Letter of Agreement Describing Postpartum Doula Services, Limits, and Fees

Bump to Babe Doula and Sleep Coach

Effective September 2025

This Agreement is between (doula’s name) _______________________ and (Client’s name) ____________________________ for the purposes of providing postpartum doula services. My estimated due date is: ________________________.

Services Provided

Your Postpartum doula, Megan Wysong, agrees to abide by the DONA International Postpartum Doula Scope of Practice and Code of Ethics. A postpartum doula is a trained professional available to help a new family in those first days and weeks after bringing home a new baby. Services include, but are not limited to, non-medical physical and educational support as well as non-judgmental emotional support to process the birth and challenges of early parenthood, self-care physical recovery, postpartum comfort measures including light meals and snacks, hydration, lactation, newborn care / development education, parenting information, assistance, and psycho-social support. Services may also include assistance with basic newborn care, parent – infant bonding, infant soothing, sibling adjustment, multiples, running errands including grocery shopping, pharmacy visits, or attending doctor’s appointments, light housework (ex. baby clothing laundry, pump / bottle cleaning, bottle preparation, etc.) and household organization related to baby care.

I will offer reliable and evidence-based information, reassurance and hands-on support with children and household organization. Information will be shared about newborn feeding, emotional and physical recovery from childbirth, perinatal mood and anxiety disorder, and referrals to appropriate resources as necessary including parenting classes, pediatricians, lactation support, and parenting support groups, as appropriate. I will provide information for the birthing parent’s partner or family members on all the topics above including the signs of infection and maternal mental illness. I agree to work with you on a pre-determined schedule, subject to availability and mutually agreeable hours.

Once letter of agreement is signed and retainer fee is paid, during normal business hours, I will be available to answer questions about upcoming baby care and services by phone, text, or by email any time before the birth of your baby or when I am not on a visit. If a call takes more than 15 minutes, it will be deducted from the total package hours.

Upon hiring, signing the agreement, and paying the retainer fee, there can be a perinatal intake visit around 37 weeks to determine your expectations and needs as well as an explanation of the services I will be offering. This is the start to establishing a good relationship. This can be scheduled anytime before the baby / babies arrive(s), ideally on or before 37 weeks of gestation or as soon as services are requested. This time can also be used to review baby-related paraphernalia and postpartum preparations, bed rest, or additional support needed at home. The hours for this visit will be deducted from the total hours in the package you select. 

Limits of Service

Your doula will NOT:

• Examine the client, diagnose or treat medical conditions in the parent or the baby but will refer you to other health providers as appropriate. Doulas are not doctors or midwives, and do not practice medicine. Information presented in our visits and conversations is not intended to substitute for the medical advice of a licensed healthcare provider. In addition, doulas do not make specific health claims or promise medical results.
• Take over the care of the baby but will assist you in learning to care for the baby’s needs.
• Drive the client or baby.
• Take a shift if either the doula or member of the family is sick – rescheduling will be possible based on a mutually agreed upon date / time
• General housework like mopping, cleaning bathrooms, or yard work.
• Install child car seats.

You agree to:

• Notify me within 24 hours of the birth of your baby / babies, for me to meet your needs, it is imperative to ensure you get on my schedule for your first visit. I understand that your needs might change and agree to be as flexible as possible. The more notice that I receive and your desired start date; the better I will be able to meet your needs. I require 48 hours’ notice before services begin, unless otherwise agreed upon.

• Share any relevant medical or emotional health conditions.
• Inform the doula of any illnesses of any residents at your home prior to all scheduled visits, so that you and your doula may postpone the visit until the illness(es) have passed. I am very cautious about bringing any illness into the home of a newborn. I will not hesitate to reschedule if I think I may be getting sick.
• Notify me at soon as possible if you need to reschedule the start date or any visits on the agreed upon cadence of visits (i.e. Mon, Wed, and Friday OR Tues and Thurs). I commit this time to guarantee that I am available to serve you when you need me, often by turning down other opportunities for employment.
• Provide a parking spot available to the doula. If it is a paid parking spot the client will pay for the parking fees if it is over $10 / hour.

Package Options

• Seed Package: Receive 24 hours of dedicated, nurturing support to help you navigate new motherhood in 6 visits over a 1 to 3-week period. Best for parents who want to pay as they go but want to secure their chosen doula ahead of the expected delivery date. Perfect for post Cesarean birth recovery, partner is away, or 2^nd / 3^rd births. Contract and package can be extended. – $1400
• Grow Package: Receive 64 hours (16 visits ex. Tuesdays and Thursdays) within an eight-week timeframe. Best for parents on a budget, experienced parents, families with a difficult breastfeeding history, parents with a strong local support network. Makes a great gift…. We have gift certificates available. Contract and package can be extended – $3800
• Bloom Package: Receive 124 hours (32 visits ex. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays), ensuring you and your baby have the best start. Best for first time parents, body feeding parents, parent vulnerable to postpartum anxiety / depression, single parents, or partners with a short work leave, parents of multiples, and parents who want extra education and support. A truly comprehensive care package over a 12- week period – $7600
• Customize your support: Customize your postpartum experience with tailored support that adapts to your family’s needs. Dates / hours subject to availability. Shifts can be added or deleted with 48 hours’ notice and as the doula’s schedule allows. – $60 / hour

Note: The Seed and Grow Packages may be extended pending my availability. This may occur leading up to the end of the package visits. Payment for the extension is due on the first visit of the extended package hours.

Fees

Hourly rate is $60 / hour a la carte or the price of the package selected. Daytime shifts are 4 hours in length and overnights are 8 – 10 hours in length. Minimum of 12 hours is required. For billing purposes, an hour is considered to begin / end when I arrive at your home or leave your home at a previously arranged time. If I agree to run errands for you, either before the time I am expected, during the visit, or following the visit, these hours will be part of the hours billed. Seed and Grow Packages may be extended up to 16 weeks. Mileage will be charged at $.58 / mile beyond 20 miles from Mt Washington, Baltimore (to be paid at the time of first visit).

This agreement reserves service time for the client. A $400 retainer fee and intake form will be requested at the time the Letter of Agreement is signed to reserve services to be provided post-birth as well as your commitment of payment for securing my services. This retainer fee will be applied toward the last 8 hours of the package selected. Retainer Fee is non-refundable if services are not needed or cancelled at any time, and all services must be used within the first 16 weeks of baby’s birth. Shifts cancelled within 24 hours of scheduled time will be charged at 50%. Package payment is expected on the first day of service. The postpartum doula package fees for contracted hours are not itemized, thus upon contract signing, you agree to the contract in full. Refunds are not provided for any unused portion of the contract not used by 16 weeks post birth and payments are non-transferable. You will be invoiced for the package price once notified of the birth and the complete package payment balance is due at the time of the first visit. I do not provide third party reimbursement.

Payment is by cash, check, Zelle, Venmo or Stripe – payment plans can be provided.

Unforeseen Circumstances and Acts of Nature

As your doula, I am committed to providing the support which you have retained me for, and which clients expect from me. I can accomplish this by adequately managing my client load and schedule to avoid conflicts. However, I cannot control acts of nature, such as weather, declared states of emergency, war and other unforeseen circumstances. In such an event, it may not be possible for me to meet the requirements of this Agreement. I will work with you to reschedule shifts or otherwise come to a mutually agreed arrangement regarding the unused package payment. Additionally, I cannot guarantee my availability when the client changes the agreed upon package schedule as I will be scheduling other clients and activities around your anticipated schedule. I will make every effort to meet rescheduled requests as my schedule allows.

It is the responsibility of the client to provide a safe working environment for the doula. I cannot provide services when my safety is compromised such as in the case of domestic violence or an extended lack of water or electricity. I must have access to restrooms, a place to sit, a flat surface (ex. bed, couch, futon, etc) for overnight visits as well as access to my personal property during the visit. If I need to discontinue service for any reason, including if I deem the client and I are incompatible, I will notify you in writing and arrange for a replacement, if the client desires and if another doula is available. The unused portion of the package will be returned to the client except in the event of a safety risk. It is the family’s responsibility to notify me in the case of the loss of a baby during pregnancy prior to the initiation of postpartum doula services or after the services have started. A full refund of the package fee will be returned to the family or a donation to the family’s charity of choice will be made if that is the preference of the client, less the hours used, and the retainer fee.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

I understand that your needs may change after the birth of your baby / babies and agree to be flexible in the event you desire more or less doula hours. A non-refundable retainer fee of $400 will ensure my availability around the time of the birth (ex. 2 weeks prior thru the package service length). The retainer fee will serve as a credit toward the last 8 hours visits of the contracted doula hours. Once care is underway, I require at least 24 hours’ notice for cancellations. One half of a shift’s wages will be assessed for cancellation without rescheduling. Please provide me with as much notice as possible if you decide that you need less care than was originally discussed, a partial refund of your package price may be granted at the discretion of your doula. Package hours that are not used will expire at 16 weeks after birth.

First and last Name: ___________________________________________________________________

Email Address: _________________________________ Phone Number: _________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________________________________

Package Chosen:

_____ Seed Package      _____ Grow Package      _____ Bloom Package

_____ Customized hours, explain here: _____________________________________________________

Total Number of Hours Reserved: _____________

Total Number of Weeks of Service: ____________ (Seed Package: up to 3 weeks, Grow Package: 8 weeks, Bloom Package: 16 weeks)

I have read and agree to the terms outlined in this agreement above:  _________ Initials

Client agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Bump to Babe Doula Services, LLC harmless from claims, losses, judgments, damages, expenses, and costs (including attorneys’ fees and court costs), whether fixed or contingent, arising from or related to: damage to real or tangible personal property of client or any third party as a result of the fault of the client or any other third party. The customer acknowledges that by entering into this agreement the client may have to pay termination charges for cancelling or terminating this contract. In signing this agreement, you agree that I have discussed all the points herein and you understand and agree with the terms.

Birthing Parent Signature (print and sign) / date: ____________________________________________

Partner Signature (print and sign) / date: __________________________________________________

Doula (print and sign): _________________________________________________________________