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Giselle Edwards, Birth First Doulas

Giselle Edwards, Portland Doula

I felt the call to become a birth worker to advocate for the highest possible care in hospitals for those whose voices may be excluded from mainstream narratives. My main objective is to be an emotional through line from the start to the end of your birth, a support system I felt was missing in my own children’s unique births. I love working with families, whatever that family looks like, and helping the whole family to make this beautiful transition. I want to hear all of your excitements and concerns, provide you with tools and resources, and help you navigate opportunities to ensure the most positive birth possible.

I was born and raised in the Portland area and then traveled to Illinois for college. After graduation I lived in Montana, NYC, and Los Angeles before winding up back home in the PNW. I was inspired by the power of birth while witnessing a friend’s son enter the world 10 years ago. The act of childbirth is jaw dropping every time. As your doula, I am here to support you so you can fully appreciate the wonder of your own birth story. I’m here to talk it all out, I want to listen to your expectations and help fill in the gaps of the unknown so you can feel empowered entering the hospital. I love working in a hospital setting, where there are so many people and tools to support birth. My goal is to advocate for you in any way I can and explore the options that will give you the most positive birth experience, even if that means finding your voice to say “No.”

Birth can be intimidating (both anticipating it and experiencing it) but I embrace the rawness of birth and want to break it down so everyone can find the perfect moments in that rawness. I always have a smile on my face, I never want to miss anything, and I like to laugh (mostly at myself). I love riding bikes and scooters around the block with my kids, singing show tunes, and telling myself this is the year I will set up my basement ceramic studio.

Training

N

DONA Birth Doula Training with Mother Tree Birth

N

DONA Postpartum Doula Training with Mother Tree Birth

N

Intensive 6-Month Internship with Mother Tree Birth

N

Basics of Lactation Management with Lactation Education Resources

Areas Of Specialty

N

Unmedicated Birth, Out Of Hospital Birth, Water Birth

N

Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC)

N

Surrogacy

N

Adoption

N

High Risk Pregnancy/Birth

N

Medical Induction

N

LGBTQIA+ Families

N

Body Positive/People Of Size

N

Postpartum Doula Care

N

Lactation Support

N

Trauma Informed Care

N

Recovery From Addiction

N

Pregnancy or Infant Loss

N

Sibling Support (on-call childcare during labor and birth)

N

Massage

N

Birth Story Listening

N

Infant Massage

N

Baby Sign Language

N

Babywearing

N

Cloth Diapering Education

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Giselle’s Testimonials

“Giselle has such an amazing personality and I instantly felt a connection with her. I wanted to have an unmedicated delivery this time. During our meet and greet, Giselle listened to our concerns and laid a plan to address them and build my confidence to attain my birth plan. During our in-person visits in the last 4 weeks, Giselle built an amazing rapport with my family. When the time came, she was right by my side at our home and helped me navigate through early labor. During active labor, she stepped up to fill the roles of a doula, a close friend and a support partner as my husband had to watch our daughter at home. She provided utmost care and support and gelled seamlessly with the medical staff. I had such a positive birth experience and could attain my goal of unmedicated delivery. This could not have been possible without Giselle. We are so glad that Rebecca matched us with Giselle. Our family greatly appreciates everything Giselle did for us.”

BIJI, Portland

“I cannot recommend Ashley and Giselle highly enough! My husband and I were looking for a friendly familiar presence to guide us through a hospital birth where we weren’t sure who our nurses and midwife would be. We chose to work with Ashley and Giselle because they were both so warm, positive and empathetic, and also because they work as a team and we knew we would for sure have one of them at the hospital with us for labor and delivery. We were excited to work with them from the start, but they exceeded our expectations in every way. In our prenatal visits, they helped us work through our birth plan, fears, coping strategies and postpartum planning. With each prenatal visit I felt more calm, confident and prepared for the journey ahead. Giselle guided me through a wonderful unmedicated birth experience at Providence St. Vincent that went right along with my birth plan. She also helped my husband to stay calm and present, and created bonding moments for us during the labor and delivery. I had a fantastic birth, and am now enjoying a speedy recovery. I could not have done it without Giselle and Ashley. If we have a second child, we will not do it without them! “

Liz, Portland

“My husband and I lost our first son due to a brain injury he suffered during my difficult labor.  Even though we had a planned cesarean birth for our second child, we knew we would need extra support.  We reached out to Giselle giving her the option to opt-out of what we knew would be an emotionally intense labor as we would be walking so close with our very raw trauma – without hesitation, Giselle said ‘Yes!’ When the day came Giselle knew all the right things to say to us in the time leading up to, during, and following the birth of our healthy baby boy.  Instead of shying away from bringing up our first angel baby, she acknowledged him as being present in a way that was so special to both of us. She knew what we needed even before we did, and her confidence and genuine love of being a doula is infectious. Giselle will forever hold a special place in our hearts and we would highly recommend her to anyone, especially those who have had a previous traumatic birth experience.”

Ashley & Cheyne, Oregon City