Pack smart, birth ready.
Packing Your Birth Bag
Getting ready for birth? Packing doesn’t have to be stressful! Think of it like packing for a short overnight stay—just the essentials to keep you comfortable and prepared.
Jen Laird
Helping Seattle families feel informed, calm, and capable from pregnancy to baby.
Nearly two decades of experience as a birth professional have shaped Jen’s calm presence, her reassuring guidance, and her trusted expertise.
Helping you feel confident in your new role as parent
Support for your growing Family
Seattle Birth Doulas offers birth, postpartum, lactation, and parent coaching support.
- Birth Doulas
Think of a birth doula as your calm, knowledgeable coach during labor and delivery. We offer emotional, physical, and informational support to help you feel more prepared, confident, and cared for. We don't consider ourselves supporters just for the birthing person; we also help partners feel included in the experience and involved as they desire to be in the process. Doulas don’t make decisions for you—we help you explore your options and feel good about the choices you make. Whether you're planning for an epidural, going unmedicated, giving birth at home or in a hospital, your experience and preferences matter.
- Postpartum Doula Jen
Postpartum doulas are non‑medical professionals who support parents emotionally, practically, and informationally. I bridge the gap between healthcare and home life, teaching you to care for your baby and yourself in the early weeks (typically until 12 weeks). It's about nurturing you so you can nurture your baby—with respect, reassurance, and a bit of quiet magic.
- Childbirth Education, Lactation / Feeding Support, Parent Coaching
Practical, confidence-boosting classes that help you understand birth without the overwhelm. Evidence-based, inclusive, and full of real talk. Judgment-free guidance for whatever feeding looks like for you—breast, bottle, combo, or figuring it out one day at a time. Support that meets you where you are. Whether you're navigating newborn life, toddler emotions, or your own identity shift, I’m here to help you feel steady and seen.
What is a doula?
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.
Unbiased Support
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.
Personalized Care
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 Says
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.
Postpartum Support
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.
Additional Support: Postpartum Doula
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.
Let's meet, and chat about your birth!
Ready for an empowering birth experience? Connect with our compassionate Seattle doulas, dedicated to supporting you every step of the way—before, during, and after your baby's arrival.
Meet the Seattle Birth DoulasBirth and Pregnancy Articles
Helpful articles for Your Pregnancy and Birth Journey
Article
Beyond the Noise
Your Instincts Over Algorithms
Someone in your corner. Someone who knows how to say, “You’re doing great,” and mean it. Someone who can remind you that this isn’t a test, and there is no single right way. The internet has information. A doula offers connection. And in a season as vulnerable and transformative as birth and new parenthood, connection is everything. So, yes, keep using your tools, but don’t forget: the most reliable source of wisdom is that it’s you. Let’s help you remember that.
We worked with Jen Laird both in birth and postpartum for our three children. Each experience was so different, but a common theme for each was the solid support and anchoring of Jen. What a gift to have her presence in those tender times. She is exceptionally kind, compassionate, and knowledgeable while also bringing a levity and positivity to harder days. Jen as a postpartum doula was intuitive, identifying and meeting needs before they were even recognized by us. She prepared delicious nourishing food, played with our busy toddler, held space for us in conversations, helping us to come to our own conclusions in decision making. She has so much experience and it is evident in the gentle confidence she brings to postpartum care. Jen is extremely trustworthy and amazing with babies - we were lucky enough to have her help for overnights with our newborns. We woke up in the morning after getting some good stretches of sleep to washed and dried bottles, folded laundry, and a happy baby. Jen was flexible and easy to communicate with as our needs for support increased or decreased over time - not every postpartum doula has this flexibility but it was so helpful. I can't imagine navigating postpartum without Jen's support and I am beyond grateful for her nurturing of our family over the years.
Emily K5 out of 5 stars
EKJen supported the birth of both our children, and we couldn’t love her more! No question was too small, and her caring and thoughtful nature put us at ease during an overwhelming time. From help with breastfeeding, must have rest postpartum steps, we always felt supported and cared for by Jen at each birth. She is so knowledgeable and is naturally confident, flexible and understanding. We trust and recommend Jen to anyone expecting! You will be so thankful you did!
Ashley K5 out of 5 stars
AKJen is MAGNIFICENT. We have worked with her twice now for both of the births of our children, and we could not have had a better set of experiences. Her calm demeanor, her reassurance, her knowledge and expertise, and all the advice and assistance with advocacy were absolutely invaluable, and I am sure we were able to have such smooth labors/deliveries with our children because of her assistance. I’m also so grateful for her guidance before and after birth! I would recommend Jen 10/10 times, 5 stars all around. If we have a third baby, we’ll hire her again!
Geniveve URban5 out of 5 stars
GUMy doulas were very knowledgeable and available to answer our questions which was very helpful during pregnancy, birth, and afterward. Maybe even more important they are both very kind and caring people who really make you feel supported and cared for during your whole birthing story. My husband and I highly recommend them and are so grateful for them.
E. P.5 out of 5 stars
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Frequently asked questions
Answers to Your Most Common Questions About Our Seattle Birth Doula Services
How is a postpartum doula helpful?
Postpartum doulas offer a range of support to ease your transition into parenthood. They assist with newborn care, breast or bottle feeding support, helping parents get much-needed sleep, emotional support, light housekeeping, and meal preparation. They aim to make your adjustment smoother and provide resources and referrals for additional support if needed.
How much does a doula typically cost?
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 $3,500.
Will a doula replace my partner or make them feel left out?
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.
What questions should I ask when interviewing a doula?
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?
How is a doula different from a midwife or a doctor?
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.
What is a doula and what do they do?
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.
I'm not sure I need a doula, I want to make sure my partner isn't excluded.
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 ideas 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.
When should I hire a doula?
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.
Can I have a doula for a hospital birth or a Cesarean section?
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.
How can a doula make my birth experience better?
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.