Combined Birth and PP Contract

[everydaymiracles]

Hi there - I have seperate birth and postpartum contracts (very similar - same format but slightly different). I met with a prospective client today who is uncertain whether she will attempt a VBAC or schedule a repeat C-section. She knows that if she has a TOL she wants a birth doula and if she has a section she wants a pp doula (her mum is having hip replacement surgery around the time her bub is due). So.....

Does anyone have a combined contract? How would you write it. For example...
If a VBAC is decided, my fee is $x to be paid with $150 as a retainer and the remainder by 37 weeks (I have it this way as I was burned once!)
BUT if a scheduled Casarean section is planned, the balance of the amount paid for birth doula services will be transferred/become y number of hours at $Z/hour Postpartum doula services.

I really want to have it spelt out clearly - my potential client is glad I have a contract but doesn't want to sign a birth doula contract if she isn't going to labour.

Any suggestions or recommendations will be greatly appreciated.R

[gemasita]

That's tricky. I have two separate contracts, like you. The only thing I can think of to do is to have a section to spell out the details if a VBAC occurs and then have another section for if a C-sec occurs. This it is all spelled out and you will be showing how she will be charged differently for each situation.

So for the c-section:

"If a c-section is decided on by client XYZ, the $150 retainer will still be charged to reserve a space on my calendar and the remainder of the fee ($XXX) will be due by 37 weeks, but I will not provide birth doula services and instead, the amount will be applied to the postpartum service. The fee for my postpartum services is $XX per hour and so the amount will be applied to the purchase of hours of postpartume service time.

(Then I would show an example)

$150 retainer fee + $350 birth services fee = 20 hours of postpartum service at $25 an hour.

(Then I think you need to explain that either additional hours can be purchased and what rate they can be purchased at (I assume the same price) and whether or not any of the money can be refunded (for instance, if she only wants 12 hours of postpartum time. Can she be refunded or does she need to either use the full 20 hours or lose the money)).

The other thing you could do is have 2 contracts but spell out in the birth contract what will and will not be charged in the event of a VBAC and in the event of a c-sec.

Not that I think of it, maybe one contract is good because the two situations (the birth and the postpartum period) are dependent on one another. So they may not make sense if they stand alone (you would need to see both of them to see the "full story"). So maybe having one is a good thing.

[DL]

I agree with Jamie about keeping it to one contract. However, what you could consider doing is making an addendum page for any agreed upon deviations from the primary contract, and ONLY use it for special situations when absolutely necessary (don't staple it with the rest of your contract or even show it to clients unless you need to use it). If used, you have the original contract signed as usual, then complete and staple the addendum to the back of the original contract. In general, it's best to not make a habit of using it and stick to the original contract; in fact, I've only used mine once so far out of 11 clients. It can be quite useful to have one already made up, though, for the occassional (sp?) circumstance such as yours. When completed, signed, and dated by all parties, the addendum becomes a part of the contract.

In my case, my addendum page is for making an agreed payment plan, or if an alternative request/agreement is made for services. (Example: I once had a low-income couple that couldn't swing the 2 lump-sum payments even after being placed on the Sliding Fee Scale...so we divided the fee into scheduled payments. This same couple begged for me to be their doula even though a portion of my usual on-call time had already been scheduled as my vacation. They requested/agreed to change my on-call dates and take a chance that I'd be back before the birth. I don't normally deviate from my contract, but making this mutual agreement and signing on it kept me from worrying about losing money because, per their request, I would not be totally meeting my described services in my original contract. Btw...she went into labor the day after I got back at 38 +6! )

This is an excerpt from my Contract for Labor Doula Services (under the Fees section):


Payment schedules or special circumstances may be arranged with the individual doula, but must be agreed upon by all parties for this contract to be valid. See Payment Schedule/Services addendum if applicable.

I don't know if this would work for you, but I just thought I'd share what works for me. If this interests you and you'd like to see my Addendum sheet, send me a PM.