my services

Birth and Labour
Support

A birth and labour doula is committed to long stretches of continuous physical, emotional and informational support leading up to, during the labour/birth and immediately postpartum and works alongside the partner, family & friends and medical care providers to make sure the birthing person is completely informed and their choices honoured.

A doula will provide recommendations for evidence-based information during the prenatal period, help the expectant parents write up a “birth plan”, suggest or refer the expecting parents to programs or classes, suggest books, information on alternatives to typical pain medications and management. They will support the birthing person physically by giving them tutorials on different birthing positions during prenatal visits, help them get into and hold them in different birthing positions during labour, offer massage, counter pressure and aromatherapy during birth and make sure the birthing person and partner are drinking and eating.

So what do I offer?

ALL of the above. It’s a short break down, but I typically go more in-depth about what doula’s do during your first free consult to see if I am the right doula for you!

-Free consultation to see if Roberta is the right doula for your family.

- Virtual support during the entire pregnancy.

-Two prenatal visits, one hour each.

-Help to initiate feeding with your baby.

-Two postpartum visits, one hour each.

- On-call 24/7 four weeks before the due date, and then up till labour.

-Optional birth photography add on

Interested in learning more? Check out my FAQ page or contact me for a deeper dive into what doula care can look like for you!

Postpartum Support

So what exactly is a postpartum doula anyway?

A postpartum doula offers emotional support to the postpartum person which can look like, a reassuring presence, listening to the birthing person's story and feelings around the birth/transition to parenthood, offering encouragement, no judgement and acceptance of the birthing person's choices. They also offer emotional support to the partner of the birthing person as well as other children the clients might already have, which can include knowledge of child development and experiences during transitions and listening to the partner retell what they experienced during the birth. (There is strong evidence that the support a doula offers minimizes the chances of postpartum depression and anxiety.)

So what do I offer?

ALL of the above. It’s a short break down, but I typically go more in-depth about what doula’s do during your first free consult to see if I am the right doula for you!

- Free consultation to see if Roberta is the right postpartum doula for your family.

- 24/7 access to Doula for any questions or concerns during the postpartum period.

-Compassionate listening, non-judgment support and evidenced-based education.

- Hourly support at home during the day or night (minimum 4 hours-maximum 8 hours)

- Hands-on chest or alternative feeding support.

-Light household chores such as sweeping, folding laundry and dishes.

-Nutritional support and making sure the family is well-fed postpartum.

-Community and postpartum resource recommendations and referrals.

-Infant care support (diaper charging, sleep, bathing, swaddling etc.)

-Babywearing tips and tricks.

-Support families transition to life with a newborn.

Interested in learning more? Check-out my FAQ page or contact me for a deeper dive into what doula care can look like for you!

Maternity/Family Photography

When they say these seasons are fleeting, they really mean it! Often you are so focused on getting through pregnancy or adoption and you are the last person to show up in photographs. I get it, I’ve been there felt HUGE and honestly not really digging getting my picture taken. But I can promise you…you. will. not. regret. it.

When you look back on those photos and see that special place your child found nurturing and safe (whether that child was inside or outside when you first heard their heartbeat) It’s gonna hit all the fuzzy feelings FOREVER.

You can check out more of my family photography work over here

First and foremost, birth photography is not for everyone!
That being said, most people hold back from choosing it as an option because either they are grossed out by birth, or feel like it’s far too intimate to be photographed.

And I am here to tell you:

a. there will be waaaay more things you will find gross about parenting than birth. In fact, you are usually so distracted gross isn’t a word most people use to describe their birthing experiences.

b. a seasoned, respectful and knowledgeable birth photographer will make sure your intimacy, vulnerability and strength are protected and uplifted. These images don’t have to go beyond you and your partner! They don’t have to go on Facebook, or in a magazine. But they will offer you another view of your strength you might not have been able to remember or experienced simply because of how focused you were on the job at hand!

I didn’t know what a Fresh- 48 session was when my oldest baby was born, but goodness I wish I did! This is honestly the perfect way to document the freshness of your newest little person. Phone photos are ok, but this time spent documenting you and your newest little love will capture candid, beautiful little bits of what life is really about! This is also a great choice if you decided to opt-out of birth photos, but still want to remember the experiences around meeting your little one for the first time!

Newborn photography is rather self-explanatory, but my approach is not traditional or posed. I try to be a fly on the wall, only swooping down when I absolutely need to. I love for these sessions to take place in the comfort of your own home, snuggled up with a warm drink and new buddle on the couch. These aren't rushed sessions, and there will always be room for baby changes and feeds (and sometimes parents changes and feeds too! you never know where the spit up will land)