About
What languages do you speak?
English, some French.
What is your personal definition of “doula”?
Doulas are members of the community with specialized skills and knowledge for support during significant life events. Doulas offer care towards challenges that come during these times from a place of non-judgment and compassion with the goal of individual and family well-being.
What brought you to birth and postpartum work?
I have worked with families and young children for two decades until I decided on a birth-to-5-years focused spectrum of knowledge and began working with newborns.
In a climate of caregiver burnout, how are you caring for yourself?
I make art and play my core priorities, and orient my choices around having the ongoing capacity to do so. This leads a feedback loop to reflect on and adjust my day-to-day when I want to try something, but feel limited.
What is a standout book, movie/tv, etc about the childbearing/parenting journey that you return to?
MOVIES
- The Florida Project is next on my list, and been reflecting on non-traditional family units through re-examining past favourites, such as Beasts of the Southern Wild, Where the Wild Things Are, The Fall, and other stories told on film through the lenses of children.
- While heartbreaking in some ways, Hunt for the Wilderpeople from Taika Watiti speaks to me of the depth and many shapes and forms that care and family take.
Training + Education
BIRTH & POSTPARTUM
- Postpartum Doula Training, DONA International
- Birth Doula Training, DONA International
OTHER
- Healthcare Provider CPR-C with AED
- Certified Criminal Record Check, including Vulnerable Sector Screening
- Carrot Fertility-Approved Doula
- 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?
- I’m currently in a “reciprocal clothing” making garden group and working with wool, flax, nettle, and dyes grown in our gardens.
Testimonials
I had the pleasure of having Claire as my postpartum doulas for both my children. It’s hard to explain just how wonderful it was to have her with me for the first 6 months of my postpartum journey. She would come to my house and know what my children and I needed. I rarely had to ask for anything, she would already be doing what needed to be done, or holding my baby so I could shower or getting me food or tea or talking with me so I didn’t feel so alone. Claire has an amazing ability to talk to children. I have seen her work with newborns to teenagers and she just can get on their level. It’s truly amazing. Having her hold and wear my babies and play with my toddler is wonderful to watch. I never worried about them when they were with her. If you are looking for someone who seamlessly blends into your world and offers you more support than you know you need then I 100% recommend Claire. — Danielle Samuels
