B I R T H . D O U L A . C O N T R A C T
Before Labor
We will meet for up to two prenatal visits before labor, time permitting based on the time between this contract initiation and the time of service. If you cancel a prenatal appointment with less than 24 hours notice, the appointment may not be able to be rescheduled. We will become acquainted, explore and discuss your priorities and any hopes or concerns, as well as your birth plan and plan how we might work best together. I support your preparations for birth and parenthood by offering referrals to other resources as necessary.
I will inform you if there are any times when I am unavailable for labor support. To ensure you have available labor support should you need it during these times, I will arrange one or more qualified back-up doulas. I will choose a backup doula based on my professional expertise.
The expected service date of this contract is between two weeks before and two weeks after your estimated due date provided in this contract. During this time your doula will be “on call” and available to accept a phone call 24 hours/day and will be ready to attend your birth, so long as all fees are paid in full. If fees are not paid in full, the doula contracted, or backup doula, is not “on call” and will not attend.
Included in your birth doula fees is the online infant feeding course, Prepared Feeding for you to enjoy before labor.
Client communication will be responded to Monday-Friday from 8am-5pm central time, although you are welcome to communicate with your doula and/or Nola Nesting anytime.
Nola Nesting clients receive $100 off your choice of placenta encapsulation or a childbirth class. This is not transferable to other services, cannot be applied to this contract, and cannot be combined with other discounts or promotions.
Labor
I ask that you notify me when you believe you are in labor, even if you do not request my presence at that time. I can answer questions and make suggestions over the phone. I need approximately two hours to get to you from the time you request that I join you. Extraordinary circumstances may cause a delay of greater than two hours. I will meet you at your home, the hospital, or birth center. Except for extraordinary circumstances (such as but not limited to; illness, extreme weather or other emergency), I will remain with you throughout labor and birth, with breaks to meet personal needs. In the case of a long labor (ie 15 hours or more) or other extraordinary circumstance, as defined above, I may request at my discretion that another doula relieve me to ensure that you have continuous support. Should you choose to have your labor induced, I will join you when you are in need of additional labor support, at your request. For most this is between 5-6cm dilation or ”active labor.” Often this is several hours into or the day following the induction of labor. I will be available via phone for support, questions and/or explanations prior to my requested arrival.
After Birth
I will visit you once following your birth for a postpartum visit. If you do not schedule this visit within four weeks of your baby’s birth, the contracted postpartum visit is canceled.
Limitations of Liability
Client agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Nola Nesting, LLC, its agents, members, doulas, and representatives harmless from all claims, losses, judgments, damages, expenses and costs (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and court costs), whether fixed or contingent, and whether or not adjudicated, arising from or in any way related to: (a) the breach of any of its obligations hereunder; (b) damage to real or tangible personal property of client or any third party as a result of the fault of client and not due to the fault of Nola Nesting, LLC its agents members, doulas, or representatives, (c) bodily injury to any party caused by client and not caused by Nola Nesting, LLC its agents members, doulas, or representatives; (d) any breach of representations or warranties regarding services of Nola Nesting, LLC made by clients or any other third party; (e) payment of services owed to birthing facility (f) any unauthorized act or omission of the doulas which may be determined to be binding upon Nola Nesting, LLC; and (g) the negligence, recklessness or willful misconduct of the Nola Nesting, LLC or its agent, doulas, members or representatives, (h) the aforementioned exceptions of services, including but not limited to, medical monitoring, medical decisions, medical opinion, treatment options, physician services, and medical services.
Explanation of Fees.
The contracted full fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. If you choose to use a payment plan, all payments are non-refundable and non-transferable and the balance is due in full. Birth and postpartum services will not be provided if the contracted fee is not paid in full. I will make every effort to provide the services described here. Sometimes this is impossible (for example and not limited to, with a rapid labor, emergency birth, other birth event). If another doula attends your birth in my place, the fee is still due in full. If your medical care provider or the policies at your birthing location prevent me from providing services, my fee is still due in full. If hospital policy prevents me from being with you during a vaginal or cesarean birth, and you request my presence, I will provide immediate postpartum support, and the fee for services is due in full. It is my recommendation that you discuss your plans for doula support with your care provider prior to birth. It is your responsibility to call your doula when you are in labor and to leave a message and/or send a text; and/or call again, if the doula is unable to answer. If you fail to call your doula as instructed and/or fail to request doula attendance, fees are still due in full. Contracted fees are not adjusted for the length of time of labor, birth, method of birth, or any other terms. If you were to begin labor before the contracted service period of two weeks before your communicated estimated due date, doula support is not guaranteed, as your doula is not on call. All fees must be paid in full before a doula can attend your birth at any week of gestation.
If we are unable to provide in-person visits or support due to infectious disease, we will provide virtual visits and/or support. If your place of birth has restricted your right to have a doula present with you we encourage you to place in writing to the chief of Obstetrics, Labor and Delivery Nurse Manager, and hospital CEO your request to have your doula present. If we are unable to attend due to hospital policy related to infectious disease, or any other explanation provided by your place of birth or health care provider, we will labor with you at your home, providing both you and your doula are comfortable, and provide support virtually throughout your labor and birth after moving to the place of birth.
A minimum of a payment of 50% of the contracted fee is due at the time of contract. The balance is due in full at the 37 week point of your pregnancy, one week before the contracted service period. All payments are nonrefundable and nontransferable. If the balance is not paid by 37 weeks, the client consents to Nola Nesting charging their credit card for the balance due. Should fees not be paid in full, it is solely at the doula’s discretion whether or not to attend your birth. If you begin labor prior to making full payment, and request your doula to join you, your balance must be first paid in full.
Named Storm or Other Peril
If we are unable to be with you for prenatal visits, labor support, postpartum support, or any other services due to an Act of God, unsafe conditions related to a weather event or any other peril that we must respond to for safety, we will move to virtual support and resume in person support as soon as possible. Nola Nesting doulas will evacuate under recommended and mandatory evacuation orders. It is our advice that our clients do so as well. Should a storm or other perilous event occur that places the safety of the doula at risk when remaining in place, or traveling to or from a contracted client, the doula will provide virtual support to the extent and which they are capable related to cellular and wifi coverage, which may also be impacted by the named storm or other peril. If a Nola Nesting client evacuates related to a named storm or other peril we will assist in providing backup doula support in the city that the client evacuates to, although this is not guaranteed, and/or will provide virtual support to the extent we are able related to cellular and wifi availability at both the client’s and doula’s location. It is the client’s responsibility to communicate their plans with their doula and/or Nola Nesting in the case of a named storm or other peril. Clients will be contacted by Nola Nesting and/or their doula in the case of a named storm or other peril. All contracted fees are non-refundable and non transferable.