Pregnancy and Birth Support
Whether you are pregnant for your first time or your fifth, you are worthy of having the best possible journey as you prepare to give birth.
But what is the best possible journey for yourself and your baby?
What are your specific needs and desires?
Is there anything that feels like it may be preventing you from having the birth you desire?
How can you prepare and plan for something that can be unpredictable?
How can you tend to your mind, body, and spirit during this time of transformation?
You are not alone in seeking answers to these questions, and more.
On this page, you will find several ways to tend to your mind, body, and spirit, wherever you are on your journey.
-
1. Childbirth Education/Birth Prep classes focused on how birth works and how you can work with it.
-
2. Birth Prep Ceremony to release fear and tune into your inner wisdom.
-
3. Womb Massage and Foot Reflexology to tend to your body's tension and aches, and invite softness.
-
4. Birth Doula Support so you'll have someone with you for the journey.
Childbirth Education and Birth Prep
If you are interested in attending group classes for Childbirth Education, go to My Powerful Birth. You can use the code Cedar25 for a $25 discount on group classes, either in person (in Pitt Meadows or Abbotsford), or online!
If you are interested in private Childbirth Education in your own home in Chilliwack (or on zoom if preferred), read on to learn more.
I have been a doula for 8 years, and a Childbirth Educator for 7. I am passionate about helping people to learn how their bodies work, and fostering their confidence in their inner strength and intuition. I know that birth can be an amazing, transformative experience, and I'd like to help you prepare for your unique journey.
The Basics:
-
The Stages of Labour and Birth- both the medical understanding and a holistic look at the physiological (or natural) process of birth and how to support the hormonal flow required.
-
Ways to Cope through the stages of Birth, including tips for partners or other support people.
-
Common Interventions in the birth process, from membrane sweeps to cesarean birth.
-
How to make informed decisions, both during pregnancy and while you're giving birth.
-
Clarifying your Birth Vision, and how to set yourself up to achieve it.
-
Building your Birth Plan: making decisions about your preferences, from how you want to manage pain to how you want to spend your very first hour as new parents.
-
Preparing for Postpartum, including the basics of newborn care and breastfeeding, and setting yourself up for a smooth recovery.
The (optional) Bonuses:
-
A guided journalling practice to build confidence in yourself and your body.
-
Guided meditation to connect with your intuition and your baby.
-
Guidance in practicing positions and hands-on touch that will bring comfort before and during your birth journey.
-
Sharing your previous birth story, if you've given birth before, and moving through any fears that may come up because of your prior experience.
Classes will be held in the comfort of your own home, or online through zoom. Ideally we'll have two sessions, around 1.5-2 hours each, in order to cover everything and to have time for your specific questions. Topics can be altered based on your needs.
Investment: $295
Birth Prep Ceremony
Preparing for the transition of birth requires more than learning how birth works and making decisions about your care. In fact, the hormones of pregnancy and birth invite the thinking brain to take a back seat, to allow instinct and intuition lead the way. This is nature's way of helping you access your inner wisdom!
This gentle ceremony creates a time when the mind can become quiet, so that the rest of you can show up. Your body, your heart, and your spirit all have wisdom to share with you about your journey, and this is one way for you to slow down and hear them.
What to expect:
A gentle meditation to tune into your breath and begin to feel the sensations of your body.
The use of items from nature to ground you, and to use as touchstones throughout the ceremony.
Recognizing (and possibly releasing) emotions you've been holding in your body- fear, grief, joy, etc.
A time of slowing down enough to feel into your whole self, your centre of Self, beyond your busy mind.
Gentle listening and reflection from me as we walk through the stages of the ceremony: tuning in, releasing what's heavy, celebrating what's light, and then receiving the wisdom from within.
To come away feeling more deeply connected with yourself, and ready for your journey.
What else?
The Birth Prep ceremony is for anyone who is pregnant, whether it's your first baby or your sixth. This is your unique journey, and taking the time to let yourself show up fully is such a gift for yourself and your baby.
The Ceremony can be held in your home in the Chilliwack area, or in my home treatment space.
You don't need to do anything special to prepare for the Ceremony, just show up as you are.
Investment: $125
Womb Massage & Reflexology
Foot reflexology is safe throughout pregnancy, and can be especially beneficial as you reach the third trimester. By this time, your feet may be sore and possibly swollen. Just putting your feet up to receive reflexology can feel great, but there are more benefits than that!
Reflexology sessions can:
-bring your body out of the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight) and into the parasympathetic (rest and heal).
-balance hormones
-relieve stress
-improve mood
-increase blood flow and circulation
-move fluids to reduce edema (swelling)
-relieve heartburn
-help to prepare the body for birth
Often in pregnancy our bellies are only touched by our medical care providers, as they measure and assess our baby's position at each prenatal appointment. This touch may be helpful, but it isn't usually nurturing. If you are craving nurturing touch, and perhaps even want to learn to palpate your own belly to figure out where your baby is hanging out, Womb Massage may be the answer. We can work together to release what's tight, and make space for you to breathe. I can show you how to find your baby's position yourself. You are the one carrying them, you know more than anyone else!
This can be a time of relaxation and self care, as you slow down and receive a gentle massage. It can also be a good time for you to connect with your baby.
Note: I am not a registered massage therapist, but have been trained in womb massage by Mandy Verghese, midwife and bodyworker. I am a certified reflexologist.
You can choose one of these nurturing sessions, or treat yourself to both at once.
Sessions can be done in your own home in the Chilliwack area, or in my home treatment space (in Vedder).
Investment:
$111 for a single session (approx 1 hour)
$133 for a combo session (1.5-2 hours)
Birth Doula Support
You deserve to be held, supported, heard, and respected throughout your journey into parenthood. A doula is hired by you, to do those very things.
From the time I join your team I am a listening ear, a wealth of information (should you want it), and a calming presence of encouragement as you find your inner wisdom. I will help you to get to know what's most important to you, so that you can advocate for your wants and wishes throughout your pregnancy and your birthing experience. You know yourself best, I will support your choices.
Complete Birth Doula Package Includes:
30 minute phone or video consultation at no charge, to see if we're a good fit.
Optional monthly check-ins on zoom for childbirth education and birth prep.
2 in person prenatal visits in your home, in the third trimester.
On-call for birth support starting at 37 weeks gestation. We will have weekly check-ins from this point until your baby is born.
Labour and birth support.
2 postpartum visits to support you as you adjust to life at home with your new baby.
$1800
(returning families pay a reduced rate, send me a message!)
If you are Indigenous and seeking doula care, $1200 of your doula fee can be covered through the DAFGP (Doulas for Aboriginal Families Grant Program). The remainder of the fee is negotiable.You can call, email, or text me for more information.
"Katrina is an empathetic and intuitive doula. She made my pregnancy, labour, and birth experience so much better. Her presence is calming and she helped me with previous birth trauma. I was in good hands and so grateful to have her." -Kayla Thomas, Surrey
"... she really listened, cared, and provided a really safe space to explore various feelings as well as possibilities for birth. Knowing I would have her when it was time to give birth took a huge load off of me mentally. She even helped me advocate for myself in a situation during my birth involving a student midwife, without her I honestly wouldn't have and things could have turned out quite different. During the entire birthing process she worked well with my midwives, her support extended to my husband and she provided a lot of helpful tools throughout.." -Erin Lefabre, Chilliwack