A birth doula is a professional labor support person. While the midwife or obstetrician and nurses provide medical support, the doula provides non-medical emotional, physical, and informational support to women and their partners before, during and after childbirth. In randomized, controlled studies, the presence of a birth doula is a proven benefit both during and after the birth to mother, father and baby, including:

• 60% fewer requests for epidurals
• 30% fewer requests for narcotics
• Reduced need for pitocin to augment labor
• Fewer assisted deliveries (forceps/vacuum)
• 50% fewer cesarean births
• Less expense to hospitals because of reduced need for costly interventions
• Fewer problems with baby and less need for time in the NICU
• Reduced chances of maternal fever and infection
• Reduced maternal bleeding after birth
• Increased chance of spontaneous vaginal birth
• Decreased length of labor
• Mothers report more positive accounts of their birth experience
• Mothers report reduced anxiety
• Mothers have higher regard and sensitivity to babies’ needs
• Mothers feel more secure and have more confidence
• Fathers report more positive accounts of their birth experiences
• Reduced chances of postpartum depression
• Increased success at breastfeeding, both short- and long-term

Learn more about the benefits of birth doulas here.
Dads and Doulas: Why doulas do not replace partners, but enhance the care they provide.

Amanda Booth
Beloved Bumps Doula Services
www.beloveddoulaservices.com
belovedbumps *at* yahoo *dot* com
(509) 628-1827

Kristina French, CD(DONA)
Three Rivers Birth Services
www.threeriversbirth.com
kristina *at* threeriversbirth *dot* com
(509) 628-8790

Brianna Jensen, CBI-trained birth doula
i*doula moon birth services
www.idoulamoon.com
idoulajensen *at* gmail *dot* com
(801) 368-1421

Melissa Reid
In Bloom Birth Support
www.inbloombirth.com
inbloombirth *at* gmail *dot* com
(509) 539-0058

Erin Schmidt (Erin is currently on leave due to being a full-time student)
Dainty Doula
erin.schmidt *at* gmail *dot* com
(509) 492-5234

Erin A. Tcheuffa, CD(DONA) (Erin is currently on maternity leave)
etcheuffa *at* gmail *dot* com
(509) 312-9696

Sarah Tolman, DONA (certifying)
Labor of Love Birthing Services
http://laboroflovebirthing.blogspot.com
tandstolman *at* gmail *dot* com

Jeannine Tuttle, CD
Doula Care by Jeannine
jarbee *at* hotmail *dot* com
(509) 943-4226