Daytime Doula FAQs
Payments
How much does this cost?
Our overnight doula services are $65/hour and each shift is 8 hours long. We do offer the option to extend a shift upon request. Shorter shifts are not available as we really see that to be not as helpful to families.
Do you charge extra for multiples?
No. Our time is our time, no matter what we're doing. With triplets or other high order multiples, we can also craft a plan that has two doulas for the shift which does come at an extra cost.
Do you take insurance?
I wish. We can take HSA or FSA cards for postpartum services and we can give you an invoice that acts as a Superbill so you can attempt insurance reimbursement, but it's never a guarantee. We do work well with Progeny and Maven. For Carrot Fertility members, we craft a plan that assigns primary doulas to your contract that are already approved by Carrot Fertility and listed in their provider database.
How is payment structured?
Once care begins, you will start receiving invoices every other Sunday night. Invoices are due upon receipt so we can pay our doulas in a timely manner.
I'm using my/my partner's Carrot Fertility benefits. How do you work with Carrot?
Jane will discuss this in more detail during your meet and greet with her, but we have had over three dozen (as of Summer 2025) Carrot Fertility clients and they have all been successful at getting every penny approved and reimbursed. We also strongly suggest that Carrot Fertility members get the Carrot Card offered in your member portal. Our card processing system was upgraded to allow these cards to process and this means you don't have to submit and wait for reimbursement, simply send Carrot the invoice we provide and that satisfies their requirements. We're getting pretty good at Carrot, ha!
Our overnight doula services are $65/hour and each shift is 8 hours long. We do offer the option to extend a shift upon request. Shorter shifts are not available as we really see that to be not as helpful to families.
Do you charge extra for multiples?
No. Our time is our time, no matter what we're doing. With triplets or other high order multiples, we can also craft a plan that has two doulas for the shift which does come at an extra cost.
Do you take insurance?
I wish. We can take HSA or FSA cards for postpartum services and we can give you an invoice that acts as a Superbill so you can attempt insurance reimbursement, but it's never a guarantee. We do work well with Progeny and Maven. For Carrot Fertility members, we craft a plan that assigns primary doulas to your contract that are already approved by Carrot Fertility and listed in their provider database.
How is payment structured?
Once care begins, you will start receiving invoices every other Sunday night. Invoices are due upon receipt so we can pay our doulas in a timely manner.
I'm using my/my partner's Carrot Fertility benefits. How do you work with Carrot?
Jane will discuss this in more detail during your meet and greet with her, but we have had over three dozen (as of Summer 2025) Carrot Fertility clients and they have all been successful at getting every penny approved and reimbursed. We also strongly suggest that Carrot Fertility members get the Carrot Card offered in your member portal. Our card processing system was upgraded to allow these cards to process and this means you don't have to submit and wait for reimbursement, simply send Carrot the invoice we provide and that satisfies their requirements. We're getting pretty good at Carrot, ha!
Scheduling, communication and policies
What start times do you offer for shifts?
Our daytime postpartum doula shift is 10am-2pm, minimum. These hours of the day are when parents are most alert and able to absorb the information and tips that our doulas will discuss with them. We are happy to extend the shift past the 4 hour minimum, up to 8 hours per day.
Can I pick my doulas ahead of time?
No. We will assign your doulas based on a myriad of criteria (availability, location, needs and expertise) once your work begins. Our model is based on 'extreme flexibility' and therefore, we do not always know when each doula will be available. We also don't know when you will actually deliver your baby either so this model means that if you delivery early or late, we are ready for you! Each family can expect to work with 2-4 doulas during their time with us. We strive to settle on two primary doulas to a family, though rescheduled shifts or last minute requests for additions to your schedule may mean we pull in other doulas who are available. Your first week of care will be a bit of a "patchwork quilt" of whomever is available because birth is unpredictable! Having two birth doulas at the helm of this agency means that we have a lot of expertise in the nuances of labor, birth and discharge from the hospital.
So how will you communicate my complex needs to the doulas that are assigned?
We have an intake form that you will fill out before care begins and outlines all of your needs and plans and hopes and dreams. Our team uses Slack to communicate amongst all of our doulas. We set up a channel for each contract so the doulas working with that family can communicate with each other and with our mentorship team. The doulas and mentors share updates, discuss how things are going, get extra advice about a tricky situation or rough patch your baby is going through and relay it back to you. With everyone on the same page, it makes working with multiple doulas seamless for each family and gives our doula team opportunities to collaborate and get fresh ideas!
How do we schedule this care once we sign the contract?
Please reach out to us on our client-text line as soon as you know you are in labor or if you have an induction or surgery scheduled. You also have access to that number to text or call with any questions. Our team will then reach out every Tuesday to get your care requests for the following week. You will get email notifications when the shifts have been booked and reminders the morning-of each shift. You can schedule weekly as your needs change or you can tell us at any point that you know you want specific shifts per week for a set number of weeks.
My baby was already born and I'm really struggling... is it too late to book?
No! The beauty of our flexible model is that we usually always have a contractor ready to work. More often than not, this request is met with, "Actually one of us had a cancellation and can come tomorrow if that works?"
How soon after birth can we start?
Day 1! We can usually have a doula available for you the first day home from the hospital or the day after your home delivery. Well... as long as you tell us when you go into labor... or as close to that as possible.
How often do you come?
That is up to you. We will discuss this more in the interview with you but we have families that range from one shift per week to up to 7 shifts per week. This will heavily depend on your needs and your budget. As you start to feel more confident and like you are ready to handle more of the care alone, we taper off our time with you in a way that is gentle and paced to the needs of your family.
What if I plan for the worst and somehow get a dream baby who is easy to care for?
Then we roll off your contract sooner! We are flexible and can craft our schedule with you as you get to know your baby.
What if I plan for the best and somehow get a nightmare baby who has reflux or other fussy issues?
Then we ramp up care and see what we can do to get your baby feeling better. We are flexible and can craft our schedule with you as you get to know your baby.
We are very nervous parents and have cameras monitoring the nursery and other areas of our home. Is this an issue?
Yes. We have a very strict no-camera policy and while we welcome video baby monitors on the infant's sleeping space (nannit, etc), we do not allow any recording of our doulas at any point in their shift. You can read more about this policy here.
Our daytime postpartum doula shift is 10am-2pm, minimum. These hours of the day are when parents are most alert and able to absorb the information and tips that our doulas will discuss with them. We are happy to extend the shift past the 4 hour minimum, up to 8 hours per day.
Can I pick my doulas ahead of time?
No. We will assign your doulas based on a myriad of criteria (availability, location, needs and expertise) once your work begins. Our model is based on 'extreme flexibility' and therefore, we do not always know when each doula will be available. We also don't know when you will actually deliver your baby either so this model means that if you delivery early or late, we are ready for you! Each family can expect to work with 2-4 doulas during their time with us. We strive to settle on two primary doulas to a family, though rescheduled shifts or last minute requests for additions to your schedule may mean we pull in other doulas who are available. Your first week of care will be a bit of a "patchwork quilt" of whomever is available because birth is unpredictable! Having two birth doulas at the helm of this agency means that we have a lot of expertise in the nuances of labor, birth and discharge from the hospital.
So how will you communicate my complex needs to the doulas that are assigned?
We have an intake form that you will fill out before care begins and outlines all of your needs and plans and hopes and dreams. Our team uses Slack to communicate amongst all of our doulas. We set up a channel for each contract so the doulas working with that family can communicate with each other and with our mentorship team. The doulas and mentors share updates, discuss how things are going, get extra advice about a tricky situation or rough patch your baby is going through and relay it back to you. With everyone on the same page, it makes working with multiple doulas seamless for each family and gives our doula team opportunities to collaborate and get fresh ideas!
How do we schedule this care once we sign the contract?
Please reach out to us on our client-text line as soon as you know you are in labor or if you have an induction or surgery scheduled. You also have access to that number to text or call with any questions. Our team will then reach out every Tuesday to get your care requests for the following week. You will get email notifications when the shifts have been booked and reminders the morning-of each shift. You can schedule weekly as your needs change or you can tell us at any point that you know you want specific shifts per week for a set number of weeks.
My baby was already born and I'm really struggling... is it too late to book?
No! The beauty of our flexible model is that we usually always have a contractor ready to work. More often than not, this request is met with, "Actually one of us had a cancellation and can come tomorrow if that works?"
How soon after birth can we start?
Day 1! We can usually have a doula available for you the first day home from the hospital or the day after your home delivery. Well... as long as you tell us when you go into labor... or as close to that as possible.
How often do you come?
That is up to you. We will discuss this more in the interview with you but we have families that range from one shift per week to up to 7 shifts per week. This will heavily depend on your needs and your budget. As you start to feel more confident and like you are ready to handle more of the care alone, we taper off our time with you in a way that is gentle and paced to the needs of your family.
What if I plan for the worst and somehow get a dream baby who is easy to care for?
Then we roll off your contract sooner! We are flexible and can craft our schedule with you as you get to know your baby.
What if I plan for the best and somehow get a nightmare baby who has reflux or other fussy issues?
Then we ramp up care and see what we can do to get your baby feeling better. We are flexible and can craft our schedule with you as you get to know your baby.
We are very nervous parents and have cameras monitoring the nursery and other areas of our home. Is this an issue?
Yes. We have a very strict no-camera policy and while we welcome video baby monitors on the infant's sleeping space (nannit, etc), we do not allow any recording of our doulas at any point in their shift. You can read more about this policy here.