Welcome!

Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, Timnath, Wellington, Windsor, Berthoud, Ault, Severance and surrounding areas inside

Northern Colorado

Doula support from pregnancy through parenthood.

Find out how a doula can help you thrive at every stage.

Labor & Birth

Postpartum

Education

Lactation

Bereavement

What is a doula?

Whatever comes your way, the experience is always better when you and your partner know you have a solid person to lean on.

A doula (from the ancient Greek meaning “a woman who serves”) helps you navigate information and a whole spectrum of emotions; grief, fear, stress, joy and more so you can make informed decisions that make sense for you. No judgement (it’s not our style).

Trust us: you need a compassionate, calm, unbiased and approachable in your corner. Someone who listens. Someone who understands the complexity of what you’re going through. Someone trained in pregnancy, birth and postpartum who can be a mama (figure) without all the drama.

They say it takes a village, but it takes the RIGHT village.

No matter the circumstance, we're here as your guide and helping hand as you adjust to your new life. We support families across all spectrums and backgrounds:

First time parents and repeat parents

Fertility challenges

Trauma and abuse survivors

Hospital births (with a home birth feel)

VBAC

High risk support

Scheduled surgical births

Multiples

Single Parents

Miscarriage, Stillbirth & Pregnancy after loss

BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and inclusive Support

How Can We Support You?

INTERESTED IN DOULA SUPPORT? LET'S CHAT!

Labor & Birth Doula Support

Postpartum Doula Support

Lactation Support

Bereavement Support

Frequently Asked Questions

Hiring a Doula FAQs

What does a doula do?

A doula provides emotional, physical, and educational support during pregnancy, labor, birth, postpartum recovery, and early parenthood. At Noco Doula Collective, our Northern Colorado doulas help families feel informed, supported, and confident throughout their parenting journey.

Why should I hire the NoCo Doula Collective?

Hiring a doula can help reduce stress, improve birth satisfaction, and provide continuous support during pregnancy, labor, postpartum recovery, and newborn care. Noco Doula Collective offers trauma-informed, evidence-based doula services throughout Northern Colorado. We are a trusted part of your birth team with local providers. All of our doulas are certified by accredited doula training programs and each doula has additional specialized training ranging from bereavement support, NICU support, nutrition, Spinning Babies and more!

What makes Noco Doula Collective different?

Noco Doula Collective provides a collaborative team approach with experienced birth doulas, postpartum doulas, NICU doulas, sibling doulas, lactation counselors, a pediatriac sleep consultant, and birth photographers. Families receive evidenced based, trauma informed, personalized and non-judgmental care tailored to their unique goals and needs.

When should I hire a doula?

Many families hire a birth doula during the first or second trimester, but doulas can be hired at any stage of pregnancy or postpartum. Booking early helps ensure availability for your estimated due date.

Do you offer doula services for every budget or sliding scale?

Yes. NoCo Doula Collective offers a variety of doula support packages and educational services designed to meet different family needs and budgets across Northern Colorado. Book a consult here to learn more.

Do you take insurance?

We do not take insurance but we are happy to provide a super bill at the end of services rendered. We encourage you to check with your insurance company as many companies do provider some reimbursement for services. We also work often with WIN and Carrot.

Can I pick the doula I want to work with at the NoCo Doula Collective?

Of course! You can look at all of our bios and request which doula you feel is a great match for you. Once the consult is requested we will make sure your doula has availability for your due date before confirming your consultation.

Does a doula help the partner too?

Absolutely! A doula is part of the birth team. Your partner is the expert in YOU...and your doula is the expert in birth. We work to support the both of you - physically, emotionally, and through education. Together, we all work together to create an empowered experience for the whole family.

Does the NoCo Doula Collective offer lactation support?

You bet! Feeding your baby is a natural skill, but it is one that you need to learn. And learning is always easier with a little support. NoCo Doula Collective has several CLCs who offer home visit appointments. We can troubleshoot any issues, help assess latch and milk transfer, weigh your baby, and generally help you make sure things are off to a good start.

Meet The Doulas

Northern Colorado Birth and Postpartum Doulas

Julianne Curtis (she/her)

CLD, CPBD, CPPD, CCCE, CNPE, CLC, SBD, CAPPA Labor Doula instructor

Julianne has nearly 30 years of experience in nurturing families through pregnancy, birth, and beyond. Founding the Northern Colorado Doula Collective has been her dream. With humor, empathy, and expertise, she supports clients from preconception all the way through parenthood. She also facilitates many of our support groups and is responsible for the birth education we provide. Her specialty is helping parents navigate bereavement and grief after miscarriage and infant loss.

Katie Piccolo (she/her)

BSW, CLD, Hypno-Doula, Hypnobabies Instructor

Katie is one of the founding members of the Northern Colorado Doula Collective. She's a CAPPA Certified Labor Doula and Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis Instructor. Katie channels over 15 years of professional experience into her passion for guiding families through their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey. She's committed to providing evidence-based support and respecting each family's unique birth experience.

Chloe McCarthy (she/her)

Senior Postpartum Doula

Meet Chloe, a dedicated mom, wife, and postpartum doula from Northern Colorado. Drawing from her own experiences and her work in health education, Chloe offers a nurturing, non-judgmental space, ensuring families thrive with her guidance. Whether it's meal prep, sibling care, or sharing knowledge, she's committed to empowering diverse families to confidently embrace their postpartum chapters.

What Working With Us Is Like...

Here's what others have to say.

"Julianne really is your doula for life. She's a great support and advocate during pregnancy, birth, and after."

- Rebecca

"Throughout the entire journey into parenthood Katie always encouraged my husband and I to follow our instincts, and I think that is what makes her unique."

- Riley

"We had an idea of our ideal birth, but she gave us ideas and thoughts that allowed us to make an even more informed decision.

- Nicole

The postpartum doula service was life changing. Chloe was there for our growing family, and I cannot fathom what it would have been like without her the several weeks of being newly postpartum. I learned so much from her and knew my baby was in great hands with her when I need to get something done in the house or even REST. I highly recommend this service- specifically Chloe. :)”

-Capri

I cannot say enough wonderful things about our experience with the Noco Doula Collective and Kyria Brown, our doula, as well as Ella Morgan, our postpartum doula. From start to finish, I felt genuinely supported, heard, and cared for in a way that made such a difference during the birth of our daughter.
Kyria brought a calm, grounded presence that helped me feel confident and informed throughout my pregnancy and birth. She was extremely friendly, communicative and offered guidance without ever making us feel pressured. I always felt like I had someone truly in my corner as an advocate and she made our birth such a positive experience.”

-Kate

I highly recommend NoCo Doula Collective and Paige as our doula. We recently had our first baby and one of the best decisions we made was hiring Paige. She was wonderful! She was always available for questions, provided support before, during, and after labor (even partner support which was more important than we realized initially). She also is an amazing photographer and did a newborn photoshoot for us. She's professional, passionate, and confident. She instantly made us feel comfortable and we're very thankful she was a part of our birth story.”

-Ariel

Hear from real families Julianne has supported — in their own words. ✨ This is a compilation of heartfelt testimonials from clients who worked with me as their birth and postpartum doula. They share how my guidance, presence, and care helped them feel supported, empowered, and confident through labor, birth, and early parenthood.

Birth Education

LOOKING FOR BIRTH EDUCATION THAT MEETS YOU WHERE YOU ARE?

Want to get more personalized birth and postpartum education? You're in the right spot. If you're a client, these workshops are included with your package. If you're not a client, we would love to have you join us!

*Please note that these classes are not meant to replace prenatal classes, but are built to enhance them.

Labor Prep &

Birth Support

In this workshop, we will cover writing your birth preferences (not a birth plan) preparing your body for birth, labor interventions, and support through both unmedicated and medically managed labors.

Feeding The Baby

In this workshop, we will cover best practices for feeding your newborn, addressing expectations and feeding challenges, and advocating for both you and baby in a hospital setting.

Planning The

4th Trimester

This workshop was designed to help you thrive in the early postpartum days and weeks after your baby is born. I'll cover how to best care for your postpartum body, tips for getting sleep, good nutrition, the transition back to work, childcare, and how to nurture your relationship with your partner.

Not Your First Rodeo (Birth)

Not your first birth but feel like you could use a refresher? Wondering how this birth will be different from your last birth? Want to know how to prepare siblings for a baby? Then this group is for you.

Or maybe this is your first birth using a doula? In this workshop, I will help prepare you for all the things you need to know for a different birth from your first/last.

Our Media

How to Make Labor More Fun (Or At Least Manageable)

How to Make Labor More Fun (Or At Least Manageable)

July 10, 20234 min read

How to Make Labor More Fun (Or At Least Manageable) from Your Fort Collins Birth Doula

As a seasoned Fort Collins birth doula, I’ve been in a labor and delivery room a few times. Okay, a loooootttt of times. And I’ve noticed a thing or two about what makes some deliveries more fun… or at least, more tolerable than others. I’m going to talk about that today. 

Having a baby is hard work… there’s no way around that. It’s going to be hard, and you’re going to be pushed to your limits, but I promise you, it doesn’t have to be awful. In fact, it can be so beautiful, fun, and empowering. 

I know, I know. You’re probably reading this and think I’ve lost my mind using fun and birth in the same sentence, but I promise I haven’t. Aside from any major medical emergencies or extenuating circumstances, labor can actually be fun. And that’s what we all want right? A beautiful, fun, and sweet delivery. 

How to Make Labor More Fun (Or At Least Manageable)

If you don’t believe me yet, keep reading. I promise there’s a way to ease your mind in a way that will allow you to enjoy the experience. As a Fort Collins birth doula, here’s what I’ve noticed that makes labor go smoother: 

  • Working to break free of fear… I know this sounds easier said than done, but what sometimes happens in birth is that you can’t enjoy the goodness of it all because you’re so focused on the fear of it all. This looks different for everyone, but breaking that fear cycle can free your mind. This will look different for everyone but before labor even starts, work to change your mindset, get your questions answered, address your fears, find what makes you feel the safest, assert control over the things you can have a say in, and work to reset your thoughts about the whole process. Pam England from Birthing From Within has a great fear clearing exercise I recommend everyone does before birth. You can find it here:

  • Practicing mindfulness – As you prepare for labor, mindfulness training is one of the best things you can do for yourself. You’ll learn how to be in the moment, how to meditate, and train for the delivery of your baby. This will give you the tools you need to make it more peaceful, and ultimately more enjoyable.

  • Packing your music! As a Fort Collins birth doula, I always recommend you pack a speaker or headphones in your hospital bag. That way you can sing, dance, and shake those hips during delivery. When you dance and sing, your body will naturally increase more endorphins that will help you feel better and be happier.  And if you don’t feel up to DJ’ing your own birth playlist there are lots of already made playlists one many of the music stations.

  • Doing what feels good – Unless there is a medical reason not to, I always recommend my clients listen to their own bodies and change positions frequently. Using a good balance of rest, standing, squats, movement, walking, and stretching can not only shorten your labor but also make it more comfortable too. Honoring your body and its cravings will help you through your labor.

  • Repeating your mantras – As part of mindfulness training, I always recommend clients pick a few mantras that they repeat over and over to themselves during labor. They might be sayings like – this is temporary, or good things are coming, or my body was made for this. Whatever sayings feel right to you will help you get through labor.

  • Playing your favorite podcast, book, or album – Another thing you can do to make the time pass and to help take your mind off things is to listen to your favorite podcast, book, or album. These can all help center your mind and give you something else to think about.  I particularly love the story “Wonder” that Matthew Mchonachy reads on the Calm app. His voice is like butter.

  • Relying on humor – As your Fort Collins birth doula, everyone knows I love humor. It’s a great way to lighten the mood and help everyone relax. Telling jokes, sharing funny stories, or quick quips during delivery can all help everyone enjoy the moment a bit more. 

Labor is hard work, but it’s my sincerest hope that these few tips will make your birth just a bit more enjoyable. 

And as a Fort Collins birth doula, I know the secret sauce to most happy births is parents who are willing to go with the flow and surrender to the process just a little bit.  

Sending you all my love,

Julianne 

If you have any questions or if there’s anything I can do to help, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Otherwise, I would love it if you followed me on Facebook and Instagram for more content (and jokes!). 

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ALL birthing people have the RIGHT to experience BIRTH,

to maintain dignity, health equity and body autonomy, to feel safe, to make informed consent,

no matter their relationship status, race, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

We support all families.

NoCo Doula Collective offers non-judgmental, non-medical, kind, trauma informed,

collaborative care that focuses on the unique personal experience

of each family we support from conception through the 4th Trimester.

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