It's Me, Katie!
My Story
I am a NWO born-n-raised Mother of 3, wife of a carpenter, rare disease warrior and cleft lip/palate advocate.
After amazing births with my children, I was certain a positive birth experience was possible for everyone. And I was even more certain that I wanted to be the one to silently and gracefully come alongside those who would strive for that birth magic.
My story as a Doula begins with the birth of my daughter.
Striving for an unmedicated hospital birth in a city I didn't grow up in (Edmonton), I took a high quality prenatal education class and was sure to drag my husband along for every session. I quickly became acquainted with how rare it was to be in a hospital giving birth without an epidural. I achieved what I was striving for, but unfortunately having the perfect birth still didn't equate to an easy postpartum. I found myself in the depths of postpartum depression, formula feeding a baby that I had hoped to breastfeed, enraged with sleep deprivation and a baby I struggled to bond with while my husband was doing trade school. Toddlerhood, medication and lots of visits from my Mom got me through those hurdles.
Continuing with my first son.
Wanting to repeat the same type of birth as I had with my first - I chose not to prepare at all. As I didn't know then what I know now, I followed the typical procedures as requested from my Doctor and found myself with a positive screen for down syndrome and had been immediately fed options to terminate. Being followed closely by Maternal Fetal Medicine, I went through an amniocentesis at 36 weeks gestation just to find out he was perfectly unaffected. I paced along with my day job as expected until 24 weeks where my pelvic pain was too much to bear even the thought of walking and I left work 12 weeks before the arrival of my son.This time, birth was happening so fast that I barely made it to the hospital and the doctor hadn't even arrived to catch him. Still unmedicated and completely amazing, I might add! Pleading with God to spare me the postpartum depression this round and find success with breastfeeding, I did happen to find success with nursing, but the PPD came back with a vengeance.
This is when I decided that training being a Doula was my calling.
I realized that - a great birth is possible!
This is important because I know plenty of people out there who have endured varying degrees of trauma during birth.
I realized also - postpartum mood disorders don't discriminate.
Good birth experiences do not automatically equal easy / amazing postpartum and entry to parenthood.
Through moving back home to Dryden, being met with a pandemic and difficulty penetrating the birth community in a town who had never heard of professional Doulas before, I became resilient.
Resilience became the underlying theme for the arrival of my second son, (first born in Dryden).
Moving through pregnancy as a Doula, I had confidence in my preparation, I knew exactly what I could decline and what I could advocate for. Labour and birth proceeded without a hitch - until the first few hours postpartum. My third was born with a cleft palate.
This meant immediate action for items to feed that we didn't even have available in our area, specialist appointments and a whole heap of learning. Not only did my son have a cleft palate, he was also born with a genetic disease called Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD). 9 months later we entered isolation as he went through a bone marrow transplant which has since cured his CGD.
I'll be the first to tell you parenthood is a whirlwind. And also the first to tell you that you can do anything with the right support people nearby.
I'm a birth worker because I believe new parents have it the hardest, and I want to help soften some of those blows for you
by teaching you of the things to come and the ways you can OVERCOME.
Values
As authentic and genuine as it comes.
I'll admit that I'm a mess of a Mom
- emotionally / mentally, and there's no doubt my
house could always use a tidy.
But, I'm also practical, I'm resourceful and you better bet I know how to speak up and advocate when it's needed.
There's something to learn from every interaction, every conversation, every high and every low.
So while I am proud to do this work - I am also always learning and growing.
The Doula Difference
Navigating the perinatal period of life with a Doula is different because Doulas look at the holistic view.
No, I don't mean the crystals and the incense and the 'woo woo' type of practices (although, I would totally support you if that's your choice).
I'm talking about the parts of something being interconnected in reference to the whole.
Your entry to parenthood will eternally be connected to every part of your being to follow. Emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually, relationship dynamics, your place in society, personal growth and so much more.
I'm here to remind you that managing pregnancy and parenthood should not just be something to hand over to your healthcare providers. It is something for you to own and guide.
Doula Certification
Stillbirthday
Certified Birth and Bereavement Doula here to carry you through pregnancy, birth and postpartum as it arrives in any outcome, in any trimester.
At Stillbirthday, a pregnancy loss is still a birthday and I acknowledge that every loss endured both in the past and the present are valid parts of your being. Let me uplift you in your birth experience, no matter what you're facing now or have endured previously.
Please visit www.stillbirthday.com for more information
Childbirth Educator Certification
Doula School Canada
A Childbirth Educator provides education and support to expectant parents and their families during pregnancy, labour, birth, and early parenthood. They aim to empower parents with knowledge and skills to navigate the transition to parenthood and to make informed decisions about their ideal birth.
If you don't know your options - you don't have any.