About
What languages do you speak?
English and conversational Russian
What is your personal definition of “doula”?
A doula is a support person, an educator, an advocate, and a friend. Someone who you can rely on for physical and emotional support, as well as who can provide any and all information to empower you and your family to make informed decisions and play active roles in your labour, birth, and postpartum experiences. A doula also meets you where you’re at and supports your choices. Doulas offer nourishing care, and an open and receptive heart to be present with you during your birth and postpartum journey. Ultimately, doulas hold space for these sacred moments!
What brought you to birth and postpartum work?
My journey toward becoming a doula began with my childhood sense of awe toward pregnancy, birth, and parenthood.
Growing up in an Eastern European household, with my grandma and even my great-grandma around, I felt firsthand the magical energy that comes with families coming together: the kitchen buzzing with the smells of nourishing food, stories of birth and parenting, and that inherent sense of community we all derive from!
In 2024, I followed my intuition and left my teaching job to pursue labour, birth, and postpartum doula training through Cornerstone Doula Trainings. Shortly thereafter, I moved to North Vancouver, BC with my husband and began to work with Brood Care as a postpartum doula.
In a climate of caregiver burnout, how are you caring for yourself?
When I’m not caring for families, I take care of myself by practicing yoga and barre, hiking and swimming on the north shore, and cooking for pleasure.
What is a standout book, movie/tv, etc about the childbearing/parenting journey that you return to?
TVMOVIES
- Call The Midwife
-
The Business of Being Born by Abby Epstein and Ricki Lake
BOOKS
- Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
- Natural Health after Birth: The Complete Guide to Postpartum Wellness by Aviva Romm
- The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother by Heng Ou
- Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering by Sarah J. Buckley
- Mindful Birthing by Nancy Bardacke
- Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage by Rachel Reed
PODCAST
- The Evidence-Based Birth Podcast with Rebecca Dekker
- The Birth Hour, A Birth Story Podcast
Training + Education
BIRTH & POSTPARTUM
- Labour and Birth Doula Training, Cornerstone Doula Trainings
- Postpartum Doula Training, Cornerstone Doula Trainings
- Fetal Positioning for Birthworkers, Cornerstone Doula Trainings
- Childbirth Educator Training Program, Douglas College
- Prenatal + Postnatal Yoga Teacher Training (30h YACEP), Glowithin
OTHER
- Emergency Child Care First Aid & CPR/AED Level B, Canadian Red Cross
- Healthcare Provider CPR-C with AED, St Mark James Training
- Certified Criminal Record Check, including Vulnerable Sector Screening
- Carrot Fertility-Approved Doula
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
FOR YOUR PERSONAL LEARNING, WHAT IS THE WORKSHOP/TRAINING ON YOUR RADAR?
- Advanced Full Spectrum Birthworker (Doula) Training, Cornerstone Doula Trainings
- Homebirth for Birthworkers, Cornerstone Doula Trainings
Testimonials
I want to thank all the staff at Brood for making my 2nd postpartum experience so positive. All the doulas were amazing and helped us overnight for the first couple of months. We had a very difficult newborn phase with our first in 2020, so we reached out to Brood before we welcomed our 2nd and it made such a significant difference. Highly recommend! Special shout out to Roberta & Katya — Kerry O
