What You’ll Learn in This Post:

• When and how to talk to clients about your backup doula

• A sample script you can use in prenatal visits

• How to explain backups without undermining trust

• Tips for normalizing the conversation early and confidently

• How to handle client concerns with reassurance

• Why backup doulas signal professionalism, not unreliability

• Best practices for including backup details in your contract

You’ve built trust with your client. They’re excited, maybe a little nervous, and they’ve chosen you to be their doula. So how do you bring up the fact that, just in case, you might not be the one walking with them through labor?

This is where the topic of backup doulas comes in. It’s a necessary conversation, and with the right approach, it can actually strengthen your client’s trust, not shake it.

Let’s walk through how to introduce this with care, clarity, and confidence.

Why This Matters

Clients deserve to know how your practice works, especially when it comes to continuity of care. Backup doulas aren’t a sign that you’re unreliable. They’re a sign that you’re a prepared, professional support person who values their experience enough to plan ahead.

When to Talk About Backup Doulas

Ideally, this happens early in the relationship, often during your first or second prenatal meeting. The earlier it’s addressed, the more time you have to normalize the idea and answer questions.

Avoid bringing it up only as you’re heading out of town or sensing an upcoming schedule conflict, which can feel reactive instead of proactive.

How to Introduce It (Without Making It a Big Deal)

Here’s a simple, effective script you can adapt to your own voice:

“While I plan to attend your birth myself, I also want to make sure you’re fully supported no matter what. In the rare case that I’m at another birth, sick, or have an emergency, I work with a trusted backup doula.

This is someone I’ve personally connected with, who shares a similar approach to birth support, and who I trust to care for you with the same respect and professionalism. If I ever needed to call them in, I’d let you know as soon as possible—and I’m happy to introduce you beforehand if you’d like.”

That’s it. Calm. Confident. Reassuring.

Pro Tips for a Smooth Conversation

• • Use Inclusive Language
    Keep your phrasing client-centered and gender-neutral. Example: “your support team” 

• • Show, Don’t Just Tell
    Offer a short bio or photo of your backup if available. Some doulas create a PDF with a few details, others link to their backup’s website.

• • Reframe It as a Strength
    Emphasize that having a backup plan means your client will never be left unsupported, even if labor starts during a flat tire or a 103-degree fever.

• • Invite Input
    Ask: “Would it help you to meet my backup ahead of time?” Some clients will say yes, others won’t mind. Let them decide based on their comfort.

What If Clients Push Back?

It’s rare, but occasionally, a client might seem uneasy about someone else stepping in. Reaffirm your commitment while gently reminding them of the unpredictable nature of birth.

Try this:

“I absolutely plan to be there, and it’s very rare that I’m not. That said, birth can be unpredictable, just like life. My goal is to make sure you’re never unsupported, even if something unexpected comes up. That’s why I have a backup in place.”

Backup Agreements: A Quick Note

Make sure your contract clearly outlines the possibility of backup support and how that process works. Transparency on paper backs up the trust you’re building in conversation.

If you need help crafting that clause, check out my Backup Doula Class for templates and examples.

Final Thoughts

Clients don’t expect perfection; they expect preparedness. Talking about backup doulas doesn’t diminish the relationship you’re building. It shows you take their birth seriously enough to plan ahead, just like they are.

So go ahead, have that conversation early, with warmth and clarity. It’s one more way to model the kind of steady, supportive presence they’re counting on.