula agrees they will not attend the birth if they have a fever over 100 degrees F and/or have had known exposure to a person testing positive for the virus within the previous 14 days. In the event doula develops symptoms during birth, they will leave immediately and will contact a back-up doula. Due to the nature of the virus, they will not wait for doula to arrive. In the event doula, client, client's partner, or anyone else at the birth contracts COVID-19 within 2 weeks following birth, they agree to notify each party of their positive test.
Client understands that Client is purchasing services with a known risk of being exposed to COVID-19. Due to the fact that transmission CAN occur asymptomatically, client cannot hold doula responsible for unintended exposure.
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Scope of Practice
As a doula, I do not:
1. Perform clinical tasks such as blood pressure, fetal heart checks, vaginal exams, and other such tasks. I am there to provide only physical comfort and emotional support.
2. Make decisions for you. I will help you get the information necessary to make an informed decision. I will also remind you when there is a departure from your birth plan.
3. Speak to the staff on your behalf. I will discuss your concerns with you and suggest options, but you or your partner will speak directly to the clinical staff regarding your care.
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Failure to provide service
As your doula I will make every effort to provide the services described here. Sometimes this is impossible (for example, with a rapid labor). If my failure to attend your birth is due to my error, there will be no charge for my services and I will refund the retaining fee. If it is due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control (such as rapid labor), the remainder of the fee is due as stated in the contract. If you choose not to call me, the full fee is due as stated in the contract.
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Fees
My fee is $2,000, paid as follows:
1. $1,200 as a non-refundable retainer fee, due when you hire me as your doula, and
2. The final fee balance due by 34 weeks. If you are already 34 weeks or more, the full fee is due at time of signing.
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I understand this is a legal representation of my signature.
Clear
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