contact
photos 

view more photos 		w h a t   i s   a   d o u l a ?
A birth doula is a woman experienced in childbirth who provides emotional, physical and educational support before, during and just after birth. A postpartum doula mothers the new family after birth with lactation support, mentoring, resources, sibling care, light housework and anything else that helps the new family feel able to care for themselves and their new family member.
   t r a i n i n g / e x p e r i e n c e 
I am 30-something and came to doula work after a dance and performing career and the birth of my son in 2000. I trained at Seattle Midwifery School (SMS) in 2001 as a birth doula. After training I went through apprenticeships and worked to become a certified birth doula through Pacific Association for Labor Support (PALS) and Doulas Of North America (DONA). I returned to SMS the next year to become a postpartum doula and am certified through Northwest Association for Postpartum Support (NAPS). I have extensive training and experience in breastfeeding support: In 2005 I completed the Breastfeeding Educator Course at SMS and am pursuing certification as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). I am very active in the Seattle doula community and I regularly attend meetings and trainings on current birthing and postpartum issues. I sat on the Board of Directors of PALS for two years and am currently a preceptor with the PALS apprenticeship program. For over a year I taught Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga at 8 Limbs Yoga Centers and Santosha Yoga. Since 2001 I have been a doula to well over 150 families. I have attended births at all Seattle-area hospitals, and "doulaed" at many birth centers and homebirths.
  m y   m i s s i o n
My main goal as a doula is to provide individual support for each unique family. My support is woman- or family-centered. I help my clients feel healthy, happy and satisfied with their birth experience and transition to parenthood. I have supported a wide variety of births from natural births to planned cesarean births, and from first-time parents to those welcoming their third or fourth child. I love watching families come together in the postpartum period. Families I have worked with have described me as calm, intuitive, confident, and knowledgeable. I have a great passion for what I do and am constantly learning about and amazed by the processes of birth and breastfeeding.
   s e r v i c e s
My birth doula services include a complimentary interview in person, unlimited telephone support, 24/7 on-call commitment, prearranged doula backup (if needed), and resources throughout the length of my services. I like to have two prenatal visits with my clients where I really get to know you and your hopes, concerns and preferences for your birth. I join you when and where you need support and stay with you continuously until you are settled after birth and everyone (including baby!) is eating. I work alongside your caregivers respectfully and confidently. Our first postpartum visit in the first few days after birth includes breastfeeding support, practical help and mentoring. Following this visit I am available for limited support over the phone or as a postpartum doula in person. The notes that I take during the birth can help you to preserve your own memories of the experience and I share these with you at a final postpartum visit within a month of the birth.

As a postpartum doula I provide support to your new family in the first weeks after birth. I have extensive experience with breastfeeding, and baby care specifics. I have experience with and training in the specifics of postpartum emotional support including birth processing and postpartum mood disorders. I also provide light housekeeping such as laundry and kitchen cleaning. I have extensive experience with preparing food for the postpartum period and specialize in dietary restrictions. Other support includes: sibling and pet care, small errands and general TLC during this postpartum transition period of little sleep and many questions. I am available for occasional overnight support and will share any resources I have available which you might be in need of. A father once described me as a “fairy” who made postpartum life smoother for everyone.

.
  q u o t e s   f r o m   c l i e n t s
"I have really wonderful memories of R's birth and I can't overstate what a huge role you played.  You helped me trust myself and that is HUGE!!"                                                                                                                                                                                                                   -CV, mother "It's hard to imagine going through the birth of J without you being there.  You were an enormous help..."   -JH, father

"Alissa is a very active doula, but does so many things efficiently and quietly that the focus is always on the mother. She makes the labor and birth experience more positive for everyone present. The labor nurse commented to me that Alissa was the best doula she has worked with. I would highly recommend her." -DG, father

"Beforehand, you really helped to waylay our fears by explaining the process and our choices." -LM, mother

"...you looked after K and empowered him to be a strong birth partner.  The help you provided to get C started nursing was invaluable."                                                                                                                                                                                                                          -LB, mother
" ...warm, competant, independent worker, great suggestions, helpful to everyone present!"    -WR, midwife

"Alissa has a wonderful, calming effect on both the patient and her family.  I enjoyed working with her!"    -LW, Registered Nurse

"T says your suggestion for the delivery position was brilliant and really helped him to feel a part of the actual moment when T emerged! We thought your coaching of me was perfectly balanced with his role throughout. It allowed him to be there for me emotionally without having to worry about medical stuff or which positions. He could focus on giving me love!"   -PB, mother

"I felt completely unjudged in that raw, naked emotional state when the wrong response could have really colored my experience. Alissa's intuition and experience with helping moms through the postpartum period's ups and downs make her the perfect doula to use before -and- after the baby arrives."  -AJ, mother

"Alissa's 6 week follow-up was great for me after the birth of both our sons. The questions she asked and the way she asked them helped me to check-in with myself about how I was processing different aspects of the birth and postpartum period."   -SS, Father

      photos     |     designed and hosted by UtiliGeek