How Our Doula Referral Process Works

At a glance

• We're a referral service. NYC Birth Village introduces families to independent doulas in our network. We don't provide doula care, medical care, or medical advice, and our service isn't for emergencies.

• We screen the doulas in our network. Our screening includes identity and certification review, reference checks, a background check, an introductory call, and interviews. Screening isn't a guarantee, so we encourage you to interview carefully and do your own verification before hiring.

• You choose. We send you options based on your budget, area, timing, and the qualifications you're looking for. You decide who you'd like to meet, we make the introduction, and you and the doula decide together whether it's a fit.

• Your contract is with your doula. If you hire a doula, you sign a direct agreement with them covering services, fees, cancellation, and refunds. We're not a party to that agreement.

• Our service is free to families. Doulas in our network compensate us for the work we do advertising their services and supporting them behind the scenes. That's what keeps our service free for you.

• We share your information with doulas. To make introductions, we share the details you give us (due date, needs, preferences) with the doulas we introduce you to. We never sell or share it for marketing.

• Please tell us when you hire. Let us know when you engage a doula we introduced, and if you later extend or add to that engagement, so we can keep supporting you both.

Step by step

1. You fill out our inquiry form and accept our referral terms.

2. We review your needs and reach out to doulas in our network whose experience, area, and rates fit.

3. Within 1–3 days, we send you options from the doulas who have confirmed availability.

4. You tell us who you'd like to meet, and we introduce you.

5. You interview, choose your doula, and sign and pay directly with them.

6. You receive 20% off our classes and support groups.

Once you've hired your doula

• Your doula is your care provider, so they handle scheduling, changes to your care plan, any concerns about the care itself, and conversations about continuing or ending care, including refunds or adjustments to package hours.

• We stay available to help you understand your contract, explain what's typical in birth and postpartum care, support clear communication, and offer additional options if your needs change. We're always glad to hear feedback.

• What we don't do: supervise doulas, direct how they provide care, mediate disputes, or decide on refunds. We can help you understand contract language, but we can't intervene or negotiate on either side's behalf.

Refunds & unused hours

Refunds or changes to package hours are handled directly between you and your doula, according to the terms in your specific contract. If a disagreement arises:

• You discuss the request with your doula

• We can help you understand the contract language

• But we cannot intervene or negotiate on either party’s behalf

This keeps the lines of responsibilities clear for everyone.

Employer Benefit Programs and Our of Network Health Insurance

• Many families use employer-sponsored benefits such as Carrot, Maven, Progyny or similar reimbursement programs to cover doula support.

• Not all doulas qualify for all benefit platforms, and their ability to issue specific forms or meet specific reimbursement requirements may vary.

• Our platform cannot guarantee reimbursement approval, nor can we require doulas to complete paperwork beyond their normal scope of practice.

• We encourage clients to confirm their employer’s exact documentation requirements before booking and to communicate any needs early in the matching process so we can help pair you with a doula who is able to meet them when possible.

• Your doula will provide you with the documentation necessary for reimbursement directly (such as invoices or service summaries).