Nicolette Ferrell (she/her)
Birth & Postpartum Worker,
Brave Birth Owner & Founder

nicolette@bravebirth.com

(503) 820-8092

Let’s Connect!

Interested in a consult to see if we’re a good fit? Schedule a virtual consult (45min):

For newly booked clients to schedule Prenatal Sessions (60-90min):

For established clients, partnerships, providers, or practitioners (15-30min):

BIO 

As your professional Birth and Postpartum Support, my sincere hope is that you feel continuously held and confidently equipped throughout your entire experience. I recognize that this is a unique and transformative event for each family.

At your birth, I hope to provide a steady and grounding force for your whole family. I often use appropriate doses of humor if the mood could use some levity! I am a nurturer by nature that reflects predominantly in hands-on physical support by myself or from what your labor support has gleaned from our time together.

I place a high priority on making sure the supporting parent or person feels confident in their role. This is a shared experience and it is important to me that each team member is honored, heard and supported. Deepening that bond you have with each other is my priority. 

As a queer woman starting her own fertility journey, I understand and am able to help other LGBTQ+ families be held with respect by their care team and community. This includes, teaching, advocating and reminding your care team of what’s important to you. At your birth, I see advocacy for your family configuration as my job, working hard to ensure no one is “other-ed”.

I see myself as an informative guide for your family’s birth experience. I will listen, respect and help you make the choices you feel are best for your body and baby. When things shift from the original “plan”, as they often do, I will also help you zoom out to see the bigger picture and adjust to any unplanned road, softening the road as we go.

I believe in informed consent and will help you navigate the risks/benefits of the most common options you will be presented with. I will help you establish clear communication and trust with your providers leading up to your delivery. During your birth I will help to create space to process any non-emergent decisions.

I provide a walking encyclopedia of childbirth at your fingertips. I strive to make you feel comfortable and safe in every stage of your labor. If interested, I offer my families mindfulness/guided centering techniques to practice throughout pregnancy, birth and postpartum.

experience & relevant education

• Certified Childbirth Educator through Bastyr University

• Birth & PP Doula training through Birthingway College of Midwifery

• Birth & PP Doula Internship through Mother Tree Birth Services

• Anti-racism and trauma-informed care with ARTIC, LLC

• Massage and Acupressure for Birth with Leslie Stager

• Powerful Prenatals with Carrie Kenner

• Optimal Fetal Positioning with Tammy Ryan

• A Safe Passage Training with Jodi Hall

• Nutritious Movement for Pregnancy, birth and Postpartum with Katy Bowman

• Trauma Informed Care for birth workers with Brooke Noli

• Ongoing mentorship from Educators in the community that have been practicing for 20 yrs

• Ongoing mentorship from Doulas in the community that have been practicing for 30 yrs

• Professional Labor Support at over 200 births in Portland, Vancouver and Bend, Oregon Hospitals, Birth Centers, Homes and nearly on the side of 205 once!

When I'm not building community within birth work, I am running around in the woods, rivers and lakes with my fiancè, Jessica and our Cattle Dog, Rev. You can also find me in the kitchen, garden, around the campfire or dinner table— hopefully joined by my sweet friends and family.

Thanks so much for taking the time to listen to my story. I look forward to hearing yours. 

fees & care options:

Birth Doula Fee:  $2600

Birth Doula + First Night Home +in-home Lactation Support: $2850

Postpartum Doula Fee: day $50/hour (4 hour minimum)
night $55/hour (8 hour minimum)
package rate $53.50/hr (36hr minimum) use for day or night coverage

*First Night Home + Lactation Support: Coming home can be centered on recovery and rest while also promoting bonding for your whole family. I’ll come over around 9pm and stay until 7am. During those hours, I will tidy your house and tend to your baby, waking you only when your baby needs to feed. I’ll make your family a meal for the following day and a cup of coffee in the morning before handing you a hopefully still sleeping baby. The day after you come home you will be visited by one of our board certified lactation consultants in your home to make sure that breast or bottle feeding is getting off to a good start.

*Are you having a home birth with Vivante Midwifery or Flourish Midwifery? Please enjoy $150 off of my Birth Doula Fee.

*Returning families: My fee has likely increased since your first baby. For returning families, I honor the same amount you paid at the time of your first delivery. Please inquire! I can’t wait to see you again.

*Sliding scale & payment plans: I work sliding scale ($2200-2600) and am able to be flexible with payments plans (up to six payments at date intervals that work for you).

MORE TESTIMONIALS:

"I had never thought about using a Doula before.  Even though my first child was born at home. With my second pregnancy I had more doubts and anxiety. I knew that I needed support and I was very intrigued about what a Doula could offer as I welcomed my second baby earthside. Nicolette was a God sent blessing and answer to my prayers! I was instantly at peace the first time we met.  I knew that I wanted her to be a part of my birth team. I hired her late in the pregnancy and she was more than willing to come be by my side. During labor and upon arrival to the birth center she was there, ready to support in any way I needed- from sips of water, to encouraging words and comforting touch. The hardest and most memorable moment of my birth hit me like a ton of bricks. I yelled "I can't do this!" Nicolette held my face looked me right in the eye and ever so lovingly said "Yes you can". That's all I needed to hear and I am so thankful for that special moment. My little guy will be one year old tomorrow and I am just getting to write this review! The memories are still fresh and as I think about his birth and all the people who were there for me, especially Nicolette!"

-Kimberly S. 

"I was a multisport athlete growing up and Nicolette was one of the best coaches I’ve ever had.  Just like any great coach, she helped us game plan through the pre-season and got us ready for the big game.  She led my wife and I through techniques that helped us understand what it meant to be connected during this wonderful time in our lives.  To comprehend on a deeper level what an awesome journey we were on and how to cope with what we would be a day we would never forget.  Nicolette’s experience as a doula was more than apparent.  She anticipated my wife’s every need.   She spoke the lingo with the hospital staff.  Multiple nurses and the doctor who delivered us even commented on how great our birthing team was.  All thanks to Nicolette.  I don’t think I ever asked her for a single thing.  She could read my face.  She knew when she needed to step in and she knew when to stand aside.  She coached us all on how to help be supportive of my wife and keep her comfortable.  Not to mention, she looked out for me.  

If Nicolette hadn’t been there, would my son still have been born?  Yes.  Yet, it wouldn’t have been the same experience.  My wife and I wouldn’t trade any of it for anything.  Nicolette offered guidance and clarity and that translated into confidence and our ability to enjoy such an incredible experience to the fullest." 

— Bernie B. 

"Very soon after delivering our son, we turned to each other and said, “Hiring Nicolette was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made”.  And we still feel that way many months later.  Nicolette has a deep passion and general love for helping families bring their little ones into this world and it shows through in everything she does.  Her calming presence and nurturing personality was just what we needed throughout the birthing experience.  It can be chaotic and very emotional, but Nicolette helped us process everything that was happening in such a peaceful manner.   At times the medical staff threw a lot of information our way, but she helped explain it all in such a succinct and clear way and also had no problem being our advocate for what we wanted.  We recommended her to our friends, who in turn hired her, and we would do the same for anyone.  We are so happy that Nicolette was with us on our birthing journey!"

— Danielle, Nolan & Baby Devlin

"Our birth was long and hard, but never stressful or scary and we have Nicolette to thank for that. Her calming presence, honesty, endurance and strength made our hospital birth so warm and loving - she even managed to help us find joy and laughter during the hardest and most painful of contractions! I always felt listened to, never judged and always loved.  An absolute professional, she is incredible and worth every single penny.  Brave Birth Doulas has been such an incredible resource and lifeline for us in the months after welcoming our son into the world and becoming a family. We are so blessed to have Nicolette and all the other doulas in our life and my only regret is that I don't get to see them every day."

— Alice, Scott & Baby George

"When I think back to the birth of my daughter, I still get feelings of immense joy, confidence, and inner strength—and I credit so much of that to our doula, Nicolette. She has this calm, soothing voice that makes you feel at peace, even in the midst of intense pain. She offers reassurance right when you need it, supports you in your decisions along the way, and empowers you to see the beauty in the birth experience. I am 100% convinced that I would not have had an un-medicated birth without her help. I’ve already recommended her to friends. Every mom deserves a Nicolette by her side during labor!”

— Bethany M.

"On hearing from my wife that she wanted a Doula to attend and participate in her birth I was hesitant. I felt that my duties as a husband would be overshadowed by the presence of another woman, that I would become obsolete in the birth of my first child! However, with Nicolette this was not the case. In our first meeting with Nicolette she asked us to raise concerns, hesitations, fears, etc. that we had about the birthing process. I was given the chance to share my reservations and felt heard by Nicolette.  Having her during the labor and delivery and after was so crucial. We don't know how we could have got through it without her. Nicolette was such a peaceful presence through the whole thing. She was there when we needed her and was invisible when we needed intimate time. She was firm and took the lead and also let my wife go at her own pace, not trying to force anything. Having Nicolette assist our birth made it only more meaningful. Not only at the birth but after the fact when we needed some helpful during recovery time she gladly came over and helped babysit so we could both get some sleep. We both felt very taken care of in this way.  We hope she will someday assist in another birth of ours!"

— Lucas T.