About
What languages do you speak?
English and very basic French.
What is your personal definition of “doula”?
A doula is someone who centers the quality of a birthing person’s experience, with the core belief that the way pregnancy, birth, and postpartum unfold should be treated with reverence. A doula brings reassurance, knowledge, and care to support families holistically. A doula is a witness, a caregiver, a deep listener, and a helper.
What brought you to birth and postpartum work?
I found my way to this work through other care work, primarily with young children. My work with children and families absolutely informs how I show up as a doula. I’ve been drawn to birth and babies from a very young age until finally a season of discernment made me realize it was time to pursue my secret wish of being a doula! I love postpartum work because I love tending to people in their homes and witnessing them build trust in themselves and their babies. I love birth work because I am continually bowled over by the immense strength and surrender of birthing people (and their partners/support teams).
In a climate of caregiver burnout, how are you caring for yourself?
I don’t fill my calendar to the limit! I build some anchor points into my week: Sundays are for a cold ocean dip, Monday night is supper club with friends, and Friday nights are for comfort food in the bath. Most days, I take a nap, write in my journal, do some knitting, and gently move my body. Above all, I practice setting boundaries and orienting my life towards pleasure and contentment.
What is a standout book, movie/tv, etc about the childbearing/parenting journey that you return to?
BOOK
- Care Work by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha.
TV
- Call the Midwife.
- You can find me generally always yelling “where is the postpartum care!!!???” at every movie depicting a birth.
Trainings
BIRTH/POSTPARTUM
- Holistic Doula Certificate, Pacific Rim College.
POST-SECONDARY
- Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Indigenous Studies, the University of Victoria.
FOR YOUR PERSONAL LEARNING, WHAT IS THE WORKSHOP/TRAINING ON YOUR RADAR?
- Integrative Lactation Specialist with Manhattan Birth.
- Childbirth Education Facilitator Training with Cornerstone Birthwork.
- I would love to feel more grounded in a wide range of knowledge to support all ways of feeding babies.
- I’ve also been dreaming up a postpartum education session that primarily focuses on the role of partners.
Testimonials
Jasmine was really helpful for me in helping define my role postpartum. She also gave my wife and I great advice on how to survive as a family, with practical tools and ideas. Her knowledge and experience comes through and were really calming for us as we had our first baby. The ability to be able to sleep and know someone who loves children was helping the household was amazing.
Jasmine supported me and my husband as a postpartum doula after the birth of our daughter and it was one of the best decisions we ever made! From the beginning, I felt calm and well-supported. She is warm, intuitive, and capable. I would (and still) look forward to her coming over! I only recently learned the role of a postpartum doula and I am so thankful I did and was connected with Jasmine in my third trimester. She is one of those people who are easy to be around and feels like you’ve known her for ages. From memory foam circle pillows to sitz baths and the best snack plates ever — Jasmine goes above and beyond what I could’ve expected during my postpartum experience. I would (and currently do!) recommend her wholeheartedly!
Jasmine has been an incredible source of support as we added a little girl to our family. Jasmine is reliable, trustworthy, and extremely proactive. She has answered many questions that come along with caring for a newborn, and if she didn’t have the answer she went above and beyond to find the answer. Not only does she do an amazing job caring for our kids but she also makes sure to take care of me as well. As you take care of your kids, Jasmine makes sure you’re taken care of with bath reminders, making tea, snacks, etc., which is very helpful. I highly recommend Jasmine’s services and believe that if you work with her you will be so glad you did!
Jasmine came into our lives when we were adopting our second son. We now have two children under two a girl and a boy. In our chaotic household, Jasmine was calm compassionate, and thoughtful, bringing a level of care and consideration for our infant that made us feel warm and secure. Though all new families face similar challenges, our family faced perhaps unique ones. Jasmine was very attuned to those and helpful in that regard.
