Birthhelp Doula Services & Photography - (206) 271-2873

Welcome to my website!  My name is Candace Barber.  I am a doula, certified through PALS Doulas (formerly known as Pacific Association of Labor Support Doulas). As well as being a doula, I am also a wife, mother, part-time private piano/voice teacher, and photographer. With all these titles I am also known as "honey," "mom," "teacher," and "friend." I have been a doula for about 22 years - beginning with attending my sister during her labor and delivery of her first son.  My passion is to give informational, emotional, and physical support to women during their pregnancy, labor, and delivery, as well as post-partum support. Although I am very passionate about this profession, I have the support of numerous studies which conclude that women who have continuous labor support have less complications which naturally lead to less births by cesarean section. The length of labor "coincidentally" is not as long, and although pain is not out of the picture, more women report their experience as being enjoyable and memorable as opposed to painful or traumatic.

Benefits of continuous labor support are not conjured up by some radical grass-roots group like, "Doulas Unite!" (that's not a real group), but rather is recognized by The World Health Organization (W.H.O.), The Medical Leadership Council (an organization of over 1200 U.S. Hospitals), and the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada, as well as many groups here in the United States - too many to list on my website, but below are a few citations of supporting research:

Citations:

Evidence-based labor and delivery management, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Volume 199, Issue 5, November 2008, Pages 445-454, Vincenzo Berghella, Jason K. Baxter, Suneet P. Chauhan;

Swedish women's experiences of doula support during childbirth, Midwifery, Volume 26, Issue 2, April 2010, Pages 173-180, Ingela Lundgren;

Continuous, but not intermittent, support from a doula significantly improves labour and delivery outcomes, Evidence-based Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Volume 2, Issue 2, June 2000, Page 42, Beth Alder.)

Here is a wonderful testimony on "Kangaroo Care" - otherwise known as skin-to-skin contact after delivery: 

Kangaroo Care - Alternative to Incubators for Preemies

Certified Birth Doula - PALS Doulas

Labor Support Course - Sponsored by Simpkin School for Allied Birth Vocations @ Seattle Midwifery School, Seattle, WA

HypnoBabies Doula Training - Emily Fontes, CD (DONA), Childbirth Instructor ICEA, Cert. HypnoBabies Instructor

Training in Serving Chemically Using(Recovering) Pregnant Women - Open Arms Perinatal Services

Rebozo Workshop/Training - Advanced Doula Training, sponsored by PALS Doulas

"Breastfeeding 201" - Advanced Doula Training by Alissa Wehrman CD, CCE

Technique for Placenta Encapsulation - Katie Bachand, CD (PALS), (DONA)

Certificate of Paralegal Studies - Highline Community College

Certificate in Litigation Support - Green River Community College

Music and Vocal training - Mt. Hood Community College, Portland Chorale, private music instructors, and family. :)

*Currently working toward a Bachelor's Degree in Human Services.

As I continue to work on this website, please feel free to check out the website of my doula support partner, Katie Bachand (website below). As well as being an awesome doula, she is an inspiring henna artist, wife, and mother.

I am privileged to have her as my doula partner and back-up support - not to mention my very good friend.