"Shared-care" means that you are essentially hiring two doulas for the price of one! Each of us has an amazing variety of training and certifications which complement our collective perfectly and give you the best of both of us. You will spend quality time with us at the workshop and at our consultation (Kayla) and prenatal meeting (Erin) — so you'll get to know us both!

We work as a team, with a rotating on-call schedule. This allows us to be rested and ready to give you 100% on your special day. As we both have youngsters of our own, we strongly believe in work-life balance. Shared-care allows us to be the best doulas we can be, while honouring the sacred time we spend with our own families.

Your doula will meet with you prenatally to discuss your birth preferences, share comfort and pain-coping practices, provide evidence-based information, as well as address any of your fears, concerns or questions. During labour, birth, and immediate postpartum, your doula will be by your side offering continuous emotional, physical, and informational support. Your doula will help you make informed decisions and support you and your partner in having the most empowering experience possible.

Your partner may really want to be involved. It is a very common concern that your doula would take the place of your partner, or take away from their ability to be involved. This is simply not true! Your doula provides a buffer between you and the caregivers, minimizing unwanted intrusions into your intimacy, and helping create a calm and peaceful environment, as you define it. Roles regarding everyone's involvement will be defined together, prenatally.

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The presence of a doula allows the partner to offer support during labour and birth without any pressure, to be present and in the moment. A doula is experienced in labour and knows what to expect. Birth often does not follow the plan you had envisioned. However, your doula will be there to help you navigate these changes and challenges.

Doulas support the partner to become involved in the birth to the extent they feel comfortable. A doula compliments and enhances the partner in their supportive role rather than acting as a replacement. Studies have shown that partners participate more actively during labour with the presence of a doula compared to without one.

Your doula empowers and educates prenatally, and assists with communication, but does not speak on your behalf. Your doula may remind or encourage you to ask the questions necessary to understand a procedure and make an informed decision.

Research shows the presence of a doula results in shorter labours with fewer complications, a reduction in the need for oxytocin, forceps or vacuum extraction, fewer cesareans, and a reduction in requests for pain medication. When a doula is present during and after childbirth, people report greater satisfaction with their birth experience, and make more positive assessments of their babies. This is because doulas help educate you prenatally to make informed decisions and support you through the experience. **These are statistics and every birth is unique. Having a doula doesn't guarantee you a specific birth outcome.

Doulas are professionals, trained in pain-reducing comfort measures, natural methods to keep labour progressing, and knowledge on how to support both the labouring person and their partner. Doulas are familiar with local hospital & midwifery policies and practices, and have often built a rapport with the staff. They are experienced in childbirth and can offer reassurance through evidence-based information in times of doubt.

Midwives are highly trained medical caregivers, and replace a physician or obstetrician for normal pregnancy and birth. A doula fills a support role.

Doulas work as part of a team with doctors or midwives, but do not replace them. It is outside of a doula's scope of practice to attend births as a primary care-provider, as they offer non-medical support and comfort measures. Doulas do not "catch babies". They do not perform clinical care such as heart rate, blood pressure, or internal exams, whereas midwives do.

Doulas do not replace nurses or other medical staff, but rather work as part of the team. They are there to comfort and support the birthing person and their partner. Nurses change shifts; a doula will stay by your side.

Absolutely! The role of the doula is to help you feel empowered, informed, supported, no matter what type of birth you are planning. People who choose medicated birth need as much support as those who choose unmedicated birth. To be frank, sometimes choices go out the window with birth. Doulas can bridge the gaps that medication may not cover, and help support you in the presence of interventions. We also help keep you in active positions, even with an epidural, to keep labour progressing.

Whether planned or unplanned, the doula will help you mentally prepare for surgery while providing comfort, support and encouragement. Often a caesarean birth is an unexpected situation and new mothers are left feeling unprepared, disappointed, and lonely. A doula will support you in the prior to your birth, in the recovery room and postpartum. Whether planned or unexpected, a doula will provide support in the event of a caesarean birth.

Doulas are well versed in all things medical AND non-medical. Should your plans change, they'll help you make informed decisions along the way with full support and a compassionate approach. Regardless of how you bring your baby into the world, a doula is there for you! Doulas do not make decisions for clients or intervene in clinical care, nor do they judge your choices. They provide informational and emotional support while respecting your decisions, regardless of what type of birth you have.

Absolutely! Click here to check out some photos from our workshops, our support and some beautiful Birth Warriors.