Having recently chosen to provide naturopathic doula services, the dedication I feel to honouring the birthing process and everyone involved stems from my own experience in pregnancy and giving birth. While I had incredible support, well-rounded knowledge, and gratitude; I felt overwhelmed with the reality.
The loss of joy from the overshadowing self-doubt and willful advocacy for myself took a toll. In retrospect, I would not change a thing, as it brought me to where I am now.
My ability to provide support, care, and wisdom to the birthing process carries a life purpose.
My vision of humanity has evolved over the years, and I believe that the link between individuals, families, communities, and ecosystems begins in utero.
My birth journey meant navigating a complex path of well-meaning strangers, friends, and family, medical tests and interventions, books and podcasts, midwives and doctors and so on.
I lived the importance of trusting my body, maintaining agency and autonomy to the best of my ability.
I felt confident in managing my diagnosis of gestational diabetes with exercise and intentional eating. My regret with this component stemmed from the loss of joy due to self-condemnation and stressful monitoring of my blood sugar. My genetics, the placenta, and epigenetics played a major role; but fear, guilt and shame, merited or not, took its toll.
My desire to support others with pertinent information, access to testing, and attaining a sense of calm and faith marks a cornerstone in what being a doula means to me.
My labour did not start when my water broke. The OB present at the hospital advised the administration of Pitocin in 3 hours if my labour didn’t start on its own, and instilled a sense of danger and urgency.
Choosing to trust meant being aware of my feelings and the choices available to me. In hindsight, I may have requested more time. I had made it clear that I did not want an epidural. Pitocin augments the intensity and frequency of contractions. I managed the surges with breathing, allowing myself the grace to make sounds and movement.
The heightened process of labour made me focus on my beliefs around birth: normal, healthy, empowering, fascinating, magical, powerful, special, routine, and worthwhile.
Interventions, like Pitocin, lead to other interventions such as monitoring the fetal heart rate. For me, wearing that belt felt excruciatingly awful. Accepting the loss of autonomy never comes easily. Sometimes it comes down to accepting life on life’s terms and knowing that that belt would not have a permanent place on my body.
Having my partner with me felt essential. My request to him “Make sure you take care of yourself!”. My role as a doula affords me the privilege of assisting the general well-being of attending partners.
Offering specialized naturopathic birth doula services brings in my clinical experience of 20 years to ensure the best guided professional health choices. I offer a distinct and novel way to understand and utilize contractions.
Testing can provide insight into ensuring physiological needs get met, such as examining the nutrient profile of the pregnant person, evaluating the level of omega 3 in breastmilk, direction for any gut-related concerns and so much more.
Lifestyle Naturopathy products, formulated with clean, organic ingredients, are a wonderful option to have on hand for self-care.
I give hands-on labour movements, breathing techniques, counter-pressure and presence.
Reflexology makes a wonderful modality for pain management and relaxation. Sessions during the 3rd trimester, during labour, and postpartum prepares, grounds, lifts and heals.
My workshops, “Exon*erate Your Inner Child” and “Body Trust,” support long-term deep healing for the incredible and challenging task of parenting.
Connect with me today to be on your birthing team.
