Small Business: Emerald City Doulas

Christi Nixon and Paula Gustafson

Emerald City Doulas is a majority woman-owned business launched in June 2016.

Business partners Christi Nixon and Paula Gustafson both live in Shoreline.

They run a premier full-service Doula Agency serving King County and South Snohomish County, with eight doulas.

A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous support before, during, and after a birth. 

They provide physical, informational, and emotional support to the mother, as well as family and others. Postpartum doulas provide postpartum support to the family during the first year after birth.

Their mission is to provide families with outstanding judgment-free support throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period – the first year of a baby’s life.

Studies show that having prenatal access to doula care can reduce the incidence of preterm birth and cesarean delivery.

Another study concluded “Continuous support during labour has clinically meaningful benefits for women and infants and no known harm. All women should have support throughout labour and birth.”

Emerald City Doulas offers:

Labor support

Postpartum care

Childbirth education

Postpartum placenta encapsulation

Belly binding

Emerald City Doulas also holds retreats for parents. A Labor and Love weekend retreat is scheduled for March 4-5 in Mountlake Terrace.

Labor and Love Weekend Retreat: Childbirth Education With Emotional Guidance, March 4 - 5, 2017, 9 am to 6 pm. Get yourself baby-ready in a single weekend!

This unique weekend retreat combines childbirth education with emotional guidance to provide expectant parents with the tools, skills, and information they need to create the best experience possible as they grow their family.

Topics and activities include:

• Childbirth Education
• Strengthening your Relationship
• Building a Birth Plan
• Attachment and Attunement
• Newborn Care
• And much more!

Space is limited. For more information and to register email or call 206-939-6109. Information is also online.

This retreat is designed for expectant couples. Cost is $500/couple. Breakfast and lunch provided both days. It will be held at Seattle Midwives, 23406 46th Ave W Mountlake Terrace 98043.

Christi Nixon, Emerald City Doulas, Certified Childbirth Educator will be joined by Shanna Donhauser, Family Therapist, Happy Nest Therapy.