CLIENT DETAILS

MY ROLE AS YOUR DOULA

My role is to provide emotional, physical, and logistical support to you and your family before, during, and after labour and delivery to help facilitate a satisfying experience. I will be a source of education,

guidance, and information during pregnancy and will help you plan for your birth experience.

During labour, I will draw on extensive education, knowledge, and experience to provide reassurance and perspective to you and your partner, make suggestions for labour progress, and help with relaxation,

massage, positioning, and other techniques for your comfort. I can also facilitate communication with your care providers to ensure that you have the necessary information to make informed decisions during your labour.

After your birth, I will help you and your partner transition to life as

parents with continuing guidance and information to aid your recovery, safeguard your mental health, and help you understand how to care for your new baby. I work for you, not your care provider or place of birth.

MY OBLIGATIONS AS YOUR DOULA

• I am independent and self-employed which means I will be working for you, not your care provider or hospital.

• I will provide birth plan information and consultation.

• I will provide information and resources to enable you to make informed choices.

• I will provide unlimited email support and phone/text support during business hours (9am- 5pm) after the signing of our contract until 6 weeks postpartum.

• I will be on call for you 24 hours a day beginning two (2) weeks before your estimated due date (EDD) up until I join you after labour begins.

• After I am on call, I will also provide unlimited (not confined to business hours) text and phone support, until I am with you during labour. I will provide early labour support VIRTUALLY.

• I will remain with you once active labour is established until one to two hours after your baby is born. I may take short breaks for meals and rest, if time allows. In the rare event that labour is extremely protracted, I may call my back-up to bring in fresh support for you. I would discuss this with you before acting. THIS INCLUDES 14 HOURS OF FACE TO FACE SUPPORT.

• I will draw on my knowledge and experience to provide emotional support, physical comfort, and to help you communicate with the medical staff. I can provide you with reassurance and perspective, make suggestions to help labour progress and help with relaxation, massage, positioning, and other non-medical techniques for comfort and coping.

• If breastfeeding, I can help you initiate that process.

• After the birth of your baby I will answer any questions or give you a referral to an appropriate professional that can meet your needs. Birth timelines will be mailed out or delivered within 4 weeks of the birth.

• I will maintain confidentiality of the details relating to your pregnancy and birth unless I have first obtained your consent, giving me permission to share details. The exception to this is if I need to call in a back-up doula to serve you in some capacity. The back-up doula would also be bound to confidentiality.

LIMITATIONS OF SERVICE

AS YOUR DOULA, I DO NOT:

• Perform clinical tasks. This includes monitoring blood pressure, fetal heart rate monitoring, vaginal or cervical exams, catching your baby, etc. I do not prescribe or administer medications. I will be there to provide physical comfort and emotional support and facilitate communication between you and the medical staff.

• Make decisions for you. I will help you get the information you need to make an informed decision. I will also remind you if there is a departure from your birth plan so that you may discuss these changes with your care provider.

• Speak to the staff on your behalf. I will discuss your concerns with you and suggest options, as well as encourage you to voice your opinions, questions, and concerns to the medical staff.

• Prescribe, diagnose or treat any medical problems. I will not be liable for interpreting diagnostic procedures. This is the role of your care provider.

• Force my own beliefs regarding the birth process on you. I will support your unique birthing journey.

• "Take over" or deliberately exclude your partner. I am there to provide support to both of you at all times.

• Provide transportation. I will not provide transportation to or from the hospital for you, your family, or any member of your family or support team.

• Provide meals after the birth. I will order/retrieve food on your behalf permitting the availability at the location of birth.

• Provide primary care for children. I will not be primarily responsible (provide childcare) for your children or your new baby. You, your partner, or another responsible adult must be present at all times during meetings and labour support to provide care for your children or your new baby.

CLIENT ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

In order to provide the best possible support to you and your family, I kindly request that my clients understand and commit to the following:

• Read and be familiar with the information that I provide for you.

• Check email/online portal for resources and forms periodically.

• Discuss your plans for your birth with your care provider, preferably before labour.

• Contact me regarding any questions or concerns throughout your pregnancy.

• Maintain communication throughout our time together. Please keep me updated on your pregnancy, your mental and physical well-being, and any updates or information from your care provider, or changes in the birth plan. Staying updated allows me to provide relevant support to you.

• Attend our prenatal meetings and/or the prenatal education workshop. Our prenatal meetings are where we will get to know each other better and make a plan for your birth and postpartum support. Without these meetings, it is difficult to provide customized support to you during labour and delivery. Please schedule adequate time (1-2 hours) for our meetings and make arrangements for care for your older children, pets, etc, if necessary.

• The prenatal education workshop is a one (1) Saturday commitment ideally scheduled by 36 weeks of pregnancy from 9am to approximately 3pm. Please make necessary arrangements to attend. Alternative arrangements may not always be possible.

• Make your payments on time. I am unable to provide labour support to clients that have not paid their balance in full.

• Text/call me when you think you might be in labour/or membranes have ruptured, even if you do not need me.  If I don’t respond right away please call me ASAP.

• Be honest and open about your birth wishes. This helps me to be able to support you in the best way possible.

• Ensure you and your partner have adequate food/water for the duration of birth and postpartum.

• We will discuss in prenatal meetings what you want during labour, and will also evaluate by phone once your labour has begun, and to find out more about what your needs are at that time. I can answer questions and make suggestions over the phone. We can decide if I should come then or wait for further change.

• Please understand I usually need approximately 2 hours to get to you from the time you request in-person support.

COMMUNICATION GUIDELINES

As we get started on this journey together I wanted to take a moment to discuss communication with you and establish clear guidelines to ensure that we stay connected and informed throughout your journey. As a dedicated doula, I strive to provide the best support possible, and effective communication plays a vital role in achieving that.

Please take note of the following important points regarding our communication:



• Availability: From Monday to Friday, between 9am to 5pm, I am available and open to calls and texts. These are my office hours, designated for addressing your inquiries, scheduling visits, and providing support. IF IT IS AN EMERGENCY CONTACT ME AT ANY POINT IN TIME AFTER YOU HAVE CONTACTED YOUR MEDICAL CARE PROVIDER.

• Response time: I always strive to respond to inquiries and questions as promptly as possible. However, please allow me up to 24 hours to get back to you. If your matter is urgent and requires immediate attention, please feel free to call me or indicate the urgency via text. Your understanding and patience are greatly appreciated.



• Human limitations: While I aspire to be a superhuman who can juggle all aspects of life flawlessly – from being a wife, mom, doula, and business owner to being a good friend – the truth is, I am only human. There may be occasions when it takes longer than expected to reply, and I ask for your understanding. If you haven't heard from me within 24 hours, please reach out again with an additional call or text. Your reminder is appreciated and will help me respond to you promptly.

• Rescheduling: As a small team, unforeseen circumstances can occasionally disrupt our scheduled meetings or visits, especially due to the unpredictable nature of birth. Rest assured that I will provide you with as much notice as possible if rescheduling becomes necessary. Your flexibility and understanding are greatly valued during such times.



• Online portal: A significant portion of your handouts, resources, and forms will be accessible through your online portal. If you encounter any issues or have trouble navigating the portal, please reach out to me, and I will be happy to assist you.

• Contacting your Doula:

  Sara: 780-938-3138

  Sam: 780-281-0983

  Please only contact your assigned primary doula or your assigned back-up doula. Your primary doula will arrange back-up doula support for you.

If in an emergency you are unable to reach me on my primary line after the first attempt, please hang up, call again x2. If you do not hear from me within 30 minutes, follow up with a call to your back-up doula.

PRENATAL SUPPORT

Prenatal appointments will be scheduled at approximately 25 to 36 weeks of pregnancy, or as discussed. We will use all prenatal visits, whether virtual or in-person, to get to know one another, review your pregnancy, explore and discuss your priorities, fears, or concerns for birth. As your doula, I will present evidence-based information on the risks and benefits of common interventions and procedures used during childbirth and help you understand your options. During these visits, we will discuss my role during your birth and postpartum experience. We will explore and discuss your birth plan goals, all stages of labour and what your desires and preferences are for each one, identify techniques for coping with discomfort and fatigue, and plan for your partner’s involvement in your labour.

The purpose of these prenatal visits is to leave you and your family feeling confident and well-informed about labour and the choices you will have during it. Your prenatal support also includes unlimited text support. Please contact me whenever you have questions, concerns, and after appointments with your care provider. I can also provide information, resources, advice, guidance, and practical preparation assistance.

LABOUR AND BIRTH SUPPORT

As your doula, I will be on call for your birth for 24 hours a day from two weeks before your estimated due date until the birth of your baby. If your labour begins before this window, I will make every effort to attend as arranged.

During our prenatal appointments, we will review how and when to contact me when labour begins. Please contact me as soon as you think labour may be starting or when you are ready to request in-person support. I will be available via phone, text, or in-person support at your request. I can provide you and your partner with guidance, answers, coping techniques, and information about normal labour progress.

I do not provide medical care, fetal monitoring, cervical exams, or any other procedure or therapy within the scope of a doctor or registered midwife. As a doula, I do not provide medical information, provide clinical opinions, or in any way act as your care provider.

After you call and request in-person support, I will arrive within one to two hours. Except for extraordinary circumstances, and as permitted by any boundaries, policies, or restrictions of the birth facility of your choosing, I will remain with you throughout your labour and birth. In cases of long labours, I may be required to call a second (back-up) doula to your labour to continue to provide support to you while I rest.

POSTPARTUM SUPPORT

I will remain with you for up to one to two hours after the birth of your baby, until you are settled and your family is ready for some quiet time together. If desired, I can also help with your baby’s first feedings.

Postpartum visits are used to check in with your family, provide guidance with feeding if necessary/desired, make suggestions about recovery and infant care, answer questions, and to determine what other services are needed at home (if any). You may wish to retell and discuss your birth experience and discuss emotional healing and the changes you are experiencing. I will check in with you regarding your physical and emotional well-being, talk to you about your transition to parenthood, and offer suggestions or ideas to help.

I will also ask for feedback and a review of the support you received at your birth. If you wish to schedule further postpartum support, we will

discuss this and arrange a schedule and payment plan at your final postpartum visit.

Postpartum visits included in this package may be scheduled up to 6 weeks postpartum. At this time, this birth support package will expire. Additional postpartum support visits may be arranged under a new support package and contract.

BACK-UP DOULAS

In the event that I am unable to attend your birth (due to illness, emergency, natural disaster, or any other reason), a back-up doula will be available to you for the duration of your labour and as outlined

in this contract.

In the event a back-up doula attends, the primary doula, will pay the back-up doula fee. Any in-person support hours over 14 hours, as accrued by the back-up doula will be invoiced to the client by Motherhood Matters, who will then pay the back-up doula directly.

Your back-up doula has already been secured by your primary doula. To learn more about your back-up doula, or to arrange a meeting with your back-up doula, please contact me.

MILEAGE

If travel to your home for prenatal or postpartum meetings or your birth location is over 120 kilometres roundtrip there will be an additional fee of $0.70 per kilometre, as per CRA recommendations added to your contract fee.

Sara: T6R 0K5

Sam: T4V 2N1

FAILURE TO PROVIDE SERVICE

In the extremely unlikely event that neither myself or any back-up doulas attend your birth, and the absence of doula support at your birth is due to an error within my control, there will be no charge for services and your fee (minus the deposit and $100 for any prenatal appointments attended and $175 for the prenatal education workshop) will be refunded. 

The following circumstances are non-refundable:

ON CALL

I will be made available from 38 weeks to 42 weeks.

INVESTMENT OPTIONS

• Complimentary consultation

• Welcome gift, including a cozy Motherhood Matters sweater -OR- t-shirt

• Access to Client Portal

• Virtual monthly check-ins

• Unlimited phone/text support

• Free use of birth equipment (excluding birth pool)

• Full-day Prenatal Education Workshop with one support person -OR- additional in-home prenatal meeting pending availability

• 1 in-home prenatal meeting

• On-call from 38 weeks until birth

• 1 in-home postpartum follow-up

• Birth photography and an edited private digital gallery

All packages require a 25% non-refundable deposit due upon contract signing to reserve your space on my calendar. This deposit will be deducted from your total amount owing.

Payments may be made in installments as arranged with me in advance. All fees must be paid in full by 36 weeks of pregnancy and/or before labour support will be provided. Payments are accepted

via cash or electronic funds transfer (EFT, e-transfer) to motherhoodmattersinfo@gmail.com.

Please note that services are not available for clients that have not made their final payment support services.

SIGNATURES