Calina Selmanson

wellwishesdoula.com
wellwishesdoula@gmail.com
503-490-4314

Serving Portland and surrounding areas since 2005 (Clackamas, Multnomah & Washington counties).

I welcome clients of all backgrounds, diversities, ethnicities, sexualities, genders and family structures. Offering non-judgmental support, evidenced based and current education to support informed decision making.

I am a Certified Postpartum Doula through Birthingway College, and a Certified Placenta Encapsulation Specialist through the International Placenta & Postpartum Association. I’m currently working towards certification to offer sleep coaching to tired families.

*Please contact me for info about packages that offer a discounted rate on services!

I began my path as a doula at age 18 and completed my labor doula training at Birthingway in 1998. That same year I worked with my best friend through the entire process of prenatal care, labor and postpartum time. I later helped that friend prepare for and welcome two more children as her doula and nanny. These experiences were pivotal in shaping my identity and philosophy as a doula. Through these early experiences I realized the value and benefits of continuity-of-care, serving families throughout the entire childbearing year.

While embarking on a career as a doula, my passion for the healing arts grew as I sought out many opportunities to add to my caregiver skill set. These include massage therapy, reiki, nutrition and herbal medicine, among many other modalities.

I formally completed my postpartum doula training while enrolled in the midwifery program at Birthingway College and certified in 2011.

I completed my midwifery studies in 2016. It was through this rigorous program and becoming a mother that I realized my deepest desire, serving women and their families in the role of a doula. Albeit, more skilled, confident and educated.

When preparing to have my own children I was met with a myriad of unforeseen challenges. I experienced two unplanned cesareans, after working very hard to have unmedicated water births. I realized after both experiences that my babies had their own plans. The births had to unfold on their own accord, in order to provide a safe outcome for us all—a very tough mama lesson that has humbled me and given me even greater compassion for “Homebirth Cesarean Mamas” and all cesarean mothers alike. Planned or unplanned surgical birth is an incredible rite of passage to motherhood and is often an arduous recovery that deserves special consideration and support.

As an experienced herbalist, nutritional counselor and trained midwife, I instinctually incorporate this collective wisdom into my all of my work.
I feel honored to serve your family during this transformative time!

When I’m not supporting you as your doula….
I enjoy spending quality time with my fun-loving and wild children, my sweet and wonderful husband and our two rambunctious kitties. My passions include wild-crafting herbs, plant medicine, cooking, gardening, aromatherapy, hula hooping, music and being near water.