Do doulas really need liability insurance? What does it actually cover? And do you need professional liability insurance, general liability insurance…or both?
These are questions that come up ALL THE TIME in doula groups and instead of relying on what someone heard from another doula who heard it from someone else, I decided to go directly to the source.
In this episode of The Doula Darcy Podcast, I'm talking with Miriam Ball and Karissa Norton from Alternative Balance to get answers to some of the biggest questions doulas have about liability insurance.
And I asked them some pretty specific questions.
We talk about:
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Why birth and postpartum doulas should consider carrying liability insurance
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What can happen even if you didn't actually do anything wrong
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The difference between professional liability and general liability insurance
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Why having one doesn't necessarily mean you have the other
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What happens if a client is injured because of something you did—or something you recommended
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Whether your doula insurance covers YOU if you get hurt in a client's home
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Why doulas who wear multiple hats need to pay attention to exactly which services their policy covers
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What doula agency owners should know when working with independent contractors
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Whether independent contractors should name the agency as an additional insured
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The current situation between Alternative Balance and Carrot as of September 28, 2026
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Whether a postpartum doula is covered when the parents leave the house and the doula stays with the baby
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Where postpartum doula care ends and babysitting or childcare may begin
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What Alternative Balance does and does not cover when it comes to scope of practice
We even get into specific scenarios like: What if a dad trips over your doula bag? What if you're alone with a newborn while Mom runs out for coffee? What if you're also a yoga teacher or massage therapist?
If you've ever had a question about doula liability insurance or you've been trying to piece together answers from conversations in doula Facebook groups this episode gives you the opportunity to hear answers directly from Alternative Balance.
Because protecting the business you've worked so hard to build matters, too.
Learn more about Alternative Balance:
AlternativeBalance.com
Alternative Balance is a professional association offering membership benefits that include insurance coverage; as Miriam clarifies in the episode, it is not itself an insurance agency.
This episode is for educational purposes and should not be considered legal or insurance advice. Always speak directly with your insurance provider about your individual coverage, services, and circumstances.
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to:
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Connect with me:
Instagram: @thedouladarcy
About The Doula Darcy:
Doula Business Coach & Marketing Strategist
Since 2010, Darcy has built a thriving postpartum doula business (now doula agency) in New Hampshire. With her team of postpartum doulas handling the day-to-day in person clients, Darcy spends her time and energy helping other doulas grow & scale their businesses with a focus on sustainability and not burning themselves out. Prior to having her own 3 children and becoming a doula, Darcy worked for 10 years in the advertising and marketing world. She was able to replace her corporate income quicker than most new doulas because of her previous career & expertise. Darcy now uses this experience to help other doulas build their own thriving practices.
Learn more at:
https://www.thedouladarcy.com
