ABOUT

Collective wisdom, individualized care.

Womb Within Collective is a team of professional doulas & birth workers serving mothers and families in Walla Walla and the surrounding areas. Providing compassionate, holistic, and evidence-based care.

Birth Doulas from $1,700
Postpartum Doulas from $50/hr
Overnight Postpartum from $60/hr
Lactation Specialist from $80
Placenta Encapsulation from $250

FREE with Apple Health & Oregon Health Plan

The Founders

Jess and TaKara met for the first time in early 2025 — bonding over their kids and tattoos at the local library, and becoming fast friends from there. Jess had returned to Walla Walla in 2024 after years in Portland and Bend, Oregon, where she pursued photography and doula work. Settling back home revealed something she hadn't fully anticipated: a deep need for community and connection within the local birth worker world.

This work was never meant to be done alone. Birth work is rooted in mentorship, in wisdom passed from woman to woman, generation to generation — and that is exactly the kind of partnership Jess and TaKara found in each other. They are intentional about the care given and curate a team of beautiful birth workers and moms to serve the Walla Walla Valley and beyond.

PRENATAL SUPPORT

✓ Birth Processing
✓ Providing provider resources and referrals
✓ Monthly check-ins
✓ Text/Call support throughout pregnancy
✓ Time set for Birth planning & preferences
✓ Processing previous births or traumatic experiences
✓ Answering questions about birth, postpartum, and baby
✓ Creating a Postpartum Plan of support
✓ Birth, Postpartum, and Lactation Education

What does support look like?

LABOR & DELIVERY SUPPORT

✓ Continuous support for the labor & birth: in-person
support starts when you need it, no dilation minimum
✓ Option for virtual birth support (navigating inductions, position changes, emotional support, and encouragement)
✓ Guided and intuitive support
✓ Massage, counter-pressure, relaxation techniques
✓ Using Hypnobirthing® & Spinning Babies® Techniques
✓ Advocating for your rights and birth preferences
✓ Support with position & environment changes
✓ Encouraging hydration, nourishment, and small snacks
✓ Reassurance during the unpredictable times
✓ Support for other members of your birth team
✓ Birth photography or videography as requested

POSTPARTUM SUPPORT

✓ Feeding support (breast, bottle, combo feeding)
✓ Support with new sibling and family dynamics
✓ Newborn cues, soothing baby, sleep
✓ Talking about your birth & processing
✓ Emotional support, holding space, listening
✓ Help preparing meals, freezer meals & snacks
✓ Support with safe sleep, night rhythms & routines
✓ Light cleaning: clean sink and countertops, fold laundry,
refill water, set up snacks next to the nursing/feeding spot
✓ Talking about changes in your body
✓ Unlimited text & call support

What is a Doula?

A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a person before, during, and after childbirth. The word "doula" comes from the Greek word meaning "woman's servant" or "caregiver," but today, doulas are highly skilled advocates and companions dedicated to helping families have positive birthing experiences.

The Role of a Doula

  • Emotional Support: Offering reassurance, comfort, and encouragement to help manage fears and anxieties.

  • Physical Support: Assisting with comfort measures such as massage, breathing techniques, and positioning to ease labor pain.

  • Informational Support: Providing evidence-based information about labor, delivery options, and postpartum care to help you make informed decisions.

  • Advocacy: Supporting your birth preferences and helping communicate your wishes to the medical team.

  • Postpartum Support: Offering guidance and assistance after the baby arrives, including newborn care, breastfeeding support, and emotional reassurance.

What a Doula Does NOT Do

  • Doulas are not medical professionals and do not perform medical tasks, suggest or administer medications.

  • They do not make medical decisions. However, they DO support you in understanding your options, ensuring client is receiving informed consent.

Why Hire a Doula?

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) released formal guidance recognizing doulas as evidence-based partners in maternity care to improve birth outcomes and reduce health disparities.

  • Shorter labors

  • Reduced need for interventions like epidurals or cesareans

  • More satisfaction with the childbirth experience

  • Extensive training and experience in all birth locations and procedures

  • Better postpartum adaptation and bonding

READ THE EVIDENCE ON DOULA SUPPORT

Testimonials

  • Jess and the doulas at the Womb Within Collective are absolutely amazing. Their birth class was very informative, and the small size allowed everyone to have 1:1 learning in addition to group. When my birth plan went a complete 180 due to medical necessity, Jess was there every step of the way, and explained every possibility of birth so that we would be fully informed going into it. She was a calm, grounding presence not only during birth but also during the weeks prior in preparation as well as postpartum. Having her in the hospital room to be an advocate for me and a constant support during our long induction process and birth was the best thing we did in our baby preparations! Postpartum, Takara has also been very helpful with breastfeeding and working out some latching issues we had. I highly recommend Womb Within for anyone in their pregnancy or postpartum journey!

    M.B.

  • “I had the best experience with Takara and Jess. They supported me through my pregnancy and my birth and took turns making me comfortable and making sure my birth space was just how I wanted it to be. They taught me so much about pregnancy and postpartum in their birth classes. The support didn’t end at the hospital, Takara continued to support me postpartum and do home visits with me and my son and help with lactation support and recovery from birth.she helped me keep up on housework and chores while caring for a newborn. Jess made sure I was still able to take home a tincture with my placenta since I wasn’t able to save and encapsulate my whole placenta like I planned due to complications. She still made sure I had prints of my placenta to hang on my wall she does with special paint (which is so beautiful and such a cool process to learn about) and I just couldn’t thank these wonderful ladies enough. The work they do to welcome little souls into this world is so beautiful. They are naturals. They really teach you how to listen to your body and relax your mind when it’s needed the most. I would recommend their services to anyone and I had no regrets whatsoever choosing them as my doulas! 🤍”

    L.G.

  • "Jess was so beyond helpful from pregnancy to birth, and postpartum. She is so knowledgeable and helps prepare you very well for what is to come and how to help you throughout this chapter in your life. Jess is so passionate and dedicated, she truly puts all her effort into her work. As a first time mom with nobody to reach out to for advice, Jess was there answering all my questions or was just there to listen. With the prenatal visits she educated me and my husband on how to prepare for birth, baby item recommendations, newborn sleep schedules, and so on. She was there with us throughout our very long labor and birth. During labor, she helped me with all sorts of labor positions, counter pressure, pain management tools, and even tasks such as filling up my water and also helping my husband to better support me. She even took super beautiful birth photos for us to cherish forever. She helped us get adjusted in our home when we got home with baby, gave great advice on breast-feeding, baby soothing, and any other postpartum things for you and baby. I strongly recommend getting Jess as a Doula, I don’t think we could’ve done this without her! Thank you Jess!"

    L.P.

  • "The birth classes were exactly what me and my husband needed to feel confident and ready for birth! It helped us feel informed about every way birth could go and all our different options! It also taught a lot practicals about breastfeeding and life after baby is here!!! Our actual birth went not according to plan but because we took the classes we felt informed and not blind into going into our c section! I’m so so thankful we took these classes and i recommend to ANYONE having a baby, it’s the best thing you can do!

    The first few months of being pregnant I was unsure if I needed a doula, we talked with Jess about our goals for birth etc and decided we thought it was best with our birth plan that we had her! Jess was the best doula and I couldn’t have gone through my birth without her! Even my husband was so thankful and agrees that she was so thoughtful, in the moment, informative and our biggest advocate to anyone in our birth room! My husbands words “not sure what we would’ve done without her” and I 100% agree!

    Jess was outstanding and I’m so grateful we had her! She advocated for me in moments I was overwhelmed and stressed out, she soothed my anxieties and help bring peace and clarity into the room! She met with us leading up to birth and after birth and I 100% recommend her as a doula to anyone looking into having one!"

    A.G.

  • "I had the pleasure of working with TaKara during my recent postpartum period, and the support she provided was invaluable. As an experienced mother, I initially wasn't sure if there was much left for me to learn; however, TaKara proved that expert support is beneficial regardless of how many times you’ve made the transition home. Her technical knowledge was evident from day one. She provided exceptional guidance on my breastfeeding journey, offering specific techniques for proper latching and positioning that made a significant difference in my comfort and confidence. Beyond the physical support, her focus on nutritional recovery was a highlight. She prepared postpartum-specific meals and snacks that were not only delicious but intentionally designed to support the healing process. In addition, she provided a safe, non-judgmental space for me to process my postpartum feelings. In a season of life that can often feel chaotic, she ensured I felt heard. I highly recommend TaKara’s services to any mother—whether it is your first child or your fifth. Her blend of professional expertise and genuine compassion is a rare find."

    A.M.

  • "Our experience with Jessica was great! My husband and I attended her four-week birthing class as we prepare for our first baby. Although we came into the classes having done a lot of reading, we still had plenty of questions/uncertainty, and her class truly helped put us at ease while giving us more confidence. The sessions were hands-on, engaging, and covered topics in depth, all while creating a comfortable space to ask any questions. We also walked away with great written reference materials and a birth plan, which made everything feel much more manageable. On top of that, Jessica followed up after the class with additional resources and links for further research, which we really appreciated. It has been the perfect way to prepare for birth with confidence and a positive, empowered mindset!"

    A.M.

  • “TaKara was beyond helpful for my birth prep, as well as throughout my birth experience and my postpartum recovery. She is such a steady and warm presence, and steps in wherever needed to support you - which is so important when you’re in “labor land”. I’m so grateful I was able to have her as my Doula. It was especially helpful talking through my birth experience with her postpartum to help process everything that had happened. I would 100% recommend her to anyone preparing to bring a new little life into the world!”

    K.H

  • The BEST decision my husband and I could’ve made was hiring Jessica and Takara as our doulas. I had the best birthing and postpartum experience ever! Their support and wisdom was everything we needed and more. I will definitely be hiring them again with every future pregnancy ❤️ Thank you so much ladies!!!

    E.D.

  • When I found out I was pregnant with my second baby, I knew I wanted to experience labor and birth differently. I was so grateful to connect with Jess Nelson, and I knew right away that I was in great hands!
    My experience with Jess leading up to, during, and after birth was exactly what I had been hoping and believing for. She truly made everything feel easier and calmer, and the amount of support she provided was incredible.
    Having Jess by my side was such a huge blessing, and I’m so grateful for the care, encouragement, and reassurance she gave me throughout the entire experience. I would absolutely recommend having a doula to help with the preparation, support, and peace of mind you need throughout your birth journey!

    D.R.