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PALS Doula

Vanna Waldron

Vanna Waldron

Services

  • Areas Served: The greater Seattle area, including the Eastside.
  • Attend Hospital Births: Yes
  • Attend Birth Center Births: Yes
  • Attend Home Births: Yes
  • Years of Experience: 2
  • Languages: English and Español
  • Fee: $1000-1400 (various packages available)

Biography

I began my career as a doula while working at the Family Health and Birth Center in Washington, DC. While working there, I provided labor support and organized a community belly casting project for expecting mothers.

I continued to develop as a doula while interning at Maternidad La Luz, a midwifery school and Birth Center in El Paso, Texas. At Maternidad La Luz, I attended classes on midwifery care, provided labor support and interviewed community health workers about motherhood in the border region.

In Seattle, I worked as a birth doula at Sea Mar Community Health Centers. There, I taught labor and support classes and facilitated a postpartum support group for Spanish-speaking mothers. I have attended over 35 births.

I completed the Great Starts Childbirth Educator Training in February of 2009, and I have assisted with various childbirth education series with teachers such as Penny Simkin.

I see birth as process of profound emotional, physical, and social transformation, and I deeply respect all parents as they go through this journey.

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I practiced individually before joining forces with Rebecca Allen to form Down to Earth Doulas. We often worried that in the case of a personal emergency or simultaneous births, our clients would feel let down, even with a back-up doula in attendance. We knew we could offer better support as a partnership. By working together, our services offer you:

Comfort - Labor involves a lot of hard work! We’re there to guide you in relaxation techniques, give counterpressure for back labor, and suggest new positions to help you cope. It’s a challenge to remember everything from childbirth education classes, so we’re happy to be a resource in the intense moments of labor when searching through a book isn’t possible. We’ll stay by your side while your support team takes a break, or stay by their side while they help you through a difficult contraction. We strive to make your birth experience as comfortable as possible for your whole team.

Support - Birth is unpredictable, and brings many emotional highs and lows for mothers. Medical staff are there to make sure you and your baby are safe, but they usually don’t have time to tend to your emotional concerns. As doulas, our priority is to help create the birth you want; we are there continuously from the time you call us until the hours after your baby is born. We encourage you by listening to your concerns, reiterating your hopes, and affirming your strength. Our goal is that the transformative experience of birth will empower you for the joys and challenges of mothering that lie ahead.

Twice the Expertise - Our clients have access to the experience and knowledge of two doulas. Prenatally, you explore your hopes and concerns surrounding labor and parenting with both of us. One doula attends your birth and the other is available by phone for extra support. Having the skills and perspective of two doulas often proves invaluable, especially during longer labors, and also ensures that you will always know your doula.

Birth Doula Certifications

  • PALS Doulas and DONA International

Formal Training

  • Labor Support Course with Mother's Embrace (Washington, DC), 2007.
  • Intern with midwives at the Family Health and Birth Center (Washington, DC), 2007.
  • Intern with midwives at Maternidad la Luz Birth Center (El Paso, TX), 2007.
  • Labor Support Course with the Seattle Midwifery School, 2008.
  • Trauma Stewardship Training, 2008.
  • Open Arms Cultural Versatility Training, 2008.
  • Motivational Interviewing Training, 2009.
  • Great Starts Childbirth Educator Training, 2009.
  • Placenta Encapsulation Training, 2009.
  • Hypnobirthing Labor Support Techniques for Doulas, 2010.

Education

  • BA from Oberlin College focus on Latin American Studies, Gender and Women's Studies and Psychology.

Continuing Education

  • I participate in ongoing workshops and conferences through PALS Doulas, Seattle Midwifery School and other local birth organizations.

Experience or Specialized Training

  • Belly Casting
  • Birth Centers
  • Teen parents
  • Spanish-speaking clients
  • Single parents
  • Reflexology

Other

  • Please contact me for information about our birth packages. I look forward to hearing from you!

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