Portland doula helping mom in hospital birth

Have Coffee with Doula, Cynthia

Ever want to know what it’s like to be a birth doula? Grab a cup of coffee and meet Doula Cynthia Browne who provides birth support to families in the Vancouver and Portland areas. She will walk you through her doula journey, what brought her to this line of work and what it’s really like behind the scenes at a birth.

Not only is Cynthia a professional birth support, she is also a Liscened Massage Therapist at Nurtured Roots in Vancouver, Washington! Talk about having the perfect labor massage and counterpressure – enter doula Cynthia! So grab that soda water as you spend some time learning from a real Portland, Oregon doula.


What made you want to become a birth doula?

When I was in massage school back in 2012 I quickly learned that I particularly enjoyed doing pregnancy massage. My college counselor thought I would be a good doula but I didn’t have any experience yet and chose to focus on massage therapy. Then when I had my first child in 2017, my aunt recommended I get a doula and I figured it couldn’t hurt. She so generously gifted me funds to hire one and it changed my life.

Turns out, my doula was a saving grace for my long labor and helped make it such a beautiful experience. I felt I wanted to do the same for others! The time wasn’t right then, but after my second child turned one in 2022, I figured it was as good a time as any. So I did my doula training and jumped in with both feet and it’s been a wonderful journey.

Doula Cynthia, radiating warmth and love, cuddles her daughter, showcasing the tenderness and strength of motherhood.

Describe your doula style.

As a doula, it’s my job to match the energy my clients are giving. If they are active and having fun, so am I! But if they are calm and internal, I step back. One thing that makes my doula style different is I tend to be more “hands-on” due to my Licence in massage therapy.

I love to provide the back massages and hip squeezes and other things that feel good for them! I also love teaching the partner touch that helps the birthing mom so they can feel connected. In my prenatal home visits, I teach massage to partners and educate the moms on pain-relief techniques with this massage. Book your free consultation with Cynthia now!

What is one thing you wish your clients all did?

Take a breastfeeding class. Many parents to be take a childbirth education class, which is perfect (knowledge can often give power and thus dispel fear), but there’s often a lot of uncertainty about breastfeeding that a class can clarify and give you so much more confidence.

What advice do you give to someone hiring a doula?

When hiring a doula, you want to find someone you feel comfortable with first and foremost. You want your vibes to match. One doula could have tons of experience but you might not be able to relax as fully with them as you might with another doula. So don’t be afraid to do multiple consultations and then make a decision. In person consultations will give you the best idea of how you and your partner and the doula might get along.

When you aren’t being a doula, what do you love to do?

When I’m not wearing my doula hat, I’m mostly parenting and doing play dates and visiting friends with them. I also do massages on the weekends and I’m often volunteering at my church.  All of which I love to do. Other than those, I love to read a lot and do puzzles.

Tell us the training you took to become a doula.

I did a DONA approved training with Mothertree in Portland, Oregon. At the time it was all virtual but I still learned so much. It was a great experience!

What advice would you give to a new doula?

Definitely find someone to connect with after the first few births to debrief and process and learn what you can do next time. I’ve loved joining an agency where I have so much support and opportunity for learning. Also do continuing education ASAP! Spinning Babies is a wonderful one that I use with my clients regularly!

How do you include the partner in birth?

Partners are crucial! They are the primary support person and as a doula it’s my job to maintain that. It might mean showing them how to do the hip squeezes or encourage them to use words of affirmation or to give hugs or suggest some private time for them to connect.

I also make sure to watch their faces to see if they are feeling overwhelmed or nervous or queasy and then suggest they move to the head of the bed, or take a break to get some food, or remind them that this is all normal and they really are doing great. [want to learn 100 ways your partner can support you in labor? Here is our free guide]

Vancouver wa doula cynthia wears a mask and talks to mom in labor

What’s your labor doula superpower?

I can read minds! Well, faces 🙂 I can usually tell by body language what a client or their partner is feeling and can make suggestions to them based on that.

What would someone be surprised that you do?

Maybe not “surprised”, but as a doula I can absolutely take pictures! I’m no photographer, but having some of those memories captured while the family is busy can be really nice. Some people think I catch babies or give medical advice, but that’s not in my scope as a doula.

I’m there soley as birth coach, someone who knows the ins and outs of labor. I’m there to help my Portland and Vancouver clients have the most positive birth they can and to support the couple so they don’t feel alone.

What’s one of your go-to items in your doula bag?

My fan! Lots of people get so warm in labor and need some help cooling off. Also in my doula bag are combs to activate pressures points in their hands and give a little distraction. [want to learn if it’s safe to eat in labor? Read on the BLOG here]

After a birth, how/what is your birth worker self-care ritual?

I usually come home and eat something while I talk with my husband about how it went, let all the emotions and stuff come out for a bit and love on my kids. Then I get into some comfy clothes and take a nap. Some Portland doulas say to stay up until you reach an early bedtime, but personally I need a little nap first and then go to bed early later on.

How has being a birth coach changed you?

Since becoming a birth doula I’ve become much more open-minded. I wasn’t close-minded before, but I’ve learned so much and seen so many different things in the birth world. I’ve been so amazed by people’s innate ability for resiliency when things don’t go as planned. Flexibility is crucial when it comes to birth and I see people live up to that again and again and it’s so beautiful.

Vancouver wa doula Cynthia holds moms leg while she pushes her baby out

What’s the most rewarding thing about being a labor doula?

Definitely seeing those happy families together after the baby is born and hearing them talk about their experience a week or so later. I love seeing them feel so empowered and strong and confident having accomplished such a feat. No matter if it went as they originally planned, every birth is so different and yet equally amazing.

What’s the most challenging thing about this job?

Surprisingly, the hardest part of being a doula is not the on call life as most people guess. The learning curve has been the biggest challenge. There have been lots of surprises and I’ve learned about my own biases that I didn’t think were there. It’s hard, but really beautiful. Oh, and the long nights! Haha!

What are some of your loves and interests outside of birth work?

Doula Cynthia, radiating joy and connection, sits on a bench with her husband and two children, enjoying a pumpkin patch

Before becoming a doula I was a massage therapist and still am! I do that a couple days a week at Nurtured Roots [3305 Main Street, Suite 107, Vancouver, WA 98663]. When I’m not working I am spending time with my two kids, husband and cats. We take lots of walks and are very involved with our church and friends and school.

What is included in your labor doula support?

After hire, I offer unlimited texts for questions for their entire pregnancy. I also have a resource list they are welcome to and books I’m happy to lend out. In our Birth Doula Package we do 2 (or sometimes 3) prenatal visits where we talk specifically about what their options are and how they are feeling about them and how I can support them in their decisions.

Then I’m there for their entire labor to help them have the birth they are hoping for! I stay for a couple of hours after baby arrives to help get the family settled and help with the first latch if they are breastfeeding. I come back a couple days after in their postpartum to check in and offer any clarity about the birth and a listening ear of what’s happening for them now. For our last postpartum visit, I go their home a week or two after to check in on their recovery, support education and can give any postpartum referrals they might like or need.


If you’re on the lookout for compassionate and dedicated doula support, SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION. This is a chance to connect, ask questions, and discover the perfect fit for your family and birth team so you can have the most empowering birth experience.


A real-life client experience with Doula Cynthia

Cynthia was our doula for our first birth! We are so happy we hired her to support us during our delivery. We were hesitant initially if budgeting for a doula was worth it or in the cards for us. With the cost of everything surrounding a new little one, it was not an easy decision leading up to the big day. However, it ended up being one of our greatest investments!

Cynthia met with us twice before the delivery and had a series of questions that helped my husband and I to dive deep into our birthing desires, fears and hopes as well as our wishes for one another for the delivery. Cynthia was quick to respond and flexible when our big day arrived. She was willing to meet us during our evening induction, but we held off until the morning when true labor began.

She showed up promptly and stayed for the entire duration of labor! Due to her continued support, my husband was able to step out for meals throughout the labor which he later shared he would not have been comfortable doing otherwise. Her insight, tools and tricks were invaluable throughout my labor and were an excellent guidance through my painful waves which brought about a sense of calm and security for me.

I was able to achieve my forever dream of an unmedicated delivery thanks to her and my team! When we encountered brief complications post delivery, she was by both of our sides offering reassurance and comfort. Furthermore, she met with us twice after the delivery, answered numerous questions I had and was flexible to our (hectic no-sleep) postpartum schedule. My husband shared afterwards that our decision to hire her was well beyond worth what we paid. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a doula in Portland!” – Rhonda Smith

If you’re eager to keep learning what it’s like to be a Portland doula, extend your coffee break with or Doula Heather or Labor Doula Sophia from the Baby Nest doula team!

Having a baby in the Vancouver or Portland, Oregon area?

SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION with Doula Cynthia! Her calm demeanor, belief in birth and mad massage skills are available to anyone in this local Portland area! Start here for your FREE CONSULTATION!

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