"The continuous availability of a caregiver to provide psychological support and comfort should be a key component of all intrapartum care programs"
Guidelines on Dystocia. Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, 1995.
Local partners in supporting women and their families
The Birth Attendants
This is a group of volunteer doulas serving incarcerated women in Washington State. They offer two main services to these women. Each week they facilitate a pregnancy and labor discussion group based off of the women’s interests. When the women go into labor, they provide continuous birth doula support.
http://www.birthattendants.org
WithinReach
Formerly Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Washington State, WithinReach provides essential resources for family health.
Great Starts Birth & Family Education
Great Starts, born of a merger between Childbirth Education Association of Seattle and Birth Education Northwest, is a non-profit organization offering community-based education and support to expectant families and new parents. Their classes contribute to a positive birth and parenting experience by perparing the expectant family for the physical and emotional aspects of labor and the early weeks with a new baby. They teach about the wide range of options available to families and about informed choices and help parents learn how to advocate for their needs and the needs of their child.
Pacific Association for Labor Support
Our sister organization, the Pacific Association for Labor Support (PALS), is a membership organization that promotes, develops and supports doulas and the doula profession. The primary mission of the doula profession is to positively impact the childbearing experience for women and their families. Fundamental to doula care is the understanding that continuous emotional support and reassurance during labor and birth improves and enhances maternal satisfaction.
Seattle Midwifery School
Seattle Midwifery School provides information and educational services that support women’s acquisition of knowledge and skills to improve and sustain their health and well-being. The school provides training for women’s health-care providers, particularly midwives and doulas, that honors women’s ways of knowing, respects the needs of adult learners, and promotes personal and professional development. They are dedicated to the development and advancement of the profession of midwifery in North America.
http://www.seattlemidwifery.org/
Northwest Association for Postpartum Support
To provide nurturing doula care for all mothers and families after birth by establishing for our members: peer support, referral services, continuing education, professional standards and credibility, and visibility in the community.
Breastfeeding Support Services at Community Birth & Family Center
Provides lactation services to anyone in need of support or care. Breastfeeding services are provided by nurse lactation counselors formerly of Great Starts Birth & Family Education. (206) 615-8078.
