The Details About Our Care

We want to make your relationship with Birth Roots Doula Collective Inc. as clear and simple as possible, so we have written everything down.

If you have any other questions about the details of our services that aren’t answered here, check with your doula, or visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Individualized Care:  At Birth Roots, our work is based on a principle of individualized care.  This means that although the following is a description of our typical service, if you need additional or alternative care, we will happily do our best to meet your needs. 

Consultation Visit:  Birth Roots offers a free, no-obligation visit for anyone curious about our services.  This visit is an opportunity to learn more about our service and get to know the doula.  If you simply don't feel well-matched with the doula, you are welcome to meet someone else.  Our priority is for you to feel great about your doula.

Prenatal Visits:  Your doula will meet with you two to four times before the birth. 

Postpartum Visits:  Generally, your doula will visit you on the day after the birth as well as once more within the next four weeks.  Special circumstances such as a difficult birth experience or breastfeeding challenges may require additional visits, which your doula will happily provide.

Pager Codes:  You will be given your doula's pager number, as well as the pager numbers of all the other doulas in the collective.  When you page your doula, please dial in your phone number followed by:
                 *811........call me now
                 *511........call me within the hour
                 *311........call me by the end of the day

On Call Times:  Your primary doula makes a commitment to you to be available 24 hours a day  beginning 10 days prior to your due date. Even if you go into labour before your doula goes on call, she will most likely still be available to attend you, but back-up doulas are always available as well.

When To Call Your Doula:  You should alert your doula as soon as you notice any signs of labour, even though you may not need her yet.  Once you decide you need your doula, it will usually take her about one hour to reach you.

Back-up Doulas:  Sometimes babies come early, and unforeseen circumstances can arise for your doula (such as other births), so a back-up doula is always available to attend all or part of your birth, as needed. Your doula will provide you with the phone and pager numbers of the other doulas. If you would like to meet them, please mention this to your doula.

Calling A Back-up:  If for some reason your doula isn’t able to attend you, typically she would still be able to arrange your back-up doula. However in the unlikely event that you are in labour and your doula has not responded to your first page within 30 minutes, page her again. If she still does not respond, call one of the back-up doulas.

Lone Mothers:  Birth Roots Doula Collective Inc. encourages moms who have not planned to invite anyone else to their birth to use two doulas. There is no additional fee for this service.

Rest:  As circumstances permit and after discussion with the mother, the doula will take necessary breaks during labour. In the event of a marathon labour (lasting more than 18 hours), the doula may decide to take a break of two to four hours. If it seems necessary, she may call in a back-up doula to relieve her. This is for your benefit, as a doula who is rested will assist you far more effectively than a doula who is exhausted.

Photography:  If you would like your doula to photograph your birth, please let her know.  In most cases, you must provide the camera, film and developing.

Fees:  Birth Roots Doula Collective Inc. is determined that our fees will not be a barrier to using our services. If our fee or our payment schedule is a problem for you, please discuss it with us.