What is a Doula?
Birth is about more then just babies.
The Three Kinds of Support
I am with you to witness your experience with compassion and without judgment. Before and especially after a birth, a lot of emphasis gets put on the physical health and wellbeing of the birther and baby. There is nothing wrong with making sure everyone is healthy, but a person’s emotional health also is very important and often doesn’t get the attention that it deserves. I’m there to be a listening ear and to remind you that your emotions are valid, normal and deserve to be felt.
Emotional Support
Acknowledging My Privileges
In the simplest terms, a doula is a person who is employed to provide support to someone during their pregnancy and birth or in the postpartum period. What draws me to this work is my desire to advocate for the individual birther's needs. So often our culture medicalizes birth and takes the decision making process out of the birther's hands. It takes incredible strength to bring a baby into the world, and then to care for that new life. I want to be there as someone my clients can trust to bring their needs back into the picture. My main focus is on helping you to reclaim your autonomy so that you can trust your body and feel good about the decisions you make.
Physical Support
During labour I will be there to help create a supportive environment for relaxation, assist with physical comfort techniques and position changes, and look after you and your birth partner/s so that everyone stays rested, fed and well hydrated. During the postpartum period I am there to aid in the birther’s recovery and to help care for the newborn. My primary focus is on reducing your stress load and helping you feel confident and well enough so that my support is no longer necessary.
There are many decisions for you to make during your pregnancy and after, when your baby arrives. Often it is overwhelming and hard to know where to start. I will be there to help you figure out what you're really looking for by offering evidence based research and helping you explore your options. It is my job to stay as unbiased as possible and to provide information from credible sources. My desire is to help you make choices that come from a place of empowerment and not fear.
Informational Suppport
As a birth worker it is my job to provide support to my clients in three different ways. Whether I’m supporting someone through their birth or in the days following I am there for them emotionally, physically and informationally.
Choosing the Right Doula For You
The relationship between a birth worker and their client is unique because it is both professional and personal at the same time. As a doula, I am there for some of the most intimate and special moments of your life. I bear witness not only to the joy and wonder of bringing new life into the world, but also the struggle and challenge that comes along with it. It might sound obvious, but it is important that you like and trust your doula. Not every doula going to be a good fit for every birther and visa versa, but there is a doula out there who is right for you. Trust your intuition when it comes to making this decision.
About Me
Hi, my name is Hannah and I am a birth nerd. It's my passion. I love pretty much anything that has to do with this amazing biological function. The more I learn about pregnancy and birth, the more excited I am to share my knowledge with all of you. And its not just understanding the physiological process that interests me. This work is my calling because I love to understand people. What makes them tick, how they feel, and who they are. Every person is unique, and it's my job to make you feel seen and valued for who you are. Everyone deserves to birth and parent in a way that feels right to them. I am very lucky that I can help make that possible.
I would like to acknowledge the privileges that I have being someone who lives in a straight, white and relatively small body. I have not faced the same challenges as those people who are part of the Queer and BIPOC communities or those who live in bigger bodies. I am aware that, despite my efforts, I still have cultural biases, but I am actively working to alter my perspective so I can be affirming to all the people I may work with. Understanding the relevance of discrimination when it comes to my role as a doula is very important. I am grateful for the people who have taken the time to educate me, because it makes me more capable of including and understanding others.
I would also like to acknowledge that I am currently located on the unceded territories of the Ê·mÉ™θkÊ·É™yÌ“É™m (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and selÌ“ílÌ“witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
I am human and so Are you
Location and Contact
I am serving families in North and West Vancouver. If you are interested in my services or just have some questions then please email me and we can set up a time to chat. I look forward to hearing from you.
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