Birth Doula Service

How I Help During Labour & Birth

As a birth doula, I provide knowledgeable, open-minded, evidence-based support to birthing people and their partners.

Doula care is not clinical care - that's well covered for you already by our medical system (midwife/GP, lab techs, nurses, OBs, pediatricians, anesthesiologists...).

Labour, birth and parenthood are big life endeavours. They aren't defined by medical procedures and systems. My work is focussed on physical, emotional/mental care and resource/information sharing - for example:

• helping you prepare for your labour with in-depth, unhurried conversation during our prenatal meetings.
• acting as a "live labour handbook" on the big day so you can just focus on being present in labour.
• assisting you in communicating with care providers so you are making informed decisions as they arise.
• making suggestions for labour progress and helping with relaxation, massage, positioning and other techniques for comfort.
• providing patient, up-to-date lactation education.
• helping you settle-in at home after baby's arrival

I love how this shot captures the gritty reality of hospital food.

book a free consult

Postpartum Doula Service    

How I Help After Your Baby Arrives

I thought it would be rude to take a picture of a client napping so I chose this shot I took of some hungry bird babies. Please note: I have no bird care skills.

Welcoming a baby into your life is a joyful time. It's also a major adjustment; it involves new challenges and a steep learning curve.  Many people find early parenthood an overwhelming and isolating experience. This is a time of life that requires extra practical help, emotional support and reserves of strength. 

As your postpartum doula I provide in-home help during the weeks after the birth/arrival of your child.  My support is customized to the needs of your family and varies from client to client.  In general, here are some ways I can help you:

• meal prep - you need to eat well during this time (granola bars are not enough!)
• minding baby while you take a nap, shower, walk etc
• light housekeeping, tidying up
• information, insight and resources
• assistance with a sibling's care and their adapting to the new baby
• knowledgeable, up-to-date breastfeeding support
• errands
• household organization (give me a label maker and set me loose)
• education and evidence-based information on newborn care and postpartum adjustment
• immediate support for adoptive parents, who may welcome a child on very short notice

My goal as a postpartum doula is to eventually work myself out of a job. I want to ease your transition into life as a new (or bigger) family so you are empowered to thrive into the future.

Fees & Packages

Birth Doula Package - $1700

• 2 consults in the 3rd trimester to discuss your concerns and preferences regarding labour and birth
• I'm on-call 24/7 at least 2 weeks before your est. due date
• Continuous support throughout labour & birth
• Back-up doula arrangements
• 1 - 2 visits at your home after the birth of your baby
• phone/text/email support from the time you hire me until 6 weeks postpartum
  

Postpartum Doula Service - $35/hour

• My support is customized to the needs of your family, is mutually agreed upon, and varies from client to client.
• Generally, I charge $35/hour; shifts are typically 2-3 hours.
• I provide care during the daytime (9am-4pm) on weekdays. I do not work evenings, overnights or weekends.
  
• A minimum purchase of ten (10) hours of postpartum support ($350.00) is required to secure my services. 
• I'm able to serve families in Victoria as well as some neighbourhoods in Saanich, Esquimalt, and Oak Bay.

The team that formed between my partner, Pamela, and myself was pure magic. There’s no other way to describe it...all I could feel was seamless, careful, unending support, which allowed me to access a deep strength within myself that I did not know I had.