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1/24/2016

I'm Sorry I Missed Your Birthday, I Was at a Birth

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How I make the work sustainable: 

  • I charge what my time is worth to me. I value what I do. 
  • My husband stays home with our children and takes care of the home, cooking, transportation, and volunteering. 
  • When I return home from a birth, I sleep. I may need 3 hours or 18. I turn my phone off, give my clients my home phone number, and check out. 
  • I give my clients realistic expectations. I'm not a super human. I need breaks, I need to shut my eyes sometimes. I do not join them before active labor .
  • I try to complete several appointments in the same day so that I have a few days during the week that are not busy. 
  • I have sought out reliable, responsible, back up doulas for my clients.
  • I have decided to enter into a doula partnership.  http://www.pugetsounddoulas.com/resources/a-modern-doula-partnership-for-modern-families
I've been a birth doula for the past 6 years, and a senior midwifery student now. Last year I attended 77 births. This work is the hardest, most rewarding, most messy, most draining, most challenging, and most fullfilling work I have EVER done outside of being a mother of 6.

I have been blessed with a family who is SOMEHOW flexible and understanding. I've missed a lot of important events, the volunteering at school, reading books in bed at night, regular days just sleeping as i'm trying to recoup. My children... oh my children and my husband give just as much (if not more) than me into our relationship. They rarely point out the events I miss (other adults are much better at doing that for them, thanks), and often respond well when I return after a long day(s) worth of work.

My 2nd youngest who is now 6 has had my work been in her life since the beginning. I would say she is the one who is the most understanding in regards to my work, as its what is normal for her. We have a system: when I leave she says "make sure to tell me what the baby's name is, and show me a picture!" We had this conversation this past November on her birthday as I was leaving saying "I don't know if I will be able to be here today." She smiled and said what she always does: "make sure to tell me what the baby's name is, and show me a picture!" While I was at the birth I got update pictures throughout the day of her birthday breakfast she chose ( a whole bowl full of whip cream all smeared over her face). She had the biggest smile from ear to ear. My heart sank a bit, but I let it pass so I could give my client my 100%. I arrived home that evening around 7pm. My husband kept the baby up past her bedtime as everyone waited for me to arrive to do cake and presents. I walked in the door blurry eyed (it was a really tough birth), with a headache, and low blood sugar. My sweet little 6 year old ran up to me, hugged me, told me about her breakfast (which was the best breakfast she had ever had), and then said "what was the baby's name, do you have a picture." 
"Emmie, this is Nova, she was born on your very special birthday."
"Oh Mommy, she is so cute. Can I see more pictures."

BLESS HER SOUL. This could have gone a totally different way, for anyone. But my kids, my husband, THEY GET IT. They forgive me, which is probably one of the biggest reasons I continue to do this work.

Four months later I came home after being gone for a few days to see this same child drawing a picture as 4 of my kids were playing house together. 
"Emmie, what are you drawing?" (I was pretty sure I knew what it was)
"We are playing house. I'm the mom and I'm a midwife. I just got of the phone. A lady called me to put her placenta in pills." (She was drawing a huge placenta on a 8x11 page which looked very similar to the prints that I make) "Just wait Mom, I'll show you all of it in a minute."

I went about my evening getting settled in to being home. Emmie came up to me with a little book she made. She opened it, and walked me through it:
"This is a Mommy and Daddy thinking about a baby. This is me, I'm a midwife, and I'm thinking about placentas, medicine, taking care of babies and moms. This is me and you, and we love eachother."

Do I think I'm special? Yes. I think my situation IS special. This kind of work can ruin relationships, marriages, health ect. I have to constantly try to find a balance, try to say no, yet I always strive to do more. My heart is driven by passion... not only for birthing families, but for my children to see their mother achieve her dreams, to see her mother put other's needs and experiences above her own. I hope that my children chase whatever dreams they may have NO MATTER the obstacles, no matter how hard it is, no matter how much it sucks sometimes.
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My husband (Brendon Wilson) who stays home full time with our kids, my children with their forgiving hearts, and my passion, drive my heart. I will be forever grateful for this life.

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1/21/2016

A Modern Doula Partnership for Modern Families

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Here we grow!
Introducing Puget Sound Doulas new Doula Partnership of Tiffany Wilson and Jen Laird.

With 14+ years of experience, and over 450 families served, we're confident in our ability to support you and your team through the birth you desire. 


When you choose to work with us, you are choosing to be well-supported by a team of experts who believe in you, and believe in birth. We believe in choices and aim to provide current, evidence-based research (should you request it) so you have the information you need - right at your fingertips - to make the choices that are right for you and your baby. 

Puget Sound Doulas is made up of a team of two experienced, passionate Doulas who are ready to help you prepare for birth and baby. We've joined forces to better support you, to be more available for you, and are here to streamline the process of preparing for baby. We can get to you quicker than ever before and as the saying goes "two heads are better than one!". 
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Before I became a Doula, I ...
Hmm. Life before birth, eh? 
​
My journey into work as a doula is the culmination of life experiences and a passion for supporting and resourcing people. I worked for a nonprofit organization for 13 years during which time I traveled the globe extensively.

Now Offering: 

Birth Doula Services
Placenta Encapsulation
Postpartum Doula
Childbirth Education

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1/3/2016

What Goes Into A Doula's Fees

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When people see a doula’s fee that is several hundred dollars, or even going into the thousands, they often wonder what in the world could cost so much about “supporting” them through labor and birth!

So what exactly are you paying for when you hire a doula? Your money goes towards…

  • Her training.
  • Her level of experience.
  • Her knowledge of pregnancy, physiologic labor, natural childbirth, medicated childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care.
  • Her constant stream of informational support throughout your time working together.
  • Her emotional encouragement and sensitivity.
  • Her physical support in assisting with comfort means during labor. (This can actually be fairly difficult physical labor for the doula- though granted, not as hard as the mother’s work.)
  • Her unbiased assessment of your labor and presentation of options.
  • Her unflagging commitment to help protect your birth plan, and her flexibility to help you in a new direction if you change your mind or need medical intervention.
  • An extra set of hands to take care of small jobs so you and your partner can focus on the birth.
  • Her communication skills- with you, your other support team members, and with your care providers.
  • Her time at prenatal & postpartum visits.
  • Her on-call availability 24/7, for 4-6 weeks, during your “due window.”
  • Her phone and email availability during your entire contracted time period.
  • Her hours of behind-the-scenes research on your behalf.
  • Her hours at your birth- often without any limits or breaks.
  • Possible prevention of other costly and undesirable interventions through use of natural comfort means, physiologic tricks for labor, and constant encouragement.
  • Her gas expenses in getting to and from appointments and your birth.
  • Her babysitting expenses if she has children of her own.
  • Her food expenses while she is at your birth.
  • Any supplies she brings for you and your family.

Although a flat rate charge can seem intimidating to you at first when shopping for a doula, remember that she can save you thousands more in other interventions- and more importantly, she can help you to make your birth what you hope it will be- a positive, calm, and blessed experience.

Many women are surprised to find that their doulas actually aren’t making much money at all. When I break down my fee into hours worked for a single family, I’ve made as little as $2.50/hour, and have never made more than minimum wage. (Granted, my fee is pretty cheap, but still- it gives you an idea of what many doulas are making.)

It really should never be about the money for a doula…  It should be about respecting your intelligence and ability to make informed decisions for you and your baby. It should be about giving you the tools you need to have the birth that you want. It should be about protecting the parents’ desires and the mother’s dignity. It should be about supporting and ministering to a family during a life-changing event in their lives.

It should be about all the love she brings to her work, to you and your family. Period.


Adapted from:  The Birth Bug A BLOG FOR BIRTH ENTHUSIASTS
Meet the Puget Sound Doulas

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"Not only did I have one expert, I had a whole team of experts ready to support me no matter what. I loved that I was able to meet and spend time with both doulas, there was a great comfort in that. My birth ended up be very long, and the team switched out which gave us a fully rested doula with a new and fresh perspective."
Find out what makes Mountain view doulas a sound choice for birth doula support.
Seattle doula, seattle puget sound doulas, PALS doula seattle, doula olympia,  homebirth doula, birth center doula, doula tiffany shone wilson, doula collective
Seattle Birth Doula support for home births, water births, hospital births, birth center births, VBAC births in Seattle, Kirkland, Lynnwood, Everett, Edmonds, Snohomish, Bellevue, Bellingham, Mount Vernon, Marysville, Everett, Olympia, Tacoma and surrounding areas. Additional services include Placenta Encapsulation in Seattle, Kirkland, Lynnwood, Everett, Edmonds, Snohomish, Bellevue, and surrounding areas and excellent local resources for Childbirth Education Classes, Maternity, Birth, & Newborn Photography, and more. Learn about the difference home birth Midwifery care during pregnancy and birth can make with Seattle Midwives.
Puget Sound Doulas in Seattle, WA serving: Lynnwood, Edmonds, Shoreline, Seattle, Capitol Hill, Greenwood, Wedgewood, Ravenna, Northgate, Beacon Hill, Queen Anne, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Renton, Bellingham, Mount Vernon, Marysville, Everett, Olympia, Tacoma
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Tiffany
  • Services
    • Birth Doula (Services & Fees)
    • Postpartum Doula
    • Placenta Encapsulation
    • Labor & Birth Photography
    • Testimonials
    • Products >
      • Videos
      • Preferred Partners
  • Birth Photography
  • Contact Form