Kelly Overly (she/her)

Birth and Postpartum Doula
Childbirth and Postpartum Educator
Certified Lactation Counselor

kellyoverly@bravebirth.com
(206) 218-3573

“As humans, we have biology on our side, the innate abilities each birthing parent possesses provide them with the skills and knowledge needed to nurture and grow human life. This amazing ability is a source of strength for the birthing person. I believe that each time a new life comes into the world, the birthing person can draw upon this fundamental strength and knowledge to help guide the birth process.” 

My approach to doula work 

There are moments in life that connect us to each other in ways we could have never imagined. The intersections of woman to mother, of man to father, of individuals forming families, of science and nature, these are the moments that can seem both miraculous while mundane and then somehow, blend into one and other seamlessly. Birth is possibly one of the greatest of these intersections. Within these amazing intersections, great change occurs, and not only is a child birthed, but so too, is a parent. 

As a doula, I support these intersections where new life is brought into the world and family grows. I believe in the power of the birthing person and feel called to be of service and support during a time of great vulnerability and strength. I seek to help create a birth experience that feels safe, supported, empowered and loving for everyone involved in the birth story. 

I help the birthing person through knowledge of natural pain coping techniques, labor positioning and comfort massage. I believe the power of feeling in control of one’s body and of one’s desires during the birth experience can greatly enhance the enjoyment felt surrounding birth - this drives me to help my clients become their own best advocates. I believe that even the smallest of voices should be heard and respected as if they were the loudest of roars and one of my goals is that my clients are heard throughout their birth experiences. This story belongs to you, the birthing family, and I would be honored to assist you in the specific ways you need to navigate this incredible time in your life. 

Background 

I worked in the Oregon and Washington wine industry for many years before I felt a calling to be of service to families during a time of incredible growth. On my path to becoming a midwife, I was delighted to find my home in doula work. I trained as a Birth and Postpartum Doula through Mother Tree Doula Services in Portland, Oregon where I mentored other aspiring doulas. I volunteered as a Labor Doula for the Gateway Doula Project at Providence Hospital, I am the Board President for PDX Doulas at OHSU where I also mentor new doulas. I have served as a general board member for Birthingway College of Midwifery and was both the Vice-President and President of the Oregon Doula Association. I have certified as a Birth Doula through DONA International and am a registered Traditional Health Worker for Oregon State. I gave birth to my daughter in December 2019 and was just getting out to postpartum yoga when the world shut down! I have a personal understanding of how strange it is to be a brand new parent during a pandemic. When I am not busy supporting birth and new families, I enjoy cooking, jazz, working on my loom, creating macrame, growing my goth garden, shopping for vintage dresses and dancing around the house to bad pop music all while chasing around my spunky toddler.

Experience and relevant education

• Healthy Children's Project Certified Lactation Counselor Training

• The Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice Board Certified Lactation Counselor

• DONA Certified Birth Doula

• Oregon State Traditional Health Worker

• DONA-approved Birth Doula Training with Mother Tree Birth Services

• DONA-approved Postpartum Doula Training with Mother Tree Birth Services

• Birth Doula 6-month Internship with Mother Tree Birth Services

• ICEA-approved Childbirth Educator Training with Portland Doula Love

• HypnoBirthing with Kadie Barber HBCE, CD(DONA)

• Culturally Competent Care Training with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

• Collaborative Practice and Professionalism Training with PDX Doulas

• Spinning Babies Training with Tammy Ryan, AvdCD/BDT(DONA), SpBT

• Spinning Babies Training with Gail Tully, CPM, Spinning Babies Founder

• Trauma Informed Care with Mandy Davis Ph.D., LCSW

• The Impact of Stress on the Developing Fetus with Sherri Alderman, MD, MPH, IMH-E

• Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders in Men and Non-Birth Partners with Sam Stevens, MS, LMFT

• Gender Diversity in Health Care with Amy Penkin, LCSW

• Bridging Theories of Grief with Judith L.M. McCoyd Ph.D., QCSW, LCSW

• Adult and Pediatric CPR/First Aid/AED Certification

• Advanced Massage and Acupressure Training for Doulas with Jennie King, LAc, LMT

• Basics of Lactation Management for Doulas

• AAAS Enology and Viticulture

Fee

Birth doula fee: $3000

Postpartum doula fees: day $50/hour (4 hour minimum); night $55/hour (8 hour minimum)

CONTACT ME!

Testimonials

Kelly was a truly amazing birth doula!! She stayed with me through the many hours of labor and advocated for me when things weren't going as expected, and I was having trouble expressing my needs to the doctors. There were several complications during my labor, and it really helped having her calm presence there to talk through options and to encourage me. I'm so glad I chose her to help me through this huge important scary beautiful moment in my life. - Pam

I don't like to give out advice, and when I do I usually preface it with "well, this worked for me..." but I do think everyone should have a doula as part of their birth team. It's so good to have someone by your side, who knows you (and your partner), and also knows how to work within the delivery room too. Kelly is everything that I wanted in hiring a doula. She is easy to talk with, attentive, calming, supportive... she is amazing! 

Being an older first time mom I definitely had heard my share of birth stories, and I had hopes for how my birth would go - but also so many worries. Kelly knew I really wanted to avoid being induced, and while I tried so many things to avoid it, when the pitocin started she was there to support me. She also made sure things like eating and drinking throughout the day (and night, and morning...) were happening for both my husband and me. Kelly knew my pain control plan (epidural? maybe... I have no idea how this is going to go) and made suggestions at all the right times (and she learned to play Exploding Kittens after the epidural was placed). It was the repositioning and movement at Kelly's suggestion that helped progress things enough that I didn't get pushed into a C-section just due to time. The most important thing of all (to me) was that she helped us take time and space to make decisions when necessary. She was there to ask for the space from hospital staff, and supported us through decision making, calmly helping us reason, making the decision ours. - Mindy

Kelly was everything I wanted in a doula. I am not super granola/woo woo, nor am I the type of person that just wants the “traditional” hospital birth. For me, Kelly was the best of both worlds. She was open and honest, super flexible and heard exactly what I needed through the pregnancy and birth process. I had a lot of anxiety due to previous pregnancy loss and she was able to meet me where I was at with all my oddball demands and superstitions. Even though my baby girl arrived two months early, Kelly was able to be there to support me and help my husband help me through labor. She even arranged my placenta encapsulation and made sure I was not alone when my husband accompanied our daughter to the NICU. I highly recommend Kelly to anyone who needs an extra support person who is confident, reliable and super competent! - Mariah

Kelly was knowledgable, personable and attentive, which are the three qualities I most wanted in a doula. She really helped us to feel more prepared for the birth of our son, and she supported us every step of the way at the hospital. Kelly was a strong presence in the room, and the OB on call that day was so impressed that she asked for a handful of Kelly's business cards! We couldn't be happier with our decision to work with Kelly and enthusiastically recommend her. - Julie

I used Kelly Overly as my doula and can't say enough about how wonderful of an experience it was for both myself and my husband. Her presence is calming, warm, and strong which is exactly what I needed. During my labor, Kelly knew exactly what to do, what to say, who to direct, etc when my husband and I didn't have the faintest clue. She was MY advocate and that was such a reassuring feeling while going through child labor which writes its own rules for each individual mother. I can't stress enough how valuable it is to have a doula and Kelly is who I recommend to every expectant family now. Her support made my birth experience truly amazing. - Barbara

Hiring Kelly as our doula was the number one best possible thing we could have done to prepare for the birth of our first child. From our very first meeting Kelly helped us talk through our hopes for how the birth would go, answering all of our questions with great info, and making space for us each to talk about our fears. It felt like she really got to know us, what we wanted and what we worried about most. Kelly was professional and personable, extremely knowledgeable about birth (she sent us great research-based info), and also helped us prepare emotionally, identifying our own individual needs and coping styles. I had a low risk pregnancy and a flexible birth plan, and expected a relatively straightforward birth, but ended up with medical complications necessitating a C-section, which was emotional for both my partner and I. Kelly was a HUGE support through this process, helping us through a very long labor, the emotional decision to do the C-section and actually sat in the operating room with my partner for much needed support. We felt completely held, cared for and supported in doing exactly what was right for us, and really leaned on her experience and calm, confident shoulders (literally at times). Our birth was so much better for having her and we have only good things to say! The last added bonus was that a few months into our new lives as parents, we were really struggling with my transition to working a few hours in the evenings. Kelly came over and patiently supported my partner, assured him (and me) that he was doing everything right, and gave us really good insight into what might be going on, and direction for what to do next. Having a familiar face who already knew us to support us in a challenging time of new-parenthood was SO valuable, especially with family all far away. In short, we both highly recommend Kelly and can't say enough good things about her. - Sonia

We interviewed several Doulas but knew immediately that Kelly was right for us. She has a positive, confident, friendly energy that seems inexhaustible- exactly what I needed during 36-ish hours of labor. Kelly met with us several times during pregnancy to help us prepare for something as unpredictable as birth. She was invaluable during a long night of back labor at the hospital- I have no idea what we would have done without her genius coaching and knowledge. She also supported me and helped me rest and regain my strength when I chose to get an epidural the next morning, and made me feel like a superwoman during delivery. Looking back, nearly a year later, I am still so glad we hired Kelly as our Doula, and absolutely plan to do so again if we have another baby in the future! - Alisha

Kelly Overly was our doula, and she did a fabulous job! Since we don't have family in the area, we were looking for additional support, and I am so glad we found Kelly. She made the entire process much easier and kept the communication going with our care team. She helped us through the entire process and assisted us with finding resources. I am very glad she was there for the 20 hours it took to have our little one, and the time she took beforehand to ensure we were all on the same page. Thank you Kelly! - Holly

We chose Kelly as our doula after interviewing several other amazing and experienced doulas in the Portland network. Kelly stood out for her extensive experience in both being a doula and training other doulas, and we loved her approach to customizing our birth experience based on our wishes and personalities (ex. Using the Five Love Languages as a baseline to help facilitate my husband and my coping methods for labor). She came and met us twice at home and checked in by email and text as the due date neared. Each session was structured to cover getting to know each other, walking through important pre-baby checklist items, and starting to think about readying our home for a new baby. She answered all of our questions thoughtfully and provided evidence-based information without biasing our decision on things like a midwife vs obgyn, pain coping options (natural and medicinal), and prepping a birth “wish list”. When I went into labor she offered to come to our home as early as we wanted or meet us at the hospital. She gave me so much confidence and comfort (as much as a new Mom in labor for the first time could have) and helped advocate for what I wanted with nurses and doctors. I can’t even put enough words together to describe how wonderful, calm, and caring she is during the actual labor and delivery. She was a major factor in me feeling great about the birth of our first son, despite labor not going exactly as planned (babies have a mind of their own). We love Kelly and would recommend her in a heartbeat. Thank you Kelly for making me feel confident and maintain some shred of dignity in the most vulnerable moments of my life thus far. You chose the perfect profession for yourself. - Jen & Mylroie

With my second child I decided to try having a doula, because the one my sister had was so amazing- that was Kelly. She was what made my birthing experience so great. She made me more comfortable than the nurses, midwife and even my partner! She was my advocate for everything and made sure that I was accommodated in every way. I am so thankful for her, I don’t know how I would have gotten through labor and especially birth without her guidance and reassurance. At the end of it all she felt like a part of our family! I would recommend her to anyone, and definitely would never have another baby without her by my side :) - Kaitlin

We loved working with Kelly! She provided excellent support before, during and after the birth of our first baby. She has a straightforward, thoughtful, and evidence-based approach that always felt genuine and like it was guiding us towards the right decision for our family, never prescribing or telling us what to do. We are so happy she was part of our first birth experience. - Leora

I chose Kelly to be my doula for my first child when she was still a student and I couldn’t be happier about my choice! She was more than happy to answer any and all of my interview questions and quickly assuaged all of my fears. I was alone throughout my entire pregnancy and delivery but with the help of my family and Kelly I never ever felt like it. 

Kelly was confident and comforting throughout the entire process and she always made me feel safe. She asked me what I needed and did everything in her power to help me get it. My birth didn’t go to “plan” but Kelly never missed a beat and was prepared for everything. She didn’t mind when I told her I wanted to hold my moms hand instead, she understood. 

Kelly was not only there for me, she was there for all of my family and friends and got along so well with everyone, she fit in flawlessly. 

I can without a doubt say that I would not have had the same delivery without Kelly, she really got me through it when I thought I could never pull it off. So when my sister got pregnant a few months later and Kelly offered to be her doula as well we were all filled with joy! She really had become a part of our family and you would be lucky to have her be a part of your experience too. - Robin

We weren't sure about whether to hire a doula for the birth of our second child, although we had a wonderful doula experience with our first. We thought: we got this, right? But after talking with Kelly, I knew immediately from her calm, assuring presence that I wanted her at our birth. As we prepared, Kelly was responsive and encouraging, always showing up relaxed but confident. She was particularly good at helping us figure out - based on our personalities and relationship - the best approaches to keep everyone as calm as possible during labor. In the final days before birth she offered careful, tailored support to guide baby into a more optimal position. When our birth plans didn't go quite as expected, she was there immediately - from settling us into the hospital room, guiding us in gathering more information about induction, and of course, helping to create a sense of peace during the entire experience. 

Looking back, it was so comforting to know that there was someone in the room at all times who was 100%+ in service of me. There is no doubt that this sense of support and calmness contriubted to the smooth birth experience we had. I would never have another baby wtihout a doula, and I would choose Kelly again in a second if we were to do it again! No doula (or anyone!) can gurantee you'll have the birth you 100% expected, but Kelly can certainly help you to be more flexible, more prepared and more relaxed throughout every step. - Amy

Kelly was great during my wife's pregnancy. She helped prepare us for birth and post partum with a straightforward, evidence-based approach. It was extremely helpful to have her there during the birth. It allowed me to be more effective as a birth partner, and provided another layer of support for my wife. 

I highly recommend Kelly for anyone considering working with her. - Aaron

Kelly was warm, responsive, knowledgeable and kind. Our two prenatal meetings were so helpful in guiding us through preparing our birth plan and finding ways to talk about our values around our hoped-for birth experience. And on the night of the birth? Kelly was invaluable—helping us to choose a hospital to go to when we were diverted from our first choice, getting to the hospital super-fast, and offering incredibly intuitive and compassionate labor support during my very speedy labor. We feel so lucky to have had Kelly’s experienced and gentle care. - Caitlin

My birthing experience was not an easy one and having Kelly Overly by my side changed my life. Kelly and I only made contact hours before the birth of my daughter, yet I could tell immediately she was the doula for me. She was genuine, caring and supportive the entire journey. Kelly came as soon as I needed her, which was literally in the middle of the night. After 24 hours of them inducing me, I ended up needing a c-section. Scared to death of the process Kelly made it seem doable. She held my hand and made sure I was ok during the process. Half way through the c-section my anesthesia wore off and if not for Kelly they wouldn't have known I needed more. I was able to remain calm and centered through the birth and she waited with me after as I recovered. Not only was she there during the birth but she went above and beyond to help me after. Kelly even adopted my dog until I was able to have her again. New to the area, and having a new home Kelly generously gave me furniture and dishes. There isn't enough room in this comment section to express how amazing Kelly is. If you need a doula this beautiful human is top notch! Inside and out she cares about you and your baby. Thank you Kelly for everything, not a day goes by that I don't remember how you changed our lives and showed us genuine kindness. - Serenity

Kelly took us on as clients (pro bono) while finishing up her doula training. She was very easy to work with right off the bat! Kelly has a wonderful smile, is warm, friendly, and deeply caring. We met with her several times before the birth, and she was extremely helpful in providing information and resources, answering questions, and preparing us for the labor we wanted. I could not imagine what labor/delivery would have been like without her?! She was always quick to reply to my calls/texts, and was promptly at the hospital after calling her at 2:00am. When in labor, Kelly respected the wishes of my natural birth plan. She suggested many helpful labor positions, gently talked me through each contraction, and even "lit" fake candles to help me relax as much as possible. I seriously could not have asked for a better cheerleader & coach! Both my husband and Mother even commented on how helpful it was having her to explain what was going on, what to expect, and how best to support me. With Kelly's help, I was able to give birth to my daughter 4.5 hours after being admitted to the hospital without any interventions or the use of drugs. Once home with the baby, she visited us (with coffee!) and even offered us some newborn sized diapers. I really feel like she went above and beyond to meet our needs and make us feel supported. I will definitely use Kelly's services with my next pregnancy! - Janet

Prior to this labor, my husband and I were on the fence about having a doula at our birth. The idea of a random person we did not know at the birth of our child seemed intimidating and we just weren't sure if we "needed" a doula. We read everything we could find about labor and childbirth, but then my labor was unlike anything my husband and I ever expected. A last minute change of hospital, my slow dilation, and the level of pain I experienced were all things we did not anticipate. Kelly was, without a doubt, an absolutely essential part of the birth of our son, Elliot. 

Kelly's professional, gentle, and kind demeanor put us at ease the moment we met her. At our prenatal appointments she gave us tools to prepare for the labor and asked us good questions to ensure that our birth desires were clear for the delivery team. Leading up to the birth she was attentive and always available. On the night I went into labor she arrived promptly with coffee in hand and stuck by my side for the next 36 hours. She reheated my heat pad regularly, massaged my back, caressed my legs, brought me water, recommended productive positions to labor in, and reminded me to pause and consider my options before increasing interventions. She offered respite to my husband, reminded and allowed him to take care of himself, and guided both of us in labor breathing and pushing exercises. 

Kelly proved to be invaluable after the birth of our son as well. She was available to help us with anything we needed postpartum. She discussed our birth story with us at length and helped us to reconstruct the events and process some of the more challenging moments. 

Having Kelly by my side gave me confidence that I was doing everything that could be done to make labor easier and more effective. She took care of me and my husband with incredible skill, grace, and tirelessness. I cannot recommend Kelly more and know that she will be invaluable to any birth experience. - Amy

Used every minute of her time to be helpful! Provided resources for us to get ourselves back into a state of positive momentum. Our baby and 2.5 yo loved every minute with Kelly. We couldn't have had such success without her help as she provided services such as light-cleaning, grocery pickups, counseling, helping to schedule other doulas, feeding both our newborn and our 2.5 yo, she even went on a trip with us to the coast for the day so my wife and I could have time alone together. What an excellent use of our trust and money, we feel very fortunate to have had Kelly with us through the last two months. - Grant

Kelly was the perfect doula for our family. She helped my partner feel at ease and our 3 year old was absolutely in love with her. I felt like I had forgotten everything about the whole birth process since having our first, and Kelly was incredibly prepared with getting to know all of us and creating a birth plan that was flexible, yet kept elements that would keep me comfortable during the birth. For anything I had questions about, she was so knowledgeable, and helped us find resources for placenta encapsulation, support groups, and more. I remember the day (night) of the birth as relaxed, and though it didn't go as I had hoped, we had already talked about possible outcomes, we had plenty of time to calmly discuss alternatives, and I felt informed and not rushed in the decision making process. Kelly helped talk out the decisions with us and I can't thank her enough for the support that day. I had quite the emotional roller coaster for a bit after the birth, and as post partum support Kelly just knew when to reach out to me, when I usually avoid contacting people in dark times. I really can't say enough good things about how she helped our family through this time of welcoming our second child. She is easy to talk to, attentive, great with the whole family, kind hearted, and perfect for this work. - Jenieka