Sommessa
Kenmore, WA
https://www.sommessa.com/doula-offerings
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Birth Fee
Not specified
Postpartum Rate
$55 to $65
Availability Remarks: Learn more about me via my website! I’m Carrot approved and I offer postpartum overnight care, with some flexibility for day shifts. Currently, I'm not offering birth support.
Birth Fee
Not specified
Postpartum Rate
$55 to $65
10 years and 93 births attended
8 years and 224 families served
Type of practice: Solo practice
Clients per month: 2 to 4
Postpartum Day Support: $50/hour (5-hour minimum/8-hour maximum per shift), Postpartum Overnight Support: $60/hour (8-hour minimum/12-hour maximum per shift)
Kenmore, WA
Post a testimonial for Mel Swanson
5/12/2026
Working with Mel as our night doula was one of the best decisions we made as new parents. We have worked with other doulas before, and Mel was truly exceptional. Her level of care, professionalism, organization, and emotional support was on a completely different level.
From day one, Mel helped us establish a structured and sustainable sleep routine for our baby. Even on nights she was not with us, we never felt stressed about bedtime because she had guided us so well. Thanks to her consistency and expertise, our baby developed day and night routines surprisingly quickly.
Mel was always incredibly prepared, organized, and detail-oriented. Every morning she left us thorough notes with detailed timelines of feeds, diaper changes, sleep patterns, observations about our baby, plus helpful resources and recommendations. Her communication and thoughtfulness gave us confidence and peace of mind.
What made Mel especially amazing was how deeply she cared for our entire family. She thoughtfully prepared everything I needed overnight for postpartum recovery and breastfeeding, including water, snacks, and pumping parts, so I could truly rest. She was also patient and caring with our dog during the newborn transition, offering guidance on helping our anxious dog adjust to the baby.
One of the greatest gifts Mel gave us was peace of mind. There were many nights when I could leave the house, breathe fresh air, and fully relax because I knew our baby was in loving and capable hands. She has such a calm and special way with babies — somehow our baby never cried when Mel was here, even during diaper changes.
On top of being an amazing doula, Mel is also a talented photographer. She took beautiful one-month photos of our newborn that we will treasure forever.
The biggest mistake we made was not booking Mel for more weeks in advance. She gets booked out for a reason, and we cannot recommend her highly enough.
1/15/2026
Mel was an incredible night doula for our family. She’s attentive, caring, and immediately made our nights feel calm and manageable. Beyond helping overnight, she also taught us practical, easy-to-follow tips on how to build a better sleep ritual for our baby.
After the shift, she left detailed notes in a Google Doc, including her observations throughout the night and specific suggestions for improving our bedtime routine. We followed her recommendations and were able to shift our baby’s bedtime from around 11pm to 8pm.
I highly recommend Mel to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, thoughtful, and dependable night doula.
1/13/2026
We are beyond grateful for the overnight care we received from Mel. From the very beginning, she took care of me just as much as she took care of our baby—both emotionally and physically. She consistently checked in with me and my partner, genuinely asking how we were doing and holding space for the realities of early postpartum life.
She has over a decade of experience, and it truly showed in every aspect of her care. She helped me heal through very difficult emotions and supported me during my recovery from a C-section with so much compassion, calm, and confidence. I always felt seen, supported, and safe in her presence.
She went above and beyond by preparing nutritious, healthy food for me and always making sure my water was refilled, which made such a difference during those exhausting newborn days. She was an incredibly intelligent and emotionally attuned sounding board as we navigated newborn reflux, helping us think through challenges in a way that felt grounding rather than overwhelming.
What I appreciated most was her approach: she offered thoughtful suggestions and gently helped us try new things with our baby, but never once pushed or forced anything. She respected our instincts while empowering us with knowledge.
From the moment we met her, she was extremely considerate—arriving masked and being so thoughtful and respectful in our home. Each morning, she left extensive, detailed notes about the night, including progress made and exactly how our baby was doing, which gave us so much peace of mind.
Her care was professional, deeply knowledgeable, and incredibly nurturing. Having her during the overnight hours was truly invaluable, and I cannot recommend her enough to any family looking for exceptional postpartum and newborn care.
11/4/2025
When I decided to pursue working with a postpartum doula, I did not know what I was getting. I thought someone would help us through the rough nights. Of course, Mel did this to the nth degree, but there was so much more. During those rough nights, she provided care to my family with tenderness and consideration. Mel would sit with me during rough feedings, offering snacks, ice water, tea, and so much encouragement. We woke for the day to find the house spotless and our baby well-rested. When I struggled with the lactation consultant I had been working with, she helped me find one better suited to our family’s needs and personalities. It’s because of her support and assistance that I was able to keep breastfeeding long past my initial goal.During that newborn phase, Mel had such confidence and kindness, we slept easy every time she was with our baby and even felt comfortable enough to leave the house and take time to reconnect during her day shifts from very early on. Not only did we always return to a happy baby, but the house was always tidy.
Our baby had pretty bad gas in the first few months and reacts strongly to being tired or hungry. Mel has always been so patient and calm in the face of any meltdowns and has taught us how to face our child’s feelings with grace. Not only does she make our lives easier, but I truly believe she has helped us become better parents.As our daughter got older, we were sad to think that our time with Mel would be coming to an end. But Mel understands that postpartum doesn’t end after the first three months and is ongoing! She is still here for our family, often babysitting our daughter, and every time she leaves, my husband and I spend the rest of the day talking about how much we appreciate her.
I could not recommend her more highly. I wish every parent had Mel in their life and we are so grateful and lucky to have her in ours.
= Available. Calendar last updated: 05-04-2026
= Available. Calendar last updated: 05-04-2026