Birth Circle Doulas Offer Personalized Care at UPMC Northwest
By: Autumn Bellan
UPMC Northwest recently launched Birth Circle Doulas, a UPMC Magee-Womens Specialty Services program based in their Family Birthing Center and outpatient locations. The program now offers Frankin, Clarion and Venango County trained, nonmedical staff who provide advanced educational, physical and emotional specialty care to pregnant, birthing and postpartum patients.
“We support a wide range of birthing individuals from all walks of life,” said Megan Orris, lead doula, UPMC Northwest. “Our doulas support the patients from the moment they find out they’re pregnant through six weeks postpartum.”
Funded by annual grants, the team is able to serve more than 30 patients each month free of cost. The team is comprised of four doulas under the leadership of Hannah Keith, program manager, and Melissa Young, director of Women’s Health Operations, UPMC Magee-Womens Health Service Line.
Meet the doulas
For Jaden Wagner, birth doula, who started at UPMC Northwest in 2022 as a phlebotomist, becoming a doula has been a dream. “The first few patients I got to support at UPMC Northwest were the sweetest women,” she said. “It was a privilege to be there to help them and experience the magic of birth firsthand.”
In those first births, she will always remember seeing the impact they could have in the birthing space. “It was empowering to see how we could help our patients with the smallest gestures, like rubbing their backs or talking them through contractions.”
While the small moments make the biggest difference, Sierra Lynn, birth doula, knew she wanted to be a doula to help families through the most pivotal change of their lives. “After having three children of my own, becoming a doula at UPMC Northwest is a perfect fit,” said Sierra.
Day to day, Lynn finds joy in making meaningful connections with patients. “My favorite memory is when I watched a mother’s face light up when I remembered a sibling’s name at her postpartum visit,” she said. “I’ll truly never forget the family’s I’ve worked with.”
During her ten years as an emergency medical technician (EMT), Chrstine Huth, birth doula, found joy in motherhood, raising her five daughters and two stepsons. “Last fall, I experienced a very rare field delivery, which inspired me to work in labor and delivery,” said Christine.
“I feel I was born to help people,” she said. “This is not a job but a journey I get to experience with so many women. Being there for each of them brings happiness to my heart that I didn’t know existed.”
The first patient: personalized care you can turn to
Elizabeth Montana, the first UPMC Northwest Birth Circle Doulas patient, started to feel contractions at 4 a.m. on a Sunday. Her first reaction was to text her doula, Orris. “My biggest concern was that I wouldn’t know I was going into labor,” she said. “Megan prepared me with signs to look for, and when the time came, I knew to go into the hospital thanks to her guidance.”
Throughout her pregnancy, Elizabeth was thankful for the personalized care she could turn to. “I appreciated being able to text her at any time, rather than calling into the hospital or looking anything up online,” she said. “She encouraged me to listen to my body, take my time to think through what I wanted and advocated for me before and after birth.”
As her advocate, Orris met with Elizabeth throughout her pregnancy to discuss her plans and goals. “My first impression of her was wonderful,” she said. “Megan was ready to back me up on everything I wanted. It was such a relief to have that support.” Throughout the process, Orris guided Elizabeth’s husband, a first-time dad, through how to be a supportive birthing partner and stayed in touch with him every step of the way.
“I’d highly recommend a doula to anyone,” she said. “Megan was a calming presence and a wonderful source of information. She made sure I had all the resources and support I needed.”
A hub of passionate support
In the future, UPMC Northwest hopes to grow the Birth Circle Doulas Program. “Our ultimate goal is to have a doula available for anyone and everyone who wants one,” said Orris. “I am so blessed to have three doulas who have a passion for improving patient outcomes.” Wagner, Lynn, and Huth each have a unique set of goals to grow or add to the program, including adding resources for parents struggling with substance abuse disorders or grief.
Currently, the Birth Circle Doulas at UPMC Northwest can connect families to many community resources and organizations, like ABC Life Center, Associated Charities, Clarion Center for Community Resources, The Pregnancy and Women’s Recovery Center (PWRC), Second Harvest Food Bank, the Welcome Every Child Program and many more.
Building on five years of success at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, Birth Circle Doulas now support families at UPMC Horizon, UPMC Hamot, UPMC in Central Pa. and UPMC Northwest.
