The NICU journey is unique for every family, and there is no such thing as having too much loving support along the way. My care is deeply rooted in the belief that YOU are your baby's best medicine — and the best parent for your child💞

As your postpartum doula, I’m here to offer encouragement, advocacy, and gentle support for every parent on their NICU journey — rooted in dignity, respect, safety, and your own agency. I am here to support you — not to replace your medical team, but to walk beside you through it all. I don't provide medical care or give medical advice; instead, I offer comfort, guidance, and a steady presence during this overwhelming time.

While the skilled doctors, NICU nurses, medical team, and lactation consultants handle clinical care, as your doula, I focus on making sure you feel seen, supported, and empowered — in the NICU and long after you leave it.

*A special note for Dads & Partners/Non-Birthing Parents — You're not just a support person on the sidelines. You're essential. So every conversation we have includes you, centers your experience, and honors the many ways you show up — because the way you care is unique to you, and it makes a real difference. And you don't have to carry any of this alone. The more held and heard you feel, the more you can pour into the special care that only you can give.

Here are some ways that I can support you:

Before birth. If you already know your baby will need a NICU stay, we'll plan ahead — so you feel prepared, understood, and less overwhelmed from day one, whether the stay was expected or not.

After birth. Helping to build your support layers: from helping you coordinate sibling care to meal prep & meal trains, transportation to and from the NICU, or coordinating sleeping/pumping/self care so you can continue to show up for your little one. Instead of fielding "What can I do?" from family & friends, we set it up so you can share easy tasks with others who want to help, but may not know where to start, so your community's help is already built in — no extra mental load for you.

A calm space in a busy place. The NICU can be overstimulating and scary — and it's also where your baby gets the best care. We will find quiet, unrushed space to process the medical information, procedures, and daily ups and downs. We'll unpack conversations with your care team, untangle unfamiliar terms, and use tools like the BRAIN framework (care of the NICU Translator ) to support your decisions — giving you time to balance information with understanding.

Your mental health, a priority from day one. Resources to keep you afloat, support your nervous system, and give you cushions — so you can heal right alongside your baby.

Your body, too. Helping you stay hydrated and eat nourishing food (not just granola bars), and find real moments of rest — fresh air, a walk, or connection with other NICU or community parents, if you'd like.

Feeding and connection. Support with pumping and milk production, guidance for non-birthing or non-lactating partners, and evidence-based practices like skin-to-skin and scent hearts. The NICU lactation consultants are wonderful — they’ll help you develop feeding plans, and I’ll support you with them, while bringing partners into the journey as an integral part of it.

Advocacy, on your terms. Is there a way you wish you felt more heard or supported? We'll work through it together, in a safe space, at your pace. Unfamiliar medical terms? I can help you unpack them in easy-to-understand, less overwhelming language, in whichever way you learn best. Honoring your cultural and spiritual practices, so you can surround your baby with love your own way. Even in the NICU, we can find small ways to make it feel more like home for your little one.

While still finding ways to celebrate the "firsts" — the first feed, first bath, first outfit. It may look different than expected, but you still deserve every milestone.

And after discharge from the NICU, when the next part of your journey continues at home…

Resources - Whether you need a mental health provider, parenting support, a lactation consultant, or care for the next stages after baby comes home, I can point you to referrals and resources that feel right for your family. And with my nursing background, I can help coordinate care too — so when there are lots of follow-up appointments in the weeks and months after discharge, you don't have to keep track of it all alone.

Calm, loving, and non-judgmental support - When you bring your baby home without the monitors and 24/7 care, it may feel a bit strange at first. I can help with transitions, setting up feeding plans, sleep, follow-up appointments, and life coordination — so you can focus on bonding and adjusting to home life together. And the postpartum birthing & non-birthing healing (both physical & emotional) that so often gets put on hold while baby is in the NICU...we’ll center that, too, so that your family can thrive together.

Guidance, education, real talk - on everything from infant development to navigating tummy troubles, to caring for yourself, your baby and your relationships...I will always hold space for you.

Focusing on making sure you feel seen, supported, and empowered — in the NICU and long after you leave it.

Please reach out anytime if I can answer any questions or if you would like to learn more about care:

~Call/Text (206) 715-7661

~Email: laura@safespacedoula.com

~Fill out the contact form on this website