FAQs

Prenatal Classes

  • Our classes are designed to offer you engaging and comprehensive prenatal education that leaves you feeling confident and prepared for your birth and postpartum journey. Learning in the classroom involves instruction, activities, and videos, in addition to your Welcome Baby Co. Workbook. Along with each class, you will receive an email with additional resources and information. Your instructor is available to you through email for questions and support.

  • Yes! There is ample available FREE parking on the side of the building.

  • We recommend booking your classes so they are completed between the 34th and the 37th week of pregnancy. Welcome Baby Co. classes tend to sell out 3 months in advance. Sign up early to guarantee your spot!

    You can read our blog about when to book your prenatal classes here!

  • Refunds can be requested up to 30 days prior to the start date of your class. Exceptions will be made for extenuating circumstances. Refunds will not be made for changes in Covid-19 government restrictions. If we are not able to offer in-person classes, we have a well-established online format that is still engaging and provides the same high level of education.

  • Unfortunately, no. There are limited spaces available in the in-person classroom. You can let us know, and if an in-person spot opens up we can let you know.

Sibling Doula Care During Birth

  • Sibling doula care during your birth is on call childcare for when you have your baby. This can be booked for labour that starts on its own, or a booked cesarean.

  • Sibling birth doula care includes:

    • A 2-hour home visit prior to the arrival of your baby to meet and play with your older child(ren), get a tour of your home and learn your family's daily rhythm.

    • On-call 24/7 childcare.

    • Up to 8 hours of sibling doula childcare during your birth and early postpartum. Additional hours of support are $40/ hour.

Postpartum Doula Support

Postpartum Doula Scheduling & Cancellation Policies

  • We require a minimum booking of 3 hours for daytime support and 8 hours for overnight support. However, we find a 4-hour support visit for the first few visits allows enough time for questions and guidance, as well as time for rest for parents.

  • Many of our postpartum doulas offer overnight support visits. In addition to offering care for your newborn as a night nanny would, postpartum doulas also offer support to the parents. This may include light household tasks (to ensure everyone is able to sleep), breastfeeding or bottle-feeding guidance and support, pumping support including delivering and picking up pumping supplies in the night, and washing and sanitizing.

  • Yes! Appointments or a self-care break are an appropriate use of doula support. We ask that you check in with your doula to ensure they are at a low risk of being called to a birth during the time you plan to be away, and an emergency contact is provided to your doula.

  • Although we do not offer nanny support, several of our doulas work with families long-term in place of a part-time nanny. Postpartum doula support differs from nanny support as a postpartum doula’s role is an expert in newborns and infants who also care for the family, versus a nanny’s role which is the care of your child(ren). Because of this distinction, postpartum doula support is not tax-deductible. Many families find the flexibility of doula support to be more appealing than hiring a nanny.

  • A doula is hired to provide postpartum doula services for parents of a newborn baby. That includes providing information about parenting, doing light housework, laundry, providing care for the baby, feeding support, and overnight support. The doula is supplying support services to the parents. Although the individual provides some care and supervision to the baby, the fundamental nature of the care is support to the parents. Therefore, doula support is not childcare and not tax deductible.

  • If you require an extensive amount of postpartum doula support we will build a customized team to meet your needs. In the past, we have supported families with daily overnights spanning months, round-the-clock postpartum doula care, and variations of several daytime and overnight support visits per week. Please complete our contact form and we will contact you to discuss your postpartum doula support needs.

  • Many of our doulas offer both birth and postpartum doula support, meaning there is a possibility of them being called to a birth during your time with them. If this happens, we will do our best to find a backup doula from the Welcome Baby Co. team to take her place, or she will reschedule for a later date.

  • Yes. A 25% booking deposit is required to confirm each support visit.

    If you have a prepaid hours bundle, the deposit will simply be deducted from your existing balance.

  • We understand that plans can change, especially with a new baby.

    With more than 48 hours' notice, your 25% booking deposit remains on your account as a credit toward future support.

    With 24–48 hours' notice, 50% of the scheduled visit fee is charged.

    With less than 24 hours' notice, 100% of the scheduled visit fee is charged.

    Cancellation fees within 48 hours are not credited toward future support. These fees help protect the time your doula has reserved specifically for your family.

  • The same cancellation policy applies to prepaid bundles.

    With more than 48 hours' notice, the full value of your visit remains available for future support.

    With 24–48 hours' notice, 50% of the visit value is deducted from your balance.

    With less than 24 hours' notice, 100% of the visit value is deducted.

    Unused package value and account credits do not expire.

  • We understand that postpartum plans sometimes change. If three or more visits are cancelled or rescheduled within a 60-day period, we may require future visits to be paid in full when booked.

    The regular cancellation policy will still apply, and any prepaid amount above the applicable cancellation fee will remain available as an account credit.

  • We know that illness and unexpected circumstances happen. Illness, emergencies, severe weather, and other exceptional situations will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

    Please let us or your doula know as soon as possible if something comes up.

  • If you require an extensive amount of postpartum doula support we will build a customized team to meet your needs. In the past, we have supported families with daily overnights spanning months, round-the-clock postpartum doula care, and variations of several daytime and overnight support visits per week. Please complete our contact form and we will contact you to discuss your postpartum doula support needs.

Birth Doula Support

  • It has been an incredible honour to support hundreds of families through pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum transition as a birth doula. After many years of attending births, Welcome Baby Co. is shifting our focus toward the areas where we can continue supporting families in a sustainable and impactful way.

    We are now dedicating our efforts to childbirth education, lactation and infant feeding support, newborn and infant sleep education, postpartum preparation, and postpartum doula care.

    Our goal is to provide families with evidence-based education, practical tools, and personalized support to help them feel informed, confident, and supported throughout early parenthood. While we are no longer offering in-person birth doula support, many of the preparation and follow-up services previously included in our birth packages are still available individually or as part of customized support packages.