Frequently Asked Questions

Pricing

Newborn Care Specialist

$ 36 per hour
  • Baby Care and Education
  • Baby-related Cleaning
  • Overnight Support
  •  

Certified Postpartum Doula

$ 60 per hour
  • Family Care and Education
  • Lactation Support
  • Baby Related Cleaning
  • Hands-on Baby Care Education
  •  

Booking Your Sessions

We recommend you book your sessions at the start of your second trimester and we accept families up to 3 months postpartum. Booking early gives you ample time to create your care plan through our Postpartum Care Planner, make any adjustments with a care coordinator, meet your care team via zoom, and select your shortlist!

Yes! We understand that plans change and many times new families don’t anticipate needing help until they are in the thick of things. We do our best to accommodate your family and quickly get you matched with appropriate care.

We currently service the NY metro area, but can occasionally accommodate families in other cities on a case-by-case basis. Please reach out to guests@boramcare.com for more information about care outside of the NY metro area.

Before booking any sessions, we have everyone fill out our Postpartum Care Planner, which includes questions about your location, birth details, budget, feeding preferences, and relevant background information. From the answers provided, we create a recommended Care Plan that can then be adjusted with or without help from a member of our care team.
  • Certified Postpartum Doulas: $60/hr
  • Newborn Care Specialists: $36/hr

For families with twins, we offer care at 1.5 times our regular rate to ensure both little ones get the attention they deserve. 

  • Certified Postpartum Doulas: $90/hr
  • Newborn Care Specialists: $54/hr

We ask for a $250 deposit in order to initiate an intake call and schedule virtual meet and greets with Care Professionals. 

Once you select your team and sign your contract(s), a retainer equal to 20% of your contract value (minimum $250, maximum $5,000) is collected for each care professional. Your $250 deposit is credited toward this amount. The retainer locks in your Care Provider — securing their commitment to your contract dates so you can plan with confidence as you approach your due date.

When booking, you will sign off on a shortlist of professionals as we will note your preferences. If your session dates don't change, we will only send care professionals from your shortlist. If adjustments need to be made for any reason, see our Cancellation and Rescheduling Policy.

Your At Home Sessions

In addition to holding one (or both!) of the following certifications, all of our Care Professionals have gone through Boram’s Screening, Assessment, and Vetting process, having passed background and reference checks.

  • Certified Postpartum Doulas: Day sessions (minimum 4 hours, starting at 8 a.m.) and night sessions (minimum 8 hours, starting at 10 p.m.) with a focus on lactation and recovery support.
  • Newborn Care Specialists: Minimum 12-hour sessions, available day and/or night, focused on baby care.

Included

  • Family Care + Education
    • Baby (Feeding, diapering, bathing, etc)
    • Mom (Physical and emotional support, lactation assistance, sitz bath, foot bath)
    • Spouse (Inclusion in education and experience)
    • Siblings (Support to help bonding)
  • Product recommendations, etc
  • Overnight Assistance (for Night Sessions)
    • managing nighttime wakings so parents can rest, prepping pumped milk or formula for nighttime feeds, or bringing baby to mom for night feed. 
  • Lactation support
    • Latching, questions about feeding schedules, general breastfeeding technique, etc.)
  • Baby-related Cleaning
    • Bottles, diapers, baby laundry, etc

Not Included

  • Cooking
  • Housekeeping (Laundry, dishes, cleaning the house)
  • Sibling Care
  • Medical Care (Assessments, medication, bandages)
  • Transportation
  • Taking baby outside alone
  • Purchasing or bringing supplies
  • Sleep training
  • Support outside of session hours
  • Massages
  • Anything outside of the included list

Included

    • Baby Care + Education
      • Bottle feeding, diapering, bathing, soothing baby, etc.
    • Product recommendations, etc
    • Overnight Assistance (for Night Sessions)
      • managing nighttime wakings so parents can rest, prepping pumped milk or formula for nighttime feeds, or bringing baby to mom for night feed. 
    • Baby-related Cleaning
      • Bottles, diapers, baby laundry, etc 

Not Included

    • Cooking
    • Housekeeping (Laundry, dishes, cleaning the house)
    • Lactation Assistance 
    • Sibling Care
    • Medical Care (Assessments, medication, bandages)
    • Transportation
    • Taking baby outside alone
    • Purchasing or bringing supplies
    • Sleep training
    • Support outside of session hours
    • Massages
    • Anything outside of the included list

If you have pets, be sure to let us know so that we can match you with the Care Professionals who love your pets as much as you do!

We’ll do our best to accommodate. When booking, you will sign off on a shortlist of professionals and we will note your preferences. If your session dates don't change, we will only send care professionals from your shortlist. If adjustments need to be made for any reason, see our Cancellation and Rescheduling Policy

Yes! All of our doulas are trained lactation counselors and will be able to help you with most breastfeeding challenges like latching difficulties, questions about feeding schedules, or general breastfeeding technique.

For complex issues or medical concerns: Consider consulting an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) for problems such as low milk supply, recurrent mastitis, tongue/lip ties, or feeding complications related to prematurity or medical conditions.  You can create a profile with The Lactation Network (TLN) to check if your insurance covers sessions with an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).

Doulas require prior approval before being left alone with the baby. In contrast, Newborn Care Specialists are authorized to watch the baby unattended.

While older siblings are not included in direct care, we provide educational guidance to encourage bonding and positive family connections.

Preparing for your Sessions

We have created 3 different Amazon lists of products that we recommend based on your circumstances. All brands are just our suggestions; feel free to purchase brands of your choice!

Care Professionals bring their own meals. You can simply let them know where they can take a break or have their meals.

Care Professionals may take breaks and rest while your baby sleeps, so having a comfortable resting space nearby would be ideal. This doesn’t need to be a bed—just a quiet spot where they can be close to your little one.

Cancellation

30 or more days before your contract start date: Your retainer is refunded, less payment processing fees and the $250 deposit.

Fewer than 30 days before your contract start date: Your retainer is non-refundable.

Mid-contract: Your retainer is used to compensate your Care Provider for any sessions cancelled by you and not rescheduled. Any remaining retainer balance is returned to you.

Standard Cancellation/Reschedule (48+ hours' notice): Sessions can be rescheduled by mutual agreement. If you cancel three or more sessions without rescheduling, your Care Provider may choose to finalize the contract. In that case, your retainer will cover any sessions not yet delivered, including the cancelled sessions. The retainer is the maximum amount you will owe in this scenario.

Late Cancellation (fewer than 48 hours' notice): The full session fee is charged and your Care Provider is paid in full.

We hold our Care Providers to the same standard of reliability. Mutually agreed reschedules are permitted. However, if your Care Provider initiates two or more cancellations within any 30-day period, you have the right to terminate your contract. In that event, your retainer is returned to you in full. Care Providers are not compensated for their cancellations

Insurance Information

To find out if your insurance covers postpartum doula visits, follow these steps:

    • Check your policy documents: Look for terms like “postpartum care,” “maternal support,” or “doula services.” Most standard plans don’t list doulas specifically, so check the broader maternal health or home health sections.
    • Call your insurance company: Contact the customer service number on your insurance card. Ask specifically: "Does my plan cover postpartum doula services?" "Are there specific providers or certifications required for reimbursement?" "Do I need a referral or pre-authorization?"
    • Ask about related benefits: Even if “doula” isn’t covered, you might get partial reimbursement if the doula provides services like lactation support, mental health support, or newborn care, especially if they're a licensed provider (like a nurse or therapist).
    • Check our “Phone Script for Insurance Company” for exactly what to say and which questions to make sure to ask when you call your insurance provider!

Steps to Get a Letter of Medical Necessity for a Postpartum Doula

    1. Ask Your OB-GYN, Midwife, or Primary Care Provider. You’ll need a licensed healthcare provider to write and sign the LMN. This is usually your:
      1. OB-GYN
      2. Midwife (if licensed)
      3. Primary care doctor
      4. Psychiatrist or therapist (if the focus is on mental health support)
    2. Explain Why You Need It! Let your provider know:
      1. That your insurance requires a LMN to reimburse you for doula services.
      2. What type of support you’ll be receiving (e.g., newborn care, lactation help, postpartum recovery, mental health monitoring).
      3. Any conditions or risk factors (e.g., C-section recovery, anxiety, lack of support at home, history of depression).
    3. Provide a Sample or Template: Many providers are unfamiliar with LMNs for doulas. Make it easier by bringing a sample.
    4. Submit the LMN to Insurance: Once signed, send it to your insurance company along with your doula’s superbill or invoice and any required forms.

Yes! We have had several families use our services to successfully maximize their benefits through Carrot Fertility. We will provide all information and forms necessary for you to submit to Carrot for reimbursement.