Welcome
Called To Birth
Doulas & Birth Services
With a combined 900+ births attended and over 30 years in birth work, we are here to serve YOU in this beautiful & intense time of your life!
Called to Birth is a team of women committed
to guiding you through this journey!
Whether you find us right as the stick shows 2 lines or realize towards the end of your pregnancy you need additional support, or maybe you find us after birth when those postpartum nights are long and extra care and support would be life giving. We are here for every step, every need, to educate, listen, support, and give.We are doulas based out of Tacoma and the greater Puget Sound area, serving in local hospitals, birth centers and home births.
We offer in person childbirth, postpartum, newborn and lactation education to prepare you for your new baby.
Birth Doula
A birth doula is a non-medical professional who provides physical, emotional, and informational support during pregnancy, labor, birth, and after the baby is born to help them achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible. Doulas are there to help ensure that the birthing person's needs are met, but they don't replace the role of a doctor or midwife.
Here are some things a birth doula can do: provide physical comfort with breathing techniques, massage, and finding more comfortable positions, easing the emotional experience of birth and also helping to create a space where the hormones of labor can work at their best, help encourage and teach families to advocate for themselves with staff, provide information about the entire process of what can happen during labor and birth, help with initiating breastfeeding and/or baby feeding, support the birthing person's family and loved ones during and after the process.
Postpartum Doula
A postpartum doula is a trained professional who offers support to new parents during the postpartum period, often the first six weeks after giving birth. They can provide physical and emotional support, as well as information and guidance on a variety of topics, including: infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from childbirth, infant soothing, coping skills for new parents, basic newborn care, mother-baby bonding, diaper rash healing, babywearing safety, car seat installation and use. Postpartum doulas can also help with light housework, fix meals, and incorporate older children into the new family dynamic. They are trained to address the specific challenges new parents face and respect the family's parenting style. This can include one visit after birth, up to months with consecutive visits either day or night.
Childbirth + Postbirth Education
Riva teaches childbirth education geared towards preparing for out of hospital/unmedicated birth (though helpful regardless of birth location!) including preparing for postpartum, along with a newborn & lactation workshop. Her goal is for you to feel as prepared as possible in setting expectations, support, when/where to go for help, what is normal baby feeding, knowing stages of labor and how to mentally and emotionally prepare and so much more! See below for more in-depth information regarding classes and sign up!
Extras Including:
Placenta Encapsulation
Additional in home postpartum support
Private or group education
CPST car seat checks
Birth Doula, birth assistant
Suzie Schuster
My journey into the realm of doula support began in 2003, motivated by the birth of a family member. This transformative experience ignited a profound sense of purpose within me, drawing me into an extraordinary field that continues to inspire my passion today. I TRULY love what I do!As a mother of two wonderful daughters, a grandmother to 4 incredible grandchildren and a wife of 37 years, my commitment to birth and all its facets has only deepened over time. This passion has also led me to serve as a birth assistant and work at The Birthing Inn, where I have had the privilege of connecting with many families who have walked through our doors.Over the past 21 years, my experience in supporting and advocating for families has unfolded naturally. I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to help you cultivate a positive birth experience through education and resources, whether in a hospital, birth center or at home. I have a special heart for VBACs and trauma informed care within my hundreds of births, and will always be there for you every step of the way!
birth doula, postpartum doula, bereavement doula
Sarah Schofield
I am your certified birth and postpartum doula, ready to create a positive and empowering birth experience with continuous care beginning in your pregnancy, birth and throughout your postpartum period. Having raised two daughters myself, I am known as the nurturing doula who is there to care for you like my own and I am known for my chicken soup drop offs for my birthing families postpartum! Having worked in our local community and birth filed for many years, I have truly seen and listened to the stories and experiences from those pregnancy and birthing. I have seen firsthand the joys and the positives of pregnancy and birth, as well as the inequities and challenges that many face as a result of a solid lack of care and support. I provide a model of care and support that is comprehensive, and work together to ensure that your individual needs and preferences are supported and advocated for in a professional and kind manner.I have had the privilege of working in a local birth center in various capacities alongside midwives and other health care professionals. As a previous birth assistant and current doula, I have supported over 300 births here in our community. I am skilled and have extensive experience in supporting those with previous birth trauma and am certified in supporting families experiencing early loss as well as late term pregnancy loss. I am well respected among my peers and am committed to working together to ensure that you and your partner or support people are confident about the upcoming birth, and are nurtured through the entire process. It is important that my families are connected with the birth process, increasing trust and mutual understanding with their medical care providers and finding ways to work together for the best outcomes possible.I'm a born and bred Tacoma native and love the community that I serve. When I'm not supporting families, I enjoy volunteering with my family in our local community and cooking huge meals for my friends and family. My husband of 27 years, our daughters and my doodle, Willa, are my hearts!
Birth Doula, postpartum doula, birth assistant, CPST, Educator
Riva Lane
I am the mother of 3 young kids and began birth work in 2018 as a birth doula trained with DONA after a transformative pregnancy, birth and postpartum experience at The Birthing Inn in 2017. I have been a birth assistant to many birth center and homebirth midwives since 2019, and teach childbirth education geared towards preparing for unmedicated birth and "Settling in With Baby" postpartum, newborn & breastfeeding workshop. My experience of almost 8 years straight of feeding my babies including nursing throughout pregnancy and tandem feeding in addition to donating breast milk as well as my clinical training in lactation allows me to both educate you during your pregnancy and postpartum, offer tips and help, and be able to troubleshoot and refer when necessary post birth. I also have a library of many types of baby carriers, am a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) with a passion for car seat safety, and have great trouble shooting advice when taking care of an infant from the initial newborn stage through the first year and beyond, I LOVE all things preparing for parenthood! I have continuing education in birth and postpartum doula care, lactation support & anatomy, newborn assessment as well as infant growth & development, Spinning Babies program and am working towards becoming an International Board Certified Lactation Counselor (IBCLC). I have also recently become certified as a PAILAdvocate for pregnancy and infant loss to be able to support all kinds of needs for all families.I loves all things birth, and truly believe in helping prepare you for and truly understand the importance of the changes that take place during pregnancy, birth and postpartum with the goal to help you get breastfeeding and parenthood off to a wonderful start! My hope is to share my knowledge obtained from attending over 250 births with you and provide you support every step of this glorious and sometimes difficult journey!I am LGBTQ+ friendly, trauma informed, and support all types of families. I look forward to meeting yours!
birth doula, placenta specialist, midwifery student, birth assistant
MacKenzie Greenwood
I am a mother of 5 wonderful children as well as a birth worker! I am in midwifery school as well as a birth assistant to The Birthing Inn and homebirth midwives. I have also been a doula for many years and a placenta specialist and LOVE to deliver a work of art in your placenta print as well as a helping hand hormonally with your encapsulated pills. I love all things birth and cannot wait to be a part of your birth experience after my maternity leave!I am currently taking a break from everything except placenta services while I enjoy my postpartum period with my 5th sweet baby!
What are the benefits of doula support?
Countless scientific trials examining doula care demonstrate remarkably improved physical and psychological outcomes for both pregnant, birthing, and postpartum people and their baby. Doulas have a positive impact on the well-being of the entire family.Trained doulas help families connect with evidence-based resources so they can ask great questions and make informed decisions about their births. We serve as a bridge of communication between our client and their providers, lifting them up to help them find their voices and advocate for the very best care.The largest systemic review of 21 randomized controlled trials including over 15,000 birthing people found that those supported by a hired doula (not a family or friend) were:
28% less likely to have a cesarean section
31% less likely to use synthetic oxytocin to speed up labor
9% less likely to use any pain medication
34% less likely to rate their childbirth experience negatively
Have you heard of the fourth trimester?
It’s that tender, incredible time after a baby is born, when families benefit from extra care and support. Having postpartum care & support in the form of a postpartum doula, lactation support and mental health care, can truly transform your journey into parenthood whether this is your first or 5th baby and are associated with lower rates of postpartum mood disorders and greater success with breastfeeding!
Birth & Support Package
Contact us today!
Our birth & postpartum package gets your our knowledge, emotional & physical support both before, during & after birth.
Meet & greet to discuss your wishes & learn about us
Full text & phone support during pregnancy
2 prenatal, get to know each other, birth & postpartum planning appointment
On call 24/7 for your birth
Physical, emotional, and informational support for the duration of birth until 1-3 hours postpartum
1 postpartum visits in home, virtual or phone with a certified postpartum doula
Access to our postpartum community online & in person
Customization options for
Enhanced Support & Education
These add on options include everything in our Birth & Support Package PLUS any of the following at discounted rates!
In person, small group Childbirth & Postpartum Education workshop to prepare for birth and the changes after.
In person, small group Newborn & Lactation to learn newborn care and expectations, along with prepare fully for your lactation journey.
Placenta encapsulation picked up from your place of birth, safely encapsulated, including a print & cord keepsake to forever see the incredible organ that grew your baby! This will be delivered to your home within the first week postpartum *The option to add a tincture as well.
Additional postpartum in home visits, discounted packages available.
Add the entire offerings for our
Full wellness support
For those who wish to have the full prenatal, birth & postpartum preparation & support services, this offers everything in the Birth & Support Package consider adding all additional services at a discounted rate. This truly makes sure you are cared for and prepared from pregnancy throughout the postpartum journey.
Extras & al la carte options
$50+
You have the option to add any of the below to any package OR purchase individually
In person postpartum hours (min 2 hours up to a multi week contract, packages available) $50 p/hour
Private or group educational classes to prepare for childbirth, postpartum, newborn & baby feeding $165+
Placenta Services $300
Lactation Appointments (in home) $100+
Your Journey is beautiful & unique ,
we can't wait to be a part of it!
Hands-on workshop to prepare
Childbirth & Postpartum Education
Riva's childbirth and postpartum education workshop focuses on preparing for unmedicated and primarily birth center or homebirth, though you WILL find this course very beneficial if birthing in a hospital as well. Her goal is to leave you and your partner or support person with a deeper understanding of physiological birth, to understand how movement and positioning helps and how you work together at home in trust, of your body and your birth.
To prepare for physiological birth, different stages of labor, what to expect for you AND your support people, what is “normal” & variations of that, hormones, protecting your space & trusting your instincts, you and baby working together.
When to call your provider, doula & other support & how they can help!
We will practice many positions for each part of labor ranging from early restful positions, helping babies move down, when we need to kick things up & more!
How (and when) to effectively push (you’ll try them out!)
What transfers look like, both emergent & not, how to prepare, & knowing your options in a hospital setting.
Preparing for postpartum, physically, emotionally & mentally during the 4th trimester (home, boundaries, expectations)
So much more!! This workshop is HANDS ON! Prepare to move & practice together!
1 day or weekly series options
Newborn & Lactation Education
Riva's bringing baby home workshop focuses on preparing your expectations, home and goals to meet baby's developmental abilities along with understanding lactation, choosing the right tools and influences.
What to expect for your newborn care for immediate postpartum up until 3+ months old including what is normal, how to soothe your baby, & much more.
Realistic expectations for newborn sleep, feeding & life!
Babywearing safely (we try them on!) & car seat safety.
Baby feeding, what are your options & how lactation works.
Learn how to get a solid latch, how to fix “problems”, how to pump & bottle feed, what is normal vs just common.
All class participants will be able to bring their car seat or schedule a full installation check!
Workshops will always remain intimate in size, so do fill up quickly!
Private in home education available upon availability.
Contact me if you do not see a class date that works for you.
I may always add additional classes upon need!
| 1 Day Childbirth + Postpartum 9:30am-6:30pm | 3 Week Childbirth + Postpartum 5:30-8:30PM | 1 Day Newborn + Lactation 9:30am-3:30pm | 2 Week Newborn + Lactation 5:30-8:30pm | 5 Week Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday, 8/3 Closed | Mondays, 7/28 - 8/11 Closed | Sunday, 8/10 (backup 8/17) | ||
| Sunday, 9/14 | Mondays, 9/8 - 9/22 2 spots left | Sunday, 9/28 | Mondays, 9/29 - 10/6 1 spot left | Mondays, 9/8 - 10/6 |
| Sunday, 10/5 | ||||
| Sunday, 11/2 | Mondays, 10/27 - 11/10 | Sunday, 11/23 | Mondays, 11/17 - 11/24 | Mondays, 10/27 - 11/24 |
| Sunday, 12/14 | Mondays, 12/1-12/15 | Mondays, 12/22-12/29 | Mondays, 12/1-12/29 |
Classes are open to all, not limited to doula clients. A partner or support person is included.Childbirth & Postpartum Education $225
Newborn Care & Lactation $165
$40 discount when signing up for BOTH workshops!Please fill out the contact form to choose your workshop dates and an invoice will be sent
Let us support you today!
Contact us to schedule your FREE in person Meet & Greet today!
Thank you
Thank you for your interest in our labor support services. Called to Birth Doulas & Birth Services was founded to support families during birth and to meet the growing need for labor support in our community as well as before and after birth.It would be an honor to have the opportunity to share this time with you. We will work to support you to birth in awareness, where you feel confident, informed, and surrounded with care, love and respect!ACOG Weighs in on the Benefits of Continuous Labor Support
“Published data indicate that one of the most effective tools to improve labor and delivery outcomes is the continuous presence of support personnel, such as a doula. Given that there are no associated measurable harms, this resource is probably underutilized.”
Testimonials
"What do you look for when searching for a doula? Is it training, hands on experience, communication, or availability? For me, I needed this and more such as kindness, passion for their work, compatability etc. Sarah and Suzie checked every single box for me and so much more.Prior to birth, I spoke with Sarah and Suzie both seperatly and together. Each interaction gave me a sense of peace, knowing that I would be in good hands when it came time to deliver. That's exactly what happened, 6 weeks early to be exact. During the scariest time of my life, Sarah sprung into action to be by my side. Not only was my labor scary, it was also uncertain since within the last week of pregnacny I was diagnosed as high risk which completely changed the birth plan. This did not detour neither Sarah from the new task at hand.When Sarah arrived at the hospital, I felt as if the weight of the world from what I could control was lifted from my shoulders. She advocated for me in ways I couldn't have done myself. She gave me comfort and assured me that everything was going to be ok. Sarah cared, coached and advocated for me during labor in ways that you can only hope and pray for. She even continues to check on my family and I after the birth of my child.So when you are searching for a birth doula; consider someone that will always act in your best interest, communicate and understand your wants and needs, and treat you as if you were one of their own. You will get this and more from Sarah and Suzie; I guarantee this is a decision you will be happy with."Ariel D
"Suzie was an angel during my unmedicated VBAC with my second kiddo. After feeling frustrated with many closed doors due to my first being a C-section, I was looking for someone who knew their stuff, was kind, but could also advocate for me when I was in the thick of it. When I met Suzie during my second trimester, I knew it was a match made in Heaven. We clicked and she made it clear that what I wanted, she wanted for me. We were on the same page. A month before my birth, we texted often. She helped me come up with a plan to have an on time baby so that I wasn't forced into an induction or another csection. I went into labor one day before my due date! ?? She helped me with my birth plan, and helped talked some sense into me when I was spiraling over things out of my control. The day I went into labor, she walked me through everything and gave me good next steps. When it was time to go to the hospital, she met me there and got right to work supporting me with all kinds of tricks and trinkets. I swear she had a Mary Poppins bag full of stuff! Right about the time I was about to barf, she had essential oils to off set my nausea. When I was about to throw in the towel and get an epidural, she empathize and encouraged me that I was strong. When it was time to push, she told me how to breathe. I literally only heard her voice. If you're on the fence as to whether a doula is necessary for your birth story, I would say 1000 times YES! She was such a gift to my birth story and to my life."Elizabeth
"Just delivered my baby last week and Riva has been AMAZING every step of the way! She offered support during pregnancy (resources, advice, etc) and helped us come up with a solid list of birth preferences. And when it was time for my baby to arrive, she gave 110% for both for me and my husband! She helped me labor at home and worked with me on finding good positions to get baby further down into my pelvis. And when my labor preferences didn't go exactly as planned, she pivoted with us and fully supported my choice to transfer over to the hospital, where she continued to offer amazing support, coaching, and advocacy. Riva was with us every step of the way until we met our little girl, and we couldn't be more thankful for her kind, caring presence!Then on to after our baby arrived, where Sarah, the postpartum doula, took over - she has also been amazing in offering support with breastfeeding, baby care, and my own postpartum needs. She has been so encouraging and affirming to me as a first time mom, and we have been so thankful for her support as well! I would recommend this amazing team of doulas whether this is your first baby or your fifth baby <3"Michelle D