About
What languages do you speak?
English
What is your personal definition of “doula”?
A transitional support worker, who is part educator, part friend, and always in your corner.
What brought you to birth and postpartum work?
I have always loved the smallest of creatures and have worked in childcare — helping family and friends postnatally throughout my life. I decided to take a leap of faith and dive fully into birth work, feeling more and more that we need folks who can help us create a foundation and community for raising children.
In a climate of caregiver burnout, how are you caring for yourself?
I love to take time for myself when I can, preferring to be in nature whenever possible and often crafting something with my hands, or diving into a good book.
What is a standout book, movie/tv, etc about the childbearing/parenting journey that you return to?
TV
- I have been following a UK creator Bryony (Precious Star Pads) throughout her journey as an entrepreneur, solo foster parent, and now a solo mother by choice. I love her in-depth journey through all things reproductive health, fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum throughout the past few years!
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 think that doula care is about giving everyone the chance to steer their experiences the best they can, through foundational education, and emotional, physical and spiritual support. I believe that everyone should have someone with them, in a doula position throughout any major life transition, to answer questions, address fears, celebrate the wins and hold space for the hard times. I personalize integrated support to the needs of my client and their families and am focused on building your confidence as a parent while also providing that extra set of hands that is always needed.
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 Meetings → Enjoy 2 (or more) prenatal meetings, available in-person, virtually, or combined. This time allows us to connect, understand your knowledge and preferences, and build a strong foundation for our journey together.
- Comprehensive Discussion → We’ll cover your desired birth outcome, any barriers you may face, and any concerns moving forward. I welcome anyone you’d like to include, whether it’s your partner, other support people, or even your children, so we can address all questions and perspectives together.
- Unlimited Communication → You’ll have unlimited support via text, call, or email for any questions, desires, or fears that arise before or after our prenatal sessions, ensuring you always feel supported.
- Postpartum Planning Assistance → I’ll help you plan for postpartum support, including access to services like meal trains, diaper delivery, and housekeeping. If I’m available, I can continue to support you postpartum or connect you with another Brood Doula.
Continuous Support → I provide ongoing support from start to finish, available by phone, text, and email whenever you need it. - Resource Library Access → Gain access to a lending library filled with valuable birth and newborn preparation books to deepen your understanding and readiness.
- 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
- Continuous Care → Enjoy continuous support throughout early labor and delivery, ensuring you never feel alone during this transformative experience.
- Comfort Measures → Access a range of comfort techniques including the use of a TENS machine, massage, guided meditation, soothing music, movement, and counterpressure to help ease your labor.
- Essential Tools & Resources → Benefit from access to my professional tools including a TENS machine, massage tools, digital camera for photos, Bluetooth speaker for music, lighting options, and more.
- Pain Management Support → I’ll guide you through position changes and various pathways to pain management, offering techniques ranging from physical methods to pharmaceutical options, as well as breathing techniques, guided meditation, and shower or bath support.
- Informed Decision-Making → I’ll provide information as needed on interventions and complications, helping you align these with your birth wishes.
- Capture Your Journey → Optional birth photography and videography to document those precious first moments, creating lasting memories of your journey.
- Postpartum Hospital Support → After delivery, I’ll offer support in the hospital to establish feeding and basic newborn care, addressing your comfort needs and those of your support team.
- First Feed & Newborn Care → Receive dedicated support for your baby’s first feed and essential newborn care, helping you bond with your little one from the very start.
Postpartum Support
- In-Person Visits → Enjoy 1-2 in-person visits focused on newborn care, easing your transition into parenthood, and accessing additional support as needed. Each visit typically lasts 2-4 hours.
- Ongoing Communication → Receive unlimited text, phone, and email support, ensuring you have assistance at your fingertips during this crucial time.
- Personalized Referrals → Get tailored referrals for postpartum resources and support services, including accompaniment to appointments and guidance for your first public outings or short walks.
- Car Seat Safety Education → Learn essential car seat safety practices, ensuring your baby’s safe travels.
- Baby-Wearing Resources → Access helpful tips and resources for baby-wearing, making it easier to bond with your little one while keeping your hands free.
- Debriefing Your Birth Experience → Utilize our visits to debrief your birth experience, addressing any lingering questions or concerns while providing additional information about your birth outcome and procedures.
- Newborn Care Support → Receive hands-on support with newborn care, including diapering, feeding, sleep safety, and baby-wearing techniques.
- Mental Health Check-ins → Benefit from check-ins focused on your mental health and postpartum support systems, along with discussions about self-care and personal goals.
- Access to Resources → Get assistance in accessing postpartum resources and recommendations for practitioners to ensure you receive the support you need.
- Support Until Your 6-Week Appointment → Enjoy continued support via phone, text, and email until after your 6-week postpartum appointment, providing peace of mind as you navigate this new chapter.
Training + Education
BIRTH & POSTPARTUM
- Labor and Birth Doula training, Doula Training Canada
- Postpartum Doula, Doula Training Canada
POST-SECONDARY
- Bachelor in Psychology, Thompson Rivers University
OTHER
- Child Passenger Safety Educator II, Red Cross and BCAA
- Naloxone-Trained and Certified Carrier
- Healthcare Provider CPR-C with AED
- Certified Criminal Record Check, including Vulnerable Sector Screening
- Carrot Fertility-Approved Doula
- Sun Life Coverage-Approved Doula
- Registered with the Doulas for Aboriginal Families Grant Program (DAFGP)
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?
- Infant and Pregnancy Loss course and a Fertility Coaching course, with Doula Training Canada
- I’m curious about babywearing, end-of-life care, menopause care, and education specifically designed for at-risk pregnancies.
Testimonials
We received care from Nikia throughout the first month of postpartum. She was super helpful, knowledgeable, patient, and caring, supporting us through the toughest times. Lizzy was also excellent in coordinating all the schedule changes to help us get the support when we needed it the most. I highly recommend Brood for postpartum care to any parents! — Allen C
Our experience working with Brood was absolutely amazing from start to finish. We worked primarily with Ash and Nikia, both of whom were reliable, professional, kind, and everything you would want in someone you trust to look after your child. In addition to the wonderful improvement to our sleep, they were also invaluable sources of information on all things newborn, giving us helpful advice on bedtime routines, breastfeeding/pumping, diapering, and more. They both became a part of our family, helping us to problem-solve and feel more confident through this challenging transition in our lives. It’s not an exaggeration to say that working with Brood transformed our experience of parenting, helped us bond with our daughter, and turned anxiety into hope + joy. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Brood’s team to anyone with a young baby – and what an amazing gift it would make for anyone in your life struggling in the postpartum phase! — Devyn Parsons
