Contracts for Credit Births

BrightBlessingsDoula · 02-12-2008, 01:21 PM

Hello ladies...
I'm trying to reconfigure my contract for births toward my ALACE credits..
Trying to figure out how to best word that I will need a written summary on X date after the birth.. And how to word that this birth will be on volenteer basis.
Anything I've come up with so far just sounds funny! All the contracts I have found are for certified doulas outlining costs and such.
Any suggestions?

DoulaMegz · 02-12-2008, 01:34 PM

i adapted mine, i'm not doing free because I'm giving three free births to an organization I work for, but I'm doing a reduced rate. So I just say the total fee is $250 with a deposit of 150 due at first appt. and the remainder as well as a completed evaluation due at the first postpartum hospital visit (usually the day after the birth)

earthgirl · 02-12-2008, 02:00 PM

The contract should state your name, contact info, member #, and training date, what you will and will not provide (scope of practice), and that you are waiving your fee in exchange for an evaluation within (provide date) 2 weeks of the birth. Something like that.

ETA: There is nothing wrong with charging for certification births. There are quite a few threads regarding charging at least a nominal fee.

MothertheMother · 02-12-2008, 03:06 PM

I did charge for my cert births. I really don't see a reason not to. But, with my contract I have blank spaces so I can write in the price when we are filling out the contract. I would still use the contract if I did a volunteer birth so I can just put $0 and n\a in the applicable spaces.

BrightBlessingsDoula · 02-13-2008, 12:21 AM

Thanks for your response ladies!!

I have advertised for this birth for free.. so I think i am going to stick to that.. and possibly add $50 optional donation fee to cover my materials and gas expense. Do you think thats silly?? I've been advertising for these births online as FREE.. so I can rack up my last 4 for ALACE and so far it's working!! I have 2 contracts for this spring/summer and an interview tomorrow. trying to fine tune my contract for this next birth... then I think I'll start charging a reduced rate.

joanna_b · 02-13-2008, 02:56 AM

I didn't charge my cert birth clients either but I still did a contract and I put the following in the place on my contract where I would have put the fee: in lieu of payment, client agrees to complete an evaluation of doula services at or by the postpartum visit.

I wouldn't put anything about a donation for materials. Anytime I see a "optional donation", I feel obligated to pay it and since you didn't list it up front, I wouldn't do it for the clients who have taken you up on doing their births for free. Do you give your materials away? I always get mine back at the postpartum visit so I can reuse them with other clients and that way I'm getting my money's worth out of the materials.

BrightBlessingsDoula · 02-13-2008, 10:19 AM

yeah.. I guess your right.. "optional donation" may be a bit odd... but I do have multiple clients at a time... even if I did reuse my materials.. I would still be printing up multiple sets of materials...that costs money and time. I also feel like materials should be something given to the client to keep.. to have in the future to look back on.
I am also still paying for supplies.. membership fees, and gas. If a client can't pay or don't feel as if they should pay an "optional donation" they dont have to. I would not feel obligated to pay a donation. I would if I could, and wanted to.
I'm still undecided

joanna_b · 02-15-2008, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrightBlessingsDoula

yeah.. I guess your right.. "optional donation" may be a bit odd... but I do have multiple clients at a time... even if I did reuse my materials.. I would still be printing up multiple sets of materials...that costs money and time. I also feel like materials should be something given to the client to keep.. to have in the future to look back on.
I am also still paying for supplies.. membership fees, and gas. If a client can't pay or don't feel as if they should pay an "optional donation" they dont have to. I would not feel obligated to pay a donation. I would if I could, and wanted to.
I'm still undecided

I have 4 binders of prenatal information that includes signs of labor, labor support, possible complications and interventions. Then I have 4 binders of postpartum info that includes mostly breastfeeding information, a big list of resources and then some newborn care and info on postpartum depression. I give these to my clients at our first prenatal and then get them back at our last postpartum visit. I've never had a problem getting them back and most people seem to be done with them by the time we are having our last visit.

It did cost a bit to put them together. I put all of the papers into sheet protectors and organized them into sections. I think it cost me about $100 for all the printing, sheet protectors, dividers and binders. But, I will be able to use them for quite sometime so I feel it was worth it.

If you did want to put together some binders or info packets to let your clients use, you could always give them a list of websites of where you got all the info for them to keep so they can look up the info if they want. Just a suggestion, but I'm not sure if that's the road you want to go on.

In my experience with my no charge births, I have always gotten a little gift from the mom's after the birth as a thank you. That has always made up for the money I have spent on gas I've used driving to meet with the client and attending the birth. Maybe that will happen for you, too?