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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   Learn more For more information on Adela Salazar’s bilingual prenatal and childbirth education services, call 425-315-2626.   Related Stories • Hospitals worry as they care for more low-weight newborns 6/29/08   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Sunday, June 29, 2008 Doula spreads word about prenatal care By Sharon Salyer, Herald Writer MONROE -- Adela Salazar began her fight for prenatal health eight years ago, household by household, knocking on doors. People were often surprised to find that the blond-haired, blue-eyed woman standing on their doorstep was bilingual, also fluent in Spanish. As part of her role as a doula, or someone who assists women during childbirth, Salazar is spreading the message of the importance of prenatal health. She also works at Valley General Hospital and other area medical clinics as a medical interpreter. Babies with low birth weights, a problem increasing not only in Washington but nationally, are more common among low-income women and women of color, studies find. "When we look specifically in Snohomish County at who's affected, what we find is that it's Native Americans and Hispanics as an ethnic group," said Dr. Gary Goldbaum, health officer for the Snohomish Health District. Salazar said she thinks the message about the importance of prenatal health, which can help prevent problems such as low birth weights, is getting out to young women. "Our babies are very healthy," Salazar said of the women she works with. Mothers-to-be know they need to eat a little better to provide more nutrients to their babies, she said. In short: "Eat healthy, drink healthy, and stay away from fast foods," she tells them. AnaBel Bentley, 27, is one of the patients who received help from Salazar. Her two children, son Frankie, born last year, and daughter Sarah, born May 30, both tipped the scales at more than 8 pounds at birth. "She told me what to eat," including a lot of milk and protein, Bentley said. Bentley learned about how to have good prenatal health as part of the childbirth education classes that Salazar teaches at the hospital. "I think she's very important in my life," Bentley said. "I know that if I have a problem or some question, she's there to help me. "I don't know how she makes time for everybody. If you call her she's always there." Salazar said her doula services are provided free to any hospital patient. Because of her fluency in Spanish, patients come from Skagit and King counties to get help with their pregnancies. So many people have heard of her services by word of mouth that when she steps into local businesses, there's often a wave of recognition. "I go into a restaurant and see somebody I know, then it's people in the next booth and the next." Sometimes a woman will greet her with a hug, triggering a question from someone else about what it is Salazar does to get such a response. "It's really kind of funny," Salazar said. "They want to know what I'm about and what I do."

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