Bella Doula, Saskatoon, SK (2025)

07/25/2022

With the recent SHA announcement of an epidural catheter shortage, preparation for birth is more important than ever! Here are some things you can do to prepare for an unmedicated birth :

1. Hire a doula. A doula can provide you with all the support, coping tools and birth education you need to help with a smooth unmedicated birth. (Obviously this would be my number one recommendation 😂).

2. Watch birth videos. Instagram is helpful with this one! Watching birth videos normalizes it and can help wash away any fears surrounding it.

3. Listen to podcasts. Again listening to stories normalizes birth, it gives us information on possible outcomes and also gives different perspectives. I listened to and it was one of my favourite sources of education.

4. Reach out to friends who have had unmedicated births. Find your tribe! Friends are there to support and encourage you. They can give you further advice/tips. Ask them to describe the transition phase so you know exactly what to expect! (Make sure these stories are helpful, not told in a way that is trying to scare you).

5. Practice yoga or breathing techniques. Yoga is a great way to practice breathing through discomfort. It will help you get ready for birth both mentally and physically!

Lastly the best thing you can do is learn self trust and understand that birth is a NORMAL physiological process. We were built for this! 🙌

06/27/2022

Finally finding time to reflect on my birth experience ❤️can’t believe it has already been ten weeks!
Reflecting on how amazing my support team was and I am so excited to be that support for many birthing women in the future!

05/17/2022

Been a bit MIA on here lately but for a good reason! :)
Kaiser Lawrence Cooper was born April 18 8:58pm.
I have been soaking up all the newborn snuggles and will be back to posting more soon! I will start taking clients this September:)

For now I would just like to give a shout out to my own amazing doula Lindsay .
She was such an amazing support person to have ❤️
If you’re questioning whether or not to hire a doula the answer is always YES.

04/16/2022

Reasons I love midwifery care ❤️

This is my third baby and first time with a midwife.
Here in Saskatoon there are only 6 midwives! Luckily I was selected to be under their care.
A few things I have noticed and enjoyed about their care compared to my previous experiences with obstetricians.

1. At my very first appointment my midwife gave me a handout titled “informed consent.” I found this such a great way to promote education and awareness around this topic.

2. They have me never once weighed me and I don’t think they actually have a scale in their office! This has allowed me to intuitively connect with my body and baby, rather than worry about numbers on the scale.

3. Currently I am 40 weeks pregnant and they have never once brought up membrane sweeps or cervical checks. It is so nice to be able to fully trust my body rather than have intrusive thoughts that my body isn’t capable of going into labor on its own.

4. My midwife has a couch in her office instead of an examination table. This simple gesture makes our appointments friendly and enjoyable. We get to know each other in a comfortable and welcoming environment :)

Making a connection with your care provider can be so important in a birth experience. We need to feel safe, comfortable and capable, and a good care provider should help us check all those boxes ✅

03/26/2022

Asking questions is so important when choosing a care provider, but what kind of questions should we ask?
1. Ask for stats. Ask them their percentage of c-sections, vacuum use, forceps use, episiotomies, vaginal deliveries etc. If their cesarean rate is 60% and you want a vaginal birth then it might be time to find a new provider!

2. Ask them about themselves and get to know them! It is so important to feel comfortable with your care provider. Ideally they should also do the same and make it a priority to get to know you. Make time for small talk about family life, values, education etc.

3. Ask questions about each ultrasound, test or routine procedure that they request. This will help you make informed decisions and will also help you get to know their stance on certain things. (Also helps to do your own research to see if they information they presented was more fact or opinion based)

Bottom line it is SO important to get to know your provider! Find ways to start conversations and don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as possible!

03/10/2022

Preparing for birth can be a big task. That’s partly why I’ve been dropping the ball on my social media posts 🤦🏼‍♀️
I am currently 35 weeks pregnant and prepping for birth by reading, listening to podcasts, watching birth videos, doing yoga, exercising, and going for walks.
Do I do this everyday? Heck no
Do I constantly question if I am doing enough? 100%

But learning to self trust is a HUGE part of the process and something I have been working on in this pregnancy.
Trust in myself
Trust in my body
Trust in my baby
Trust in my team
Trust that I have done enough and am enough.

Also… no this photo is not of me. But I do wish I lived in that climate and also wish I could remember to take a nice bump photo this time around 🤪🤦🏼‍♀️

03/09/2022

Celebrating the brave, beautiful and powerful women in our lives ❤️
Our bodies are strong and SO capable of anything.

Posting late because let’s face it… I only have time for instagram either before the kids wake up or after they go to sleep 🤪

02/24/2022

What does a doula do?

Most people are hesitant to hire a doula because they don’t want them to replace the supportive role of their partner.

But the opposite is true.

A doula does NOT replace the role of a partner, but is there to ENCOURAGE the connection and support that your partner is able to offer you.

A doula will: advocate for your birth preferences, provide food, water, recommendations on position changes, bathroom breaks, emotional support, physical support (if wanted).

This frees up your partners responsibilities so that they can be 100% available to YOU. They can stay connected and can support you without worrying about when the last time you ate/drank/peed was.
A doula is also available to give the partner breaks during a long birth process. Because.. let’s face it.. our partner can’t be fully present if they are tired or hangry.

My personal goal as a doula is not to become your main support system… It is to provide you and your partner with the education, tools and environment that will deepen your relationship during this special rite of passage in your lives.

Overall, a doula’s role is very customizable. Ideally you should meet with your doula beforehand, not only to develop trust and a level of comfort, but to be on the same page about what you expect from them and what they can offer you.

This past weekend I met with my doula, Lindsay in preparation for my third birth. After our meeting I feel so much relief and comfort knowing that I have her on my team. Having her there will allow my husband to be fully present with me and will give me the feeling of safety that I need in order to relax and let go.

We are not made to birth alone. Find your support team and make sure it’s the right fit for you ❤️

02/15/2022

It is easy to feel overwhelmed in pregnancy, there is A LOT of information out there.

The best place to start is by talking to others! Connect with women who are pregnant or who have been pregnant. Listen to their stories and learn from them. Think about everything with a critical mind. Ask for recommendations on books, accounts to follow and podcasts.

The best way to learn is from each other. ❤️

02/09/2022

When a birthing women says "I can't do this" what she really means is "I can't do this ALONE."
We need our team. We need love, confidence, and unwavering support. We them to know our goals and to encourage us to achieve them, ESPECIALLY in those toughest moments.

New blog post is up! Head to the link in bio to Read more!

02/04/2022

I have listened to many women tell me their birth stories over the last few years and I have noticed a common theme. Almost all birthing women will say something along the lines of "I give up," "I can't do this." "When will this be over."
Heck, I said it myself for both of my daughter's births, even when in my heart I KNEW I wanted an unmedicated birth.

We are not failures if we make these statements.... we probably don't even mean what we say. Sometimes just saying the words is all we need. One major influence of our birth process is how our support team will react to our statement of defeat.

Stay tuned for a blog post coming soon touching more on this topic and HOW our team can help us through these tough moments :)

Bella Doula

07/25/2022

06/27/2022

05/17/2022

04/16/2022

03/26/2022

03/10/2022

03/09/2022

02/24/2022

02/15/2022

02/09/2022

02/04/2022

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