
Heather Meyer, Portland Doula
Witnessing the birth of my sister at 2 ½ sparked a deep love of babies and birth, led to early babysitting and years of nannying into adulthood. In 2004, I supported my first birth which unearthed an overwhelming passion for the entire process and a deep respect for families, launching my career as a pregnancy massage specialist and 19 years of my practice as a full spectrum doula. I have supported over 750 labors and births and have gathered a great number of skills, tools and knowledge that I can offer you and your family. I will listen to your unique needs and help navigate the way with concrete support, practical information, kindness, time, and holistic loving care.
I began my formal doula studies in 2009 and was certified as a birth and postpartum doula in 2011 while living in Sydney, Australia working as a pregnancy massage specialist. After returning to the United States in 2013, I was hired to co-create and launch a hospital-based integrated doula program as part of the revolutionary Pregnancy Care Package at Providence Women’s Clinic in NE Portland, where I was the lead doula for 7 years. I worked in a team-based model of care with hospital staff as colleagues, managed a team of doulas, co-created innovative programs to better help families (such as doula support at cesarean births), all while supporting an extremely diverse body of clients through prenatal groups, birth, and early postpartum. After years of attending others, I finally had my own child in 2018 (with one loss before that), and after an extended maternity leave I moved on from the hospital program and returned to support private clients in a more sustainable way for my family.
I see conception, loss, pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum as a journey of transformation. The most important thing as your doula is to be present and learn about your personal values and preferences so I can provide you with the best possible evidence-based heartfelt care, whether you are trying to conceive, during prenatal visits, in the midst of labor and birth, or at home while I offer guidance during a postpartum visit. As a postpartum doula, I see the postpartum period as an essential time to tend to you post birth, so the entire family can rest, recover from all that has come before and metamorphosize. This is our human design and I truly love to be there in your home through this transition.
I have worked with clients from all walks of life and histories from preconception to postpartum. I am able to meet my individual clients wherever they are, through joys and sorrows. All are welcome. I love serving all types of people, and in addition, specialize in supporting those with trauma histories (including previous birth trauma), mental health history (including anxiety), fertility, pregnancy loss, and those who come from more challenging situations. I am a state certified THW doula, co-founder of the Oregon Doula Association and a doula mentor.
I am mamma to one, have lived in a tiny house for over 7 years, love people and travel, believe in social change through birth, and dream about living by the ocean. I would be truly honored to be your doula.
Doula Training
Certified Birth & Postpartum Doula: Australian Doula College
Oregon State Certified Traditional Health Care Worker
INNATE Postpartum Care: Innate Traditions
Undisturbing Birth: Dr Sarah J. Buckley
Lactation Intensive for Professionals: Melissa Cole
Diploma of Remedial Massage: Nature Care College
Pregnancy, Labor, & Postnatal Massage: Nature Care College
Certified In Prenatal & Perinatal Massage: Carole Osborne-Sheets
Childbirth Education: Simkin Center for Allied Birth Vocations at Basytr University
Tens Unit In Labor: DONA
Rebozo Uses In Pregnancy & Birth: DONA
Lead Poisoning & Pregnancy: ICTC
Powerful Prenatals: Carrie Kenner/Doula Schoola
Placenta Encapsulation Training: Carrie Kenner/Doula Schoola
Reiki 1
Subtle Hands On Skills: Carol Gray Center For CST Studies
Craniosacral, The Basics & Beyond The Basics: Carol Gray Center For CST Studies
Pregnancy & Infant Loss (PAIL) Advocate- Quite United In Loss Together
Cultural Competency: Shafia Monroe Consulting
Adopting Trauma Informed Care: Mothertree
Collaborative Practice: Mothertree
Oral Health for Traditional Health Workers: Birthingway College
Bachelor of Arts: Lewis & Clark College
Birth Doula Specialty Areas
Unmedicated Birth
Epidural Supported Births
Medical Induction
Unplanned & Planned Cesarean Birth
Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC)
Fertility & IVF Pregnancy
High Risk Pregnancy/Birth
Postpartum Doula Care
Massage & Therapeutic Touch
Twins/Multiples
Trauma Informed Care
Pregnancy or Infant Loss
Survivors Of Abuse
Anxiety & Depression
LGBTQIA+ Families
Polyamorous Families
Single & Adoptive Parents
Culturally Appropriate Care
Placenta Encapsulation
Postpartum Doula Specialty Areas
Cesarean Recovery
Breast/Body Feeding Support
Birth Processing/Birth Story Listening
Trauma Informed Postpartum Care
Postpartum Anxiety & Mood Disorders
Helping To Establishing Sleep Routines
Cooking
Baby Wearing
Nursery Set Up
Sibling Support
Childproofing The Home
Supporting The Transition Back To Work