Who Am I ?

 

 

 

 

In my first unplanned pregnancy, I realized there was a lot I didn’t know and for which I felt thoroughly unprepared. Thus, I immersed myself in reading and asking questions of the older women around me and taking several sets of prenatal classes! I discovered a passion for birth and a world of knowledge that didn’t seem readily available in the media surrounding me. I believe “childbirth is a profound rite of passage, not just a medical event (though it may involve medical expertise), and primarily a journey of self-discovery, not simply an assimilation of obstetric information.”*

I have completed training as a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator and maintain this through on-going education. I have also completed my training as birth doula through DONA, and as an Registered Nurse, I have regular police record checks and my CPR is always up to date. I have worked with women and families prenatally as a RN, a birth doula and educator since 2010. More recently, (April 2016), I completed my training as a postpartum doula (DONA), and am working toward this certification through helping women, infants and their families make a smooth transition to mothers, siblings and parents. As the mother of three vibrant and beautiful children, I have been challenged in my beliefs about parenting practices and infant temperament after each birth. Subsequently, each postpartum experience has presented unique joys and challenges, and I have appreciated the presence and support of myriad friends, neighbours, community and healthcare professionals. I hope to offer this nurturing and solidarity to the women and families I serve.