Services and Fees
“Thank you so much for being our
doula…
You did
a wonderful job. I can’t imagine doing it without you…
Your services were invaluable. Thank you for being kind, sensitive,
professional,
and respectful…
You have my highest recommendations!”
-Client
2002
Services
I offer a free consultation to
prospective clients in which we discuss my services and fees
and the client’s individual
needs. I provide a list of references so that you may hear from
previous clients about their
first hand experiences with me. During our consultation you are
able to get to know me and see if
I am a good fit for you. I encourage prospective clients to
interview several doulas and to
find the one who meets their needs and they are most comfortable with.
As your Doula I:
·
Will meet with you at
least once before labor begins to discuss your plans for your birth.
(This is a minimum. I am
available for more frequent contact depending
on my clients
needs/desires.)
·
Will want to become
familiar with your Birth Plan, (if you choose to have one), including your
preferences regarding management
options and the use, or not, of pain medications.
·
Will want to know your
best ways of coping with pain and fatigue
and how you and your partner (if
applicable) foresee working together.
·
Will be on call 24 hours
a day for a negotiated time period, usually beginning at 37 weeks gestation.
(We will discuss your individual
needs, as well as my schedule, when we meet for your consultation.
I am most often available for
clients if they face preterm labor or other complications which require
the preterm birth of their
babies!!!)
·
Will answer questions,
provide references, offer support, etc.over the phone any
time before labor begins.
·
Will provide early labor
support as requested, including in your home.
(This means I will be
with you as soon as you want me to be once you are in labor.)
·
Will remain with you
once active labor has begun until one to two hours
after your baby is born.
( I like to remain with families
at least until mom and baby are fed and content, though this is not always
possible.)
·
Will utilize non-medical
support techniques for labor and birth.
(I have a whole lot of
tricks up my sleeve and am learning new things
all the time, but what I go by are your
individual needs and your unique labor situation.)
·
Will take photographs of
your labor/birth as circumstances allow and provide you with a photo cd.
·
Will maintain a birth
log as circumstances allow.
(I try to keep track of points
in labor that you may want to remember later,
i.e. dilation checks, station of baby,
changes in labor, interventions, etc.
I use these to compile a narrative of your
labor/ birth from my perspective.)
·
Will assist in providing
information and supply emotional support by
telephone on postpartum care,
feeding, and newborn care after the birth, as requested.
·
Will meet with you once
between 1 to 4 weeks postpartum to discuss
the birth and any other concerns
you may have.
·
Will provide you with a
“birth story”, a written account of your labor
and birth as seen through my
eyes.
Fees
I require a non-refundable $100 retainer fee, due upon signing the
Doula Services Agreement (see Below),
which holds your place on my
calendar.
I take a maximum of three clients per month.
Half of my fee is due
by 37 weeks gestation (based on Estimated due Date) and the remainder is due by
2 weeks postpartum.
(Payment plans are available.)
My fees are based on a sliding scale of $500-$800.
I believe doula services should be available to all families who desire
them and will work
with families to
accommodate many different financial situations.
If you feel you cannot afford my fee please do not assume I will not
work with you.
I provide free services to approximately 20% of my clients.
Printable
Version of Doula Service Agreement
For more information or to schedule your free consultation…
Contact
me:
Alisha H. Wilkes CD
Professional Labor Support (Doula)