birth positive ™ is a group of several qualified and experienced doulas who share a belief in giving our clients choice, respect and understanding. Because there are several of us, we can serve as back-up to each other when needed. Yet each of us is a unique individual with our own personality and background. Allow us to introduce ourselves:
Jodi is currently on leave of absence. If you are a survivor of abuse and looking for labour support services, please visit www.asafepassage.info.
I have been working as a professional Doula since 1996 and a DONA certified doula since 1998. Over this time I have experienced extreme joy, relief, stress, tears, laughter and have had the honour of being a witness to the birth of not only precious babies but of families. I began training as a Doula with a local Midwife who instilled in me a commitment to providing women with informed choices surrounding their birth experiences and to value the life long impact birth has on the lives of women and their families. More than healthy babies, women's experiences of their births matter. The first births I attended were in North Bay in the summer of 1996 while on break from working on my Honours Degree in Women's Studies at the University of Western Ontario. In 1998 I had the opportunity and extreme joy of pushing my own beautiful baby into the world with the help of my wonderful Doulas, my Midwives, partner and mom. March 2001, I gave birth to my second son at home weighing 9lbs 6oz! In October 2005 we welcomed our third into the world, a daughter this time.
Being a Doula has been a pleasure and I hope that I have given to the women I have worked with half as much as they have given to me. It is from watching and listening to pregnant women I have really learned how to be "with woman" and the true meaning of patience, courage, strength, perseverance and endurance.
- Jodi
I am the mother of two children, a son born in 1997 and a daughter born in 1999. The births of my children were life-changing events. Not only did I become a mother to two beautiful and amazing babies, but also, my birth stories were unlike those stories told by my own mother and friends. My experiences were not of fear, isolation, powerlessness, trauma and medical emergency, but were about strength, support, choice and empowerment.
Because of my positive birth experiences, I decided that I would like to help other women and families in planning and experiencing the type of birth that is right for them. I have been a Doula since 2001 and during this time, I have had some of the most profound experiences of my life. I have been given the honour of laughing with, crying with, comforting, nurturing and marveling at the innate strength and resilience of birthing women. It is a privilege to accompany women and their families during the birth of a baby.
It is my goal as a Doula to support women in having the ultimate say in the choices that impact their birth experiences so that the stories that they tell will be those of support, choice and empowerment.
- Sue
I took my doula training in 2000 and worked part-time as a doula, along with working part-time in an office. In September, 2005, I made the choice to devote myself full-time to being a doula. I absolutely love being a doula! I believe that pregnancy and childbirth are truly life-changing experiences for both the mom and her partner and I am honoured to share in this experience with my clients. I am the mom of an 11 year old daughter, Claire, who shares being the love of my life with my husband, Jim. We have lived in the village of Komoka for 13 years. While most of the births I attend are at St Joseph's or Victoria Hospitals, I also enjoy the opportunity to travel within South Western Ontario. I have attended births in Strathroy, Woodstock, and Leamington hospitals, and a home-birth in Toronto. I have been a volunteer with Hospice of London for 10 years, supporting clients and their families who are living with a life-threatening illness. I feel privileged to work with both ends of the life spectrum — birth and death. I have all three levels of Therapeutic Touch and my 1st degree Reiki. Over the past 5 years, I have developed a nurturing treatment using a combination of massage, energy work and aromatherapy which I incorporate into my labour support.The greatest joy that I experience in being a doula is empowering women to accomplish the most important job they will ever undertake in their lives — giving birth. In the words of Nanci, a first-time mom at 42 years old, "I now know that I can do anything". I welcome the opportunity to be a part of your birthing experience.
- Joan
About seven years ago I found myself looking for a new direction in life. When my son was born in 1997, although his birth occurred mostly as I had wanted, I did not feel very supported in my choices. The prenatal education I had received did not prepare me for how to have the birth I wanted. After completing a doula training workshop I felt I had found exactly what I was looking for. I have been regularly attending births ever since.
The information I gained training as a doula was invaluable to me when the time came to plan for the birth of my second son. This time I was prepared both physically and mentally and even though it was a more difficult labour, it was the experience I had always envisioned for myself.
Through teaching childbirth education, my passion has now found a home guiding emerging families to the choices that are right for them, so that their birth day may be one they will always remember — positively. I believe that the more accurate information and choices women are provided with, the better able they are to participate actively in their birth experiences.
- Leslie
~ empowering parents through birth and beyond ~
The word "doula" comes from ancient Greek and has been applied to childbirth to refer to "...a woman experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after childbirth." (Klaus, Kennell and Klaus in Mothering the Mother)
To learn more about doulas in general, including how to choose the right doula for you, please visit our FAQ page.
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