Mother Care Postpartum Contract

Letter of Agreement Describing Services

What is a Postpartum Doula?

As postpartum doulas, we provide non-medical physical and emotional support and household assistance after the birth of your baby, expected due date (above). We will help you with self-care recovery measures, give information on mother and baby care, help you learn to care for and feed your new baby, cooking (two meals a day), and offer minor household assistance, including grocery shopping, laundry, and/or dish-washing.

Choosing a Doula

We prefer for each postpartum doula to meet with you and your partner first before you make any final decision about retaining our services and choosing your preferred doula. This does not obligate you in any way. If you do choose our services, will want to meet with you approximately four weeks before your due date to discuss your preferences regarding our services. In addition to in-home doula services, your chosen doula is available at all times for telephone consultations from two weeks before your due date until the end of your contract.

Your primary doula will also inform you of the rare times when she may be unavailable. To cover those times, she can arrange one or more back-up doulas.

Our Services

Your chosen Mother Care doula will be available for up to 8 hours a day (with a 3 hour minimum) beginning between your discharge from the hospital and the third week after the birth. We need 48 hours notice before the first day of service, and work only Monday to Friday.

For billing purposes, an hour is considered to begin when we arrive at your home at a previously arranged time. If we run errands for you on our way to your home, the hour begins when we arrive at the first stop. Additional hours will be subject to availability and mutual agreement.

In the event of unpredictable scheduling conflicts, we agree arranging for one or more back-up doulas or refund your deposit.

Limitations of Doula Practice

We do not diagnose medical conditions in the mother or the baby, but will refer you to a health care provider when appropriate.

We do not take over the care of the baby, but assist you in learning to care for your baby’s needs.

We do not do heavy housecleaning such as mopping, cleaning bathtubs, or yard work.

We do not advance you money for groceries, but ask for cash to make purchases on your behalf.

We will make every effort to provide the services described herein. If my failure to provide services is due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control, there will be no charge for our services beyond the $20 consultation fee, which covers the cost of prenatal consultation, handouts and our availability. If it is due to your failure to call us, we will keep, or you will owe, the agreed upon full cost of service.

You may terminate this agreement at any time and forfeit the deposit of $50 up to three weeks before your expected due date.

Fees

The fees are to be paid as follows:

$ 50 non-refundable retainer fee, due when sign this agreement

$ 20 consultation fee, due when you have your consultation visit

$ 10 per hour for postpartum services due at the beginning of each week contracted

(If the payment schedule should pose a problem, we are willing to discuss options)