Postpartum Doula Support

                            Postpartum Doula Support Payment and Confidentiality Agreement

The following agreement is hereby entered into between Doula Yenny James, referred to as “I” and Client ________________________ referred to as “you,” with the following conditions understood and accepted by both parties.

As a Certified Perinatal Coach, I provide emotional and physical support to the expectant parent and their partner and/or family during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum. I will provide education to ensure that you have the information that you need to make informed decisions regarding your baby. I can provide reassurance and perspective to you and your partner, make suggestions for postpartum recovery, and help with relaxation, massage, and other techniques for your comfort. I am independent and self-employed, and so, I am working for you and not your caregiver.

For the purposes of this Agreement, I will only be providing postpartum doula support which includes, assistance with postpartum recovery; infant care assistance such as feeding, sleeping, and bathing; light housekeeping; and help with meal preparation. 

Before Birth:

I will meet with you and your partner once before labor to become acquainted with you, unless I have been contacted after delivery. I discuss your priorities and any fears or concerns you may have; present evidence-based information on the risks and benefits of certain postpartum and newborn care; discuss your postpartum plans; and plan how we might best work together. I will also inform you of times when I am unavailable for postpartum support. 

Postpartum Services: 

I believe that the postpartum period exceeds 6-8 weeks. The first year after delivery is crucial for parents. For this reason, I offer daytime postpartum services throughout the first year after delivery. During the first 6-8 weeks, I will provide six home visits, up to 3 hours each visit. The visits can be divided any way that you would like. 

I am available to provide breast/chestfeeding(if applicable) support within my scope of practice; provide emotional support and nurturing for the new parent; provide guidance with newborn care and feeding; light housekeeping; help prepare meals or discuss meal planning; help with postpartum care such as baths, foot soaks, or massage. 

After 6-8 weeks, I am available to contact via phone or email if you need emotional support or need information on community resources.

Limitation of Services:

As a doula, I do not:

1. Perform clinical tasks, such as measuring blood pressure, fetal heart checks or vaginal exams. I am there to provide only physical comfort and emotional support and facilitate communication between you, medical staff, and care providers.
2. Make decisions for you. I will help you get the information that you need to make informed decisions.
3. Speak to medical staff or providers on your behalf. I will discuss your concerns with you and suggest options, as well as encourage you and your partner/spouse to voice your opinions, questions and concerns to the staff.
4. Provide medical advice. I can direct you to resources that might help you answer your questions and make informed decisions on your own. If you have questions or want advice about your care or that of your baby, you should contact your care provider. 

COVID-19:

You and I agree to be transparent and vigilant in monitoring our own health and exposure to COVID-19. Since transmission can occur asymptomatically, both parties will not be held accountable for unintentional exposure. I agree that I will not do home visits if I exhibit symptoms. Instead, I will be available to answer questions virtually, and can reschedule home visits for a later time at no additional cost.In the event that you or I test positive for COVID-19 within 2 weeks following a home visit, we agree to notify each other. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, you on your own behalf and on behalf of your newborn child, waive any and all liability against me.

Virtual Support:

For the purposes of this contract, “virtual support” is defined as communications between Client(you) and Doula(I) via videoconferencing, text messaging, and phone calls. I will remain available throughout pregnancy and postpartum. Also, I will ensure that the device to be used for virtual communications is charged, in working order, and remains powered on. 

Confidentiality Release:

You hereby give me permission to take notes about you, your birth, and postpartum recovery, including personal information about yourself and your child(ren). This information may be shared with professional community referrals if requested. Signing this contract also gives me permission to discuss your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery with other birth professionals in both formal and informal settings. I will never use your name, your child’s name, the date you gave birth or any other identifying information. A separate photographic and social media release is included in this agreement.

Responsibility of Client:

I ask that you inform me of any pregnancy-related or other health complications or conditions you may have, as well as any other special circumstances you might have or require. Text, email, videoconferencing and phone calls are all good methods for contact. If you need to contact me between the hours of 8pm to 8am CST, please call instead of emailing or only texting. I should only be contacted between 8pm to 8am CST for urgent matters. I also request that you inform your care provider that you have hired a doula.

Fees:

Fees are agreed upon based on the selected doula service package. The total amount due is owed at time of contract unless otherwise agreed upon in writing. I accept checks(made out to Paradigm Doulas LLC), PayPal, or money order. If alternative means of payment are used, such as barter or sliding scale, they must be agreed upon in writing by you and I prior to the signing of this contract. Payment due is located at the bottom of this contract.

Photo and Social Media Release:

You hereby give me permission to post photos/comments on social media and website, provided that they are modest and respectful of your birth. I will only post with parents permission and photos given by the parents and/or ones reviewed by the parents. 

If you do not wish to have photos/comments posted, initial here ____

Liability:

In entering a contract for doula services with Yenny James, I/We hereby acknowledge that during the performance period of this contract, services may be provided to me/us in my/our home or virtually. I/We understand that Yenny James has a limited role pursuant to the description of tasks outlined in the above-referenced contract wherever services are provided to me/us. 

I/We understand that my/our doula does not make medical decisions on my/our behalf, to include the decision when to seek medical care for myself or my newborn child. When services are performed in a medical facility, I/we acknowledge that Yenny James is not responsible for the performance of clinical tasks to include medical decisions regarding the inclusion or exclusion of treatments available to me/us and my/our baby.

Now, therefore, in consideration of the above acknowledgements, I/we (both jointly and separately) on behalf of myself, ourselves, my/our heirs, administrators, personal representatives, executors, assign to RELEASE AND FOREVER DISCHARGE Yenny James and Paradigm Doulas LLC from all damages or causes of actions, either at law or in equity, which I/we may have or acquire or which may accrue to me/us, my/our heirs, administrators, personal representatives, executors or assigns as a result of using the doula services of Yenny James and Paradigm Doulas LLC. I/We intend this to be a COMPLETE RELEASE AND DISCHARGE them from all liability whatsoever.

I/We have read all statements contained herein and I/we fully realize that I/we are signing a COMPLETE RELEASE AND BAR to any claims which I/we have or believe I/we have resulted from our contract for doula services.

If we have previously agreed upon any changes or addendums to this contract, including but not limited to additional services or changes to the services outlined above, please copy and paste the terms of the agreement below:

□ We have agreed to a fee in the amount of: $__________________

I/We have read this contract describing the doula’s services and agree to enter into a client-doula relationship for pregnancy and birth with a due date of ______________.