“Women have to prepare for birth in their heart and soul, not in their head.”
- Pam England Birthing from Within
My Story
My interest in birth work started after the birth of my daughter, Isabella, in 2012. I went down a rabbit hole learning about natural childbirth and reframing my perspectives of what birth could be like. During my pregnancy, I became passionate in learning, talking and sharing ideas about birth and the feeling never faded. I had her in the hospital, under the care of midwives, without medical interventions. After that experience, I felt empowered and it set the tone for my confidence as a mother and the connection I felt to my child. Looking back, I was my own doula during that pregnancy in preparing for birth. I also experienced birth as more than a physiological process but a sacred initiation into this next stage of life as a parent.
In 2015, I took my first doula training and by the time the course started I found I was pregnant with my second child, Johnathan. I enjoyed everything I learned about doula work and felt excited about this path but the timing was not right, as I did not want to spend time away from my newborn. I had another wonderful unmedicated birth experience with my son, he was born in the hospital in a birthing pool under midwifery care. Again, I felt empowered and the strong desire to help more people experience birth the way I had.
In 2018, my son Jack was born at home with the support of midwives. He was born in the middle of the night and much of my early and active labour I managed alone, since my contractions were irregular and I didn’t feel it was time to call my midwife yet or wake my partner. This birth was transformative and a deeply spiritual experience. I believe all births are spiritual in nature, but I do not think we always carry that awareness. After that powerful birth experience, I received yet another nudge that I want to be a doula to support people through their birth experiences.
Finally, in 2024 I joined an aligned doula training course called By the Moon, which has trained me in supporting people through pregnancy, birth, postpartum and loss. I am part of a reiki collective that meets weekly to do a self reiki practice together, flow reiki to each other, and have conversation ranging from discussing our reiki practice, spiritual teachings and philosophies, holistic health and our personal lives. My daily self reiki practice is my spiritual anchor and connection to the divine within.
