How to use the postpartum care refund calculator
The United States has no national refund table for postpartum care. Residential postpartum centers are rare here, and the same need is usually met by a postpartum retreat, a postpartum doula or a newborn care specialist working under a private service contract. That contract is what decides your refund, so this tool asks for its terms: price, amount paid, nights booked, nights used, the retainer and any cancellation fee.
Legal basis: no federal statute sets refunds for these services. The FTC Cooling-Off Rule at 16 C.F.R. Part 429 gives three business days to cancel a sale of 25 dollars or more made away from the seller's usual place of business, which can cover a contract signed in your home. Beyond that, a cancellation charge is liquidated damages under general contract law and must be a reasonable forecast of loss rather than a penalty, and state unfair and deceptive practices statutes reach one-sided terms. Figures current as of September 2026.
Give notice in writing and keep proof of the date, since most contracts tie the refund to when notice was received. If the provider fills your dates with another client, say so when you negotiate, because the loss they can claim shrinks.
This calculator is for reference only and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney about your specific situation, and your state attorney general's consumer division handles complaints about service contracts.
Frequently asked questions
Generally no. Postpartum retreats, doulas and newborn care specialists usually work under private service contracts, and no federal statute sets refunds. Licensing rules, where they exist, are state health department matters.
Many contracts treat a retainer as earned on signing because the provider holds the dates. Some add a clause for early delivery or medical necessity, so read that clause before asking for a refund.
Only if the contract was signed away from the seller's normal place of business, such as at your home. The FTC Cooling-Off Rule at 16 C.F.R. Part 429 covers those sales of 25 dollars or more.