About
What languages do you speak?
English
What is your personal definition of “doula”?
To me, a doula is someone who will walk alongside you and your family to create a space where you feel emotionally and practically supported, heard, and cared for during one of life’s most transformative and vulnerable experiences!
What brought you to birth and postpartum work?
From a young age, caring for others has always been a natural part of who I am.
Throughout my personal and career life, I have organically gravitated towards providing one-on-one care, and I consider it one of my strengths!
When I discovered doula work in my early 20s, it immediately resonated with me. For generations, doulas have been an important puzzle piece for both birthers and families’ journeys. I believe everyone should feel supported, seen, and empowered with evidence-based care and advocacy throughout the transition time into parenthood.
In a climate of caregiver burnout, how are you caring for yourself?
A very important question for caregivers! Routine has always worked best for me. Going back to the basics of eating a good meal, ensuring I am getting enough rest, and moving my body. Connecting with friends and family, being in the outdoors, and having time for play!
What is a standout book, movie/tv, etc about the childbearing/parenting journey that you return to?
BOOK
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Like a Mother by Angela Garbes. I think it is a wonderful book for expecting birthers. I have read it twice now!
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 am here to help support birthers and families feel informed, confident, and easeful through the birth experience. My role is to first get to know you and your family’s wishes, desires, fears, and any questions I can provide for you- to ultimately meet you where you are. I then show up with supportive emotional and physical tools, as well as evidence-based support with no bias. My goal is to provide your experience with comfort measures, a container for your emotions, and information to give you the strength to feel empowered.
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!
- Tailored Prenatal Support → I would love to get to know you! Get to know your wishes, desires, and fears based around the birth and postpartum. We will go over any sensitivities, boundaries, and passes. This time is open for any questions so we can work collaboratively and to build our relationship and establish trust. The goal is to have you feel safe, respected, and supported.
- Personalized Prenatal Sessions → Enjoy 2 to 3 prenatal visits, available in-person or virtually. We’ll check in on your pregnancy, address any concerns, and prepare you for labour and postpartum.
- Birth & Postpartum Planning → We’ll discuss your birth and postpartum plans. We will go over communication with your care team, go over comfort measures that you wish for, and comfort measures that I can provide.
- Flexible Communication Support→ From the moment you hire me until 6 weeks postpartum, you will have unlimited text and phone support to ensure you will feel supported through this journey.
- Community Referrals → Access valuable local resources like prenatal classes, lactation consultants, and mental health support.
- 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
- Dedicated one-on-one Support → We will discuss ahead of time when you would like for me to come support you. This will look different for everyone, but I will most likely be with you throughout early labour and delivery, offering steady support, comfort, and advocacy. I typically stay for up to two hours after delivery, until families are feeling they are ready for private time with the new baby.
- Pain Relief & Comfort Measures → During your labour, I can provide comfort measures such as massage work, position changes, counter pressure, and drawing showers and baths.
- Support for Birth Preferences → Your birth preferences matter, and I will help ensure they are communicated clearly to your care team while gently reminding you of your options as decisions arise. Throughout your labour and birth, I’ll help create a calm, comforting environment, encourage rest whenever possible, and provide steady, compassionate support as things unfold. My role is to help you feel informed, respected, and heard, so you can move through your birth experience with confidence and feel supported every step of the way.
- Immediate Post-Birth Support → After your baby arrives, I’ll be there to provide calm, compassionate support as you settle into those first precious moments together. I can assist with the first feed, offer guidance with latching or bottle feeding, and help create a peaceful, well-supported environment so you can focus on bonding with your baby and easing into your new rhythm.
- Ongoing Family Support → Your birth support is tailored to your family’s needs. Depending on your birth plan, I can also help care for older children or pets, prepare meals, and tend to the cleanliness of your home. Allowing you to feel fully present after your birth.
Postpartum Support
- Postpartum Support → The postpartum period is a time of healing, adjustment, and getting to know your baby. My role is to provide compassionate, personalized support that helps your family feel confident, cared for, and well-supported during this transition.
- Whole-Family Support → Postpartum care is about supporting your entire household. Whether it’s caring for siblings or pets, preparing a meal, managing visitors, or holding your baby while you rest, shower, or enjoy a meal, I’m here to help create space for your recovery.
- Practical Support →From accompanying you to appointments and running errands to light household tasks like folding laundry or tidying shared spaces, I provide practical assistance that helps make everyday life feel more manageable.
- Recovery & Newborn Care → I offer evidence-informed guidance, emotional support, and reassurance as you recover and care for your baby. My goal is to help you feel safe, supported, and confident while creating a calm environment where your family can thrive.
Training + Education
BIRTH & POSTPARTUM
- Birth and Postpartum Certificate, Doula International
- Health Care Assistant (Indigenous Focused) Certificate, Vancouver Island
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)
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?
- Gender Affirming Relational Practice, Trans Care BC
- Spinning Babies Birth Skills Training
- Doula Micro-Credential, Camosun College
Testimonials
My partner and I were so grateful to have our first birth with Chantals’ support. She was nurturing and had a calm presence throughout the whole experience. During our (very long!) labour, she was our rock and communicated throughout. She provided emotional support, answered any questions we had and helped with massaging as well as different positions for comfort. We truly felt she was in our corner the whole time! I would highly recommend Chantal for anyone’s birth. — Anonymous
