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 Seattle doulas, dedicated to supporting you every step of the way—before, during, and after your baby's arrival.
Meet the Seattle Birth 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
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Jen 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!
5 out of 5 stars
My 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.
5 out of 5 stars
I was on the fence as to whether I would need a birth doula but ultimately decided to have one as support for my husband to ensure he was less nervous during labor and delivery. We met with Jen quickly realized she was the perfect fit for us. Jen was an incredible presence throughout our interesting labor. She provided guidance throughout and really helped ensure we both felt comfortable with the direction my care was going. Once Jen arrived at the hospital, my husband was able to take a much-needed break and Jen was such a comfort to me - she has such a steady hand (both physically and emotionally). My husband says it best, "I could have said exactly what Jen said at the exact same time and it would not have had the same effect. She is worth her weight in gold." I couldn't agree more - Jen was there for both of us in the way that each of us needed. She was also incredibly generous with her time postpartum and answered many of our frantic new parent questions in the days following arriving home. We have utilized their postpartum doula care as well and have loved the flexibility and care.
5 out of 5 stars
We loved working with Jen for our first pregnancy and birth! Jen was with us on birthing day. She kept in great contact with us during early labor, came to our home, and was with us every step of the way during what ended up being a wild ride and ended with a c-section. She was such a calming presence during the whole thing, took some wonderful photos, and stayed at the hospital with us until we got settled in. My favorite part was having her come visit us at home a few days later and help us process the entire experience and talk through everything that happened (birth can be a blur sometimes!).
5 out of 5 stars
Answers to Your Most Common Questions About Our Seattle Birth Doula Services
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
