Sweet Peace Doula

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Abbotsford, BC
Sweet Peace Doula

Certified Birth Doula. Unbiased, compassionate care during the wildest ride of your life. Serving expecting familings in the Fraser Valley.

After binge-watching Call the Midwife at 19 years old, I stumbled upon my first doula training opportunity. Within less than a year I had my first birth and was hooked. Since then I has travelled all over, from studying Midwifery in Hawaii to helping deliver babies in the Philippines! Finally landing back in Canada to pursue doula work in British Colombia and now, here in KW after moving to Ontario. My passion for birth work was once again lit by the difficult birth of my son. I am most alive when helping others feel educated, cared for and empowered during their birth. When not attending a birth you can find me watercolour painting, canoeing, swimming with my son, or exploring a new coffee shop with my hubby!

09/03/2025

Decided to turn my most recent ramble stuck in my notes app into a post 🤪 what do you think?

Do you agree? Any opinion or perspective is welcome 💜

Awhile back I promised to begin sharing the more “sobered” experience of birth/babies/postpartum. I still am trying to find the balance on how to do so with grace and compassion. But if there’s a way I can walk you through this journey so you don’t feel like “no one told me”, than I’d say it’s worth it.

Cheering you on, always 💜

09/02/2025

💜💜💜💜

08/27/2025

Babies, birth, love making and family planning; all fall under the same umbrella.

After all you can’t exactly have one without the other!

So although this isn’t birth content, I felt it was still an awesome topic to discuss.

I am incredibly passionate about the Natural Family Planning method as a form of birth control. Why? Because it allows us to become aware and alert to our bodies, its cycle and what it may be telling us. Connecting with our bodies is empowering. I also encourage partners to join in the education and understanding of the method so that you BOTH can carry the mental load of birth control.

NFP is simply following your bodies menstrual cycle to determine which days you are most likely to conceive. Then using those days as a guide of when to avoid making love. After all, you are only fertile 24 hours (48 if you release 2 eggs) in your entire cycle!? It may seem overwhelming but I assure you with time you’ll notice your bodies unique pattern and it’ll feel easy.

Reasons why I love Tempdrop specifically? It doesn’t matter if there are interruptions or irregularities with your sleep. Your waking temp is what is charted and can be thrown off by irregular sleep patterns. This is impossible for a nursing mom or even toddler mom to avoid. Tempdrop’s design solves this issue! This is not a sponsored post, I’m just a big fan.

I have so much more to say and or educate, but alas this is already a novel. Would you like to learn more? DM and I’d love to pass on a link and or more info.

Also a fun daydream I’ve always had is hosting an informal NFP class. Would you be down?

08/07/2025

Over the years my quiet whispers of encouragement during contractions have changed.

Yes, you are powerful, strong & can keep going!

But the part of birth we don’t often see online, hear about in stories, or see in movies…is how messy it can get. Not just literally messy, but emotionally.

Each of us will come to a crossroads within our birthing journey. Where suddenly we are faced with a reality check. Up until this point the waves were manageable. We’d found a rhythm, but now? “I can’t do this, I’m so tired, it’s too much.”.

And that’s where I’ve shifted my practice. I used to rush to fix it, to try and smother those negative emotions with positive affirmations. To try and help you see the positive or unintentionally bring in a new doula tool to quickly move on. But unintentionally I was completely dismissing and running from the messiness of these emotions. I feared if you felt such a way it reflected failure within my capabilities as your doula!

But that’s not true…I’ve still a lot of life to live. But as I’ve learned to sit in my own messiness have I been able to meet you in yours. My words now sound something like this,

“Wow, that one looked like it really hurt”
“I see how hard your trying”
“This IS scary, your allowed to cry! But remember, you’re not alone, we’re right here”
“I’m so sorry this isn’t how you thought things would go”
“I’m so proud of you, you’re working so hard to meet your baby”
“You’ve endured so much already, I KNOW you can do hard things”

What do these words make you feel? As you reflect, I ask you to be curious about those emotions. Are you afraid? Perhaps you think, that won’t be me. Either way I hope you take away this = don’t fear the mess. Just press harder into it. There is an incredible power in giving PERMISSION to these emotions. They can’t control you nor consume you when you name them and say “ahh yes, discomfort, pain, dissapointment…welcome here, I’ve been waiting for you.”. These feelings are within you, not some foreign enemy. They are working with you and for you.

I see you. I see how scary sitting in the mess can be. I hope this reflection helps you wonder and prepare 💜

08/01/2025

As I attempted to latch my little squirmy newborn my Midwife said gently, “Oh he may have a tongue tie but we have to get him assessed to confirm. Just do your best tonight.”. I wasn’t totally sure what this would mean but I gathered very quickly that he was struggling to get a good mouthful of boobie. This made nursing incredibly painful and a very hungry baby who wasn’t getting much to eat. The night was a blur but I was still feeling hopeful, until the shift change occurred. I had a nurse roughly pop her finger in my baby’s mouth, she turned and looked me in the eyes and said with the utmost confidence

“Yup, that’s a tongue tie. You will probably never be able to successfully breast feed him and in fact I think this might result in him being a horrible bottle feeder. I suggest your husband walk downstairs and grab some formula because I highly doubt you’ll be able to leave by tonight as he hasn’t been able to drink much from the breast and won’t be able to.”

….

Talk about soul crushing. There were many different ways she could’ve gone about sharing her particular professional opinion. But to a new mom who had gone through a traumatic birth and hadn’t slept in a few days, I had no filter or ability to understand if what she said was subjective or not . The cherry on top was that when I began to cry she seemed utterly confused and uncomfortable and asked me, “why are you crying?”.

💜💜💜

Looking back on my first experience ever nursing a baby with my own body. I had no idea how to comprehend that this was a skill I would have to learn and although it’s natural that doesn’t mean it is easy. Her words made me fight harder… and I am happy to say I successfully breast fed this little baby you see in this video until 16 months.

Without the real and raw stories we can feel blindsided when it feels hard. Do not be afraid but recognize that nursing takes both courage and commitment. You are capable. So to those who are reading these shared stories of hard moments, I hope you recognize the resilience within them. And that whatever nursing journey lays ahead of you will feel less alone knowing so many of us have endured before you and yet found a way forward 💜

07/07/2025

Why do we often feel like rest is a reward?

Something to be earned. There’s pride in the feeling of exhaustion, but what if our bodies are communicating something other than “we did it”. What if that ache that comes with rest is actually your body saying “I’m at the end of my rope, could we not have slowed down sooner?”.

I often hear women lament about their limited capacities pregnant. Their words unknowingly laced with shame statements. “I should” be able to, “why can’t my body”. As if somehow during such a wildly transformative time your body should be held to the same standards.

Perhaps if we were more comfortable with change, would we be willing to greet our new bodies (while pregnant) with grace. Like meeting a new friend, for you wouldn’t hold a friend to unrealistic expectations or shame them for what they “should” be able to do.

What would offering your current body (pregnant, postpartum, weaning, healing) compassion look like? What would they be asking of you right now? Could you offer it freely, for your body is working so hard. They don’t need to earn anything!

I’m not sure what that looks like for you, but it sure is a mind game for me. If you want to continue to explore this kind of thinking, I encourage you to join me in reading The Wisdom of Your Body by Hilary McBride 💚

06/23/2025

Hey friends,

I hope you take the time to read my letter. It’s going to seem like a total 180 to the journey we’ve been on the last few births, website updates, months of work. Years and years of clinging, hoping for the abundant season of consults I’m currently experiencing. I hope my heart is heard and seen though!

I’m looking forward to supporting the rest of my remaining clients in 2025 💜

One more note…my therapist has been asking me, “Can you go back, be the doula, the friend, that YOU needed during your birth trauma? What would you say to that version of Elisa? How would that conversation go?”.

And you know what came to mind? I’d tell her, don’t be afraid to let go. Gently hold her and say, why did you go back so soon? You need time to heal, to trust your body and birth again.

I was so so afraid that my medical/birth trauma would steal one last thing from me that I loved, doula work. So I threw myself back in. Had panic attacks walking the hallway of the hospital I gave birth in. Dealt with uncontrollable fight or flight responses in my body during my work. You can’t run from PTSD, the body remembers.

So this is more than just motherhood. It’s also mothering myself too.

I’m feeling pretty emotional to say the least. Feel free to reach out! I’ll be taking a pause from socials until I figure out how to come back. Please let me know how you would want me to show up in this space.

I’m having to tell myself minute by minute. This isn’t failure, this is love.

Ugh enough big feelings.
Love you guys so much,
💜💜💜💜

06/17/2025

Lemme get right on that…..after I wash the dishes, change a bum, make a snack, take a shower. Wait what were we talking about?

06/11/2025

Hey!!

It’s me, your Tia (I’m an old soul, so I can claim that title!). Birth bestie, someone who doesn’t believe in TMI. You’re biggest fan and cheerleader. Someone who genuinely wants for you to cry on my shoulder.

I think you get the gist! I’ve been pursuing birth work for 11 years. No matter what, always coming back to this calling. Since my first birth I’ve added two of my own small humans. I began dating my now husband when I was attending my first few births. I knew he was a keeper the way he cared for me during an incredibly long birth where I was in and out of the hospital for 52 hours.

I’ve seen all sorts of ways babies can be born. I’ve also seen my fair share of emergencies. Babies come out calm, quiet, red and screaming. Others content and some starving. It’ll never cease to amaze me the way they are already so opinionated and their personality on display even in the minutes after being born!

It’s hard to call this work when it fills my soul. But I’m excited to get to know you! Yet even now before we’ve met I know…You can do hard things, I believe in you 💕

06/10/2025

Hooorayyyy!! 🎉

If you haven’t heard of this incredible program, let me introduce you! The Doula’s for Aboriginal Families Grant Program (or DAFGP) is an opportunity for those who identify as Indigenous to receive financial support that cover the cost of a doula.

Whether you or your partner are Indigenous, you can apply!

Being a grant approved doula comes with specific requirements. Including a cultural sensitivity training, which I thoroughly enjoyed working through.

Offering individuals the opportunity to express and or involve cultural elements in their birth plan is part of what your doula can help you achieve. How exciting!!

As of right now the grant allows up to $1,200 of coverage. Which is incredible, and covers my full package price.

This has been on my to do list for awhile and I’m so happy it’s complete! In fact, both of my July babies are doula grant clients!

Check out for more info 🫶🏼

06/09/2025

If this post resonates with you personally, whether pregnant or a birth worker, I highly recommend reading When Survivors Give Birth by Penny Simkin!

06/02/2025

Oh hey bestie, been a hot minute…is this still trending? Here’s 5 facts about me that don’t match my appearance ⤵️ (and not about birth or doula-ing)

1️⃣ I can’t eat/don’t like spicy food! 🌶️ Though I think assuming all hispanics like spicy food is just a silly stereotype. But like, I LITERALLY can’t eat it. Google geographical tongue 🫣

2️⃣ I didn’t have homebirths. I think it’s assumed doulas are often associated with a certain version of birth. I had two homebirths planned and ended with two highly medicalized hospitals births 🤷🏻‍♀️

3️⃣ I’m a bubbly, loud, smiling extrovert who struggles with a lot of glass half-empty thinking. Which turned to PP depression after babies. I can get really stuck in my head about things. Therapy and working out are necessary for my mental health 💕

4️⃣ My daddy has blue eyes. Being mixed I often feel my Mennonite heritage gets forgetton or dismissed because of my physical appearance. My Grandma grew up Amish and I had a fort up in the loft where the buggies she’d ride in as a little girl, pulled by horses, were kept.

5️⃣ I’m a girly girl but I have only brothers. Which means I grew up watching Star Wars and Lord of The Rings. Playing WWE on our parents bed and running around getting absolutly covered in mud, bare feet, on my grandparents farm. All while probably wearing pink 🎀

Did any of these surprise you?

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Abbotsford, BC

Website

http://www.sweetpeacedoula.com/

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