F.A.Q

Standard Overnight
$65 per hour with a minimum of 8 hours per night.

When baby(s) and parents are resting peacefully and basic tasks like bottle washing and stocking baby supplies, I will rest. If baby is awake and fussing or parents are in need of support, I'm here to support and help as long as that's needed. I am a light sleeper and will awaken at your baby's first grunts or squeaks. This is the customary level of service for an overnight doula.

Awake Care and Multiples
$75 per hour when the client prefers that I remain awake during the night.

More than one baby requires a staggered schedule to ensure each baby receives personalized attention, is hand fed and diapered while siblings are sleeping, and will hopefully be calm and quiet to make sure parents get as much seep as possible.

East side travel and Tolls
There will be a $15 surcharge for travel time and tolls for each night. If you have electric car charging available, I will reduce this fee to $10. 

I can tell you when things seem normal or expected. If you or your baby are showing concerning signs, or you're worried about something, I will direct you to seek the care of your doctor. 

With direct instruction from our health care provider and a liability waiver from you, I am comfortable with assisting with tube feeding and other similar care that can be entrusted to parents.

Yes, I do have a contract that covers most client engagements.

In the event that I'm covering/filling in for another doula, no contract is needed. Payment is required within 48 hours of me working with your family.

If you are contacting me after your baby is born, this usually indicates you've reached a moment where things are overwhelming and you need support right away. As a courtesy, I may work one 4-8 hour shift prior to payment arrangements or signing a contract.

If we are planning in the prenatal period, we'll agree to a contract and a 50% retainer fee in order to secure the future time for your family when the baby is born. This is common practice. All funds remain with Meri Hoover, Postpartum Doula LLC until I begin working with your family. In rare, unexpected circumstances, I can refund your retainer in full. This is up to my discretion.

I will continue to speak with potential clients until I have received a contract and retainer for given dates/times. It is not my goal to aggressively push my services onto potential clients; I really do wish to work with families that appreciate my style. However, my schedule does fill quickly making it impossible for me to guarantee that I can hold time for you if you're unsure about your needs.

I am currently fully vaccinated for COVID-19: My vaccine dates are 1/9/21, 2/6/21, 11/3/2021, and bivalent vaccine 9/10/2022.

I have the standard slate of other vaccines like tDap and Hepatitis A and B. I also received my annual flu vaccine 9/10/2023.

 At the first sign of any cold-like symptoms I use an at home test to ensure that I am not infected with COVID-19.

I only work with clients who are fully vaccinated and in homes in which all eligible residents are vaccinated.

In the event of sickness on the part of my families, I request open, honest disclosure. I often work with two families at a time, and prefer to protect those families from exposure to possible contagions.

For clients that arrange for care prior to birth, I will collect a retainer of 50% of the total cost in order to hold the agreed upon hours for your family. This money will be set aside until I begin working with your family. Hours will be deducted from this retainer as they are used.

Once the initial retainer is exhausted, or for care arranged after birth, you will receive a bill on the first of each month for hours worked. 

Once your baby arrives, the plans we laid out (for example, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 am - 3 pm) will begin as scheduled. My schedule is generally booked well in advance.  I try to be flexible, however it's unlikely I will have additional time if I'm contracted with multiple families. 

Having a doula should not be a luxury. I set aside some time each month to help families who do not have the financial means to cover my fees. Please don't hesitate to contact me about this. I may be willing to work for a reduced rate or without charge depending on your circumstances. I simply request that you're honest with yourself and with me. 

No, I am employed by Meri Hoover, Postpartum Doula LLC. I am a contractor for your family and am responsible for all taxes and liability insurance.

There is no sales tax on postpartum doula services.

Zelle and Venmo are ideal for me, as it helps both my clients and me to avoid fees.

I can accept Zelle payment, but there are limits from bank to bank for transfers. This may not work for your retainer.

YES!

I am certified with NAPS, carry liability insurance, and am CPR certified. I have successfully worked with Carrot, and will be able to complete your Carrot forms for reimbursement after I have received payment. 

I prefer to work within approximately 10 miles of Queen Anne--Phinney Ridge, Magnolia, Fremont, Queen Anne, Westlake, Eastlake, Green Lake, Ballard, Northgate, Columbia City, Montlake, Central District, Madrona, West Seattle, etc.

I am open to a longer commute, but require a $15 fee to cover tolls and additional fuel cost. If you have an electric car charger, I can reduce this fee to $10 to cover you cost to charge my hybrid battery. 

The 4th trimester is the 12 weeks after a child is born. This can be adjusted for premature babies, though. By the 12th week, it will be time for us to ease out of our working relationship. As a doula, I strive to work myself out of a job by helping you to build skills and confidence in parenting.

No. My primary focus is on keeping the household running smoothly, supporting and educating the new parents, and caring for the new baby when parents rest, shower, etc. I adore small children. However, sibling care is not within my scope of practice.

Absolutely! My job is to help new parents get to know their baby. The first 12 weeks are a huge adjustment for every parent and I'm happy to help families of all types!

A typical overnight looks like this:

* I arrive and thoroughly wash my hands, sanitize my phone with sanitizing wipes, and put on my indoor sneakers if needed.

* Parents and I touch base on how the day has gone. If breastfeeding is established, I encourage a last nursing/pumping before sending parents off to bed and make a plan for pumping or bringing baby for feeding. Baby and I say goodnight to parents.

*If baby is sleeping, I will take care of dishes and bottles that may have built up during the day, prep formula for the next 24 hours, and portion pumped milk.

*If time permits, I will wash, dry, and fold a single load of baby laundry back into a basket or organize on a flat surface for putting away. If you have time during the day to wash and dry laundry, I can fold up to 2 loads that are already clean and dried.

*Feeding:
If nursing, I will bring baby to parents to feed. I can provide assistance with latching, positioning, etc. I'll ensure that drinks and snacks are available. I can remain on hand to burp the baby and change diapers between sides. If you prefer, I will take this time to freshen up, have a snack myself, etc.

If bottle feeding, I will learn your baby's patterns and make my best effort to get ahead of a feed and have milk warm/ready when they awaken to eat. This limits noise from baby that may disturb parents' sleep. It also helps with reducing the time that a baby is exposed to stimuli that may inhibit the development good sleep patterns.

If you're pumping during the night, we will designate a place near your bedroom for you to place your milk and pump parts. I will retrieve these items, bottle up feedings for your baby, wash pumps parts, and return them to the designated place.

*When these tasks are completed, I will rest nearby where the baby is resting. I do not require a bed, a sofa is sufficient. I am a light sleeper, and will awaken upon the lightest noise.

*At the end of my shift, I will either drop baby off in parents' room for a nursing, or feed, change, and tuck baby into their bed in your or their room to maximize your rest. Of course, every family has different traditions, so, this may vary.

Hiring one doula prior to your baby's arrival allows for the development of an in-depth understanding of your goals. This allows parents to build a connection with the person who will be sharing particularly intimate moments. A single doula is likely to learn a baby's individual preferences, patterns, and personality which can aid in sleep conditioning, helping parents with soothing techniques that work for their baby, and supporting a baby's emotional development with predictability and consistency. 

Some families choose 7-night-a-week care in which 2-3 doulas share the task of supporting a family. This team is in contact with each other regularly, shares any new observations or discoveries about the baby they're working with, and work together to problem solve ways to help with a family's goals. All doulas have their own contracts and receive all of the hourly rate you're paying.

Agencies can be great--particularly when new parents are caught off guard by the trials they experience after bringing home a new baby. They can almost always get a doula lined up for immediate support. They do offer vetted, capable, and often certified postpartum doulas who will help parents the sleep they are desperate for!

I am able provide awake care for clients who book for 4-7 consecutive nights. This means I will remain nocturnal throughout our contracted time.

Some families prefer to have this service for the initial 2-3 weeks until they're more comfortable with me resting when the baby does. I do not limit this, though. 

The fee for this care is $75/hr with an 8 hour minimum.