Twenty seven “Doulas” have just been brought on by the Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, making it the first hospital in all of Washington to have a completely in house team of the birth coaches.

The Swedish Medical Center lists the Doula service as, “The Doula’s role is to provide emotional, physical and informational support to help you have the best possible pregnancy, birth, and early parenting experience.  The Doula works alongside your nurses, midwives and doctors to provide a reassuring presence and help you navigate the birth process.”

Prices range from $500 to $2,000, moving between the training Doula and a certified member of the program. And this actually sounds like a nice development. I didn’t have one in any of my experiences, but it sounds like a really pleasant addition, even for even the easiest of stories. but during a difficult delivery? As Dr. Tanya Sorensen says, “My own specialty is high risk obstetrics, and I think it’s even more telling in those situations where there’s somebody there who’s completely focused on the patient and her experience as opposed to the medical part.”

Read the Full Article: Should hospital-based doulas be the norm for labor & delivery?