Birth is labour!
You may have heard stories about long, hard births with many interventions, busy hospitals, lack of privacy, and medical staff with a different agenda than yours. Birth is a miracle from start to finish but it is also hard work (that’s why they call it labour). Just like in pregnancy, your body is constantly changing and preparing itself for this important work called birth and it can be hard to understand all that is happening.
Experience Continuous Labour Support
Enter the doula. A doula is armed with knowledge. She knows the system, she knows about birth and all the many forms it can take. She can help you advocate for your needs and make the journey easier. She can be your safe place, the person that will not leave your side, the one that is centered on you and your partner. She offers comfort measures, intuitively knows when you need a change, when something is getting too hard. She has your back, your front and everything in between!
How does this work?
Let’s meet in person and chat about your thoughts about your upcoming birth. At this free, no obligation meeting, we can talk about how I can support you and your partner. I can answer any questions about my assistance at your birth.
After meeting, if it feels like a good fit, we will connect for two or three more prenatal visits. We will get to know each other and get an understanding of any previous births and concerns you may have about this birth. We will prepare a plan together and I will continue to share my knowledge of birth and birthing practices specific to your situation. We’ll practice relaxation and comfort techniques and various positions that can help with a stalled birth. During this time, in my home or yours, we will prepare ten delicious meals for the freezer to be enjoyed in the busy days after the birth.
I will be available for support through email, text and phone and will be on call 24/7 two weeks prior to your estimated due date until the baby arrives. When the big day comes, I will join you in your home or hospital and provide continuous support through your labour with knowledge, encouragement and comfort measures. I will remain with you and your new family until you are settled and bonding together as a family but will respect the sacredness of these first hours. I will schedule a postpartum visit during the first week and again as you deem appropriate to help with any concerns you may have. At these visits, I provide a listening ear, non-judgmental advice and help with whatever is needed.
I will be available for support through email, text and phone and will be on call 24/7 two weeks prior to your estimated due date until the baby arrives. When the big day comes, I will join you in your home or hospital and provide continuous support through your labour with knowledge, encouragement and comfort measures. I will remain with you and your new family until you are settled and bonding together as a family but will respect the sacredness of these first hours. I will schedule a postpartum visit during the first week and again as you deem appropriate to help with any concerns you may have. At these visits, I provide a listening ear, non-judgmental advice and help with whatever is needed.
"Susan was absolutely incredible at all stages of our birth, delivery and post-partum experience. Prior to our delivery, she provided us with evidence-based information and resources for every question and concern we had. We also appreciated the sincere effort she put in to understand us as a couple, our preferences, and how she could best support us. During labour, she was a phenomenal coach not only for myself, but for my husband. At every stage, she offered an unbiased, but highly knowledgeable voice that allowed us to consider the benefits, risks and alternatives to the choices we made. Susan's calm, comforting demeanor put us all at ease and made my husband and I feel confident with everything that was happening. The time she invested in getting to know us as a couple, as well as our concerns paid off as she was conscientious and aware of the situation at all times, and was one step ahead of us. She was also assertive and responsive when circumstances changed quickly, and coached us in advocating for our wishes to the hospital staff.
Susan remained at the hospital with us for quite some time to ensure that we were all settled in - truly going above and beyond what she needed to do. She also made sure that my husband had eaten, and considered his well-being throughout which was important to me. After our son was born, Susan's generous nature remained consistent as she checked in on me often and continued to answer all of my questions!
As a first-time Mom, everything about pregnancy and labour was unknown and uncertain. I have a lot of family and friends that were great supports, but having Susan as a doula was the best choice we made. My husband and I both feel that I was able to manage my own anxiety around the experience due to her involvement. If you are looking for an incredibly open-minded, loving and compassionate woman to support you as you grow your family, Susan is a wonderful choice."
~Colleen and Ryan
