Ethics and Standards of Practice 

Confidentiality 

BEST Doulas respect a client’s right to privacy and confidentiality. Information shared between client and doula must not be shared elsewhere. Doulas are not bound by HIPAA, but must honor the client’s right to privacy. This includes any and all details and information about pregnancy, birth, postpartum, life, and health. BEST doulas do 

not provide identifying information about clients and/or discuss client health history, family life, birth plans, and/or birth experiences. BEST doulas do not announce pregnancies, genders, births or other private information by any means of communication, including social media, without client permission. 

All training information, stories and experiences shared at BEST Doula training, BEST Doula events, and the BEST Doula facebook group are confidential to BEST Doula and is not to be shared outside of the BEST Doula community. 

Professionalism and Integrity 

BEST Doulas honor all births and maintain professional conduct in all situations. BEST doulas are not client advocates and do not speak on behalf of their clients. BEST doulas work to create environments and relationships for collaborative care with the client’s other birth attendants, health care providers, and staff. 

BEST Doulas communicate with other birth professionals online and otherwise respectfully, always with the goal of creating relationships and fostering growth. BEST Doulas choose professional distance over conflict when necessary. 

BEST Doulas dress professionally for all interviews, client appointments, births, and when promoting one’s business or BEST Doula. Professional doula dress is business casual, unless at a birth. Professional dress at a birth includes, clean, comfortable clothing. 

When scheduling clients, BEST doulas communicate any dates that he/she may have conflict or are unavailable during a client’s on-call period. This should be conveyed in writing, preferably on your contract. BEST Doulas are encouraged to work with backup and communicate with clients that the backup doula will attend in the event she/he is unable to. 

BEST doulas strive to keep appointments and be on time as a point of professionalism. Should you need to reschedule an appointment provide your client as much notice as possible and suggest an alternative time/date. 

BEST Doulas reply to client contact as soon as possible and during the on-call period a response should be made within 1 hour. BEST doulas strive to reply to all other client contact within 12-24 hours.

BEST Doulas Support BEST Birth 

A client’s BEST birth is individual to her and BEST Doulas provide non-judgemental, relational support. BEST Doulas understand that labor and birth may be unpredictable and a client’s BEST birth may change. BEST Doulas understand that interventions are not evil and each have a time/place. BEST Doulas understand that it is the relationship and support provided to the client, not the birth specifics or outcome that create the BEST client experience. 

BEST Doulas do not provide transportation for clients or client families to or from prenatal appointments, place of birth or otherwise. BEST Doulas join their clients in labor at client request. BEST Doulas may provide early labor support via phone if this is acceptable to the client. BEST Doulas care for themselves during labor. BEST Doulas may need to rest, nap, or take a break, and do this while being mindful of where the client is in labor and other support available. 

BEST Doulas support their client and the partner or additional family chosen to be present by the birthing client. 

Referrals 

BEST Doulas aim to have a comprehensive referral list and make referrals to appropriate community resources as needed. This may include, but is not limited to acupuncturists, chiropractors, health care providers, massage therapists, naturopaths, mental health care professionals, lactation consultants, and community groups. 

BEST Doulas Are Not 

Birth advocates: Advocacy is often in the heart of a doula. When supporting a client, the BEST Doula is not an advocate. BEST Doulas facilitate conversation between the client and/or her advocate (partner, power of attorney). 

Medical Professionals: BEST Doulas do not provide medical assessment, treatment, or diagnosis. These may include, but are not limited to, determination of SROM, body temperature, blood pressure, fetal heart rate, cervical change, etc. 

Emergency Care Providers: In case of emergency or birth at a location other than that planned, a BEST Doula notifies medical personnel if in a medical facility. If not in a medical facility, BEST Doula Training advises calling 911, staying with the client and remaining calm. When a health care provider is not present, the BEST Doula remains in the role of the doula - always a non-medical role 

Backup 

BEST Doulas are encouraged to always work with backup doula for all clients should the doula be ill or unavailable due to emergency. Clients are to be notified as soon as possible that a backup doula will be attending her birth, if the need arises. BEST Doulas are encouraged to have a contract and clear working relationship and financial agreement with their backup doula. 

Alternative Therapies and Additional Teaching 

BEST Doulas may use alternative therapies that have been consented to by the client and that he/she is otherwise trained to use. This may include, but is not limited to TENS, acupressure, acupuncture massage therapy, herbology, essential oils, homeopathy, etc. BEST Doula does not provide training or certification in alternative therapies. BEST Doulas understand that alternative therapies may be powerful, and ‘natural’ does not equate to benign. All BEST Doulas not certified or holding professional training in alternative therapies, refer to those who are when needed. BEST Doulas may not teach courses/classes or any content or matter they are not

certified or otherwise authorized to teach.