Meet Charise Blodgett — Doula in Albany, Oregon

If you’re expecting a baby in the Albany, Oregon area and wondering if you should hire a doula, you’re in for a treat. Charise Blodgett is a local doula serving families through hospital, home, and birth center deliveries. With her strong faith, personal birth experiences, and compassionate approach, Charise helps expecting moms feel confident, informed, and empowered throughout their birth journey.

We sat down with Charise for a Q&A to learn more about what doulas do, why she’s so passionate about birth work, and how she supports families in the mid-Willamette Valley.

Tell us a little about yourself!

“My name is Charise Blodgett. I am a wife, homeschooling mom of 7, and a Christ follower. I have experienced a lot in my almost 37 years of life and am extremely grateful for where I am at today.”

What made you want to become a doula?

“I have always been intrigued by labor and delivery. I watched just about every episode of the 90s TV show on TLC called A Baby Story. I talked to a lot of women about pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum, and unfortunately, I heard a lot of the negatives.

As I was preparing for my first birth, my doula challenged me—in a good way—to view birth in a different way. She asked me to try, as long as possible, to not get the epidural I had planned on getting. My husband also encouraged me to try and hold out, so I did. Long story short, I labored about 12 hours and had my daughter without any pain medications. I felt so strong and empowered.

I went on to have 5 home births and 1 hospital birth. After that, I knew I wanted to help educate and encourage other women to embrace their birth experience and not fear something their bodies were meant to do.”

What does a doula do?

“A doula is a woman (although there are men in the field now) who supports other women mentally, physically, and emotionally through pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum.

I specifically like to open up a conversation with my clients to help them expose any fears, and oftentimes, there are references available to educate them. I find that education conquers a lot of fears.

We all know labor is like a marathon, so as women, we need to train for a marathon. I can help women as they prepare for this life-changing moment. And of course, emotionally, this experience will take time to process. Having a listening ear of a doula can help. As doulas, we also pay close attention and can help sort through memories and thoughts afterward.”

Do I need a doula if I have a great midwife or doctor?

“Of course, having a great midwife or doctor is an amazing thing, but they are trained medical professionals. Their job is to keep you and your baby medically safe. They also aren’t always able to attend to you for the entirety of labor because, oftentimes, they have more than one patient.”

Do you only attend home births?

“Only attending home births is a common misconception about doulas. I personally attend hospital births, home births, and birth center births.”

How do you interact with medical staff?

“As a doula, I am hired by my clients, not any medical staff. My goal is to work together with medical staff while honoring my clients’ desires for birth. In order to do this, I respectfully share my clients’ desires and our plan to allow those desires to happen with medical staff, in hopes that they will work with us.”

What are the benefits of hiring a doula?

“When you hire a doula, you are hiring someone to be 100% focused on you. A doula can offer support and guidance. Doulas are there to point you in the right direction when you’re trying to decide what will be best for you and your baby.”

When should someone reach out to hire you, and how can they connect?

“I can be found on Facebook and Instagram at Charise Blodgett Doula Care. Hiring a doula can be done at any time in pregnancy—from the first positive test all the way to your due date.”

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

“I want women to know that birth doesn’t have to be this horrible experience, even if it doesn’t go the way you planned. Having the right support—someone who will walk alongside you and honor your wishes—can make all the difference.”

If you’re looking for compassionate, knowledgeable support during your pregnancy and birth, hiring an Albany Oregon doula like Charise Blodgett can make a world of difference. With experience in home births, hospital births, and birth center settings, Charise offers faith-centered, personalized care to help you feel empowered every step of the way. Whether you’re newly pregnant or nearing your due date, reach out to Charise to learn how she can support you on your birth journey.

You may also enjoy these articles about other local doulas:
Support Your Childbirth Journey with Evergreen Doula, Albany, OR

Mindful Postpartum & Doula Lebanon, OR