Michelle Carman Cushing
Portland Doula Collective
Certified Labor Doula since 2012

michelle@portlanddoulas.com
503-828-2959
fee: $1500-1800

I believe in a woman’s strength and intuition in childbirth, and her right to make informed decisions regarding her pregnancy and birth. I believe it is especially important for expecting parents to surround themselves with people who believe in their strength, who help them make informed decisions, and who trust them to do so. As a doula, I work hard to be one of those people – encouraging my clients to ask questions and seek information, while trusting their bodies and the birth process. I truly enjoy working with women and their families through pregnancy and in labor, and do so with compassion and without judgment.

Childbirth has long been a fascination of mine and shortly after earning my Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, something clicked inside me. The fascination for childbirth began to grow into a passion and ultimately a new career path. Since earning my certification in 2012, I have gained experience supporting women and their partners in a variety of birth scenarios, including medicated and un-medicated vaginal births, and unplanned and planned cesarean births. I have extra training in waterbirth support and in rebozo use during labor. In addition to supporting families as a doula, I am also a certified childbirth educator (ICEA) and have been teaching Childbirth Preparation classes since 2014.

When I am not working with new or expecting families, I keep busy caring for my two amazing children, and I love to spend time outside with my family. On occasion, I squeeze in some personal time with running, gardening (dreaming of my own family farm) and playing piano.

My service includes:
3 prenatal visits
24-hour on-call support beginning 2 weeks before your estimated due date
Continual physical and emotional support throughout labor and childbirth
Breastfeeding support
1-2 postpartum visits
Phone and email support for up to 6 weeks postpartum
Referrals to any necessary services or information you may need

Pregnancy and childbirth are beautiful and complicated times in a woman’s life, and miraculously normal. My hope as a doula is that I can help you and your family feel empowered, informed and nurtured through the births of your children.

Thanks!
~Michelle