Ask the Pros.

Do you have a question related to your birth business? Our expert Janice Banther is here to answer all your inquiries*! You can submit your question by filling out the form here, or you can browse past questions by scrolling down.

* Please note that this section is devoted to questions pertaining to running your birth business, such as "How do I network with other doulas in my area?" or "A client had a C-section and wants a refund. What should I do?" If you have a general CAPPA question, please email info@cappa.net or join the CAPPA Info Yahoo! group, a large network of professionals who seek support and information.

Meet the Pro! · Our Newest Question · Question Archive · Ask Your Question

Meet the Pro!

Janice Banther

Janice has been helping women during their birth since 1982 and has attended over 500 births. She is a certified childbirth educator, certified labor doula and an approved trained counselor and trainer with RTS Bereavement. She is also a postpartum doula and breastfeeding counselor. Janice is the founder and executive director of For The Love of Birth, Inc. which is a non-profit organization in Tarpon Springs, Florida. She teaches childbirth classes and is a doula for one of the county jails. Her greatest pride and joy is her husband Barry, her two sons, David and John, and her daughter-in-law, Ruth. You can learn more about her by visiting her website, birthingwithlove.com.

Our Newest Question

I'm a relatively new doula. Some prospective clients have asked me about my refund policy, and I don't have one. What are some models?

There are no set rules that CAPPA gives you regarding the wording or your letter of agreement of refund policy. (Our labor doula manual does, however, include a sample contract which covers refunds.) It is a decision that you have to make. Some doulas ask for half of their fee at signing of the contract with the rest due 2 weeks before the due date. Others ask for the last half 2 weeks after the baby is born. The refund policy I see most often is written clear in the contract, but it truly is simple. It goes something like this: if for some reason the doula is not at the birth and it is because of the mother not communicating as it says in the contract, there is no refund. If the doula or back-up doula is not at the birth due to neglect or a problem on the doula's end, a refund will be given except for what some call an "initial fee". Also, some people may sign up for a doula and change their minds close to the birth. The same policy would apply - you would refund their money except for the initial fee. For some doulas, the amount is $50 - $100. You have to decide how much depending on how much you offer the mother pre-birth. I hope this is helpful and you will be able to build on this information to be more personalized for you.