Pregnancy tends to be a pretty emotional time for most parents. Of course, your hormones are already working overtime, but you’re also sorting through the joy, the anxiety, and the fear on a daily basis. One of the best things you can do for your mental health throughout pregnancy is to hire a doula who will act as a coach. Just as you have experts to tend to your body and measure your baby’s growth, you should have someone who will make sure you can navigate through all the emotions throughout pregnancy and delivery into the postpartum phase. If you could use some additional support throughout this season, I’d love to tell you about several Seattle doulas who are committed to empowering you so you can boldly enter into parenthood.
Seattle Doulas is a team centered around building confident families. The agency is full of birth and postpartum doulas who have extensive backgrounds in the birth world. You’ll find former NICU nurses, childbirth educators, massage therapists, and lactation consultants, as well as experts with decades of experience. The center provides inclusive care for every family and provides a range of prices to fit any budget. Because they have so many choices, you can speak to the center directly and have them pair you with your perfect doula. The postpartum doulas will assist you throughout the day or, if you’d prefer, provide overnight care so you can have a solid night’s rest. On top of their doula services, the center offers birth and newborn classes, helpful workbooks, and placenta encapsulation.
No matter what your birth plan looks like, Seattle Doula Partners is here for you! This organization has been there for nearly every kind of birth experience and is committed to providing their full support no matter what. Do you want a natural home birth surrounded by your family? They’ll light the candles and get you cozy! Do you prefer an epidural the second you walk through the hospital doors? They’ll call the nurse! The agency works with a number of birth centers and hospitals around Seattle and their doulas will attend home births in Seattle or the Eastside. You’ll have two prenatal visits, unlimited phone access, labor assistance, a postpartum visit, and unlimited postpartum phone support until your baby is 3 months old. The center is staffed by two doulas and provides upfront prices.
Emerald City Doulas aims to be the premier Seattle doulas service. The center provides full-service certified doulas to help with pretty much any support you need from pregnancy into the postpartum phase. They start out their services with an in-home visit. During this time, they’ll have a chat where they’ll talk about your different options for labor and provide you with plenty of evidence. Their goal is not to make decisions for you but rather to let you feel confident in the choices you make. Throughout labor, they’ll be your biggest advocates. They’ll plan a visit a week following delivery so they can see how you’re adjusting and check for any potential mood disorder symptoms. After your baby is born, you can choose to have a postpartum doula for day or overnight services. In addition, the center provides massages, childbirth education courses, and placenta encapsulation.
Seattle Doula Care is a center run by two passionate doulas ready to help you have the birth experience that’s best for your family. Your birth doula will provide you with the facts so you can make informed decisions for your delivery. You’ll have a free consultation, two prenatal visits, unlimited labor support, and a postpartum visit. Following your birth, you can check out Full Circle Postpartum Care for extensive support. Your postpartum doula will help you with light housework, infant care, evidence-based advice, sibling care, and meal prep. They pride themselves in offering support for people who might have a difficult time adjusting to the transition. And if you desperately need a good night’s sleep, Full Circle provides overnight care so you can wake up and be the best parent possible.
Expecting Joy wants to be your resource for pretty much everything while you prepare to meet your baby. The team is made up of a wide range of doulas, so you can find the support person that’s right for you! All the doulas believe parents should have the power when it comes to making their birth decisions. They’ll serve as your advocate and provide you with information as you make your decisions. Expecting Joy has tools you can rent to help you out with birth and the postpartum phase. Whether you need a birth tub or want an Owlet baby monitor for peace of mind, they have it! Following your baby’s delivery, you can hire a daytime or overnight postpartum doula. Expecting Joy has extensive package options so you can choose the services you need. You can also count on the center for classes, lactation consultations, and placenta encapsulation.
Since 2013, Doula Love has been providing support to families within Portland. In recent years, they’ve expanded their team so they can offer that same quality support to expecting parents in Washington. The Seattle team makes diversity and inclusion a priority. They’ll work with all families and provide them with unconditional support as they make their birth decisions. You’ll get two prenatal visits, unlimited phone access, exceptional labor support, and two postpartum visits. All the doulas on the team are infant first aid/CPR certified. Doula Love provides postpartum doulas, night nannies, sibling support care, and placenta encapsulation. They provide flexible packages as well as complimentary classes.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by pregnancy, it’s time to hire a doula! With any of these Seattle doulas, you’ll feel confident throughout your entire journey into parenthood.
While you make your birth plans, don’t forget to schedule some pictures! I’m a Seattle-based photographer, and I positively love getting to support parents as they prepare to meet their newborns. As a mom myself, I know how quickly this season flies by, and I want to be there to help you hang onto every gorgeous moment. If you’ve been considering booking some portraits for your baby, I’d love to chat so you can decide if my process works for you. Contact me today so we can get the conversation started!