Overnight Postpartum Contract
Read the Contract and Sign at the Bottom
This agreement is between Sacred Openings, LLC (the “Doula”) and the Undersigned below (the “Client”) for the purpose of providing overnight postpartum doula care.
DESCRIPTION OF POSTPARTUM DOULA
A postpartum doula is there to help a new family in those first days and weeks after bringing home a new baby. Services include, but are not limited to, help with self-care recovery, postpartum comfort measures, infant care, parenting information and assistance with learning to feed and take care of your baby, as well as other practical services.
Postpartum doula services for a family last anywhere from a few days, up to a few weeks after bringing home a new baby.
Overnight support is a specific variation of postpartum doula support. It differs from daytime support in that overnight support focuses on care of the new baby, while daytime support focuses mainly on the birthing parent while also including support for the baby and coparent, if applicable.
DISCLAIMER
Doulas are not doctors or midwives, and do not practice medicine, nor diagnose and treat postpartum related symptoms. Information presented in our meetings and conversations is not intended as a substitute for the medical advice of a properly licensed health care professional. In addition, doulas do not make specific health claims or promise medical results. We provide education and guidance, and postpartum and breastfeeding support.
SERVICE DESCRIPTION
Overnight support takes place between the hours of 6:00pm-8:30am, and can be booked in 4-8hr shifts.
Once you have requested me to act as your doula, I will provide the following services:
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Care of the baby. Includes:
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Feeding Baby myself or bringing Baby to nursing parent to feed
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Changing Baby's diaper
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Attending to Baby each time s/he cries
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Rocking, singing, patting to calm Baby & ease back to sleep
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Clean any bottles or pump parts used during the overnight shift
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Clean any dishes that may have been used by the Doula during the shift (with parental pre-approval)
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Postpartum healing/newborn care/safe sleep/lactation education provided by the Doula to the Client(s) at Client(s) request, or at the Doula's discretion
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Emotional support and nurturing for the new parent(s)
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While Baby is asleep, the Doula may also sleep
Please Note: The Doula will not engage in any practices that she deems to be contrary to safe sleep practices, or any practices she deems to be unsafe for any reason whatsoever, even if these are routine practices for the parents.
CLIENT RESPONSIBILITIES
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The Client(s) must communicate to the Doula any relevant medical or emotional health conditions that may impact the parent(s), baby, or sibling(s) while she is working a shift.
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The Client(s) must have a safe sleep space set up for the Doula prior to her shift and it must be available for use for the entirety of the shift. This sleep space must be either in the same room as the baby, or the Doula must be provided with a working and reliable monitor so that she can stay vigilant to the baby's needs while resting.
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The Doula must have access to a refrigerator, or another space to keep food cool, and she must be allowed access to mechanisms to heat food up, i.e. stove top, range, convection oven, hot plate, pots, pants, spatulas, ladles, cooking spoons, etc.
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It is the Client(s)'s responsibility to reach out to the doula to schedule their requested shifts. Two weeks' notice is requested, although the Doula may be able to accommodate earlier shifts, if her schedule allows; similarly, the Doula may not be able to accommodate shifts until beyond two weeks, depending on her schedule. Availability will be discussed before the signing of the contract, but please note, availability cannot be held without scheduling an appointment.
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The Client(s) must pay the doula on time and in accordance to the policy detailed in the Fees & Billing section below.
SCHEDULING
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Each overnight shift must be a minimum of 4hrs and can be scheduled up to 8hrs at a time. Overnight shifts can be scheduled between the hours of 6:00pm-8:30am.
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No more than 3 nights/week may be scheduled, unless otherwise agreed upon by the Doula.
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It is the Client(s)'s responsibility to reach out to the doula to schedule their requested shifts. Two weeks' notice is requested, although the Doula may be able to accommodate earlier shifts, if her schedule allows; similarly, the Doula may not be able to accommodate shifts until beyond two weeks, depending on her schedule. Availability will be discussed before the signing of the contract, but please note, availability cannot be held without scheduling an appointment.
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It is requested that a set schedule of known dates and times is established at the signing of this contract - extra dates may be added to the agreed upon schedule, if the Doula's schedule allows.
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To schedule your shifts, please text the Doula at 215-279-2558 for the fastest response. You may also email the Doula at hello@sacredopeningsdoula.com.
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For cancellations/rescheduling visits, I require 24 hours notice. In the event that less than 24 hours notice is given, a $50 late cancelation fee will apply.
FEES & BILLING
The hourly cost of overnight support is $55/hr.
A non-refundable deposit of the total cost of the last 2 weeks of scheduled shifts is due at the signing of this contract.
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This deposit will apply to the final 2 weeks of care and secures your space in the Doula's calendar.
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If the contract is terminated by either party for any reason whatsoever, this deposit will not be returned.
The Client(s) will receive an invoice from the Doula at the end of each service week, with payment due upon receipt. Payment may be made via credit card, cash, check, or Venmo (@kayla-brookins).
The Doula retains the right to not attend the next week's shifts and/or to terminate the contract with no refund, due to an unpaid invoice.
The Client(s) forfeits all previously scheduled shifts if they have an unpaid invoice. Once paid, the shifts may continue if the time(s) are still available and/or if the Doula had not already terminated the contract.
For cancellations/rescheduling visits, I require 24 hours notice. In the event that less than 24 hours notice is given, a $50 late cancelation fee will apply.
CANCELLATIONS & REFUNDS
In the event the Client no longer desires Doula services, no refund will be given for termination of this contract. The deposit will be kept and all scheduled shifts will be canceled.
For cancellations/rescheduling visits, I require 24 hours notice. In the event that less than 24 hours notice is given, a $50 late cancelation fee will apply.
In the event of illness or injury on the part of the doula, severe weather, attending a birth, or any other circumstance that may prevent the doula from attending a scheduled session, services will be rescheduled as soon as possible.
I have read and understand all of the stipulations presented above and agree to abide by them.