You may have heard this word swirling around your OB or Midwive’s office, dotting your friend’s birth story or on your social feeds, and it may have you going “Doula-what?”, “Doula-who?”. Before reading ahead, make sure you peek at this blog post to get all of your questions answered on what the heck a doula is! Now that you know what we are all about, let me break down some of the ways doulas can support you and your family.
Investing in your birth and postpartum care can set you and your family up for the first year of parenthood, and beyond. Many of our families are receiving support from their friends and family to book Brood services – adding them to their Baby Registries. And we’ve made it easier than ever for your community to give you the gift of Brood. Some call it Doula Care Funds, or Crowdfunding, and here, we call it Community Gifting.
“Embodiment” is a buzzword thrown around much like “self-care”. It’s easy to sell but hard to practice, which probably explains why the wellness industry is projected to be worth over $7 billion by 2030. When we talk about self-care, what we often mean is community care—and when we talk about embodiment, what also needs to be abundant is safety and support.
When what we say really does matter. What is it about a pregnant person that elicits such free...
Amedeo Hope was born on September 14th, 2021, at 3:37am. Having conceived in December of 2020 after making a choice to become a solo parent, my pregnancy was as idyllic as possibly could have been (with the exception of that pesky first trimester!). I chose a long-term friend to be an anonymous donor — it felt important to me that my child would have access to the person who contributed to their genetics, and understand the importance that chosen family and community would play in their upbringing.
We are excited to announce that we have expanded our Brood doula postpartum and birth services to Victoria, BC and the surrounding areas. This is the land of the lək̓ʷəŋən People, known today as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. We have an amazing team of doulas that are excited to bring the Brood energy to those living and birthing on Vancouver Island.
As a parent and caregiver myself, I know what the most valuable gift is for a new family. Spoiler alert: it’s not the tiny little onesies, classic books or soothing stuffies. Don’t get me wrong, I loved those too, but the most valuable gift I received when I was pregnant and postpartum, was the gift of support.
Oh, the second trimester… a time where you somehow begin to magically forget the feelings of dread the first trimester brought. It’s almost like pregnancy is trying to gaslight you. “See, it’s not so bad growing a new life, sharing your body 24/7. You’ll barely even notice we’re here.”
The first trimester was DARK. Feelings of being seriously trapped. Stuck in a moment that felt never ending. The same recurring thoughts about running away. Fight or flight. Stay or go.
Female. Healthy diet. Exercises regularly. 26 years old. Monthly menstruation. Confident. Good mental health. Based on my description, I along with most other people, would assume that just by making the decision to become pregnant, I would. Wrong.
We work and live on the unceded and occupied territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations. Since time immemorial, the original peoples of these lands have cared for their families and communities. We are committed to honouring their teachings, legacy and their sovereignty.
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