I cannot recommend Barbara enough!!! She was an essential part of my birth team and I'm confident that I wouldn't have had a successful unmedicated birth without her. From the moment we started working with Barbara, she took the time to truly get to know us, my goals, and concerns regarding labor. She provided thoughtful reassurance and guidance that was clearly backed by years of experience as both a midwife and doula. She never pushed a particular approach but instead empowered me with information and support so I could make the best decisions for myself. During labor, Barbara's presence made a huge difference. Her coaching helped me manage pain and stay focused. Her experience allowed me to try various labor positions that I believe aided to a more efficient birth. She also advocated for me when I was faced with tough decisions, which is already hard enough to navigate when you're in labor! Not only did she support me, but she was also an incredible resource for my husband. She provided him with the confidence and guidance to be a present and helpful partner. We both felt she added so much value to the experience. Another major plus is that Barbara has a strong relationship with the providers at NW Women's Healthcare. They clearly enjoy working with her and respect her. During the labor, I felt that she worked well with Dr Jiao and the nursing staff; it truly felt like a cohesive team that was focused on me having a successful birth. On top of all that, Barbara is just genuinely an awesome person! She is easy to talk to, kind, and calming, yet also fun and engaging. We had many good laughs together. If you're looking for an all around amazing doula who is knowledgeable, supportive, and truly makes a difference, Barbara is the one! read more

Barbara is absolutely amazing, I cannot speak more highly of her. Her vast experience as a doula and previous medical training really come through. She removed all stress from the early labor stages by providing guidance and options, and then helped me through an unmedicated birth with firm but empathetic and useful guidance. She knew exactly what I needed at different times and her cool and collected demeanor helped keep me calm and in the moment. I don't know if I could have done it without her help. I highly recommend Barbara if you're looking for a doula in Seattle. read more

As first time parents, my husband and I didn't know what to expect in terms of labor and delivery. My hope was a calm, safe delivery with minimal pain. I intended to have an epidural. My OB and multiple Labor and Delivery Nurses from Swedish recommended Barbara by name. Barbara talked through our goals with us, answered our questions and provided us with a good foundation as we prepared for our baby's arrival. Barbara's years of experience as a midwife and doula were invaluable to our wonderful birth experience. When our baby decided he was ready at 39 weeks and 3 days, Barbara met us at the hospital and her advocacy for me getting admitted and getting an epidural was pivotal in our birth experience. My circumstances were somewhat unique (as are everyone's) in terms of dilation, effacement and position of baby. Barbara talked with the providers about my specific circumstances and intentions and things progressed smoothly from there on. She stayed the night with us at the hospital, talked me through the few choices that came along in the morning and reviewed the plan for pushing when the time came and our baby was born quite quickly and very peacefully. I could not have written a more perfect birth experience. My husband and I are so grateful to have had Barbara helping us navigate this completely new and wonderful experience. read more

Of all the preparation, classes and investments that I made for baby number 2, having Barbara as my doula was the most invaluable. My OB recommended Barbara, and I was very comforted to know that my support system worked well together. My due date came and went and I was still pregnant. I really really, really wanted to have a VBAC, but my OB was concerned about uterine rupture. After giving me an additional 4 days to try and go into labor naturally, it was time to go into my scheduled c-section. I was extremely disappointed about this and debated whether I should cancel having Barbara by my side. I was allowed to have my husband and a doula with me in surgery, so I decided to follow through. I asked if Barbara would be willing to take photos with my camera (no photographers were allowed in surgery, but a photographing Doula got the thumbs up!) The images turned out beautifully, and I will treasure them forever. While there were no complications with the actual surgery, the doctors had to immediately whisk my son away and check on his heart. I saw him for all of 30 seconds, and did not see him again for several hours. This was absolutely devastating. I had my husband be with our son while they were monitoring him, and without Barbara by my side I would have been all alone. She comforted me, made sure I was getting everything I needed from the nurses, and stayed with me until my husband and son were returned back to me. Although this was far from how I wanted my second birth to go, I don't know how I could have done it without Barbara. If I were to go for baby #3, I will have to do another c-section. There is no way I'm going to do it without her. Thank you so much for everything Barbara! read more

Barbara Timson - Barbara captured this intimate moment right before baby came out. - Doulas Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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We felt lucky to have Barbara with us for our second baby in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Once again, my labor and delivery was a dream experience. With Barbara there, it felt calm and focused. Leading up to labor, I kept Barbara updated with my symptoms and she came by a few times to measure my dilation and give me her experienced perspective each time. On the day my contractions started in earnest, she came over and made the quick decision to head over to the hospital immediately because I was progressing quickly. Thank goodness she did, because our boy arrived just 2 hours after we arrived at the hospital! We are so thankful to have had Barbara with us both times, and I credit her for my positive experience both times. Without her there, I am sure I would have been anxious with endless possibilities of outcomes racing through my mind. She was our sounding board and we fully trusted her to guide us through the experience, which allowed us to enjoy the moment without worries. read more

I cannot say enough good things about my experience working with Barbara. She was the first person that I interviewed, and I knew immediately that she was the one that I wanted by my side. Barbara supported me through my second delivery, and I wish that I had had her with me for my first one too. The second time around, I was determined to reduce the physical strain to my body and extended post-partum recovery time that I experienced with my first baby. Through careful birth planning and incredible in-labor support from Barbara, I was able to do just that. She guided me through a range of non medicated pain management techniques and helped me decide when to get an epidural that enabled me to still push and deliver without issue. The ability to move about without difficulty following my daughter's recent birth is an incredible gift that has made all of the difference in my confidence and experience as a mom. I credit Barbara for this. She is the perfect blend of calm, warm, non-judgmental, and authoritative, drawing from her extensive medical experience as a midwife. Barbara came highly recommended by my OB and it was clear that the doctors and nurses at Swedish First Hill held her in high regard when we were there with her. My partner felt deeply supported by her presence and she was the perfect addition to the care team that saw me through a whirlwind, healthy birth. If you are considering hiring a doula, look no further! You'll be so glad you chose Barbara. We sure were. read more

All I can say is Thank you Barbara!!!!! She is hands down the best person to have at your side in the hospital and the one person I am grateful for. She is the reason my labor experience ended postiviely and she is the reason my baby and I are happy and healthy. Her knowledge and experience is vast, her demanor is calm and she is nothing but pleasant to have around. My husband had very little to say about all decisions leading up to our daughter being born, but when we left the hospital he looked at me and said, "Barbara is the best decision you could have made." If we decide to have a 2nd child, Barbara will be our first phone call! I was induced and after 36hrs my body made very little progress despite having mulitple doeses of misoprostol, 2 attempts with the saline balloon and then moving onto pitocin. My body just didn't progress, but Barbara was there to talk me through all of the steps. After 34hrs my baby was starting to show more signs of stress and where this could have been a moment of pure panic and anxiety, Barbara was there to explain to my husband and I what was happening. She talked through a variety of things, but overall provided my husband and I with information that helped us make sound decsions after that point. I felt in control of my outcome, I felt armed with information and I was confident speaking with the Doctor about what I wanted. If Barbara was not in the room, this story would have been different. She was an asset in the delivery room and even when I brought my daughter home, she helped me with breastfeeding at our post partum check in and provided invalubale information to help with latching and feeding positions. I was stressed throughout my pregnancy when thinking about labor and breastfeeding, but the minute I met Barbara, all that anxiety went away. I recommend her to all my friends and even women who I don't know very well. You cannot go wrong with Barbara and are incredibly lucky if you have her by your side. THANK YOU BARBARA!!! read more

If I could give Barbara a million stars I would! My ob had highly recommended Barbara as a doula. Our initial meeting went over my birth plan of having an unmedicated birth with no interventions unless medically necessary. Barbara suggested listening to hypnosis for birth CD's which ended up playing a major role in getting through my last trimester and guided me through most of my labor. Laboring is as much physical as it is mental. Since my water had broke 2 and a half weeks early and I wasn't feeling any contractions, the medical staff wanted to kick start my labor with medication. Although this wasn't part of my birth plan, Barbara's experience as a midwife had helped us make informed decisions during labor. When the contractions were getting stronger and when it came time to push, Barbara's calming presence and support had helped me maintain my focus. After 9 hours of labor and 40 minutes of pushing, our baby girl had arrived! Barbara stayed with us for a few more hours and had written a timeline of the day. The whole day was a blur and I'm so grateful she did this and is something we can keep and share with our daughter. Barbara came and did a postpartum visit to check in to see how we are doing, watched how the baby latched and made sure my overall well being was taken care of. I could go on and on about how incredible Barbara is! Having Barbara as a doula was the best decision my husband and I made. She knew when to step in but also provided incredible support for my husband. She is nurturing, caring, and her wealth of knowledge helped create a wonderful and peaceful birth experience. I will definitely use Barbara again when the time comes! read more

Barbara Timson - Barbara visiting our 3 day old newborn Amara! - Doulas Near Me - Seattle, Washington

My wife and I used Barbara as our doola for our third child this Fall. Our experience with her was exceptional. She is kind, knowledgeable, candid, comfortable and confident in decision-making, and very easy to work with. Her expertise in her field is exceptional. We could not recommend her highly enough. Thank you, Barbara, for making our unusual birth experience calm and simple. read more

Barb was invaluable and we were lucky to have her for our birth during COVID. She educated us and answered our questions throughout the pregnancy, as well as playing a vital role as my wife's advocate during her delivery. Her presence, experience, and knowledge allowed both my wife and I to keep calm and stay positive and focused during the birth. Luckily, our pregnancy was smooth with no complications. Barb was an excellent educator for questions and preparations. We met with her several times during the pregnancy for check-ins. During labor and delivery, Barb arrived at our home to check up on my wife and and let us know when we needed to leave for the hospital. Once we arrived at the hospital, Barb was incredible as we experienced several issues at the facility. The hospital was not listening to my wife or paying the proper attention to our progress - both in triage and in the laboring/delivery room. Barb advocated on our behalf and even pulled in my wife's OBGYN when the issues needed escalating (our OBGYN was not the on-call doctor at the hospital). Without her, we would have been sent away from the hospital and told to go home - despite being in active labor and immense pain. During delivery, she was a calming presence and coached pushing for my wife. Our son was born with 30 minutes of pushing. I worry to think of our experience had Barb not been there to advocate on our behalf and escalate the issues. We would recommend Barb to anyone looking for a doula - she was amazing and provided a 100% better experience. read more

If you are looking for a quality doula that you can trust, Barbara Timson is the best. I gave birth to a baby boy two weeks ago, and I keep recounting what a beautiful birth experience we had - in a large part thanks to Barbara. I wanted a natural labor, but since this was our first baby, I didn't know what to expect or how to prepare for that. Then came Barbara. She met with us a couple times during my pregnancy, recommended books and provided informational handouts to guide me through this process. What I really appreciated is how intuitive she is and how she tailored all of her advice specifically to me and my concerns. I felt mentally and emotionally prepared for when the time came. After my water broke and we went to the hospital, the nurses and midwives were busy attending to different tasks and right when I felt like I was getting to know a nurse, there would be a shift change. Barbara was the one constant, and she was my biggest advocate. When I was 9 centimeters dilated and I wanted to progress, the other nurses told me that I just had to wait it out until I was able to push. I looked to Barbara for what to do next. She grabbed my hands and walked me through breathing exercises that allowed me to relax and reach full dilation. With her guidance, I was able to give birth naturally, with no medication. And, I was able to be mentally and emotionally present the entire time - which is what I was hoping for most. My husband and I keep recounting that hiring Barbara as our doula was the best money we spent. On top of all of this, Barbara was the first person I called when I experienced troubles nursing post-partum. It was comforting to have someone I trust come to my house and guide me through this next important step. My husband says we won't have another baby unless Barbara is there - I have to agree. I don't know what I would have done without her. read more

I had a very positive and empowering birth experience (my first!) at Swedish First Hill, but the person who made all the difference was Barbara. Barbara was originally recommended by my OB and has a great rapport with staff from NW Women's Healthcare and Swedish. Her doula services helped me feel prepared for labor (with resources and a birth plan), and I greatly appreciated her professionalism, calm demeanor, and expertise. Barbara was focused solely on me during labor and coached me through breathing and pushing. She allowed my husband to be solely focused on supporting me as well, while helping me make big decisions like when/if to get an epidural and which positions might be most effective for getting baby down and out. I can't say enough good things about Barbara and highly recommend her! read more

I cannot say enough about how wonderful it was to work with Barbara for the birth of our daughter. Going in, we chose to hire a doula to help make decisions and be our advocate during a time that we suspected would be pretty stressful and confusing. In fact, our birth turned out to be very straightforward and calm, albeit intense, and I think Barbara had a lot to do with keeping the experience under control. In the beginning, I figured I'd do what most other American women do: go to the hostpital, lay on my back, and get an epidural when the pain got bad. Then I read about epidurals and decided I might prefer labor pain to the side effects, and in the hope of staying more active and alert during and after the process. Barbara came to our house and got to know us in the months leading up to birth, and in those conversations gave us some very important tips about breathing and mindfulness during labor. I was able to think about those things for weeks leading up to the birth, which was very helpful, and employ her strategies during labor to ultimately have a completely unmedicated birth. Physically I felt great even later that day. My husband and I are so thankful for Barbara's coaching during each and every contraction, her energy to help me find and try new positions during labor, her warmth and caring to support my husband and his ability to help during labor, and the support she showed in the couple of weeks after birth. I cannot recommend her highly enough. read more

Having Barbara as our doula was a highlight of the birth experience--for both my husband and me. She balances incredible warmth and understanding with a no-nonsense, capable nature that's very much needed, especially for us as first-time parents. From the prenatal visits with us at our home--during which we had productive, insightful conversations--through the birth of our daughter, Barbara felt like a real partner and advocate for us. When we got to the hospital, she helped shepherd us through the experience and made sure we got wonderful care. My husband and I felt truly supported through the full experience, and are deeply thankful for Barbara's knowledge and care. We wholeheartedly recommend her! read more

Barbara was absolutely amazing from start to finish in the birth process. Her pre-natal visits were very useful and informative. During labor she kept us calm and sent us to the hospital at the appropriate time. She was an excellent advocate for us at the hospital and her help during delivery was amazing. The process couldn't have gone much smoother. She also paid us a post-natal visit and again gave us extremely useful advice about care tips for baby and for mom in recovery. We probably could have done the process without Barbara but it was so so much smoother with her involved and calmer for mom, dad, and baby. Thanks Barbara! read more

My husband and I highly recommend Barbara to all expecting parents in Seattle looking for an extremely competent and caring doula. Barbara was recommended by our OB as THE BEST doula, and she proved herself many times over throughout my pregnancy, during delivery, and after our baby was born. In our initial meeting with Barbara, we were impressed by her many years of experience not only as a doula but as a midwife trained in Switzerland. She spent over an hour getting to know us and sharing more on the role of a birth doula. We left the meeting with a good first impression, and decided to hire Barbara after doing some additional research and comparing her to other doulas with far less experience. During my pregnancy, Barbara came to our home to meet with us twice over the course of several months. In those meetings, we discussed our birth preferences, any questions or concerns we had from recent appointments, and important birth skills to practice (from book she loaned me: Birth Skills by Juju Sundin - highly recommend!). We also just spent time chatting and getting to know one another, which was important for the delivery day. In the days leading up to my induction, Barbara and I talked on the phone several times and she helped to put my anxious mind at ease. She arrived to the hospital early, before we even asked her to come, and immediately got to work making sure I was as comfortable as possible given the circumstances. During pre-labor, she helped the time pass by going on walks with me throughout the hospital and holding a cold compress against my head in the bath. As I entered early stages of labor, she gave helpful suggestions on different positions to try and encouraged the use of various birth skills we reviewed in the previous months. Her sole focus was on me (vs. the nurse who was in and out) and she was a comforting presence for me and my husband. The last five hours of the birthing process were quite a blur, but I know Barbara was there helping me breathe and get through each and every contraction. She and my husband ended up being a great duo - for coaching and encouragement - particularly during the pushing phase when I was totally exhausted. She stayed with us late into the evening for several hours after our baby girl was born and helped to get her to latch for the early feeding. I can't imagine what the day would have been like without Barbara's amazing support - she was so, so worth hiring! Once we were home, Barbara came over for several hours to check on us, hold the baby, and recount the events of the birth. It was a sweet final check-in after sharing such an intense life moment together just a few days prior. We cannot thank Barbara enough for being there as we started our journey into parenthood! read more

Barbara is wonderful, lovely, amazing, and quite simply the best! If you're at all like we were, then you're not sure what the role of a doula is, how they can be helpful, and how to make the most of your birth experience. Or maybe you are certain that you want to work with a doula and you want to find the best person out there. The solution to both these woes is to spend just five minutes in a room with Barbara. Her presence alone is so warm, calming, supportive, practical, friendly, and comforting that you will immediately understand the enormous value of having a doula as skilled as Barbara, and I have a hard time imagining that you could find anyone better. Some points I want to be sure to mention in this review: -Barbara came highly recommended by our obstetrician, and it was clear that she has a strong working relationship with many of the nurses and physicians at Swedish First Hill. - My wife is a physician and wasn't sure if she would need a doula if she wasn't planning to pursue a natural childbirth, and she worried that a doula might try to pressure her away from an epidural (or that just having one would make her feel guilty about wanting an epidural). A million times over, this was SO NOT THE CASE. - We both worried that my role as the birth partner would be marginalized with a doula present, but Barbara was supportive not only of my wife, but of me as well, and best of all, she understood both of our needs so implicitly that she was deftly able to help us support each other, before, during and after labor. She helped make our birth experience so special. - When the going got tough during the actual labor, Barbara was an invaluable calming presence for both of us. She knew just how to help my wife cope without her needing to ask for it (or even knowing what to ask for). She was a perfect liaison with the hospital staff. She freed up the labor nurse to do what she needed to do, making the whole engine run smoothly. And she provided continuity throughout the whole process when we met new staff at shift changes or during breaks. - Barbara checked up on us before and after birth, and was so emotionally available and supportive and reassuring when my wife was upset, terrified and uncertain as a new mom. - We are devastated that we are moving to a new city and won't be able to work with Barbara during our next pregnancy. Barbara, we couldn't have done this without you!!! Thank you! read more

Picture this: You're 43 years old and pregnant for the first time after trying, seriously (yes...many, many rounds of IVF included after exhausting the regular ways to conceive) for over five years. You've never had a large family, and so haven't really had the opportunity to be around kids, much less babies, much at all in your life. Knowing your past history (or complete lack thereof) with kids and babies and knowing that you have nine months to learn/stew all about them, what do you do? If you're anything like me, you research the heck out of your options and then enlist the help of a top-notch doula with a boatload of experience under her belt. Worried about giving birth to my first child? Not so much after meeting with Barbara and knowing I have the knowledge of a woman who's attended hundreds upon hundreds of births as both a midwife and a doula right there next to me as I labor and deliver my child. When I began to research doulas, I was afraid of the stereotype I'd encountered previously: someone who's so of the earth that she farts granola and believes that a completely natural, unmedicated home birth is the only way to go (if the birds and angels are singing along and knitting a scarf for the babe, bonus points). While this type of birth does have its place and is a wonderful and amazing thing, when you're facing your first delivery at the ripe old age of 43, you're automatically considered a high risk and therefore not the optimum candidate for such a birth experience. So I began interviewing my top three doulas and one of my prerequisites was someone who was comfortable with the fact that I was comfortable with and in fact, looked forward to, the option of having an epidural during labor when the going got tough. I tend to have a pretty high tolerance for pain, but I'm not stupid and I know my limits. Childbirth, even never having gone through it before, was definitely going to be outside my pain capacity. Even more blasphemous, I was comfortable with the idea that I might end up with a C-section. You see, in all the gazillions of fertility treatments I'd endured, I'd learned one screaming fact: I have a prissy cervix. Which means, loosely, that my cervix was perpetually having a bad, uptight day and wasn't the least bit interested in stretching even one millimeter more than absolutely necessary, regardless of the procedure that might need to be performed. Knowing this going in, while I was hopeful that it would have a change of heart and cooperate during labor, I was also realistic and knew that the possibility that my cervix would be all, "Nope, not moving. Not budging, I am having none of this dilation stuff." Thirty-one hours of labor later (and Barbara there for most of it, going WAY above and beyond the call of doula duty), my cervix gave one inch. ONE. INCH. And that was it. Off for an unscheduled C-section I went, and Barbara was there for us after that as well. Back to why Barbara is amazing (and she most definitely is. I can be sarcastic, but I love this woman with all my heart and will be calling her the moment I know I am pregnant again). With our initial meeting Barbara put me at ease. Me, who's not so good with meeting new folks and generally antisocial unless I've known you for years. I left our first meeting feeling like she knew what I was trying to accomplish with my pregnancy, and that she also understood that I was comfortable with several outcomes of my birth plan. Heck, she even understood that as a first-timer, I scoffed a bit at the idea of a birth plan, knowing that fate will take you where it wants you to go, not necessarily taking the path you intend. I was impressed with Barbara all over again during each of our subsequent meetings. And knowing that she was just a text away with any questions, well, I can't tell you how much of a relief that brought me throughout my pregnancy. I really can't imagine the level of stress I'd have experienced not having Barbara on my team during my pregnancy. I knew that she'd be helpful during labor itself; I also leaned heavily on the fact that even if I had a C-section, she'd been and continued to be an integral member of my team during pregnancy. Because fate has an impeccable sense of humor, I ended up having that C-section after all. Barbara was with us for most for those 31 hours of labor, and proved immeasurably helpful navigating the hard questions and options that arose while I was laboring. Don't get me wrong, we had some amazing labor nurses, but I would have been lost without Barbara. And I still giggle over the fact that I was dubbed a "silent sufferer" during labor. Stoics of the world, unite! But stoic or not, be sure you enlist Barbara's help if you're expecting. Seriously. You can't do better in the greater Seattle area, and probably way beyond that. read more

We recently had our baby girl and were fortunate enough to have Barbara share that experience with us. Like other have described here there are not enough stars to rate how wonderful she is. When my wife shared with me she wanted to use a dula i was a little bit hesitant at first. My wife rightfully reminded i wasn't the one giving birth so i should support her on this decision :). When we met Barbara for the first time at our home, within minutes it became really clear to me that she was going to be a huge help in our journey to meet our first born baby. Barbara has that rare skill of being incredibly knowledgeable but humble and patient to be able to guide her customers through the whole process. While at the hospital on D-Day, Barbara was nothing short of an angel. She was able to coach not only my wife but myself on next steps, explain why certain options were suggested by the dr. and also work with the nurses at the hospital. Today we are lucky to have our baby girl in our lives and we remember the birth as an incredible memorable experience which Barbara deserves much credit for. I would not hesitate for a second to work with Barbara again and would recommend her to everyone. Thanks Barbara for everything! The Guzzi family read more

Barbara is amazing! Responsive, perceptive, full of gentle advice and guidance. I could not have gotten through delivery without her!

Barbara was steady, smart, patient and compassionate. She made the birth of our daughter so much better. She stayed awake for 24 hrs with us until our baby was born, rushed off to another birth and then returned to check on us and make sure we were OK. read more

Barbara is a doula all star! She was highly recommended to me by my OB for the birth of my first child three years ago and we didn't hesitate to contact her immediately to request her assistance with the recent birth of our second child. There are so many wonderful things to say about Barbara and I'll try to quickly summarize: *Very experienced as a midwife and a doula; attended hundreds of births *Clinical background is a huge plus to me and my husband (RN & MD) *Provided a calm, soft voice of support to me throughout both births, as well as guidance on positions and other pain management techniques *Pre-birth meeting to discuss breathing and birth plan was super valuable -- in the last birth, she suggested some breathing videos that I watched and used in my unmedicated delivery to "stay in the zone" with pain management *Coached my husband to offer massage and other supportive measures for pain *Encouraged us to contact her early (unlike some doulas that don't want to arrive until the hospital), she joined us at home, which was a huge relief for me to be able to focus on myself, not worry about the frequency and duration of contractions, for example *Advocated for us in the hospital with the medical team *Strong ability to work with the hospital teams throughout triage, admission, L&D read more

This was our second time working with Barbara for childbirth, and once again, she was fantastic and well worth it! She was integral to making the labor and delivery process successful and a happy and meaningful memory. (Yes - despite intense pain down the stretch, I have generally positive memories of both births, thanks in no small part to Barbara's involvement!) Barbara is incredibly knowledgeable, given her past experience as a midwife, has a great demeanor and bedside manner for both partners, and worked really well with the medical staff at the hospital. Barbara was our doula for the birth of our first child, almost 3 years ago. We initially thought we wouldn't need/want a doula because my husband is a doctor and we feel comfortable communicating with medical personnel, but the data supporting the benefits of doulas convinced us. I had a 32 hour labor, including 3 hours of pushing, and Barbara was so wonderful every step of the way. She helped us know what was going on and feel informed and empowered, she enabled me to labor at home for a lot of it, she came up with creative ideas when things got tough, and she helped us through some important decisions that I believe ultimately led us to great outcomes. She really cared about understanding our desires and supporting them - not pushing her own agenda. She was always there and ready to be involved, but not overbearing. Afterward, my husband and I both said, "Wow, working with Barbara was SO the right choice. Thank goodness we decided to do that!" We weren't sure if we needed a doula for baby #2 because we'd been through labor and delivery before, but we decided we wanted to work with Barbara again since every time can be different. We're so glad we did! This labor experience was quite different with baby arriving 1 hour after we reached the hospital! Once again, we were so glad to have Barbara with us. She was very helpful in giving me recommendations in advance for building the skills for a med-free labor and delivery, in coaching me through the process, supporting me in laboring at home and then letting us know when to go to the hospital, guiding me through a rapidly intensifying labor, and then coaching me on pushing. A very different but once again very positive outcome, and we really feel like Barbara helped enable it! Having worked with her for two very different and very positive birth experiences, my husband and I both highly recommend Barbara as a doula for anyone who is looking for someone experienced, down to earth, non-pushy, and supportive. We had moments in both births that could have felt scary, but did not because Barbara was calm and helped us understand what was happening and navigate the situations. We appreciated that she is really supportive of 'natural' births but also sees the value of interventions in appropriate situations, so wasn't going to push or judge us either way - rather she understood our goals and values and helped us navigate the unexpected. I also really appreciated that she is very adaptable and responsive to whatever works for the mother, rather than pushing just one style. It seems like some doulas really focus on getting the mother to learn how to just "relax" through the pain, but that doesn't work for me for intense pain management - I feel best when I am more active in working through it. Barbara understood that, and had helpful suggestions for how I could actively work through the pain, and also rest and conserve energy in between contractions. It was so important to me to have a doula who could adapt to what works for me and my body, rather than just focusing on one way of doing things. And... if you're skeptical of the value of doulas or worried that they may be too touchy-feely or mystical for you, try an introductory meeting with Barbara and see if you click. We found she was so knowledgeable and practical - bringing more of a mountain guide mindset to the role, bringing her technical skills, her years of experience and insight, and her supportive demeanor to guide and help us on our journey. read more

I honestly don't know what I would have done without Barbara's help with the delivery of our daughter. She was so attentive, supportive, knowledgable and amazing bedside manner. I was aiming for a natural birth center birth but ended up in the hospital with an epidural. Throughout the changes in our pregnancy, she was there to support and offer guidance. If and when we have another child, I would definitely use her again. I personally found her so helpful and would HIGHLY recommend her to anyone, no matter what kind of birth you are looking to have. She is just the best. read more

We are very glad we had Barbara as our doula. Everything with the birth went smoothly, but my wife felt a lot calmer and more supported with her there than she otherwise would have. Barbara was kind, helpful, and patient. She massaged my wife's back for an hour or so and was great about suggesting different positions to help her through the labor process. She was knowledgeable, calming, and a fantastic advocate for my wife. She also has great rapport with the people at Swedish Ballard, which made it all the better. She could have been a bit more organized about a couple things; she didn't have a contract with her when she came for her interview and she forgot about one of the pre-labor meetings we'd scheduled, so we had to reschedule it. That said, she was always very responsive to phone calls and texts, so we were confident she would be there when we really needed her. Barbara was a fantastic doula for us and we cannot recommend her highly enough! read more

Barbara was our doula for both of our births! She is a calm presence and is very knowledgeable about the birth process. What I like best about Barbara is that she doesn't come with her own agenda. Our first birth was natural and our second was with an epidural. Barbara passes no judgment on birth preferences and was there to guide us through the process both times. She is amazing and if we were to have more children, we would have Barbara there! She is THE BEST! read more

Barbara was recommended to us by friends and we are so happy to have found her! We wanted someone to be there to support and advocate for us and Barbara really was our rock through it all. She made our labor and delivery experience truly wonderful! Her experience and knowledge about the whole process put our nerves at ease. Barbara has a calm, confident, steady and compassionate demeanor about her that was so comforting during labor and delivery. Throughout our time at the hospital, the doctors and nurses knew Barbara and told us how much they love working with her. We cannot say enough good things about her and will absolutely use her again in the future. read more

i cannot recommend Barbara enough! Her support helped ensure that my goal for a drug-free labor was achieved. She is knowledgeable, kind, and level-headed and served as the best possible advocate for me and my husband in the delivery room. I am certain my labor would have been a much different (lesser) experience were it not for her coaching and guidance. My Dr. had enormous respect Barbara as well and consulted her on the course of action that best fit the wishes of my birth plan, something neither my partner or I were in a position to do given the intensity of labor and the variables that presented themselves. The investment in the classes we took and books we read to prepare for labor dim in comparison to the support we received from Barbara. And on top of all this, working with Barbara was an exceptionally warm and comforting experience, starting from the prenatal visits to our post-partum visit after our son was born. Thank you Barbara for everything! read more

To be absolutely honest, my husband and I didn't actually know what a doula was (or that such a role even existed!) until we started taking some of the childbirth classes at Swedish. Swedish had just started their own doula program and while none of their available doulas seemed like the right fit for us, we really liked the idea of having someone there to help us prepare and support us through the labor and delivery of our first. I asked my ob if she could recommend someone and without any hesitation, she connected us with Barbara. In hindsight, meeting with and hiring Barbara (on the spot!) was the best childbirth "preparation" we could have done. While my labor and delivery didn't quite go according to plan, Barbara was with us every step of the way and I know my husband and I would've both been in much worse shape by the time our son was born if she wasn't there. Barbara somehow manages to bring just the right combination of compassion, knowledge/experience and humour to every situation. We would - and will! - definitely hire Barbara again. She is THE BEST! Thank you for everything Barbara! xo's read more

I cannot recommend Barbara Timson highly enough. Having Barbara by my side during the labor and delivery of my twins made everything else work. I would not look back at my birth experience as fondly as I do, had she not been there. My husband and I debated about hiring a doula. As soon as we met Barbara, we knew if we were going to have a doula, it would be her. She connected with us immediately. She was supportive and warm, but also genuine and analytical. She was the single recommendation from my veteran OB and had extensive experience with twin deliveries. During our prenatal visits she honored the things that were important to us and talked us through the reality of different scenarios. She was very accessible up to our due date and knowing that she would be there, reassured me in the final days. Come delivery day, Barbara was with us from early dilation, to breastfeeding initiation- 20+ hours in the hospital. She supported me and my husband in so many ways that I could not begin to list them all. She seemed to know exactly what we needed, when we needed it. I truly cannot imagine anyone better to count me through pushes that delivered my son and daughter. Yes, we would have gotten through without a doula, but it would not having been the beautiful memory we have without Barbara. If you are considering hiring a doula, hire Barbara, you will not regret it. read more