Brooke Noli

I’ve delighted in assisting families through the childbirth journey since becoming a certified doula back in 1999. In the 20 years since then, I’ve attended over 600 births in the Portland metro area, worked in all the local hospitals and birth centers, and supported a wide range of birth experiences. I currently also train student doulas, provide newer doulas with mentorship and supervision, and teach continuing education classes for birth workers. I first began my journey into this work as a birth doula but pretty quickly got onto the midwifery track. After three years of midwifery training, it became clear that what I loved most was the unique support role that only doulas can offer, so I wholeheartedly embraced my doula practice again. As my interest in the psychological aspects of birth grew, I was inspired to get a graduate degree in psychology, and, since 2008, I’ve been offering counseling services focused on the emotions, concerns, and transitions that arise during the childbearing year. My midwifery, counseling, and teaching experience supply my doula practice with a unique level of expertise and understanding that I would love to share with you and your family and that I share with everyone at Birth First Doulas, which I co-own with Rebecca Durlin Smith.

Partnership Model

I work in a doula partnership with Rebecca Durlin Smith. Together we have attended over 800 births and bring 25 years of birth experience to share with our clients. Hiring one doula means hiring both of us and receiving the benefits of a doula team, which includes drawing from each of our extensive knowledge bases, knowing that if one doula is away the other doula is still available, and having the reassurance that a fresh doula is available if your labor lasts a while and your other doula starts getting fatigued. You basically get two doulas for the price of one, and our clients love the continuity of care that this model ensures.

Training

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Doula Certification from Birthingway College of Midwifery, 1999

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Midwifery training and apprenticeship at Birthingway College of Midwifery, 2000-2003

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Postpartum Doula Workshop at Birthingway College of Midwifery, 2004

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Certificate in Process Oriented Psychology from the Process Work Institute, 2003-2005

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MA degree in Marriage & Family Therapy from Northcentral University, 2005-2008

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Trauma informed care, perinatal psychology, rebozo, acupressure

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Brooke’s Testimonials

“My wife and I could not have been happier with Brooke and Rebecca as our doulas. They worked seamlessly together and we appreciated their different personalities but coordinated approach. They helped ease our anxieties leading into labor and brought support, guidance and warmth to what ended up being a lengthy labor. Plan on using them again if there is baby number two!”

Sloan & Kate, SW Portland

“I was fortunate enough to attend births with both Brooke and Rebecca as a baby nurse and knew I wanted to hire them even before our interview. As a nurse and doula myself I’m comfortable with the birth process but knew that it was unknown territory for my husband. Brooke and Rebecca did a beautiful job supporting us both. Their calm, reassuring presence was exactly what we needed. Rebecca came to our home to help us through some Spinning Babies maneuvers and to talk through our frustrations. Brooke attended our delivery and was such a soothing presence as contractions hit hard and I pushed out my big, beautiful girl exactly the way I had envisioned. My midwife was so impressed with Brooke that she asked for her card to refer other families and we gladly recommend this fantastic duo to any expectant parents.”

Johanna & Mac, SE Portland

“We feel deeply grateful to have had Rebecca and Brooke by our side through pregnancy and birth. They were unfailingly present with support, guidance, and resources as we prepared for our daughter’s arrival . . . When it came time for our daughter to be born, labor went much faster than we expected. In the midst of that whirlwind, I remember so well the feeling of reassurance and safety I found in Brooke’s presence. She offered just the right words to help me trust in my intuition . . . As I reflect on becoming a parent, I cannot imagine birthing without the support of these two remarkable women. They are truly a gift and I look forward to calling on them again as our family grows.”

Emily & Meg, SE Portland

“My husband and I agree that hiring Rebecca and Brooke as our doulas was the best decision we made during my pregnancy. Rebecca and Brooke are experts in the field, tremendously kind, supportive, accommodating, and skilled. Having successfully guided so many births, nothing surprises them, and the experience and wisdom they are able to impart as a result helped us prepare long before the big day of. The day of our daughter’s birth, Rebecca was on-call, and from start to finish she was amazing. I was able to have the unmedicated birth that I hoped for and cannot imagine having gone through that experience without her support. We know we would have gotten the same love and support from Brooke too had she been on call that day. We can’t recommend these two ladies more highly.”

Meghan & Tim, NE Portland

“We hired Brooke & Rebecca as our labor doulas, and they held my husband and I so tight through our first pregnancy and postpartum care. Their partnership is a very unique model, and they want to provide the best care to a family through their team approach. They went beyond labor prep by providing many referrals and resources to get us set for day one of parenthood. When it came to labor Brooke was on call, and she guided me over the phone to in-person at my home and finally at the hospital. She knew exactly how to soothe and empower me to the finish line. Her coaching was laser focused on top of honoring my birth preferences, advocating for our family from the moment we got to the hospital. After such a wonderful birth, both Brooke and Rebecca continued to support our family through more referrals and emotional support. We plan to hire both Brooke & Rebecca for our next baby!”

Manie & Jan, SE Portland

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971-361-6833

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Most of the photographs on this site
were taken by She Saw Things

Areas We Serve: NW Portland, NE Portland, N Portland, SW Portland, SE Portland, Sellwood, Beaverton, Hillsdale, Tigard, West Slope, Sherwood, Hillsboro, Gresham, Tualatin, Milwaukie, West Lynn, Happy Valley, Oregon City, Wilsonville, Vancouver, Camas, Washougal

Hospitals & Birth Centers We Serve: Kaiser Sunnyside, Kaiser Westside, OHSU, Legacy Good Samaritan, Legacy Emanuel, Legacy Meridian Park, Legacy Salmon Creek, PeaceHealth, Providence Portland, Providence St. Vincent’s, Adventist, WHA Midwifery Birth Center, Andaluz Waterbirth Center, Alma Birth Center, Canyon Birth Center, Home Birth

Our Specialities: natural birth, unmedicated birth, vaginal birth, water birth, epidural assisted birth, cesarean birth, vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), high risk birth, induction, twins and multiples, previous miscarriage and loss, LGBTQ+ families, body positive, single parents, surrogacy, hospital birth, birth center birth, home birth

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