About Me
Katie Bachand
Helping you achieve the birth of your dreams
Helping you achieve the birth of your dreams
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I have been involved with birthing since 1983 with the birth of my first
son. I was a Labor Coach from 1983-1986, helping 100+ women through
labor and delivery. I also taught Childbirth classes and lactation. Then I
took some years off to raise my five children. I maintained touch in the
delivery room and at home births while attending and coaching my
friends who were having babies. When my youngest daughter turned 12,
I made the transition back into the world of birthing.
My passion is women mentoring women. In everything I do, I try to pass
my experience on to others. So if I am making jam, helping a woman
birth her baby, creating a henna design, making soap, or working on
relationships, I'm always trying to learn, and pass on what I have learned.
I believe we all have something to give and something to receive, and in
that process we can make this a better world. I believe women can work
together in cooperation and comradery instead of competition and cat
fighting. We need each other.
I'm a Christian and am very spiritual, but not at all religious. My faith has
an impact on everything I do and influences the choices I make each day.
I am a breast cancer survivor. In 1999, I was treated for two types of
breast cancer. I truly believe everyday I live, I experience the gift of life.
I live in Kent, WA and work primarily in South King County, Seattle, and
the Eastside, but am willing to travel depending on your circumstances.
son. I was a Labor Coach from 1983-1986, helping 100+ women through
labor and delivery. I also taught Childbirth classes and lactation. Then I
took some years off to raise my five children. I maintained touch in the
delivery room and at home births while attending and coaching my
friends who were having babies. When my youngest daughter turned 12,
I made the transition back into the world of birthing.
My passion is women mentoring women. In everything I do, I try to pass
my experience on to others. So if I am making jam, helping a woman
birth her baby, creating a henna design, making soap, or working on
relationships, I'm always trying to learn, and pass on what I have learned.
I believe we all have something to give and something to receive, and in
that process we can make this a better world. I believe women can work
together in cooperation and comradery instead of competition and cat
fighting. We need each other.
I'm a Christian and am very spiritual, but not at all religious. My faith has
an impact on everything I do and influences the choices I make each day.
I am a breast cancer survivor. In 1999, I was treated for two types of
breast cancer. I truly believe everyday I live, I experience the gift of life.
I live in Kent, WA and work primarily in South King County, Seattle, and
the Eastside, but am willing to travel depending on your circumstances.
My Training
In the 80's I was trained in Visalia, CA, by Dr. Harlan Ellis who wrote the
revision to Grantly Dick-Read's book Childbirth Without Fear.
Formal Training
revision to Grantly Dick-Read's book Childbirth Without Fear.
Formal Training
- Labor Support Course for Birth Doulas - Seattle Midwifery School,
June 2006.
- Epidural Realities, March 2007
- New Trends in OB Anesthesia, March 2007
- Supporting the Woman with an Epidural, March 2007
- Labor Pain Medications & Breastfeeding: Impact & Interventions,
March 2007 - TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) Unit Training,
November 2007 - Advocating for your Client, November 2007
- Acupressure for Doulas, November 2007
- When Survivors Give Birth, Healing the Effects of Early Sexual Abuse
on Childbearing Women, January 2008 - More than Coming Out of Birth Alive, January 2008
- When a Baby Dies: What to do? Providing Support to the Grieving
Family and Caring for Yourself, March 2008 - Exploring the Forces Behind the Cesarean Epidemic, April 2008
- Rising Cesarean Rates: Clinical Influences; Risks to Mother and Baby,
April 2008 - Cesarean Trends: Economic, Legal, and Political Factors, April 2008
- Cesarean: The Personal Impact, April 2008
- Education on Cesarean Birth: Finding the Right Perspective, April
2008
My Birth Philosophy
My passion is women mentoring women. In being your birth doula I can
pass on to you what I have experienced while birthing my own children. I
believe a woman’s body instinctively knows how to give birth and that
through education and support of the processes, a mother can better relax
and have a positive, empowering birth experience.
Birth will change your life forever and I want to help empower you to trust
your body to give birth without fear. I believe talking about and being
educated about birth will have a tremendous impact on how completely you
trust your body in this task.
I believe that you have the right to choose how and where you give birth,
as well as who will care for you during your experience, along with feeling
safe and secure in your birthing environment.
Your needs will be my single focus while you labor and give birth. You can
have what you need, when you need it, and you should not feel guilty
about asking. The inclusion of family members, especially a woman’s
partner, will have a tremendously positive impact on the birth experience. I
believe in supporting your partner, while they support you, and not taking
over their position. Their support may be as simple as looking you in the
eye or holding your hand. I will work with you and your partner at
whatever level of involvement they want to provide.
I believe that you should be able to cope with your pain in exactly the right
way for you, whether relaxation techniques, position changes, massage,
medications, or a combination of any or all of these things. I like to talk
about birth as hard work rather than as a painful experience, and I can help
you prepare for this hard work, "labor".
I believe you have the resources within yourself to have successful birth
whether it is vaginal or cesarean, making your birth a success.
I am a Certified Birth Doula with Pacific Association for Labor
Support , PALS Doulas and with DONA International.
I work for Open Arms Perinatal Services providing birth doula
services to low income women in the Puget Sound region.
I volunteer for Operation Special Delivery serving pregnant
women whose husbands or partners have been severely injured
or who have lost their lives due to the current war on terror, or
who will be deployed at the time that they are due to give birth.
My Birth Experience
150+ births: natural; water birth; home birth; birth center; VBAC;
medicated; epidural; planned cesarean; unplanned cesarean; emergency
cesarean; stillbirth; known complications; IVF; adopted embryo IVF;
gestational diabetes; adoption; relinquishing; birth defects; premature;
twins vaginal; twins cesarean; pre-eclampsia; female circumcision;
miscarriage. Mother with diabetes, mood disorder, PIH, and more.
Puget Sound Birth Center, Evergreen, Overlake, Swedish Ballard, Swedish
First Hill, Valley Medical Center, Highline Community Hospital, Northwest
Hospital, Group Health Central, Auburn Regional Medical Center, University
Of Washington Medical Center, Good Samaritan Hospital, Saint Francis
Hospital, Saint Joseph's Hospital, and home birth.
Contact me for more information on my experience and availability.
pass on to you what I have experienced while birthing my own children. I
believe a woman’s body instinctively knows how to give birth and that
through education and support of the processes, a mother can better relax
and have a positive, empowering birth experience.
Birth will change your life forever and I want to help empower you to trust
your body to give birth without fear. I believe talking about and being
educated about birth will have a tremendous impact on how completely you
trust your body in this task.
I believe that you have the right to choose how and where you give birth,
as well as who will care for you during your experience, along with feeling
safe and secure in your birthing environment.
Your needs will be my single focus while you labor and give birth. You can
have what you need, when you need it, and you should not feel guilty
about asking. The inclusion of family members, especially a woman’s
partner, will have a tremendously positive impact on the birth experience. I
believe in supporting your partner, while they support you, and not taking
over their position. Their support may be as simple as looking you in the
eye or holding your hand. I will work with you and your partner at
whatever level of involvement they want to provide.
I believe that you should be able to cope with your pain in exactly the right
way for you, whether relaxation techniques, position changes, massage,
medications, or a combination of any or all of these things. I like to talk
about birth as hard work rather than as a painful experience, and I can help
you prepare for this hard work, "labor".
I believe you have the resources within yourself to have successful birth
whether it is vaginal or cesarean, making your birth a success.
I am a Certified Birth Doula with Pacific Association for Labor
Support , PALS Doulas and with DONA International.
I work for Open Arms Perinatal Services providing birth doula
services to low income women in the Puget Sound region.
I volunteer for Operation Special Delivery serving pregnant
women whose husbands or partners have been severely injured
or who have lost their lives due to the current war on terror, or
who will be deployed at the time that they are due to give birth.
My Birth Experience
150+ births: natural; water birth; home birth; birth center; VBAC;
medicated; epidural; planned cesarean; unplanned cesarean; emergency
cesarean; stillbirth; known complications; IVF; adopted embryo IVF;
gestational diabetes; adoption; relinquishing; birth defects; premature;
twins vaginal; twins cesarean; pre-eclampsia; female circumcision;
miscarriage. Mother with diabetes, mood disorder, PIH, and more.
Puget Sound Birth Center, Evergreen, Overlake, Swedish Ballard, Swedish
First Hill, Valley Medical Center, Highline Community Hospital, Northwest
Hospital, Group Health Central, Auburn Regional Medical Center, University
Of Washington Medical Center, Good Samaritan Hospital, Saint Francis
Hospital, Saint Joseph's Hospital, and home birth.
Contact me for more information on my experience and availability.
My DONA International Certification Essay
The Purpose and Value of Labor Support
I think of Sherpas that helped early settlers of American over the Rocky
Mountains or natives that guide people through the Amazon; most would
never consider such an adventure without an experienced guide. In the
same way, a birth doula is an experienced guide for the journey through
birth.
The role of the birth doula is one of support, comfort and information.
The benefit of labor support is to help make the birth experience a
positive and memorable event for the mom, dad/partner and baby. A
woman supported and encouraged during labor and delivery can go far
beyond what she previously thought possible in endurance and managing
pain. I have witnessed bonding and a strengthening of the relationship
between birthing moms and their partners, through labor and birth.
When a couple feels they are not alone in birth, they are free to grow and
become parents, and a family, in a positive way.
The purpose in providing labor support is to help a couple navigate the
journey of birth. The physical, emotional and informational needs of a
birthing mom are where a doula makes a difference. For many people
having a baby is the first time they will be cared for by a medical
professional in a hospital. The experience can be overwhelming and
riddled with fear. Having the support of birth doula who knows the
birthing atmosphere and birth lingo makes a difference in how relaxed the
mom feels about the experience. Of course not all births happen in
hospitals; birth centers and home births are also places where a mom has
a life changing experience and support will make a difference in how she
remembers the birth and how well they relationally bond.
I meet with the birthing mom and her partner prior to the onset of labor.
We discuss their wishes and goals for the birth of their baby. From there I
attempt to help them achieve the best possible birth with their hopes in
mind while being flexible to the journey.
Birth seldom is a text book experience and very often does not follow a
plan. That is where the skills of a birth doula are especially helpful.
Understanding, knowledge and experience in non medical ways to
manage pain, helping a mom change positions to encourage her baby to
turn and descend, relaxation techniques and a supportive presence during
labor are invaluable.
If couples knew ahead of time of the intensity of labor and birth and if
these same couples had the option of having a birth doula support them
through this experience without the added cost of hiring a birth doula; I
believe every birthing mom would want a birth doula by her side. By her
side is the perfect place for a doula, not in front, taking charge, but by her
side encouraging and helping her with kind words, a tender touch and
watchful eye to anticipate where support will be needed next.
As a birth doula my responsibility is first of all to be available whenever
the mom needs me in labor and to stay with her through the birth of her
baby. Secondly I have a responsibility to know and work within my Scope
of Practice and to abide by the Code of Ethics for birth doulas.
Maintaining professionalism and high standards will ensure a favorable
attitude from caregivers in hospitals, birth centers and home births
towards birth doulas now and in the future.
Studies have shown that labor support provided by a birth doula
improves the bond between mother and infant and decreases the
incidence of postpartum depression. These same studies have shown a
decrease in length of labor, request for pain medicine, epidurals, and
instrumental deliveries, while also seeing an increase in breastfeeding
rates, and satisfaction with the birth experience. Women supported by a
doula, which would otherwise be alone, and in a setting where
intervention rates are routinely high, have the most improved birth
outcomes.
In the June 2008 publication of BIRTH the conclusions from a randomized
controlled trial of continuous labor support for middle-class couples: Effect
of cesarean delivery rates was published. The conclusions indicated the
continuous presence of a doula during labor significantly decreased the
likelihood of cesarean delivery and reduced the need for epidural
analgesia. Women and their male partners were unequivocal in their
positive opinions about laboring with the support of a doula.
Labor support is not new, but it has been devalued and almost
disappeared in the past century. The resurgence of labor support is
making a difference for people everywhere it is available.
Katie Bachand CD(DONA), CD(PALS), May 2008
I think of Sherpas that helped early settlers of American over the Rocky
Mountains or natives that guide people through the Amazon; most would
never consider such an adventure without an experienced guide. In the
same way, a birth doula is an experienced guide for the journey through
birth.
The role of the birth doula is one of support, comfort and information.
The benefit of labor support is to help make the birth experience a
positive and memorable event for the mom, dad/partner and baby. A
woman supported and encouraged during labor and delivery can go far
beyond what she previously thought possible in endurance and managing
pain. I have witnessed bonding and a strengthening of the relationship
between birthing moms and their partners, through labor and birth.
When a couple feels they are not alone in birth, they are free to grow and
become parents, and a family, in a positive way.
The purpose in providing labor support is to help a couple navigate the
journey of birth. The physical, emotional and informational needs of a
birthing mom are where a doula makes a difference. For many people
having a baby is the first time they will be cared for by a medical
professional in a hospital. The experience can be overwhelming and
riddled with fear. Having the support of birth doula who knows the
birthing atmosphere and birth lingo makes a difference in how relaxed the
mom feels about the experience. Of course not all births happen in
hospitals; birth centers and home births are also places where a mom has
a life changing experience and support will make a difference in how she
remembers the birth and how well they relationally bond.
I meet with the birthing mom and her partner prior to the onset of labor.
We discuss their wishes and goals for the birth of their baby. From there I
attempt to help them achieve the best possible birth with their hopes in
mind while being flexible to the journey.
Birth seldom is a text book experience and very often does not follow a
plan. That is where the skills of a birth doula are especially helpful.
Understanding, knowledge and experience in non medical ways to
manage pain, helping a mom change positions to encourage her baby to
turn and descend, relaxation techniques and a supportive presence during
labor are invaluable.
If couples knew ahead of time of the intensity of labor and birth and if
these same couples had the option of having a birth doula support them
through this experience without the added cost of hiring a birth doula; I
believe every birthing mom would want a birth doula by her side. By her
side is the perfect place for a doula, not in front, taking charge, but by her
side encouraging and helping her with kind words, a tender touch and
watchful eye to anticipate where support will be needed next.
As a birth doula my responsibility is first of all to be available whenever
the mom needs me in labor and to stay with her through the birth of her
baby. Secondly I have a responsibility to know and work within my Scope
of Practice and to abide by the Code of Ethics for birth doulas.
Maintaining professionalism and high standards will ensure a favorable
attitude from caregivers in hospitals, birth centers and home births
towards birth doulas now and in the future.
Studies have shown that labor support provided by a birth doula
improves the bond between mother and infant and decreases the
incidence of postpartum depression. These same studies have shown a
decrease in length of labor, request for pain medicine, epidurals, and
instrumental deliveries, while also seeing an increase in breastfeeding
rates, and satisfaction with the birth experience. Women supported by a
doula, which would otherwise be alone, and in a setting where
intervention rates are routinely high, have the most improved birth
outcomes.
In the June 2008 publication of BIRTH the conclusions from a randomized
controlled trial of continuous labor support for middle-class couples: Effect
of cesarean delivery rates was published. The conclusions indicated the
continuous presence of a doula during labor significantly decreased the
likelihood of cesarean delivery and reduced the need for epidural
analgesia. Women and their male partners were unequivocal in their
positive opinions about laboring with the support of a doula.
Labor support is not new, but it has been devalued and almost
disappeared in the past century. The resurgence of labor support is
making a difference for people everywhere it is available.
Katie Bachand CD(DONA), CD(PALS), May 2008