Our doulas all have a deep desire to serve and support you. We each come with unique giftings, a variety of training backgrounds, and personalities. As doulas, we seek to support your goals and vision for birth. We do our best work supporting you when you have been able to identify your needs, expectations and limitations surrounding your upcoming birth experience. This forms the basis of our prenatal meetings together. Your doula can help you find the resources and supports you require to feel prepared and confident to birth at hospital or at home and with the care providers of your choice. She will aid you in preparing a birth plan.
Your connection to her needs to be strong. A calm, experienced, knowledgeable, and continuous presence; she will be by your side on your birth-day. In short you really need to love her! We encourage you to interview more than one doula.
Rates and package contents may vary according your needs, and extra services available. Your doula will help you craft a support contract that fits your needs. Consultations are always free. The doulas listed here are not employed by Birth Rhythms, they are independent contractors, they work directly for you, the parents.
Sunava Hintz
RMT, CLD
As far back as I can recall I have wanted to work and live in community with women and babies. My early childhood was filled with such experiences. I grew up a child of the '70s and this entitled me to a new and juicy take on women's rights, especially the right to birth in her own way. It was a time of rediscovering the tried and true methods of birthing, and empowering women throughout their pregnancy and birth. This was the foundation for my beliefs around birth and it led me to this doorstep I stand upon today.
My professional training as a massage therapist began in 1990, and continues to this day. I have training in a variety of soft tissue therapies such as Swedish and Thai massage, myofascial release, craniosacral therapy, manual lymphatic drainage, hydrotherapy and passive joint mobility. I am trained in homeopathy which I see as a great benefit during pregnancy and labour, and therapeutic and quantum touch which are gentle energy healing techniques, as well as extensive yoga training. I have worked in a variety of settings including clinical and home based, and have instructed at a private massage college for 10 years before retiring to start my own family. I have been attending births since 1988, and studied with Gloria Lemay of Wise Woman's Way of Birth doula training in 2000.
My motto in birth is that you can do anything you set your mind to given the right balance of support, trust and surrendering, one beautiful breath at a time!
sunava.birthrhythms@shaw.ca
260-1385
Jude Hutchinson
CBE, CLD
I feel in many ways that birth work found me, and not the other way around! After my first baby, I lucked out when a friend of mine was not able to get in to childbirth classes and so allowed me, with all my, ahem, sagacity, to teach her everything I knew. Surprise! She had a 24 hour, posterior baby labour (not fun), but loved it. I was hooked. Shortly after, I discovered a radical group right here in Saskatoon that was training people interested in providing an alternative to the city's prenatal classes, and instantly I knew it was for me. I had my first doula experience (with a mom having baby number four) shortly after. (I think she coached me through!) Thirty years have flown by since then, along with countless hours of childbirth preparation and doula work. I still have to pinch myself as I witness the birth of a family, and the sacred journey of a new person to the planet. It never, ever, ever gets old.
As a mother of four and grandmother of two, I am passionate about families and birthing, and believe birth is one of the most rewarding and significant experiences of a woman's life. To sum it up, I am a teacher,
CAPPA certified Childbirth Educator and Birth Rhythms Certified Labour Doula who has been providing support services for the women of Saskatoon for 30 years.
"My goal is for the woman and her partner to feel that they received the knowledge, skills, attention, care, love, and support to empower them through the phenomenal process of birth. What a privilege to be part of it! "
jude.birthrhythms@shaw.ca
280-663
Nekol O'brien
My journey to becoming a birth doula began long before I knew I would ever be a Mom. I have always had a deep passion for pregnancy, birth and babies. I sat on board a infant nutrition advisory committee in 2005 and something sparked in me, I knew I was on my path! I had to work in the field of pregnancy, birth and infant care. I have been in forward motion ever since and don’t see myself stopping. Being a mother to 4 (pregnant with #5-due in Dec) I have learned that parenthood begins with pregnancy and it is by far the most rewarding thing I have ever done! I started attending birth's in 2001 with friends and family but didn’t become a doula till December 2010. I guess they knew better then I, who I was at the time ;).
I have experience with but not limited to, hospital, home, trail vbac, water, inductions, natural, precipitate(fast), and premature deliveries. My deep passion for the postpartum period also has lead me to becoming a postpartum doula as of September 2011!! I integrated photography for families who want it for their births, maternity pictures, newborn and family. As I know these are the most beautiful and fulfilling times in one’s life. Everyone has a birth story to tell, and I want to help empower you to get that birth you want! I believe that a good start always has a happy ending, no matter what trials it takes to get there.
Good support during the childbearing year and beyond is priceless.
nekol.birthrhythms@shaw.ca
203-5273
Chelsea Harris
My passion for all things birth was ignited while working as a Registered Dietitian for a pregnancy outreach program in Surrey, BC. My first job out of University, it was a time of change and growth as I had never experienced before. During this time of metamorphosis in my life, I realized the power inherent in the transition to motherhood. I greatly admired the strength and power of the women I worked with daily. Inspired to learn more about the process of pregnancy and birth, I successfully completed a breastfeeding class for health professionals. This class, taught me about natural physiological birth and the impact this can have on not only breastfeeding outcomes but also emotional development of both mom and baby. There is no greater time to impact the health of our children than pregnancy and birth. Women have many choices to make through conception, pregnancy, birth and parenting. I offer doula services and specialized support for nutrition through the life cycle, focusing on pregnancy through postpartum and infant nutrition. I aim to be a source of supportive information for women and their partners through pregnancy and birth. I hope to empower women as they navigate their choices for their best birth.
The only baby I have at home at the moment is my giant English Mastiff who keeps me busy. I am is dedicated to yoga and enjoy running down by the beautiful river. I am is constantly reading and has just picked up knitting.
www.beyondthebumpdoulas.com
Educating and Empowering Women One Birth at a Time
chelsea.birthrhythms@shaw.ca
361-3534
Lacey Nedjelski
My journey to becoming a doula began during the pregnancy of my third son. I became aware of women, doulas, who help women through pregnancy and birth. Deciding that this was my life's calling I set forth on a mission to be a guide, coach, supporter, friend and confidant to pregnant women and their partners. Having a home birth with the aid of a midwife confirmed for me the need for women to have access to the knowledge and support one can provide. My own journey as well as education from conception to breastfeeding provides me with personal knowledge of the joys and struggles of creating a new life. Bringing new lives into the world and helping with the transition from pregnancy to motherhood is a gift allowed to me by my clients and I really enjoy being such a big part of this life changing experience.
When not attending clients, I am is raising my three beautiful boys with my husband, spending time with good friends and family, enjoying practicing the art of Reiki, and surrounding myself with anything and everything about pregnancy and childbirth. Furthering my education is a part of my goal to provide the best care I can. My love of the pregnancy and birthing process and the way in which our bodies, if allowed to do what they were made to do, inspires me every day. Whether hospital or home birth I look forward to helping you make your birth everything you dream it can and will be.
www.beyondthebumpdoulas.com
Educating and Empowering Women One Birth at a Time
lacey.birthrhythms@shaw.ca
370-5309
Avril Johnson
LD, CBE
I’m a stay-at-home mama of three boys who also happens to have a love for all things birthie! Aside from being a Birth Rhythms and CAPPA trained labour doula, I also teach childbirth classes and offer birth photography. I’m continually taking courses for birth workers and attending workshops to further broaden my training and skills.
My first personal experience with birth was being my sister’s doula before I knew what a “doula” was! Then after my own birth experiences, I was able to know firsthand the many blessings of birth and the importance of having the added support of a doula. So here I am!
The path to motherhood is intimate and sacred… so I see my role as helping women discover their own strengths they can build on along the way, while developing a deep trust and awareness that they were designed for this.
Whether a hospital or homebirth is chosen, I can help women and their families understand their options, the procedures that may be offered or involved, as well as help facilitate communication with their care providers. Regardless of circumstances, my desire is to stand with and support women so that they can have the most positive birth experience possible ~ physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Every baby deserves to be welcomed with gentleness, respect and love. So I encourage you to ask yourself, “What kind of birth do I want to give to my baby?” It would be my honour to somehow be a part of that…
avril.birthrhythms@shaw.ca
371-5335
Lisa Wass
B.Ed, CLDT, CBE and Owner of Birth Rhythms
As a doula, I see my role as primarily providing important emotional, physical and spiritual preparation for birth. I am also a resource to the women and families I work with by helping navigate medical terminology, protocols and systems, while inspiring trust in a woman’s ability to Birth. I provide diplomatic communication skills with hospital staff and nurturing hands to mothers. Perhaps most importantly, I embrace your vision for birth.
My path as a support provider in birth began in 1998, while I was pregnant with my third child, before I even knew what the word Doula meant. It was trial by fire, but seeing birth from the other side was both shocking and healing. I did not know that my births, which to that point had felt isolating and traumatic to me, were the cultural norm. I did not know that I had choices in the way I planned to birth. After attending several births I was eager to share about my experiences helping women feel more in control of their births. Chatting with another mom in the library one day, the conversation shifted from our children, I have four boys, to birth experiences; so I gleefully told my stories. She said to me, “Oh, you are a Doula!” My response was, “A do-what?” And my life changed...
I completed the certification program offered by
Mother Wellness in 2003. My further education includes Natural family planning, Herbs for Mothers and Babies, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, NRP and various workshops to keep my skills fresh. I am now certified as a national doula trainer through
CAPPA and look forward to providing training series for both Birth Rhythms and Mother and Baby Wellness. Previously, I completed my Bachelor of Education (1995) and taught
Sex Education. Now, in addition to doula and childbirth education services, I am a counselor for women, specializing in mental health recovery, and birth trauma counseling. My dream is to eventually serve Saskatchewan women as a midwife.
I believe that pregnancy and birth is a sacred time to be cherished and protected. It would be a privilege to serve you as you become a new family.
birthrhythms@shaw.ca
683-0852