Beliefs I hold as a mother + doula.
Your birth experience matters.
Women should be able to birth how they want and where they feel safe, without judgement. They should feel informed, empowered, joyous, respected and without fear. Having multiple people on your birth team solely dedicated to your birth experience helps you feel confident and empowered about the choices infront of you that impact your experience. I aim to help raise the standards that women have for their births.
YOU are the expert of YOUR body and baby.
Only you know what feels safe, what feels right, and the best decision for you and your baby. Do not underestimate your motherly instincts. While I cannot speak for you, I will speak up for you and the decisions that you make.
Birth, in all its forms, can be empowering and transformative.
The beauty of birth is in its diversity; both in its process, and the people going through the journey. Diversity of thought, opinions and experience mean that an empowering birth looks different for everyone. Some find empowerment in the intensity of birth and safety knowing that physiological birth is perfectly designed. For others; modern medicine and medical providers help eliminate feelings of uncertainty- leading to feeling safe, in control and empowered. Understanding your birth process, along with the different risks vs benefits of different choices will allow you to build confidence in knowing you made the right decision for yourself. Birth does not have to be a scary thing you go through in order to find joy in meeting your child. It is a rite of passage that welcomes every mother and baby.
The fourth trimester is a continuation of your rebirth.
Along with the significant drop in the first three days postpartum, your hormones transition from supporting the growth of life to sustaining life through milk production and repair. Your womb is healing and everything inside of your body is trying to find its place again with the empty space in which your baby lived. Oxytocin is abundant. It is crucial to prioritize proper rest, nourishment, and bodywork during this unique period of repair and healing. Taking care of yourself now can set the stage for long-term benefits and well-being.
Motherhood truly does take a village.
The placenta is intricately designed with two layers of support and protection to safeguard you and your baby. Just as the placenta provides this dual layer of care, it's important for each member of your family to have a strong support system during the fourth trimester. Prioritizing proper nourishment, adequate rest, and healing in the initial weeks after birth truly requires a village. I am eager to potentially be a part of that supportive community for you.
A glimpse at me
I am a wife and mother of two, living in Sooke on Vancouver Island. Like most people, I find inspiration in my surroundings. I am a stay-at-home mom, so naturally my inspiration for getting into birth work came from my children.
After two completely polarizing birth experiences, I truly understood the power and impact of birth. Your birth team, the decisions you make, and the choices you have in front of you during the most vulnerable moments of your life have an everlasting impact on who you are as a person and as a parent. Once my daughter was born, I thought I had just experienced birth for what it was: painful and traumatic. It was something that happened to me, and I was told it was normal; I should consider myself lucky and grateful that both my daughter and I were alive. By the time I had my son, I had found my voice, built up a bit of confidence in my abilities, experienced the intensity, joy, and empowerment that is birth- and I wanted to help curate those highs for others. Since the birth of my son, I have continued to educate myself on the female design, physiological birth, and my standards for birth have only grown higher. I feel so honoured to be able to support women, to help them tap into their potential, realize the power within, and the power of birth.
I am grateful to have many wise women in my life who have walked alongside me on this new journey. I have teamed up with a few of them to offer Birth Work offerings to the Greater Victoria area. We are dedicated to offering unwavering support and respect throughout every woman's unique birth journey, empowering them to choose the birthing environment where they feel safe, respected, and informed. Our mission is to facilitate positive birth experiences by honouring individual choices and providing compassionate care. Together, we are The Birthkeepers Collective and we are so thrilled to be able to bring women a seamless support experience through pregnancy to postpartum.
Please reach out if you feel inclined to chat about birth or motherhood or to inquire about working with me. I look forward to connecting!
