Service Agreement

Milestone Doulas – Service Agreement

This Service Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into between Milestone Doulas (“we,” “our,” or “us”) and the client (“you” or “your”) receiving support services. Please review all information in this document carefully. If you have any questions or need clarification, contact us before signing.

1. Our Role, Scope of Services, and Service Limitations

As your doula and support professional, we provide personalized emotional, physical, educational, and logistical support tailored to your needs. Our services include, but are not limited to:

  • Fertility and family planning support

  • Perinatal education

  • Labor and birth doula support

  • Postpartum doula care

  • Surrogacy support

  • In-home decluttering and organization

Important limitations and clarifications:

  • Our support is non-medical in nature and we do not provide medical advice, perform medical procedures, or offer clinical diagnoses.

  • All your medical care decisions remain fully with you; you assume complete responsibility for your own care and experience.

  • Your doula does not necessarily communicate your medical decisions and preferences directly to clinical staff on your behalf; our primary role is to support you in expressing your own preferences.

  • For in-home services, we may decline tasks that are unsafe, unsanitary, or beyond physical ability. We will determine project boundaries together.

2. Client Responsibilities

To ensure that Milestone Doulas can provide safe, effective, and supportive services, clients agree to the following responsibilities:

Timely Communication

  • Provide accurate contact information and notify us promptly of changes.

  • Respond to scheduling requests and updates in a reasonable timeframe.

  • Provide timely updates regarding labor onset and progress (as relevant for birth and postpartum support clients).

Safety and Respect

  • Maintain a safe and respectful environment during in-home services.

  • Disclose any known hazards, pets, or health concerns that could affect the provision of services.

  • Respect professional boundaries and instructions regarding safety, hygiene, and task limitations.

Decision-Making and Autonomy

  • Take full responsibility for all personal, medical, and logistical decisions.

  • Understand that Milestone Doulas provides guidance, support, and resources, but does not make clinical or legal decisions on the client’s behalf.

Scheduling and Appointments

  • Provide adequate notice for cancellations or rescheduling, as outlined in the service agreement.

  • Be prepared for scheduled visits to ensure efficient use of time and resources.

3. Availability and Communication

You may contact us via text, email, or phone with questions or concerns during your contract period. Availability and communication windows will be confirmed during onboarding.

For birth support clients: Your doula is on-call to attend your birth starting two weeks before your estimated due date. To notify your doula of early labor symptoms, text updates are welcome. To reach us urgently or overnight, phone calls are preferred. If you desire an immediate response, and do not reach your doula on the first call, you should leave a voicemail, send a text, and make at least two additional follow up phone calls. A secondary contact number may also be provided to you, in the event you can not reach your doula for any reason. Our intent is to be able to respond to urgent messages and calls within 30 minutes, and to join you in labor within 2 hours of your invitation.

4. Fees and Payment

Service fees are determined by the package you select and outlined in your invoice. A 25% deposit is required to reserve services. Payment plans are available for some of our services, and we will work together to determine an installment plan. All payments are non-refundable.

Milestone Doulas does not process insurance claims on your behalf. Detailed receipts, our National Provider Identifier (NPI), claim codes, and other information can be provided so you may seek possible reimbursement.

5. Cancellations & Rescheduling

  • If you cancel or reschedule a confirmed visit with less than 2 hours’ notice, that time may be considered as used and not eligible for rescheduling.

  • We reserve the right to reschedule sessions due to sickness, family emergencies, the onset of another client’s labor, or for any other reason. We will provide as much advance notice as possible, and reschedule at the earliest opportunity.

6. In-Home Service Health, Safety and Liability

If services are provided in your home, you agree to provide a safe and respectful environment. Milestone Doulas is not liable for injuries, illness, or accidents in the home. Your doula may decline tasks that are unsafe, unsanitary, or beyond physical ability.

To support the health safety of ourselves and our clients, we follow strict hygiene practices, including wearing fresh clothes for sessions, frequent handwashing, and prioritizing overall wellness. If your doula is feeling sick or has been around someone who is not well, we will notify you as soon as possible so we can plan accordingly. Your doula may use gloves, face masks, or other protective measures as they deem necessary, based on their professional judgment. Your doula reserves the right to accept or decline the use of these items at a client’s request.

A note on personal health: Your doula may choose not to disclose personal medical information, including vaccination status. We appreciate your respect of privacy on these matters.

7. Termination of Agreement

Either party may terminate this agreement in writing at any time. Any payments already made are non-refundable and forfeited by you at the time of termination.

8. Confidentiality

All personal information you share is treated with respect and confidentiality. Relevant details may be shared with backup doulas or team members as needed to ensure continuity of care. Your notes and personal information will never be shared outside of your care team without explicit permission. You can also refer to Milestone Doulas’ full privacy policy for additional details.

9. Unexpected Circumstances

You acknowledge that many aspects of your journey, including but not limited to pregnancy and birth outcomes, emotional experiences, and medical interventions, are unpredictable and beyond the control of your doula. You agree not to hold Milestone Doulas liable for any undesired outcomes.

10. Entire Agreement

This agreement represents our mutual understanding of services to be provided. All service details, including number and type of sessions, are outlined separately. Any changes to this agreement must be made in writing and signed by both parties.