At Swedish, personalized, compassionate care for every pregnancy journey

[3 min read]

In this article: 

• Birth doulas provide provide emotional and physical support to mothers during pregnancy, labor and postpartum. But many uninsured or underinsured patients don'thave access to thse vital services. 
• Doulas support moms and families as they navigate the joys and challenges of pregnancy and childbirth, even when a pregnancy ends in unexpected grief. 
• At Providence Swedish, the generosity of Swedish Foundation donors like the Apex Foundation helps us provide free doula services to over 200 patients each year. 
• Learn more about the work of our doulas and the role philanthropy plays in helping us bring important services to moms and families when they need them the most. 

There was no time to wait. Jayla was 34 weeks pregnant with severe preeclampsia and needed immediate surgery to treat a life-threatening condition. Her partner, though, remained miles away in another town, from where Jayla had been urgently transferred to Providence Swedish First Hill.

In a typical health care setting, Jayla would have had to grapple with the fear and uncertainty of her situation alone. At Swedish, thanks to the landmark support of Apex Foundation and other generous community members, she didn’t have to.

Generous donors help remove barriers to care

Every year, Swedish’s integrated doula program provides culturally attuned, personalized care to hundreds of patients before, during, and after birth. While birth doulas are covered by some insurance plans, philanthropy makes it possible for uninsured or underinsured patients, as well as those with urgent complications or who have experienced a loss, to receive these vital services for free.

For Jayla, that meant being paired with Swedish doula Jimmiesha Scholl, who was able to meet her in the intensive care unit prior to surgery to establish a rapport and make a recovery and post-birth plan together. Having someone at the hospital focused on not just her physical health but also her emotional well-being was crucial, Jayla notes.

Scholl stayed in the operating room while physicians delivered Jayla’s baby via emergency C-section. Later, she helped Jayla process her baby’s birth and facilitated connections in the neonatal intensive care unit for both Jayla and her partner, who was eventually able to join her at the hospital.

There are hundreds of other patients like Jayla who’ve had their pregnancy experience transformed thanks to the generosity of Apex Foundation and other major supporters of Swedish’s doula program. Gifts like these enable us to provide free doula services to over 200 patients each year. Now, more than ever, these patients are also in need of postpartum and bereavement support.

Loving support when joy becomes unexpected grief

Kai was eagerly preparing for the birth of their child when the usual fluttery kicks of activity during the third trimester stopped.  An ultrasound at Providence Swedish Edmonds later confirmed the worst: the baby had no heartbeat. 

Kai faced not only losing their baby but also still having to endure a devastating delivery. Immediately, our doula services team stepped in to help, connecting Kai with Ash Woods, a full-spectrum doula who has worked with a variety of family structures.

After meeting Kai and their partner at the hospital, Woods was able to provide physical and emotional support in a compassionate, authentic, and identity-affirming way. Later, Kai’s family expressed just how grateful they were for Ash’s gentle presence on that day and in the weeks after.

About the Author

There's a reason why more babies are born at Swedish every year than any other health system in western Washington - bringing babies into this world is our mission. The Swedish Pregnancy & Childbirth Team is committed to giving you relevant and actionable insights on how to care for yourself and your child as you navigate the trimesters of your pregnancy.

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