our doulas:
Raeben Nolan
Certified Doula

I believe strongly in the advocacy aspect of labor support. It is my goal for women to feel that they were fully informed and empowered to make their personal-best decisions about labor and birth. I am not a sit-back-and-take-notes doula, but rather a massage-move-breathe-with mama kind of doula.

Raeben brings a strong intuition, calm manner and inclusive attitude to her clients' births. She approaches her role as a doula as an enhancement to a birthing woman's partner and family--providing the key elements of physical comfort measures, advocacy and emotional support.

Raeben first discovered her calling for birth work after being invited to her friend's birth. After 12 heart-opening hours of encouragement, massage, counterpressure, "funny breathing" and the birth of a healthy girl, the midwife suggested that Raeben should become a "doula" - something she had never heard of before. A year later in early 2002 she received her birth doula training with DONA International and later with Birthingway College of Midwifery in 2005.

Raeben has attended quite a spectrum of births during her 7 years as a doula. From home births to hospital births, water births to births with an epidural, Raeben is adept at supporting the choices of women and families. She loves supporting first-time mamas through the all the newness of motherhood as well assisting more experienced families with their 2nd, 3rd and 4th babies.

As a passionate breastfeeding counselor, Raeben's natural experience with nursing and breastfeeding issues has been useful to many families. She has a strong interest in nourishing herbs for women and can often be found brewing up her tasty "Lactation Chai" in order to help boost a mother's milk supply. She is also interested in the placenta as medicine for new mothers as it helps them rebound more easily after childbirth and can help prevent postpartum depression. Using methods from Traditional Chinese Medicine she has prepared and encapsulated the placentas of several of her clients at their request.

Raeben and her husband Jason are active parents to their son Orion, age 3, and daughter Persephone, born last April. She has a passion for all growing things, is an avid gardener and enthusiastic urban chicken farmer. She will take any opportunity to learn something new and has developed her skills of researching issues in order to offer succinct, thorough, and nuanced advice. She loves cooking, reading, writing poetry and making art in a variety of mediums.

"Raeben handled all the physical aspects of support, while my husband could focus on coaching me. She is a beautiful, caring woman, whose support was invaluable! She is such a gifted doula!" --Jaylene, mom of 3

"It was an honor and a privelege to work with Raeben. Her inner and outer strength and innate knowledge of the birthing process make her invaluable in the labor support. She has an old wisdom. I don't think this is her first time on the earth, being with birthing women!" --Kathleen Hersch-midwife

Please contact us:
Portland ~ 503-343-9911
Vancouver ~ 360-635-5666
...or contact us online!