Odessa Bates

Accept insurances
Birth Doula
Pittsfield, Massachusetts
10 years of experience
5.0
About me

www.DoulaOdessa.com Hello! My name is Odessa Bates, owner of Doula Odessa & Birth Services. I’m based in Western Massachusetts and have been in the health and wellness field for over 25 years. I’m a Certified Birth Doula, Spinning Babies® Aware Practitioner, Evidence Based Birth Professional, Empty Arms Bereavement Professional, VBAC trained, lactation trained, support all types of families, Neuro-Affirming, BIPOC ally, LGBTQIA+ ally, trauma-informed, culturally-informed, religion-informed, a past substance abuse clinician with a master’s degree in Women’s Studies. I’m trained and educated in a wide range of topics surrounding prenatal, birth, and postpartum experiences. My goal as your birth doula in this magical time is to support you and your family to have an experience that is uplifting, empowering, and joyful. I travel to MA, NY, VT, and CT within an 1.5-hour radius from my home base in Pittsfield, MA 01201. Fully certified, insured, vaccinated, and boosted. Virtual services are also available for any location. I’m also a MassHealth insurance approved certified birth doula provider, which means my birth doula services are 100% covered. For other insurances, you can be reimbursed as I provide a “Super Bill”. I look forward to working together!

Education

Master’s in Women’s Studies (2006)

Bachelor’s in Sociology, Minor in Women’s Studies (2003)

Certification and training

Birth Doula & Postpartum Doula Certification-Warm Welcome Birth Services (2016)

Placenta Encapsulation Specialist-Women’s Perinatal Choice Services (2018)

Memberships and affiliations

Green River Doula Member

Credentials
BA CPD MA CD
Specialties
Abuse Addictions Adoption Advanced Maternal Age Anxiety Anxiety and Depression Attachment problems Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Birth Doula Birth Support Birth Trauma Breech Birth Evidence-Based Care Exclusive Pumping/Bottle Feeding Grief and Loss High-Risk Pregnancy Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Labor Doula LGBTQ+ Loss and Bereavement Doula Maternal Fetal Positioning Mental Health Mood Disorders Natural Birth Natural Childbirth Newborn Care Newborn Prep Parenting Parenting Support Perinatal and Infant Loss Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Perinatal Mood Disorders Placenta Encapsulation Postpartum Care Postpartum Depression Postpartum Doula Care Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Pregnancy Complications Pregnancy Loss Premature Infants Prenatal Care Prenatal Life Safety Self-Esteem Support during Labor, Birth, and Postpartum Support in Pregnancy Loss Telehealth Trauma Recovery Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) Water birth
Languages

English

Accepted insurances
MassHealth
Service introduction

My comprehensive packages give you specifically tailored prenatal, birth, and postpartum support. www.doulaodessa.com

Packages
BIRTH DOULA FOR YOUR ESTIMATED DUE DATE
These packages ensure my commitment to being with you during active labor, and when you give birth. Scheduled prenatal (2) and postpartum (1) visits are included. Additional services can be purchased separately. A MassHealth approved certified doula provider (Birth Doula and Postpartum Doula financially 100% covered). Prices are $1900-$2000 dependent on travel.
$1,900.00
USD Flat rate
BIRTH DOULA FOR YOUR SCHEDULED CESAREAN BIRTH
These packages ensure my commitment to being with you, and your support person, when arriving at your birthing location. Continuous support is also provided while you give birth during a scheduled Cesarean Birth, “Belly Birth”. Scheduled prenatal (2) and postpartum (1) visits included. Additional services can be purchased separately. Prices range between $1000-$1100 dependent on travel.
$1,000.00
USD Flat rate
Ratings and reviews
Average
5.0
# of Reviews
25
5.0

Doula Odessa & Birth Services was such a blessing to have throughout our pregnancy and birthing journey. Odessa was knowledgeable, competent, kind, and consistently focused on providing the best support for the vision we had for our birthing experience. She helped us establish a birth plan that aligned with our values and goals without trying to force any path on us. In today’s world there are so many books, social media influencers, and people in your life with something to say about giving birth. As first-time parents, trying to weed through all these voices was overwhelming. Odessa helped guide us through all our questions and concerns while seamlessly integrating with the hospital staff where we gave birth. Overall, we can’t thank Odessa enough for the support she provided.

- Bridget & Ryan O'Rourke

5.0

Odessa was an amazing birth doula. She helped prepare my husband and I on what to expect, and calm my mind when labor started. She was always within reach and very quick to respond.

- Rachel Morin

5.0

Doula Odessa provided nourishment and essential support to our pregnancy, labor and delivery. She makes herself available and shares her knowledge and experience in an accessible and kind way.

- Mariah Fogg

5.0

Odessa was so great to work with. Last week I gave birth to my daughter. My contractions started at 5am, I texted Odessa and almost immediately got a text back from her. She kept in communication with me the whole day... I was so glad to have her support through the whole birthing event.

- Abby Jimmo

5.0

I worked with Odessa for my twin birth and for my most recent birth as well. I am so happy I decided to have odessa again she was a lifesaver. So knowledgeable and professional. She stayed calm and reassing when I needed support most and it was instrumental in helping me navigate my birth. She helped me overcome birth trauma with my twins and it made my experience so wonderful and peaceful. I would recommend her a thousand times over. I am so grateful she was my doula for 3/4 of my kiddos.

- Annie R.

5.0

I had a wonderful experience with Doula Odessa. She was there to answer all of my questions and guide me and especially my husband through the birth of our daughter.

- Libby Ariazi

5.0

We have worked with Odessa for the births of both our daughters now. The fact that we returned to work with her again speaks for itself! Our experience with her this second time around was just as transformative for our pregnancy and birth as it was the first time.

- Molly Terrill

5.0

Working with Doula Odessa was a pleasure. My search for a Doula was originally challenging with no one responding to my inquiries until I found Doula Odessa.

- Danielle Whitcher

5.0

I'm so grateful Odessa was with us throughout our pregnancy and childbirth. She is a skilled provider and having her by my side was such a comfort when I was at my most vulnerable.

- Rage

5.0

We were very happy with our decision to use Odessa as our doula for the birth of our son. We met with her several times during my pregnancy, where she walked us through creating a birth plan and provided us with all kinds of helpful information about labor and delivery.

- Meredith

5.0

This was my 2nd baby I've had with the help of Odessa. Her warmth and knowledge from the beginning made having her as a doula a no-brainer.

- Michaela Smith

5.0

I'm three weeks postpartum and finally had a chance to reflect on my birth and the amazing support that Odessa provided throughout my pregnancy, labor and postpartum.

- Katherine

5.0

Odessa was incredible! Gave us the confidence and knowledge to be properly prepared for our baby's birth.

- Reid and Lauren Warner

5.0

We originally selected Doula Odessa because of her friendly attitude, dedicated availability, and ability to encapsulate the placenta. Her skills far surpassed these.

- Alex Terrill

5.0

Doula Odessa brought so much knowledge, compassion and heartfelt support to my pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum period.

- Molly Terrill

5.0

Odessa is wonderful! She has a beautiful, calm presence. I’m so happy she was part of my pregnancy and our son’s birth.

- Donna

5.0

Hiring Odessa was the best decision we made. She helped us have a positive birth experience after a mostly negative last one.

- Annie

5.0

Working with Doula Odessa for my first pregnancy was one of the best decisions my husband and I made.

- Laura Carlton

5.0

From the moment my husband and I met Odessa we knew she was the right doula for us. She is professional, punctual, caring, sweet, and extremely knowledgeable.

- Emily

5.0

We were so lucky to have Odessa as our doula for the birth of our twins! The multiple pre-birth visits gave us time to calmly work through our birth plan.

- B & E

5.0

I am so beyond happy that I had Odessa as my Doula for the birth of my son. Her support was invaluable, she kept me calm and as comfortable as possible during the labor process.

- Michaela S

5.0

My experience with Odessa was fantastic! I wanted a home birth, but knew it may not happen for me because the baby was breech. Odessa gave me tools to aid the baby turn.

- Michelle Pezzo

5.0

I can not recommend Odessa enough! I had thought about a doula in the beginning of my pregnancy but wasn't 100% sure that was the route I wanted.

- Emily Hart

5.0

Odessa reached out to me and asked if she could be my Doula. When she mentioned that she would waive her fees, I immediately said yes!

- Rachael Baumann

5.0

I was induced starting on Monday, and my water broke on Tuesday. Odessa was immediately in contact and on the road once my water broke.

- Allison Avent

Frequently asked questions
Do you attend births at Fairview Hospital?
Do you attend homebirths?
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