So, you’re having a baby?
I can help with that.
Your baby’s birth will be a day that you remember for the rest of your life. The details may be fuzzy, but you will always remember how you felt. I can help make sure you feel supported during your birth. Of all days, this should be a day you remember fondly.
An initial interview (or consultation) is always free. Call or email me to see if a birth doula could be right for you.
I am a labor and birth doula and childbirth educator in Portland, Oregon.
I act as a guide, helping you navigate the birth process.
This includes:
Physical Support
Physical support comes in many forms. I use my hands to massage, press acupressure points, wipe your brow with a cool washcloth, jiggle you with a rebozo, and help you find positions that are comfortable for you and help labor progress.
Emotional Support
Emotional support means everything from helping you develop your coping skills prior to labor, to helping you work through a tough spot in labor, or working with you to keep your main goals and values in place when your plan or ideal for your birth changes.
Information
When it comes to birth there is so much information out there, but not all of it is good information! As your doula, I can point you to solid information, based on research, to help you make the decisions that feel the best to you.
*As of July 14, 2020 I will begin donating 3% of gross sales to non-profits that advance racial justice.
Preference will be given to organizations that serve the greater Portland Area, or advance equity among birthing people and those that serve them (for instance to contribute to training doulas and midwives of color). I will likely make the donations twice per year. If you’d like to talk more about this, or suggest an organization to fund, I’d be happy to!*
photo by Oak + Badger Photography
Scarlett Lynsky, CD(DONA), ICCE
Certified Birth Doula
Certified Childbirth Educator
My Philosophy
While I enjoy supporting unmedicated births, my passion really lies in supporting the pregnant person and partner or other support person in discovering what is important to them and helping them through whatever challenges they face. There is no one way to give birth. A successful, joyful birth is in the eye of the beholder. Whatever a good birth means to you, I will work to help you achieve that. If “plans” need to change, I will help you navigate and process the change in “plan”.
My Style & Ideal Client
My style in prenatal meetings is to be frank, informative and slightly irreverent. I can laugh about the more uncomfortable aspects of giving birth and I really seem to connect with families that use humor to cope with difficult situations. My favorite clients are the ones who ask a LOT of questions because it helps me understand what they know, what they do not know, what their worries are and what they feel confident about. I really get to know clients this way and can tailor my services to their specific personality.
Having been a gestational surrogate twice, I also really enjoy supporting surrogates and Intended Parents (IPs).
Special Training
In my doula work, I frequently use a piece of fabric called a Rebozo for comfort in labor. I’ve also received training in Spinning Babies (spinningbabies.com) techniques for optimal positioning and Acupressure points for pregnancy and labor.
My Background
I am a native Portlander, who was born at home in the late 70s. I’ve been fascinated with birth since I was a teenager. When I had my first child–a daughter–in 2002, my fascination only intensified. Between my first and second child, I decided to become an ICEA Certified childbirth educator. That second child, a son, was born in late 2006 and by 2008 I was certified to teach childbirth classes. Not much later I began attending births for friends and it was clear that this was something I had to keep doing. So I did! I have been certified through DONA since early 2011 and have attended over 100 births to date. Our family is now complete, but in 2013/2014 I was pregnant and gave birth as a surrogate gestational carrier for a same-sex couple. Then in 2017 I carried another surrogate baby for my friend and her husband.
Who I serve
Check My Availability
*I take up to 4 clients in a month*
View My Doula Match Profile
Including availability and testimonials.
Evidence Based Birth® Instructor Services
Evidence Based Birth® 5-Week Childbirth Class
Get empowered with a Childbirth Class you and your partner will LOVE!
Start learning evidence-based info today—register now!
A message from Scarlett Lynsky, your Evidence Based Birth® Instructor:
When I gave birth for the first time, I was young and naive. Like most people, I sort of stumbled into the care provider I chose, but unlike most, I stumbled into respectful, compassionate, evidence-based care from a Certified Professional Midwife.
My birth was exhilerating! Even though my body felt pretty beat up, I had never felt more powerful in my life. As I gathered stories from more and more friends and acquaintances, I realized that my positive birth story was the exception not the norm, which broke–and still breaks!–my heart.
As a birth doula for the past 10 years, I see how doctors, nurses and midwives have the best intentions, but are often limited by the flaws in the maternity care system and take power away from the person giving birth in small and large ways. You deserve to have an empowering start to parenthood, and I’m here to help you learn how to work that system to your advantage.
Listen to what some of the first students of the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class have had to say:
“This class is a total gamechanger for us. I’d heard negative stories…I was scared and very on edge. Then once we started taking the class, and when we learned about interventions that I was apprehensive about… It brought us together in that [my partner] understood birth more, and I understood it more. And as soon as I went into labor, we were on. We were a team.”
“I really appreciated how informative it was. I knew a lot about the biology of birth and babies, but what we learned was just very impressive. It was a really good experience—fairly chill, fairly laid-back, and not nearly as stressful and awkward as I thought it might be. All the information—I never would’ve thought there was that much information out there!”
When you take the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class, you will:
- Get mentored by your own Evidence Based Birth® Instructor!
- Learn about evidence based care, comfort measures, and advocacy
- Get prepared, get answers, get empowered!
Your Childbirth Class includes:
- Mentorship from Scarlett Lynsky, experienced EBB Instructor
- Two in-person classes to practice your labor skills
- First in-person class
- Comfort Measures Rehearsal
- Five weeks of online videos for you and your partner to watch together
- BONUS: Breastfeeding and newborn care videos
- BONUS: Four video chats with your Instructor and classmates!
- BONUS: Earn points throughout the class to redeem for prizes at the end!
Ready to Get Empowered? Register for Your Class Now!
- Spots in each class are limited (6 couples per class), do not wait to schedule.
What are the registration options?
- Standard
- Deluxe
Choose the registration package that works best for you!
Standard package: Includes 3-months access to the online portion of the class, spiral bound workbook, two in-person classes, and four video-chats with your class. Priced at $300.
Deluxe package: Includes 6-months access to the online portion of the class, spiral bound workbook, two in-person classes, four video-chats with your class, and an additional private Zoom session with Scarlett to discuss your birth plan. Priced at $350
Inclusion Policy:
Evidence Based Birth® is committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for pregnant persons of any age, religion, race, sexual identity, gender identity, or relationship status.
Refund Policy:
Your payment reserves a spot in the class and is non-refundable, but tickets are transferable with adequate notice and approval from Scarlett.
Questions
If you have questions, just email me at scarlett@hatchlingspdx.com
This unique class focuses on
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evidence-based care
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comfort measures
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advocacy
About the Process
Step 1
Ask around for recommendations or search the web to find two or three doulas that might be a good fit for you. Give those doulas a call or an e-mail and ask for a free interview. Doulas know that having a good fit is important, so this way you can make sure you feel comfortable before you hire.
Step 2
Interview! This can take place in the comfort of your own home or in a public place of your choosing. During COVID-19 restrictions, my interviews all take place as video conferences. My interviews take about an hour. Don’t worry if you don’t know what questions to ask–this can be a very casual conversation. I will ask you some things about your pregnancy and your goals for the birth and you’ll get a chance to ask me questions too.
Step 3
If you choose me as your doula, you will sign a contract and pay a deposit. I can take checks, PayPal, Venmo or Square.
Step 4
Schedule a prenatal visit. You will have 1-3 prenatal visits (typically 2) for us to get to know each other and begin preparing to be a stellar team for your birth.
Step 5
At 38 weeks (or before if at any point you have reason to believe you might have the baby early), I go on call. This means I have my phone near me at all times and will not be out-of-town unless it is pre-arranged with you.
Step 6
Go into labor. 🙂 I ask that as soon as you think you are in labor, you to call me, even if you don’t need me yet. This way I can make arrangements on my end to be ready when you do need me. It will take me an hour to an hour and a half to get to you once you call me to come. I will be with you for your entire labor.
Step 7
Have a baby. Once you’ve had your baby it takes about 2 hours for things to settle down after delivery. Once things are all stable and calm, I will go home. Over the next few days I will be checking in by phone.
Step 8
Schedule postpartum visits. I will make an appointment to visit you at home about 3 days to a week after the baby is born. If you need any referrals I will provide you with resources. I will make another appointment, usually 1.5 to 2 weeks postpartum.
Pricing Info
The Doula Package Includes- Free initial interview (virtually, during COVID-19)
- 1-3 prenatal visits (usually 2)
- Labor support in hospitals, birth centers and homes
- 2 postpartum visits
- 24/7 on-call availability starting at 38 weeks
- Back-up doula support
- A non-judgmental listening ear
- Knowledge of techniques to turn a posterior or breech baby
- A sense of humor
- The flat fee is based on a range. You will be asked to use the honor system to pay an amount that feels fair for the service that I rendered and the impact it had on your birth. For clients who need it, I can offer a scale that slides lower than $1500.
Location
Get in touch via email!
Or call me!
Insights from a Portland Birth Doula
Heartbreak
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Being there without being there: Virtual doula support during COVID-19
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Is Labor a Marathon?
Labor is often compared to a marathon. And it’s a comparison that goes a long way (see what I did there?)... but it doesn’t go all the way. I’ll tell you what I mean. The analogy works when we think...