Client Terms and Conditions for Midwifery Services

What a good one includes

• Detailed scope of midwifery services, clearly outlining what clinical care is provided and when a transfer of care to an OB/GYN or hospital is legally or clinically required.
• Explicit emergency protocols, including the specific steps taken during an urgent transfer and the client's consent to seek emergency medical intervention.
• Comprehensive financial policies detailing retainer fees, payment schedules, insurance billing procedures, and non-refundable deposit terms.
• A formal backup midwife clause that explains how care will be covered if you are attending another birth, ill, or otherwise unavailable.
• Clear boundaries regarding communication, specifying acceptable hours for non-urgent questions and the exact channels to use for urgent clinical concerns.
• A termination clause defining how either party can end the care agreement and how refunds or final fees are calculated in such events.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Copying a generic medical template that fails to address the unique, relational nature of home birth or community midwifery care.
• Being too vague about when a transfer of care to a hospital becomes necessary, which can lead to confusion or dangerous delays in an emergency.
• Neglecting to include a signed acknowledgment of the inherent risks of out-of-hospital birth, leaving your practice vulnerable to liability.
• Failing to clearly outline the financial policies for late payments or early termination of care, which often causes awkward disputes during postpartum recovery.

Frequently asked questions