So, you’re having a baby?
I can help with that.
Your baby’s birth will be a day that you remember for the rest of your life. The details may be fuzzy, but you will always remember how you felt. I can help make sure you feel prepared and supported for your birth. Of all days, this should be a day you remember fondly.
An initial interview (consultation) is always free.
Yes! I am attending births in-person during COVID-19
In the Portland, OR Metro area (including Vancouver), most hospitals have removed visitor restrictions. As we enter flu season, some of those restrictions may come back, but many hospitals have issued badges for doulas so that we are part of your care team, not a visitor. Birth Center births and homebirths typically haven’t restricted support people.
If you think you would benefit from in-person birth doula support, support is available!
Get yourself a professional hand-holder, a professional sprinkler of calm dust, a professional navigator who is fluent in the language of birth and medical care related to birth.
I can ignite your excitement for birthing. I can calm your nerves about birthing. I can educate you about parts of birth you never knew existed. I can help partners have the confidence to be fully present for you.
It. Does. Not. Matter. what kind of birth you are planning. I’m here to help it go as smoothly and calmly as it can.
Birth Doula Services
Childbirth Education
Preparation is key!
(I still recommend having a doula because, let’s be honest, it can be hard to remember everything you have learned when you’re in the middle of birthing!)
But besides having a doula, quality childbirth education—I teach the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class—gives you context, understanding, practice, comfort tools, advocacy tools, community and so much more. Unlike my birth doula services, this class is still happening online only.
I offer a steep discount on the class for my doula clients.
“This class prepares you to answer the question, "what is the right thing to do?"
As with most things the answer is usually some form of "it's complicated," but this class provides you the evidence based information to separate what has shown to be beneficial from what is "just the way it's always been done."
Be prepared to navigate the many pros and cons, and how to advocate for your decisions in a medical world that has many complex and competing interests.
Fingers crossed that I won't need to recall the information for contingencies if complications arise, but as it's been said, "the plan is nothing, planning is everything."
- EBB® Childbirth Class Participant March/April 2021
Scarlett is INCREDIBLE. First, we loved and learned a ton in her Evidence Based Birth class. Then, we knew she would be an amazing doula, but with plans to give birth in a well-staffed birthing center with a great team of midwives, we thought bringing her on might be more than needed. We decided to go for it anyway and I'm so beyond glad we did!!! Scarlett helped us navigate some intense curve balls in late pregnancy, and the work we did with her in preparation for an unmedicated birth made all the difference in helping us achieve that goal. She was there for every step of a long and at times complicated birthing journey, and she was also integral in processing my birth and navigating postpartum life. I can't imagine having birthed my baby without the perspective, skills, energy, and humor she brought to the whole experience, and couldn't recommend her more highly!
-Rachel 2022
What People Say About Me
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“We are so thankful for Scarlett!We met her through a childbirth education course she teaches (Evidence Based Birth) and played around with the idea of hiring a doula for our home birth however I was a bit hesitant. I'm so thankful that we did!Scarlett was there supporting us every step of the way from education to emotional support, and during labor lots of reassuring, comfort measures, and helping my husband navigate my birth time. I know that I would have labored much longer if Scarlett wasn't by my side guiding my breathing and helping me cope with surges.The day I went into labor she came to our house right when I felt like I couldn't labor any longer and continued to support me for hours after delivery. It is obvious that birth is her passion and she is great at what she does. If you need a doula (which I now believe everyone does) your search is over. Hire Scarlett as she is amazing! If we decide to have another baby we will definitely be hiring Scarlett again.”
Brianna
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"Scarlett supported us during and after the births of both our children. The two births were so different: one was induced and with pain medication and the other, labor progressed naturally and I delivered with no pain medication. My experience with Scarlett both times really highlights the breadth of her knowledge of labor and interventions and her skills in aiding and comforting during labor. Scarlett is a source of moral and physical support and calming voice of reason and reassurance. She took the time to understand our personal philosophies and comfort levels and guided us accordingly. One moment in my recent birth experience really stands out to me: I was so exhausted that I had stopped asking questions and Scarlett jumped right in, advocating for me, without my needing to ask. She truly understood what I needed. We highly recommend Scarlett!"
Aparna
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"We loved having Scarlett as our doula! We took the evidence based birth class with her virtually during Covid times and her immense knowledge about pregnancy, birth and babies really put us at ease. (...) Once we realized how much support the birthing person needs, it became very clear that a doula would be well worth it. (...) Our daughter was breech, we found out at 34 weeks. Scarlett helped us with resources for exercises to try to flip her and we already knew how to do them because we had practiced them with her during our prenatal visit with her... Baby didn’t flip unfortunately, and we ended up having a cesarean. We were still so thankful to have Scarlett there to keep us both calm prior to the surgery, help us understand what to expect both emotionally and physically, and she was there helping me start breastfeeding right after birth :) She took amazing photos of us all before and after birth which are SO special and she even recorded a very detailed birth story that we are so incredibly thankful for! Scarlett will make you feel prepared and supported during your birth and we can’t recommend her enough!"
