You've found your doula.
Here's exactly what happens next.
You've already talked with her, so there's no intro call to sit through and no one to choose between. From here it's four short things: send her your details, review the care plan she writes up, sign it, and pay. Then your schedule goes live.
Have these handy before you start
- The email address you want to use. Use the same one every time — it's how your booking and your account find each other.
- Your due date, or your baby's birthdate if they're already here.
- Your ZIP code and phone number.
- Your benefits details if your employer offers Carrot, Maven, or Progyny — the program name, and your member ID if you have it.
- A bank account or card for the final step. You won't need it until you've signed.
Open your doula's booking link
She'll send it to you directly — it looks like swaddl.co/book/her-name.
Open the link on your phone or computer
Scroll down to “Ready to book?”
Skip the intro call — this is the important one
You've already had your conversation. Don't book another one.
Under "How would you like to start?", choose "I'm ready — send the contract"
There are two cards side by side. The other one, "An intro call first", opens a calendar of video-call times — that's for families who haven't met their doula yet. You have. Picking it would put a call on both of your calendars that neither of you needs.
The right card says underneath it: "You've already talked with her. Skip to contract + invoice." That's the one.
Send her your details
A short form — under two minutes.
Fill in the form
Create your account — with the same email
Use the same email addressyou just put in the form. It's already filled in for you — don't change it. A different address creates a second, empty account that can't see your booking.
You'll get a confirmation email. Click the link inside it, in the same browser, and you're in.
She confirms — usually within a day
Review and sign your care plan
Three clicks, on two screens. Take your time on the first one.
Open the email that says she put together your care plan
Approve it — or ask for changes
When it looks right, press "Approve & send for signature", then confirm.
Then actually sign it
Your doula countersigns on her side. Once she does, your invoice is generated automatically and emailed to you.
Pay your invoice
Paying is what turns the care on. Depending on when you signed, that's one invoice or two.
Open the invoice and choose how to pay
- Bank transfer (ACH) — no fee. Takes 3–5 business days to clear. The invoice will keep saying "awaiting payment" during that window. That's normal — don't pay a second time.
- Card — instant, with a small processing fee added and shown before you confirm.
Your schedule goes live
Where your money actually sits
What you pay doesn't go straight to your doula. Swaddl holds it and releases it to her as your care actually happens — she's paid for the visits she's completed, week by week. That's deliberate: it means you're never paying ahead into the unknown, and if something has to change, there's money to make it right.
How your payment is protectedIf you have Carrot, Maven, or Progyny
You pay Swaddl upfront, then submit your claim-ready copy to your benefit provider yourself — they typically reimburse within one to two weeks of your submission. Your invoice comes out already formatted the way your provider needs it, with your doula listed correctly as the provider, which is what most rejected claims actually trip on. Make sure your benefits program is on your profile so the paperwork is right the first time. If a claim is ever rejected, email us — we fix it and resubmit.
A few things people ask
Short answers to the ones that come up most.
Do I have to do the intro call?
No. If you've already spoken with your doula, choose “I'm ready — send the contract” on her booking page and no call is scheduled.
I already picked “An intro call first” by mistake. Now what?
Nothing is broken. Email mia@swaddl.co and she'll cancel the call and move you straight to the contract.
Do I need an account?
To sign your contract and pay, yes. Creating it takes about fifteen seconds from the confirmation screen, and it's where your contract, invoices, and visit schedule live.
I signed up with the wrong email and can't see my booking.
Email mia@swaddl.co with both addresses — the one you used on the booking form and the one you used to sign up. She'll link them for you.
Can I change the hours or dates after I've read the contract?
Yes. Use “Request Changes” on the review page, say what you need, and your doula sends a revised version. Do this before you sign, not after.
When does my doula actually start?
Once your payment clears, she builds the visit schedule and you'll see it under Schedule. If you paid by bank transfer, allow 3–5 business days for it to clear first — if you need to start sooner than that, pay by card.
Stuck anywhere in this?
Email mia@swaddl.co and tell us where you got to. A real person reads every message, and you will not be handed a help centre. You have enough going on.