About
What languages do you speak?
English and some French.
What is your personal definition of “doula”?
A champion of positive and empowering birth experiences. To create a secure and calm environment for the birth giver and partner(s), to hold space for the questions to be asked and discussed.
What brought you to birth and postpartum work?
When I was very young and realized that every person I’d ever met, was grown in a body and birthed from a body; a thread that connects us, I was hooked… I marvel at the strength of the birthing body, its power, its beauty, its ability to transform.
In a climate of caregiver burnout, how are you caring for yourself?
By showing myself empathy and appreciation for my efforts.
What is a standout book, movie/tv, etc about the childbearing/parenting journey that you return to?
MOVIES
- We’re Mammals by Shahrzad Tayebi
- Babies
TV
Birth Care Package
To better understand Brood’s birth package pricing model, read on → Making Birth Doula Care Accessible: The Green Bottle Sliding Scale Method
Tell us more about the ethos in your birth doula practice:
I encourage the birth giver to navigate their travels as captain of their ship. Midwives, Doctors and Nurses, Doula, and the Partner are all support crew on this journey. My role, as Doula, before and during birth is to create and maintain a calm and grounded environment; through the discovery of your needs, through holding space for informed consent, through nonjudgemental, empowering emotional support, and through the use of non-medical, physiological and psychological comfort measures. I bring my sensibility that birth is a natural state to be embraced & celebrated. Birth is a wondrous and dynamic passage to the beginning of your parenting journey.
Prenatal Care
- Free In-Person Foundations Visit → Once your contract is signed and your first-choice doula has been confirmed, your doula will visit your home for around 1+ hour so you can chat, connect, and ensure the fit feels right—for both of you!
- Personalized Prenatal Visits → Enjoy 2 visits, either virtually or in-person, tailored to your needs as we connect and plan for your birth and postpartum experience. Each session is designed to empower you with knowledge and support.
- Focus on Your Preferences → In our prenatal sessions, we’ll explore your birth preferences, comfort measures, and procedures, all while prioritizing your feelings of safety and support through trauma-informed care models.
- Text and Phone Support → From the moment you hire me until 6 weeks postpartum, you’ll have unlimited access to text and phone support, ensuring you feel confident and cared for every step of the way.
- Customized Movement Plan → Together, we will create a personalized pregnancy preparation movement plan, enhancing your comfort and readiness for labor.
- Trauma-Informed Digital Birthing Resource Packet → You’ll receive a curated packet filled with evidence-based resources to help you navigate your birthing experience with confidence.
- Wellness Gift → As a token of care, you will also receive a special wellness gift to support you on your journey.
- Brood’s Family Membership → Gain exclusive access to five online courses covering prenatal and newborn care, plus join our virtual private clubhouse and member area for downloadable resources.
- Postpartum Product Guide → A curated list of our top postpartum must-haves, based on what we see support families again and again.
Birth Attendance
- Dedicated One-on-One Support → You’ll receive continuous, one-on-one support throughout your labor and birth journey, ensuring you feel safe, empowered, and cared for from early labor until 2 hours after your baby arrives.
- Holistic Labor Support → My labor support involves helping you know when to rest and when to be active, making you snacks, and running soothing baths to help you stay calm. I will guide you in deciding when it’s time to go to the hospital or call your midwives, advocating for your needs and preferences every step of the way.
- Comprehensive Doula Bag Access → Enjoy access to my doula bag, which includes essential tools such as a TENS unit, essential oils, and lighting options to create your ideal birth environment.
- Comfort Techniques and Pain Relief → I’ll provide support with a variety of comfort techniques, including acupressure, optimal birthing positions, and hands-on techniques for pain management. I’ll guide you through breathing techniques and ensure you’re well-hydrated and nourished throughout your labor.
- Immediate Postpartum Support → After the birth, I will assist you with your first feed, latching, and basic newborn care, helping you settle into this new chapter with confidence.
- Birth Photography and Videos → Capture those precious moments with optional birth photography and videos to cherish your experience for years to come.
- Guaranteed Back-Up Doula Service → Rest easy knowing that I provide guaranteed back-up doula service, ensuring you have continuous support, even in unexpected situations.
Postpartum Support
- Personalized Postpartum Visits → Enjoy 1-2 visits, virtual or in-home sessions, as needed. Our visits provide an opportunity to discuss your birth experience, check in on how you’re feeling, as well as any resources or information you may need on self-care and newborn care.
- Transition Support → Providing guidance you may need during those early days of parenthood; infant comforting, burping, feeding, sleep patterns, diapering, and other newborn behavioural norms.
- Ongoing Communication → Benefit from text and phone support for the first 6 weeks postpartum, ensuring you have access to assistance whenever you need it.
- Resource Assistance → I’ll help you navigate postpartum resources, connecting you with valuable community support and information tailored to your needs.
Training + Education
BIRTH
- Birth Doula training, DONA International
- Member and Mentor of the South Community Birth Program team
- Trauma-Informed Care for Birth and Postpartum Professionals, TraumaTalks
- Pain, Suffering, and Trauma in Labour and Prevention of Subsequent PTSD, Penny Simkin
- Anti-Racism Tools for the Doula Bag
- Pelvic Floor Health, Kim Vopini
POST-SECONDARY
- BA Psychology, University of Calgary
- BFA Dance and Painting, Simon Fraser University
OTHER
- Healthcare Provider CPR-C with AED
- Registered with the Doulas for Aboriginal Families Grant Program (DAFGP)
- Certified Criminal Record Check, including Vulnerable Sector Screening
- Eligible for Carrot Fertility Coverage
- Eligible for Extended Health Reimbursement
WORKSHOPS
- EQ + You: for Care Workers with Jessica Robson
- Lactation + Nursing for Doulas with Allison Mennie of Milky Way Lactation
- Running Your Care Practice with Emma Devin of Brood
- Full Spectrum Roundtable with Gina Badger of Long Spell, Dr. Madeline Ennis, Julia Santana Parilla of So I Had an Abortion, and Zuzana Betkova, Registered Midwife and Adjunct Professor
- Bookkeeping for Doulas with Courtney Ewan of CCE Consulting
- Who You Are Affects How You Care with Anna Balagtas of Pocket Doula
- Supplements & Nutrition with Dr Jennifer Fitzgerald of Bird&Be
- Twins, Triplets, and Multiples 101 with Emma Devin and Lolo Chaumont of Brood
- NICU 101 for Doulas with Tracy Karp, (NP) Neonatal Patient Care, Nursing Education and Leadership
- Perinatal Mental Health: Identifying and Supporting Clients with PMADs, with MomWell
- Sleep Training Roundtable with Desiree Russell and Jessica Peters
- Acupuncture and Acupressure for Doulas with Courtney Morris
- Values in Action: Boundaries & Balance in Care Work with Saphren Ma and Emma Devin of Brood
- Queer & Gender Affirming Care: Supporting and Celebrating Queer & Gender Diverse Families with Dia DP
- Lactation Support for Doulas: Common Ailments and Hands-on Resources with Allison Mennie of Milky Way Lactation
- Enhancing Doula Care: How to Address Clients’ Body Image Concerns and Combat Anti-Fat Bias with Vinny Welsby of the Fiercy Fatty + Weight Inclusive Consulting
- Values in Action: Care Considerations for the Perinatal Period with Roberta Stuart
- Babywearing 101 with Karla Castro of the Babywearing Club
- Trauma & Care Work: Integration and Healing from Birth & Postpartum Experiences with Melissa Medjuck of the Perinatal Collective
- Responsive Doula Care for Families with Complex Needs with Lolo Chaumont
- Sex and Relationships After Baby with Erin Davidson, MA, RCC, CST, CHST
- Pelvic Floor Support Through Pregnancy to Early Postpartum with Lauren Sutherland of Core Connection Physio
FOR YOUR PERSONAL LEARNING, WHAT IS THE WORKSHOP/TRAINING ON YOUR RADAR?
- Spinning Babies® Workshop!
Testimonials
Brood is a wonderful service for expecting parents. We found our dream birth doula, Roberta, after carefully interviewing a few of the Doulas from Brood. As new parents going through birth for the very first time, having Roberta and the Brood Care resources available to us was incredibly invaluable and helped us make the experience much more comfortable. We can’t say enough about Roberta’s incredible support throughout the entire process, she made us feel heard, safe and empowered throughout. Thanks so much for helping us bring our bundle of joy into the world! — Eliza
I had a great experience with Brood, I felt very taken care of through the entire process and I loved all the extra resources and information they provided. The best part though truly was my doula, Roberta, she is a human best described as magic and I enjoyed every minute I got to spend with her. My only regret is that I didn’t figure out how to transition into being full-time friends with her. Thank you Brood and thank you, Roberta! — Amber A
Roberta and Hayaat were excellent birth doulas. I had great pre-birth sessions with both and Roberta was my doula for the birth of my daughter. She was calm, and prepared, and helped me during my very fast and intense labor. The admin service provided by Brood was wonderful as well, with clear directions on what to expect. — Andrea
Our doula Roberta was instrumental in us having a positive and empowering birth experience. Her calm and reassuring presence was so appreciated in our prenatal, birth, and postpartum visits. We felt so supported and would recommend Brood (and specifically Roberta)! — Amber
Thank you so much for being our rockstar doula! We are so thankful to have had you with us during our baby’s entry into this world. — Lilli & Andy
Thank you so much for being part of our birth story. We will always remember your gentle presence and genuine care.— Robin & Chris
Thank you so much for being a part of our birth experience. You made us feel so taken care of. You were an integral part of making those 36 hours of labor go so smoothly. We truly appreciate all that you did. — Alex & Justin
Thank you so much for all your care and support. It was so helpful to have your calm, positive presence at our side throughout this process. — Fiona & Paul
Thank you so much for being part of our team as we brought our baby into the world. Your calm, experienced presence was such a support to Darcy and me. We know you didn’t get a chance to ring in the New Year, so we have added a bottle of champagne for a delayed celebration with your family. Thank you, again! — Cathy & Darcy
