Birth Preparation

The way that you prepare for labour can greatly impact your experience, whether things end up going exactly how you hope or not. My goal as your doula is to make sure that you are well aware of all of the choices that you have available to you and that you feel like you have enough trustworthy information to make the decisions that are right for you and your family. If you have not been/will not be able to attend a childbirth class, I will take the time to go through the basics with you and make sure that all of your questions are answered. We will discuss coping strategies for labour and practice some of the positions and techniques that you may want to use, and we will also discuss things you can do to on your own to prepare physically and mentally for the birth.
Taking into consideration your history, your home and family situation, and the resources that you have available, I will help you to clarify your priorities and make a realistic game plan about how you will navigate late pregnancy, labour and delivery, and your postpartum period. After that, my work is to help you make your wishes a reality (as much as possible).
I do not need to tell you that bringing new life into this world is a huge task - physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Facing down this event can bring up a lot, from things about our relationships with our own parents or our partners to things about our relationships with our wombs and vaginas. Our bodies hold our stories, and the womb is a place tucked deep inside where some of our most vulnerable feelings and memories live. I will use a trauma-informed approach to check in with you about whether you need some extra support to make sure you are going in to the birthing experience with the feelings of safety and openness needed to be able to enjoy the day (or days!) as much as you deserve to.
Together, we can consult with your family/support team (eg. older siblings, grandparents) to ensure that everyone's feelings about the big change are addressed and everyone knows what their roles will be during and after the birth of the baby.