What You’ll Learn in This Post:

• What to include in your contract for early births

• How to set payment timelines that protect your time

• What to do if labor starts before your on-call window

• Why missed births don’t equal service failure

• Example contract language you can adapt

• How to follow up professionally after an early or missed birth

One of the biggest surprises for new doulas isn’t the long labors, or even the unexpected turns during birth.

It’s how often babies arrive before your on-call window even starts.

You’re sipping your tea, reviewing your week, and then the text comes:
“Hey, I know I’m only 34 weeks but… I think I’m in labor.”

In that moment, your doula brain kicks in. But so does your business brain.
What happens now? Do you go? Do they still owe the final payment? What if your contract didn’t cover this?

Let’s walk through it together.

Start With a Clear, Fair Contract

Your contract is more than a formality. It protects everyone,  including you.

When writing or reviewing your agreement, make sure it includes:

• Specific calendar dates for your on-call period
• When payments are due
• What’s included in the fee (prenatals, labor, postpartum)
• What happens if labor begins before your on-call period
• Policies for refunds or missed births (if any)
• What occurs if neither you nor your backup are available

Example language:
“Client agrees to notify doula at the start of labor regardless of gestational age. If labor begins prior to the on-call window and doula is available to attend, services will be provided as described and payment remains due in full.”

This kind of clause makes it clear: the contract stays in place even if baby arrives early, and so do your policies.

Set Your Payment Timeline to Protect Your Time

If your final payment is due at 36 weeks, and baby comes at 34… what’s your plan?

This is where many doulas unintentionally leave themselves unprotected. If your contract only says “final payment due at 36 weeks,” and labor starts before then, a client could misinterpret that the final balance is no longer required.

A better way:

• Break payments into clear, dated milestones
• Ensure full payment is due before your on-call window begins
• Clarify that full payment is still owed if labor begins early and services are rendered

You might use a structure like:

• Retainer at signing
• Second payment by 28 or 30 weeks
• Final payment by 34 or 35 weeks

That timeline helps ensure you’re paid before the calendar gets unpredictable.

And your contract should reflect this clearly. It should not leave any room for confusion about whether payment is still due if the client goes into labor early. You’re not just charging for the hours at the birth. You’re charging for availability, preparation, and the commitment to be there, whether it’s week 39 or 33.

When Baby Comes Early, Availability May Shift

Even when you’re prepared, early births can shift everything.

You may not be on call yet. You may be with another client. Your backup might be out of town. And your backup’s backup? They may need to step in with short notice.

This is where a strong contract and clear communication help tremendously.

Here’s what doulas often forget to prepare for:
If labor begins early and you’re not available, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in breach of contract. It means the unexpected happened — and your systems need to handle that.

Your contract should address:

• Whether early labor outside your on-call period qualifies for doula coverage
• What happens if neither you nor your backup can make it
• Whether fees still apply if the birth is missed due to early labor and rapid progression

Most experienced doulas include language that still honors full payment in these cases, especially if you were willing and prepared to attend but physically couldn’t due to the birth happening too quickly or outside of your availability window.

This isn’t about being inflexible. It’s about protecting the time, energy, and availability you’ve committed to the client from the start.

And here’s the truth:
Even when a birth goes differently than planned, your guidance and support still matter. If your contract only defines your value by being in the room, you’re selling yourself short and inviting potential misunderstanding.

When You Can Attend Early Births

If you’re available and able, and your client goes into labor before your on-call window begins, most doulas choose to go.

Support is still needed. Your presence is still meaningful.

But after the birth, it’s worth revisiting the agreement gently, especially if:

• Fewer prenatal visits occurred
• Final payment hadn’t yet been made
• Backup doula attended instead

You can say something like:
“I’m so glad I could be there with you. Since labor happened earlier than expected, I’ll follow up with the final invoice and we can also talk through anything we didn’t get to in prenatals. Let’s make sure you feel fully supported.”

Clear. Kind. Professional.

If You Miss the Birth, the Contract Still Matters

Sometimes labor is too fast. Sometimes you’re not called in time. And sometimes baby arrives before you or your backup can get there.

That’s not failure, that’s birth.

It’s also important to recognize that missing a birth due to early labor and rapid delivery isn’t the same as being unavailable without cause.

If you and your backup were ready, and baby arrived quickly, that’s not on you. That’s an unpredictable birth outcome, not a service failure.

Many contracts include a clause stating that if services were offered in good faith and the doula was called but unable to attend due to rapid labor or unpredictable timing, fees still apply.

What does your contract say? If you haven’t addressed this yet, it’s time. Not just for your protection, but so your clients know what to expect with compassion and clarity on both sides.

And remember, you still have a role to play:

• Postpartum visit
• Debrief and emotional support
• Resources and referrals

Even if you weren’t physically at the birth, your care still matters.

Supporting You, So You Can Support Them

Early births don’t have to derail your practice. But they do ask you to be proactive, clear, and well-prepared.

When your contracts are specific, your payment timelines are solid, and your communication is steady, these moments won’t rattle you.

Because you’ve already done the work to hold space for your clients and yourself.

This is how we protect the heart of our work with systems that honor everyone involved.

Keep Learning

Want to revisit how you set your fees with confidence? That blog is live here.

In the meantime, here’s a helpful read from March of Dimes on the signs of preterm labor.

There’s always more to learn. You don’t have to do it all at once, just one thoughtful step at a time.

You’ve got this.