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!
Master’s in Women’s Studies (2006)
Bachelor’s in Sociology, Minor in Women’s Studies (2003)
Birth Doula & Postpartum Doula Certification-Warm Welcome Birth Services (2016)
Placenta Encapsulation Specialist-Women’s Perinatal Choice Services (2018)
Green River Doula Member
English
My comprehensive packages give you specifically tailored prenatal, birth, and postpartum support. www.doulaodessa.com
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Odessa was incredible! Gave us the confidence and knowledge to be properly prepared for our baby's birth.
- Reid and Lauren Warner
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
Doula Odessa brought so much knowledge, compassion and heartfelt support to my pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum period.
- Molly Terrill
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
Hiring Odessa was the best decision we made. She helped us have a positive birth experience after a mostly negative last one.
- Annie
Working with Doula Odessa for my first pregnancy was one of the best decisions my husband and I made.
- Laura Carlton
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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