Money Matters for Doulas
7 considerations when putting your contract together.
Scenario 1: Your Client hasn’t paid their balance due…
It’s always tricky when your client doesn’t pay their balance when it’s due after signing a contract. This can happen - and likely will - at some time in your career. Most times, they simply have forgotten and a friendly reminder is well received. Here’s what to say:
“I wanted to touch base about your remaining balance for your birth doula services. According to the signed contract, the final payment was due on (insert date). I know that time can get away from us and it’s easy to miss a payment. Let me know when I should expect your final payment so that we can stay on track for your upcoming labor and birth. See you soon!”
Keeping the message light, but clear, helps to keep boundaries and protects your time, your energy, and your income!
Scenario 2: Your Client asks for a discount
Whether it’s a first-time inquiry or a returning client, sooner or later someone will ask about a discount. Here’s a gracious way to respond that honors your value and professionalism — without sounding defensive or grouchy:
“I don’t offer discounts on my services, as that wouldn’t be fair to my full-paying clients who have already invested in my care. My pricing reflects my education, experience, and the level of support I provide. If the investment is outside your budget, I’d be happy to refer you to a wonderful doula who may be a better fit.”
Why say this? Because it communicates that your time, expertise, and care are valuable — and that you respect both your current clients and the person inquiring. Confidence in your worth attracts clients who value you, too.
Scenario 3: How to pay your Back Up Doula
Generously! Really!
I pay my BUD the way I would want my time and energy honored. For me, this means, usually $75/hour from the time the doula leaves her home to the time she returns - up to half of the doula fee. Why Half? Because you will have put plenty of work in already: securing the client, prenatal visits and education, connecting her in her community with other parents and providers. Don’t discount what you bring to the table just because you didn’t attend all or only some of the labor and birth. I also ask the BUD to do the Postpartum Visit and I do one, too. It’s a WIN for me, for the BUD, and for the client.
BTW - If it is a particularly hairy birth (physically or emotionally) I will pay her more. I want her to feel appreciated and her time away from home worth it. Even if that means that I am not making as much for my time invested. I also want her to be excited to be called again to BUD for me in the future.
Honor your Back Up Doula. It will pay you back in time.
Scenario 4: Your client’s birth plan changes and she has a scheduled cesarean birth
Your contract must cover this ( and every scenario under heaven!). You will need to decide how you want to financially handle this. Here is how I do this (and you can do it this way, too, if you want):
If a client wants to cancel the contract before 37 weeks because she is having a cesarean, I will return the balance due minus the 50% retainer. If she cancels after 37 weeks, the full fee is retained.
Scenario 5: Your client has a miscarriage or a fetal loss
I keep this pretty simple:
If I provide in-person support to them through the labor and /or loss, I don’t refund my fee.
If I don’t provide in-person support, then I refund.
In either case,I keep tabs on them and do a postpartum visit and leave extra time for that visit. Sometimes, I will do more than one visit.
For a loss, do I go to the funeral or service? Yes, If I am asked to attend, I do. If not, I assume that it is a family matter and respect their privacy. I do send a card with a hand-written message.
Scenario 6: You missed your client’s birth because you didn’t hear the phone.
This is bad. Honestly. But, it could happen. It hasn’t happened to me (yet) but it could and here is what I would do.
Make sure that you tell them numerous time AND it is in your contract that they must call you if they text first and don’t hear back from you in 5 mins. They must call!
If they called and you didn’t hear the phone, you owe them their whole fee ( in my opinion) as you did not fulfill your end of the contract. Even if you provided all sorts of care prenatally…They hired you for the birth. And.You.Missed.It .
Believe me, they will not understand. They will be mad. They will likely leave a bad review and trash your name in the mom’s groups. NOT WORTH IT. Eat that humble pie and return their money.
Scenario 7: Your client has a precipitous birth
If your client has a speedy delivery (unplanned at home, in the car, in triage or in the Dunkin Donuts parking lot - true story!) and you didn’t get there in time for the birth, you still go and get there as soon as you can! I tend to stay for a longer period of time after the birth because this can be a lot for the parents to process. A LOT.
I do not return money because of a precipitous birth. I give them excellent post-birth and postpartum care!
These are simply my suggestions and things to consider when putting together your contract and your ethics. I would always keep in mind that a bad review is NEVER worth it. But, this is your business and you can choose how you want to do things. That’s the beauty of being your own boss!
