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Linaya Bertschi

Pronouns: She/Her
Location: Victoria & Surrounding Areas
Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula, Full Spectrum Doula
Families Served: 2+
Years of Experience: 1+
Birth Package: $1,650 - $1,000 + Agency Fee & Taxes
Experienced Supporting: 2SLGBTQIA+ Families, BIPGM Families, Immigrant and/or Refugee Families, Neurodivergent Persons, Rural Living

About

What languages do you speak?

Fluent English & Basic German.

What is your personal definition of “doula”?

To me, a doula is a steady point of support through a transformative experience. Someone that you can look to for strength and celebration in equal measure throughout your family-building journey.

What brought you to birth and postpartum work?

My mom had an incredibly frightening and isolating experience with my birth, and I grew up hearing the story of how the kind attention and advocacy of a single nurse was able to transform the fear and confusion into a calm and supportive space. I want every family to feel supported and seen through such a transformative experience.

My educational background in the intersections of gender, race, neurodivergence and sexuality motivates me to offer this compassionate, evidence-based, holistic support for all.

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

I love a routine, and regularly attend pilates classes and practice yoga to strengthen the connection between my mind and body. When I find myself in need of a little more support, I love to talk to my therapist, go for an acupuncture session, get my girls together and have a dance night, or take myself down to the ocean for a good cry!

What is a standout book, movie/tv, etc about the childbearing/parenting journey that you return to?
PODCAST
  • The Birthful Podcast with Adriana Lozada
BOOKS
  • The Doulas: Radical Care for Pregnant People by Mary Mahoney and Lauren Mitchell
  • Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage by Rachel Reed

 

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 call myself the Hearthkeeper doula. In ancient times, the hearth acted as the centre of the home, providing physical warmth, a place to cook meals, and a place to gather for storytelling and bonding. This physical space of comfort has transcended into a spiritual one, representing the warmth of connection and the deep sense of nurturing and safety that comes from a loving home. When we’re warmed by a fire, we feel cared for, and like the hearth, we too can be a source of warmth and comfort to others.

To be a Hearthkeeper is a sacred promise to nurture and protect the central fire of life, in all its myriad forms. I am sensitive to the ways in which institutions and practices contribute to poor parental health and birth outcomes, and my goal is to uplift the innate beauty and strength of all bodies and families, with a focus on supporting neurodiverse, LGBTQIA+ and BIPGM parents in navigating barriers to just medical care.

I welcome everyone to find warmth, safety, compassion and radically inclusive care from my hearth, and I would be honoured to join you at your own.

Do you have a preferred location where you typically support births?

I’m comfy where YOU’RE comfy! Be that in a hospital, a home birth, or a birth centre I want to help you create a cozy and calm space wherever you want to be.

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!
  • Prenatal Visits → One visit each month (or two during your final trimester) for us to connect, prepare, and build confidence together. These visits include you and your support team.
  • Educational Support → Learn about the stages of labour and what to expect in each phase. We’ll practice physical and emotional comfort techniques tailored to each stage, helping you and your partner feel ready and capable.
  • Discussing Preferences → We’ll explore your birth and postpartum options and create a personalized plan that reflects your values. I’ll also guide your support team in advocating for your preferences throughout your experience.
  • Mental Preparation → We’ll discuss your hopes, fears, and vision for your ideal birth. I offer guided meditation and grounding touch to help ease anxiety and empower you to face your Birth Tigers (Birthing from Within, Pam England).
  • Prenatal Yoga → Enjoy a simple flow of pregnancy-safe poses to practice on your own time, supporting strength, flexibility, and relaxation.
  • Herbal Support → Receive gentle, customized herbal blends for common pregnancy discomforts and overall wellness.
  • Physical Support → Experience acupressure, moxibustion, and massage designed to ease discomfort and support your body’s natural rhythms.
  • Text and Phone Support → Before 36 weeks, I’ll respond to messages within 24 hours and calls as soon as possible. From 36 weeks onward, I’m on-call and available to you 24/7.
  • Community Referrals → I’ll connect you with trusted local practitioners, classes, and resources to support your pregnancy and beyond.
  • 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 → When you decide it’s time for my support, I will join you and remain by your side throughout your labour and delivery—until about two hours after birth, or whenever your new family feels ready for quiet time together.
  • Creating Your Environment → Whether you’re birthing at home or in a hospital, my goal is to help you feel safe, calm, and comfortable. Together we’ll create a nurturing space with soft lighting, familiar comfort items, and birth affirmation art to support your mindset.
  • Comfort Techniques → I offer a wide range of comfort measures, including acupressure, soothing massage, focused breathing, music, guided visualization, and gentle reminders to stay nourished and hydrated.
  • Movement and Positioning → I’ll guide you through movement circuits to support labor progress, positioning techniques to help baby find an optimal path, and a variety of laboring postures to encourage comfort and flow.
  • Team Support → Birth is a big day for everyone involved. I include your partner or support people in gentle reminders about rest, hydration, and nourishment, and I love teaching them comfort techniques so they can participate at a level that feels right for all of you.
  • Advocacy Support → I help ensure your birth preferences are clearly communicated to your care team and gently remind you of your options as decisions arise, so you feel informed, respected, and empowered throughout your birth experience.

Postpartum Support

  • 2 Postpartum Visits → These visits are flexible and tailored to meet your needs in the moment—whether that means emotional support, practical help, or time to rest and recover.
  • Birth Debrief → We’ll revisit your birth experience together, giving you space to reflect, ask questions, and process any emotions or lingering thoughts that arise.
  • Mental Health Check-In → I offer a compassionate, judgment-free space to talk about how you’re feeling during your fourth trimester. Together, we’ll identify any extra support or resources you—or your partner—might benefit from.
  • Practical Support → Whether you need a moment for self-care, a tidy-up around the house, or help with everyday tasks, I’m there to be an extra set of hands as you adjust to life with your baby.
  • Herbal Support → I provide gentle herbal blends to support lactation, healing, and common postpartum discomforts, helping your body recover naturally.
  • Physical Support → Experience acupressure, moxibustion, and postpartum massage designed to ease tension, promote healing, and restore balance to your body.
  • Community Referrals → I’ll connect you with trusted local care providers, postpartum groups, and community resources to ensure you feel supported in every way.

 

Training + Education

BIRTH & POSTPARTUM
  • Holistic Doula Certificate, Pacific Rim College
OTHER
POST-SECONDARY
  • Bachelor of Arts in Gender Studies, University of Victoria
WORKSHOPS
FOR YOUR PERSONAL LEARNING, WHAT IS THE WORKSHOP/TRAINING ON YOUR RADAR?
  • I want to learn more hands-on and energetic techniques, such as Qi Gong or craniosacral massage, to support the emotions and energetics, as well as the physical experience of pregnancy and birth.
  • Outside of the birth realm, I would love to add American Sign Language to my skillset!
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