Portland Doula Company

18/07/2025

Hi! Jess here!

Often people ask me “what does postpartum doula services look like?”. I find this tough to answer because each visit is unique based on your needs and wants, 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘺．

My job is to help you and your family adjust after the baby is born. Some examples of visits are:

☽ help you process your birth story and answers questions

☽ assist you in feeding your baby. Whether you are nursing, pumping or formula feeding - I can help! This may look like helping you with your technique or getting you water, all the pillows and emotional support.

☽ doing small household chores such as refilling your water purifier, loading/unloading dishes, laundry, restocking baby diapers.

☽ I also can hang out with your little one while you get some much needed sleep or a shower.

Each visit I start with checking in to see what’s showing up for you that day and we go from there!

Want to talk more about postpartum care in the Portland, Maine area? Visit the website at www.portlanddoulaco.com

13/07/2025

My friend, Nichole Burke, is working on an amazing project. As a person who has experienced two miscarriages, I have signed up to share my story.

Please see her post, copied & posted below, for more info:

Seeking participants for the project. Have you experienced pregnancy or infant loss? This is a very sensitive issue, comes with a range of emotions and feeling that most don’t talk about. I know I didn’t. 1 in 4 pregnancies result in miscarriage, which is a large enough statistic to not be supported. I want to help those who are suffering, grieving, feeling hopeless. Light in Letters is a great at to support and comfort those affected. If you would be courageous enough to share a letter please message me directly 🩷

12/06/2025

Posted • Posted •

The post I wish I didn’t have to make. Please share this and protect these beautiful mamas and babies ❤️

04/06/2025

🏳️‍🌈 Pride is a Practice.

At Portland Doula Co, we celebrate Pride by continuing to show up for our LGBTQ+ community every single day.

As a q***r full-spectrum doula, I know understand how vital it is to feel seen, safe, and affirmed during pregnancy, birth, postpartum, loss, and every outcome in between.

The birth space hasn’t always been welcoming to LGBTQ+ families—and that needs to change.

I’m here to offer inclusive, trauma-informed, and deeply affirming support for q***r and trans families. You deserve care that honors your identity, your choices, and your power.

I’m holding space for you—with love and always with pride.

11/05/2025

Mothering is a verb.

We send love And support to all the mothers.

06/05/2025

Welcome earth side little one. Your parents were so incredibly brave and loving. I am so grateful to have joined you all for this journey. 💜🌊

03/05/2025

A win-win!!! Support the Maine State Breastfeeding Coalition while showing support for the environment!!

HOME SWEET COMMUNITY

This May, you can make a difference right where you live!

Purchase a reusable $2.50
Community Bag at our Lewiston, Maine Hannaford store, and $1 from each bag will be donated to our organization.

It’s a simple way to give back and support your community.

01/05/2025

May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

Let’s talk about what too often gets silenced.

Maternal mental health isn’t just about postpartum depression. It’s anxiety, rage, trauma, grief, overwhelm, and everything in between. It can show up before, during, and after pregnancy—and it can affect anyone, regardless of gender, birth outcome, or parenting status.

Postpartum mood disorders can be dismissed or stigmatized.

At Portland Doula Company, we hold space for all birthing people and all pregnancy outcomes. You are not alone. You are not broken. You are worthy of support.

Whether you’re navigating early parenthood, loss, healing from birth trauma, or simply feeling not like yourself, your mental health matters.
You matter.

We see you. We support you.
Reach out. You don’t have to carry it alone.

A great resource is Postpartum Support International 📞 Call or Text: 1-800-944-4773 (4PPD) 24/7!

29/04/2025

I was having a great discussion with folks about the interesting things some people (often family) say to postpartum people. While we laughed about it, I don’t want to discredit that some statements are really harmful.

Sometimes you don’t know what to say to a new parent who has spit up on their shirt, dark circles under their eyes and dishes piled everywhere. One tip, off the top, is to have empathy, compassion and to center the parent (as opposed to it being all about the baby).

Rather than stating the obvious without offering a solution, offer help. Whether it’s a nonjudgmental ear, a babysitter while they shower or nap, unloading the dishwasher or a meal - help.

The image has some suggestions for supportive phrases. I hope you find them useful!

𝘗𝘚: 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘥!

29/04/2025

Thank you Arcana for inviting me to share Prenatal & Postpartum Yoga with your amazing 300hr Yoga Teacher Training group!!

I love talking about all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Combining this with my love of yoga made it even more magical!!

14/03/2025

Happy Black Midwives Day!!

Posted •
✨ Happy Black Midwives Day! ✨

Today, we honor the legacy of Black Midwives across the diaspora, and we lift up pioneering Missouri Midwife-Mariah Watkins. “Aunt Mariah” was a Black midwife whose impact shaped generations. Born into slavery in 1824, Mariah defied the odds to become a respected midwife, healer, and landowner in Neosho, Missouri. She delivered hundreds of babies, cared for families across racial and economic lines, and mentored a young George Washington Carver, inspiring his lifelong pursuit of knowledge.

This powerful history is brought to light through research and oral history by Okunsola M. Amadou, Missouri’s first Black Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) and founder of Jamaa Birth Village. Jamaa represents the continuation of Black midwifery traditions, providing culturally centered maternal care and advocating for Black birth justice. Mariah’s legacy is a testament to the resilience, wisdom, and care that Black midwives have provided for centuries, and continue to provide today.

Midwife & Water Priestess Okunsola M. Amadou , is a Library Research Intern at the Missouri Historical Society as she completes her Museum Studies program. She has co-created a Women’s History Month Pop-Up Exhibit at the Missouri Historical Society Library & Research Center, which features Mariah’s full story, a midwife she honors, celebrates and greatly respects.

We honor Mariah Watkins. We honor Black midwives past, present, and future. Read more at the link in bio or at https://mohistory.org/blog/mariah-watkins. Be sure to visit the to see Mariah’s story come to life💜

03/02/2025

You are not alone – The ocean is vast, and every drop of water contributes to its wholeness.

This quote reminds us that we are not isolated in our struggles; we are part of something bigger—community, humanity, the natural world.

At Portland Doula Company, you are part of a family. You will never do this alone. Even if I am your birth doula - you can call me any time! I have been so blessed to be “Auntie Jess” to many kiddos, attend birthday parties, and support families by providing babysitting.

The ocean is immense and unstoppable, just like your inner strength. When we stop viewing ourselves as small and separate, we recognize the depth of our power and resilience.

🌊🌙💙