How Seattle Birth Doulas Works
We are a collective of independent doulas committed to supporting pregnant people throughout their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
Congratulations! We know finding a doula near me can be both a fun and yet daunting process. You've come to the right place! We invite you to explore the doulas' profiles and see who sparks your interest.
Schedule a no-obligation interview with a doula or doulas. Interviews take place virtually via video. This is a great time to hear more about their services and skills and ask questions to understand better how they see their role as a doula.
Connect with the doula you interviewed to confirm their availability and let them know they're hired! Digital paperwork to fill out and instructions for payment will soon be in your inbox. Now you can focus on all the other details of preparing for a baby, knowing you've got a great support team on your side.
The Adventure Begins
Growing a human is just the start of the amazing adventure of parenthood.
We get it, pregnancy, birth, and having a tiny newborn who is fully dependent on you is a huge life shift. It can be difficult to "know what you don't know" or come up with questions you're not sure you have! Birth and Postpartum Doulas provide emotional and informational support to help new parents navigate the unknowns of labor and delivery and help take the mystery out of newborn behavior.
Research shows that having birth doula support improves health outcomes and satisfaction. Continuous support, reassurance, knowledge of positions to help you get your baby down and out, and encouragement that you can do this are just a few examples of why new parents find the presence of a doula truly makes a difference.
Doulas can help connect expecting parents with evidence-based information and resources that can aid in decision-making throughout pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.
A doula supports YOU in making the best decisions for you. People make the best decisions with the information they currently have—not what we thought was going to happen. We believe every parent's experience is unique, and there is no one "right" way to approach pregnancy and parenthood.
Your decisions regarding pain management, interventions, tests, or pain medications are yours to make, and a doula can help you tease out your thoughts. Whether the birth is taking place at a birth center, at home, or at the hospital.
Doulas provide personalized, non-medical support. They want to understand your individual needs, preferences, goals, and birth plans. Think you may be in labor? Your doula can help. Wondering about how to encourage the baby into an optimal position or feel more comfortable during labor? We help guide you every step of the way.
Research has shown that having a doula can lead to shorter labor, fewer medical interventions, and lower rates of C-sections and other complications. Additionally, many people report feeling more empowered and confident in their ability to give birth when they have the support of a doula.
Doulas help reduce the need for medical interventions such as cesarean births.
You don't need to wait 6 weeks to talk to someone about your birth. All Seattle Birth Doulas offer an in-home visit after delivery. This gives you the chance to process your birth experience, answer normal newborn questions, and give some tips for life with a newborn.
A postpartum doula specializes in assisting a new family in interpreting and understanding your newborn's behavior, helping parents (or baby!) get some sleep, and assisting in household tasks such as meal prep, laundry, and light cleaning. Need assistance with breast or bottle feeding, nervous about bathing your baby, or just needing reassurance, this is absolutely the job description of a postpartum doula. See Jen's doula page for more information about her services.
Ready for an empowering birth experience? Connect with our compassionate doulas, dedicated to supporting you every step of the way—before, during, and after your baby's arrival.
Meet the DoulasBeing a doula can be isolating. I know what it's like to long for a safe place to collaborate with another doula, seek professional advice, and to process birth experiences. I envisioned providing doulas the opportunity to be on the receiving end of the support they so beautifully give to their clients. In addition, I see the importance of doulas spending their energy on being a doula rather than the less exciting work of maintaining a website. From this desire, Seattle Birth Doulas was formed.
You can be confident when hiring a doula from Seattle Birth Doulas, your doula has opportunities for professional development, birth processing, and support from an experienced professional.
All the best,
Jen Laird
Founder
Helpful articles for Your Pregnancy and Birth Journey
Doulas play a vital role in childbirth and beyond, offering support, comfort, and knowledge. They empower parents to make informed decisions, creating positive and empowering birth experiences.
Regardless of how long or short, painful or pain free, or whether baby is born vaginally or by surgery, long term satistfation depends of whether you felt involved in the decision making process and had support.
I cannot recommend Jen enough! We are a couple that tends to over analyze, research, and prepare for everything as much as we can. Even with all that and it being our second birth, we relied heavily on Jen’s expertise as we dealt with decision after decision through labor. When my water broke, we talked immediately and she gave us some tips to get labor moving and calmed my anxieties of a similar sequence of events with my last birth ( that led to more interventions than I wanted originally). Jen helped us navigate pressure from our midwife to get induced and also figure out what reasonable options were at each decision point, discussing evidence based research and asking the right questions for us to discover what we wanted to do. She never pressured us into a decision but rather helped us figure out what WE wanted. When she met us at the hospital, I immediately noticed her presence as she made sure I was hydrated, provided comfort measures through back labor and a premature urge to push, and explained what was happening at each step. I was able to have the natural birth I wanted and I truly believe I wouldn’t have without Jen’s help! She stayed after the birth to help me breastfeed and process everything that happened. Even at our postpartum visit, Jen talked about parts of the birth that I didn’t realize I had questions about, validating what I was feeling. She even provided my husband some tips on how to process his own labor experience and how to navigate parenting a toddler through this transition. In every aspect from labor preparation, labor, to postpartum, Jen made each experience easier for us to navigate and I can look back and know we made the right decision at each step of the way. I could say so much more but will cut off here and just say - hire her!!
5 out of 5 stars
I had the most amazing experience with Jen. From my first time meeting her, I felt so comfortable and cared for. Leading up to my birth, I was given helpful tools to prepare me, and when I went into labor, Jen arrived at the hospital not long after I did and rolled up her sleeves right away, ready to help. I’m so thankful she was there during my labor and delivery! She helped keep me calm and advocated for me with my amazing nursing team at NW. I will never forget her cool, soft touch and how needed it was! Giving birth for the second time will be easy to plan for knowing I can have Jen by my side. HIRE HER!
5 out of 5 stars
I was fortunate to have Jen at all four of my births and believe I wouldn't have had the same, wonderful experiences without her nurturing presence and expertise. Each one presented its own challenges or discomfort, and Jen was stellar every time. She worked well with all the medical professionals and also guided my husband to be the best support, assuring my needs and wishes were met. Thank you, Jen, for helping me bring life into the world!
5 out of 5 stars
Jen is amazing! She helped us with the birth of all three of our children, and it was such a huge comfort knowing that we had a professional like Jen with us every step of the way. She is knowledgeable, compassionate, and decisive. And from my perspective as a father-to-be, she knew how to get me involved and assisting my wife when I felt helpless and unsure of what I should do.
5 out of 5 stars
Answers to Your Most Common Questions About Our Seattle Birth Doula Services
Research indicates that long-term satisfaction with a birth experience is more influenced by feeling supported and involved in the decision-making process rather than factors like the length of labor, level of pain, or type of delivery. A doula's role is to provide you (and your partner) with continuous support and assistance, ensuring you feel empowered and informed throughout the entire process.
A doula is a trained professional who provides emotional, physical, and informational support to the birthing person and their partner before, during, and after childbirth. Doulas help clients prepare for childbirth by offering education about the process, exploring birth preferences and desires, and guiding coping techniques and discomfort management options.
We fully support, resource, and encourage partners. It's a common misconception that doulas only support birthing people. We understand that each relationship is unique and don’t have preconceived notions about how partners should support. Our goal is for partners to feel as involved as they desire, whether that means offering them suggestions for support or giving them a break when needed.
Doulas provide non-medical support, focusing on emotional, physical, and informational assistance. They don't perform clinical tasks or make medical decisions. Midwives and doctors, on the other hand, are healthcare providers responsible for the medical care and safety of both you and your baby during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.
It's a good idea to start the process of hiring a doula during your second trimester. Many doulas fill their calendars well in advance, so early planning helps ensure you secure your preferred choice. However, last-minute availability can sometimes be found, so it's worth reaching out even if your due date is near.
Doula fees can vary widely depending on factors like experience, location, and the services offered. In Seattle, doula services generally range from $1,200 to $3,000. Some doulas offer sliding scale or need-based pricing to accommodate different budgets. It's important to discuss fees and payment options during your interview to ensure the best fit for your needs and financial situation.
When interviewing a doula, it's important to understand their services and how they can support you. However, it's also crucial to ask yourself a few questions: Does this doula make me feel comfortable and at ease? Can I imagine spending many hours with them? What does my intuition say about having them as part of my birth team? Reflecting on these questions will help you choose a doula who is the right fit for you and your birth experience.
Absolutely! Doulas support clients in all birthing locations, including hospital births and planned or unplanned C-sections. Former clients report that a doula is especially beneficial if the birth deviates from the plan. Doulas help create a more comfortable environment, facilitate communication with medical staff, and provide emotional and informational support throughout the process.
Postpartum doulas offer a range of support to ease your transition into parenthood. They assist with newborn care, breastfeeding support, emotional support, light housekeeping, meal preparation, and sibling care. Their goal is to make your adjustment smoother and provide resources and referrals for additional support if needed.
A doula's role is to complement and enhance the support provided by your partner or other birth companions. They help your partner feel more confident in their role and offer guidance on how to support you effectively during labor and postpartum. This collaboration ensures that your partner remains an integral part of the experience while also receiving support themselves.
