FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Birth Doulas provide physical, emotional and informational support throughout pregnancy, birth and the postpartum journey for the birthing person and their family.

Numerous clinical studies have found that a Doula’s presence at a birth results in shorter labors with fewer complications, reduces negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience, reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction and cesarean births and reduces the mother’s request for pain medication and/or epidurals.

But a Doula is so much more than what a clinical study can convey. A Doula is someone to call in pregnancy when you’ve been googling and can’t find the answer to a question (or better yet, someone to call before you hit google, because you know that can be a bad idea). A Doula is someone you develop a bond with, can release your fears to and talk to about your dream birth. A Doula will hold your hand and help you feel safe when the sensations are strong. A Doula is someone who can show your partner how to get more involved and reassure them that the noises you’re making are completely normal. A Doula visits you at home, talks about your birth for the potentially 100^th time (and loves it) and helps you navigate those early days of parenting a newborn.

The benefit of a Birth Doula much outweighs the cost when it comes to one of the most important days in your life… A day you will remember above most.

As early as you’d like to start receiving support. We know very well that a million little (or big) questions can come up in pregnancy. Having someone to direct those questions to, instead of the google monster, is one major benefit of hiring a Doula earlier rather than later. Hiring a Doula early in your pregnancy also gives you more time to get to know the person who will be with you in some intimate and vulnerable moments, enhancing that bond and making sure your whole family will feel comfortable.

One last consideration is that we take on a limited amount of clients each month, so booking early ensures we’ll have the availability to serve you and your family.

SUVANNAH:

Maternal Support Practitioner
BeboMia / 2017

CPR C for Doulas
Safe Beginnings / 2017

JULIE:

Certified HypnoBirthing Childbirth Educator
HypnoBirthing: The Mongan Method International / 2017

Spinning Babies Workshop
Spinning Babies / 2017

Novice Rebozo Credential
Gena Kirby University for Doulas and Birth Professionals / 2017

Cultured Doula Program 
Gena Kirby University for Doulas and Birth Professionals / 2017

TENS Machines for Labor
Big Belly Services / 2017

Childbirth Educator
International Childbirth Educators Association (ICEA) /2016

Birth Doula 
Birth Arts International / 2015

Postpartum Doula
DONA International / 2015

Certified Lactation Educator
Simkin Centre / 2015

Birth Doula Training (and Certification)
DONA International / 2013

CPR C For Doulas
Safe Beginnings / 2017

First Aid Level 1
St. Johns Ambulance / 2017

Mental Health First Aid
Canadian Mental Health Association / 2011

Registered Yoga Teacher 200hr
Yoga Alliance / 2017

Taking the place of your partner, a person you have a deep personal connection with, is counter productive to a Doula’s job to help you feel safe, supported and calm.

A Doula often does the opposite! A Doula can help your partner become more involved in the birth by preparing them prenatally for their role as an emotional and physical support, by role modeling support methods at the birth and  by reassuring them of what normal birth can look like.

A Doula can also ensure your partner gets rest, eats and uses the restroom without fear of leaving you alone, and therefore be a better, more comfortable support person for you throughout the birth. Click here to read more about how Dads and Doulas work together.

Support:

• We SUPPORT all pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum and parenting choices without bias
• We SUPPORT informed choice, respect and unconditional care for the childbearing family
• We believe the level of SUPPORT and respect a woman receives in her labor, birth and postpartum period can have a long lasting impact, far beyond the childbearing year
• We believe in SUPPORTING the entire family through the childbearing year
• We know that early parenting can be challenging as well as the magical, beautiful experience you’ve imagined. We believe the guidance and SUPPORT of a confident, calm and experienced professional can help parents build their own confidence and ease the transition of a new child in the family

Trust:

• We TRUST birth as a normal physiological process
• We know that childbirth can be challenging. We equally TRUST that birthing women are strong – often stronger than they themselves realize
• We TRUST women as the experts of their own bodies and babies
• Your TRUST in us as professionals, will always be held at high priority. We will keep that TRUST by staying within our scope of practice, maintaining confidentiality and being honest with you at every step

Positivity:

• We believe childbirth has the potential to be a POSITIVE experience, as defined by you
• We place importance on maintaining positive relationships within the Kamloops birth community
• We’re just straight up positive people. We like that about ourselves and we think it rubs off for the better

Professionalism:

• We strive to be PROFESSIONALS (with heart). From intake and scheduling appointments to interacting with your care providers and birth team – you can feel reassured that we will always be PROFESSIONAL

Informed Choice:

• We believe that if you don’t know your choices, you don’t have any. We place importance on the process of becoming informed
• We know that as the birthing couple and parents, you are the best equipped to make choices for your family

Hypnobirthing is as much a philosophy as it is a prenatal education class series. The 5 week, 2.5 hour weekly prenatal education class series is designed for both the woman and her partner and covers what a traditional prenatal education class usually covers (physiology, phases of labor, comfort measures, etc…) but with an additional focus on preparing you to reach a deep state of relaxation in labor and birth to reduce fear, stay calm, allow your body to function without your mind’s interference, as well as deal calmly with any unforeseen changes that may arise in birth.

Learn more about HypnoBirthing here.

The answer to this question also addresses one of our values; your birth is not our birth.

We believe you should experience your pregnancy and birth the way you want it, not the way your Doula wants it, your friend wants it, your Doctor of Midwife wants it, or your family wants it. Our support reflects this.

The choice to use pain medications as a tool in your labor and birth, as well as all the other choices you will make throughout this process are completely yours to make.

Bottomline – no matter what you chose, we will support you without bias!