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What happens when your doula is unwell, or unable to work? Well the easy answer is read your contract/agreement/arrangement with your doula and see what it says.
This document is to protect you both and help outline the care packages that meet your needs. I also have to make sure my insurance and registrations are up to date and cover everyone.
Life happens, we have no control over it and for the best part most doula things can be moved around a short illness, or family needs. I have often moved a session or visit to suit the needs of my families and my own needs/family, even the weather has changed plans before.
This year I've experienced long term illness in the form of a "compressed disk" in my back, the pain was unbearable, but not being able to barley move was a bigger issue for my work, I was prescribed loads of medication and as my nerve was pinched my leg went numb and I was told not to drive, life was rubbish! My hubby picked up as much as he could. I worked online, by phone and WhatsApp support for my clients and teaching, I had to stop face to face support, was unable to attend births and my voluntary work took a back seat.
I was open and honest with my families, giving them as much information, a realistic approach to time frames and changes to the care they had signed up to.
I offered full refunds, I was crushed by this, this had never happened to me before I couldn't get sick pay, I just couldn't give the 'magic' I wanted to give the families. I am part of a network of doulas who I offered shared care with, they jumped into action to support my birthing family and hands on care, while I kept the phone and WhatsApp support going.
I was doing everything to get well again and taking 8 lots of different drugs a day & night to try to keep the pain down. Just as information with the spinal team was being sorted (operation or steroid injections being offered).
I got a rare brain infection called encephalitis, off to critical care I went, unaware of anything, again the hubby and the local team at Pregnancy Baby and You Cheshire (PBYCheshire) stepped into sorting my clients out. This was a little different as I wasn't able to communicate, looking back at this time I'm really grateful how everything went workwise, but it has really changed my views, I find myself asking 'what if I'm unwell?' till this year id never missed a birth (well, the one birth I did miss 'in person' I was still on a video call at the time!), or had to hand over care, it hit me really hard and I really wondered 'maybe I shouldn't be a doula anymore? but I'm not letting it stop me, recovery is slow but I'm building my life back up.
What does this look like for my families? well I asked them, They understood these things were out of my control, money was returned or transferred to the other support and doula.
Here's what they said;
" Meeting Mel on FaceTime the day or so before was helpful for me as I knew that whilst my first choice was for you to be there, that I would have another trusted person there to support us."
"I also think that the options you gave me for post natal support (delayed face to face or what’s app) was helpful, so showing people what alternative support could look like is good. It’s not an all or nothing service."
"The fact that you join up with other Doulas is great for both supporting each other as well as providing great options and care for clients. You’re one person and life happens (same goes for all Doulas, especially as you all work as independent people rather than part of a big organisation)"
"I don't really think it effected my care to much as you were still brilliant and you supported me remotely."
"I have thought to myself on more than one occasion “Kat was born to be a doula”. You really couldn’t get someone with better attributes for the role. Absolutely I would hire Kat again in a heartbeat. Kat is very competitively priced and more affordable than you might think. I would really recommend her services to all mums."
What's changed-
Well I now recommend everyone who books with me for birth packages have a call with my back up doula's. I keep health communications open and honest. I will not book births if I feel unable to attend them.
My contract and refund process is still in place, as most doulas I'm sure do but I try everything to make sure your care needs will be supported.
Please contact me if you would like to chat about the 'what if's' more.
My buddies are:
The wonderful PBY Admin team, getting me back to it with care and love!
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