Tayvie Van Eeuwen

About

Tayvie Van Eeuwen is a birth, postpartum, and full-spectrum doula with Brood, serving Vancouver & Lower Mainland. Tayvie has 1 years of experience and has supported 4 families.

What languages do you speak?

English and basic conversational ASL

What is your personal definition of “doula”?

A doula is a compassionate, grounded, and informed care provider who helps individuals and families navigate the beautiful and challenging season of pregnancy, birth, loss, and parenthood. In a world that is increasingly marked by overmedicalization, systemic discrimination, and a lack of ‘a village’, I believe that doulas are more needed than ever.

I am a listening ear, a resource for your questions, a steady support to fall back on, and a compassionate voice to remind you of your worth, capacity, and intuition as a parent. I am here to remind you that you are not alone, even in the hard, messy, and confusing moments. Together, we will ensure that your wishes are honoured, your body is respected, and your needs are never an afterthought.

What brought you to birth and postpartum work?

After experiencing two miscarriages, I became deeply entrenched in a personal journey to understand the lack of care, compassion, and value that encompasses pregnancy, birth, the fourth-trimester, and loss. This sparked my desire to do a Masters in social justice with a thesis on enactments of community care for those experiencing miscarriage. During my Masters, I realized I wanted to apply my academic and personal learnings to helping other families that are seeking support during a beautiful and challenging season of life.

In a climate of caregiver burnout, how are you caring for yourself?

To rest, I love a nap (at least two hours!) and a cuddle with my long-haired cat, Everest. I am a huge fan of reality TV (shoutout to my fellow Love Island fans), a limited series, and a breathwork session. As an Indigenous woman, the land and water are where I feel most like myself, and where I find the greatest clarity.

Activities that bring my spark back include blasting Raye’s music, beading, baking a sweet treat, and doing a cheeky Pinterest scroll.

What is a standout book, movie/tv, etc about the childbearing/parenting journey that you return to?

BOOK

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:

My birth doula practice is derived from the world-building work of SisterSong and reproductive justice. Reproductive justice affirms three strands of rights, including (1) the right to have a child; (2) the right not to have a child; and (3) the right to parent the children we have, as well as to control our birthing options. As an Indigenous person, I believe birth is a sacred event that connects the spirit and living worlds. In Michif, the word for pregnancy (Ehawawisit) translates to “with child” or “carrying life,” which encompasses my view of birth being a shared and connective experience.

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. We can chat over a coffee or a sweet treat! Each session is designed to empower you with knowledge and support. This is also an opportunity for us to get to know each other, so you feel comfortable having me accompany you during a vulnerable life event.
• 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 will have access to support. With unlimited text and call support, I am available to chat through your joys, fears and worries, and offer any guidance you might need.
• 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

• Continuous Care → I’ll be with you throughout early labor and delivery, providing support and comfort. I tend to stay for up to two hours after birth, or until your family feels ready for private time.
• Holistic Labour Support → My labour support involves helping you navigate the stages of labour (and how they differ, when you can rest, etc.), making you snacks, providing emotional support, guiding your family or partner in how to step in, and enhancing your comfort at every available opportunity. 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.
• Pain Relief Techniques → Experience soothing massages, guided meditation, calming music, gentle movement, and counter-pressure techniques to help manage pain and stress.
• Support for Birth Preferences → I’ll ensure your birth preferences are communicated clearly to the hospital staff or your home birth team and remind you of your options as decisions arise.
• Newborn Care Assistance → After birth, I’ll help with the first feed, supporting you and your baby in establishing a good latch or bottle technique to ensure a smooth start to newborn care.
• Birth Photography → Capture special moments with tailored birth photography, whether you want the entire process documented or just the first hours with your baby.
• 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 2 visits to ease your transition into parenthood. Our visits are an opportunity to check in on how you’re feeling, discuss newborn care, receive light cleaning or meal prep support, and connect you with essential support services.
• Debriefing Opportunity → Take the time to discuss your birth experience and address any questions or concerns you may have. Sometimes you just need a listening ear.
• 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 & POSTPARTUM

• Birth and Postpartum Doula Certificate, Bebo Mia
• Full Spectrum Doula Certificate, Bebo Mia

POST SECONDARY

• Bachelor of Arts in Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Social Justice (GRSJ) and Sociology, University of British Columbia
• In-Process: Master of Arts in Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Social Justice (GRSJ), University of British Columbia

OTHER

• Healthcare Provider CPR-C with AED
• Certified Criminal Record Check, including Vulnerable Sector Screening
• Registered with the Doulas for Aboriginal Families Grant Program (DAFGP)
• Carrot Fertility-Approved Doula
• Eligible for Extended Health Reimbursement

WORKSHOPS & ROUNDTABLES

• 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?

• Anything to do with loss or finding community!