Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a doula?
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I like to describe doulas as “major life transition companions”. There are doulas for fertility, birth, postpartum, infant and pregnancy loss, death, menopause, and more due to specializations in each field! Doulas are trained and/or experienced, non-medical professionals who serve families by providing continuous informational, emotional, and physical support during these life transitions. Probably the most common type of doula is a birth/postpartum doula, which is someone who offers support for birthing people and their families before, during and after childbirth.
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- What is a full spectrum holistic doula?
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A full-spectrum doula is someone who is trained to support the full range of reproductive experiences, from conception to pregnancy to birth to postpartum, and even pregnancy loss. A holistic doula cares for the whole person, considering all the lifestyle factors that could impact their journey to support their overall health and wellness.
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- Is a doula the same thing as a midwife?
A common misconception, but no! Midwives are medically trained whereas doulas are not. In fact, performing medical tasks is outside of a doulas scope of practice. There can be a little bit of overlap in the emotional support aspect of our care, but a midwife is basically your medical provider and a doula is there to support you through allllll the other stuff. A midwife will also typically arrive for your birth only once active labour is established, whereas doulas will show up earlier in your labour if you want them to.
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- Does a birth doula replace my partner?
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Absolutely not! And we would never dream of trying. The love and connection you share with your partner is invaluable during your labour and birth. Comfort, recognition, trust, and love all lead to more oxytocin, which is a super important hormone that keeps your labour progressing! That’s what we want! So I like to think of it as your partner being your go-to support person, and we’re there to guide them and step in when they need breaks. We’re there to support you, but also to support your partner in supporting you. Even a partner who has read all the books and attended childbirth classes with you might be surprised at how they feel during the real deal. Labour and birth can be unpredictable and emotional, and that’s why it’s important to have the unbiased knowledge and experience of a doula to back up your partner in moments where emotions may override logic.
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- Where did you train and are you certified?
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I am fully trained through Doula Canada and am currently working on my final certification requirements! Doula work is an unregulated profession in Canada, which means that certification is actually not required. I chose to train through a certifying body because I believe that qualification and continuing education will help me provide the most up-to-date and informed care to my clients. My current credentials include:
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- Full Spectrum Holistic Doula Certificate, Doula Canada, (currently enrolled)
- Lactation For Birthworkers, Doula Canada, completed 2024
- Reiki For Birthworkers Level 1, Reiki For Birth, completed 2024
- Early Childhood Montessori Assistant Certificate, Montessori Teachers College, completed 2021
- CPR-C/AED Certification, St. Mark James Training, completed 2024
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- Does a doula help with chestfeeding/breastfeeding?
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We sure do! During our prenatal meetings or postpartum visits we can go over some of the infant feeding basics like feeding positions, getting a proper latch, how to deal with engorgement, and/or alternate infant feeding methods if that interests you. I’m also there to support you in getting started with chestfeeding/breastfeeding immediately after birth and during postpartum visits as well. I will note, I am not a bodyfeeding expert and some of your feeding issues may need specialized assistance from a certified lactation consultant. If this is the case I will refer you to one.
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- What types of births do you support and what areas do you support?
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I am currently offering birth support for families in the Calgary area only, and I will support you wherever you decide to give birth, whether that’s a home birth, hospital birth, or at a birth centre! In Calgary, most births take place in a hospital setting. If you are under midwifery care you have the option of home, the Arbour Birth Centre, Rocky View General, Foothills Medical Centre, South Health Campus or Peter Lougheed Hospital. The only births I do not currently attend are free births, or births without medical or midwifery assistance.
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- What if I need a c-section?
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No matter how your birth unfolds, I’m here to support you and your family to the best of my ability. My services really don’t change much in the case of a cesarean birth, however depending on the hospital, I may not be allowed in the OR during your surgery. In that case I will support you beforehand, then meet you and your partner in the recovery room and continue my normal support for you and baby in those first few hours.
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- What is your birth philosophy?
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I believe that there is no right or wrong way to give birth. Whatever type of birth makes you feel the most empowered, safe, and supported is the birth I want you to have, whether that's a completely physiological home birth, or a hospital birth with all the medical bells and whistles. What matters to me is that your decisions are respected, that your autonomy is defended, and that you feel heard.
That being said, it is my deepest belief that your body has all the innate wisdom it needs to give birth. I would love to see a world where fear of birth is dismantled and respect for the physiological process, as opposed to management of it, is the norm. The nuance of supporting birth is understanding that each birth is going to come with its own set of challenges and risks no matter where or how it happens. My goal is to understand what your personal challenges and risks are, and do as much as I can to help you create a magical and connective experience within your unique circumstances.
- What happens after our consultation?
After our consultation I recommend going home and thinking about it and/or discussing with your partner(s) how you feel about moving forward. I believe in the right doula for the right family, so there’s no hard feelings if I’m not the doula for you! If you do decide to hire me as your doula, yay! I’ll prepare your contract and send it your way. Once your paperwork is signed and your deposit or first payment is received, I will send you a welcome package and invoice. From that point you’ll have access to me 24/7 for any support you may need, and we can look at scheduling your support appointments.
- How does payment work?
It depends on the support service you are looking for! Fertility support is charged hourly, and fees are due before your first session. For birth support, 50% of the package cost is due as a deposit upon the signing of the contract. The remainder of your payment is due 30 days before your estimated due date. For postpartum support, 50% of the chosen package cost is due as a deposit upon the signing of the contract and all remaining fees are due before the first support shift. Loss support is always free of charge. If you want to pay in full for simplicity sake you can absolutely do that. I am also happy to work out flexible payment plans or discuss a sliding scale or service trade if there are financial barriers. Payments accepted are: etransfer, cash, credit, and cheques made payable to “Magnolia Pearson-Balcerzak”. Credit card payments will be charged an additional processing fee of 2.9% + 30 cents.
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