|
Hello! My name is Guilaine. (Pronounced Gee-Lynn). Most people call me Gui for short. I am a Maternal Support Practitioner a.k.a Doula. |
I'm a wife, a mother of a 4 year old boy and we just had a baby girl in the spring! I love talking about all things pregnancy, birth and baby. But that wasn’t always my passion. I came from a background of fashion business and prior to having my son I was terrified of birth and the transition to motherhood, no joke! When I got pregnant it was a bit of a surprise and I was kinda freaking out for the first few weeks. My husband and I weren't planning a family at that time, and I just didn’t feel ready. When is anyone ever totally ready though?
I began frantically researching everything about pregnancy and birth. I wanted to make sure I knew as much as possible before going into labour. I started researching birth prep classes, I came across hypnobirthing and it totally changed my perception of birth and I know it had a huge part in my amazing birthing experience. I had a fast, unmedicated and intervention-free birth. I felt so powerful after birthing my son and I couldn’t help but want to spread the word to others that birth doesn’t have to be an awful, scary thing! I often wonder what my experience would have been, if I just went into my labour not knowing a whole lot.
I began frantically researching everything about pregnancy and birth. I wanted to make sure I knew as much as possible before going into labour. I started researching birth prep classes, I came across hypnobirthing and it totally changed my perception of birth and I know it had a huge part in my amazing birthing experience. I had a fast, unmedicated and intervention-free birth. I felt so powerful after birthing my son and I couldn’t help but want to spread the word to others that birth doesn’t have to be an awful, scary thing! I often wonder what my experience would have been, if I just went into my labour not knowing a whole lot.
|
What I wasn’t prepared for was the postpartum period and taking care of a newborn.
Everyone told me that you just sort of “figure it out” and yes that’s partially true, but things could have been a lot easier had I prepared myself a little more prior to my son’s arrival. Motherhood was an adjustment to say the least. Suddenly having a tiny human to care for and not knowing if you're doing things right or wrong. With breastfeeding I was very lucky that it went fairly smoothly but the lack of sleep was tough. My son also cried a lot and didn’t want to be put down! Like any new parent you are surrounding by a lot of people who have already had kids and have a lot of advice and opinions on what to do. Even though I didn’t know the answers I knew that some of these “opinions or suggestions” weren’t the solutions either. |
My mission as a doula is to educate and support expecting families through their journey and help ease the stresses and anxieties of parenthood.
As your doula, I will not give you my personal opinions or make decisions for you, but rather provide you with unbiased evidence-based research so that you can make well informed decisions, and trust your own intuition when it comes to your pregnancy, birth, and caring for your baby.
They say it takes a village (it really does!). Everyone needs support in different ways so whether it's prenatal prep, birth support, or in home postpartum and newborn care, we've got you covered!
As your doula, I will not give you my personal opinions or make decisions for you, but rather provide you with unbiased evidence-based research so that you can make well informed decisions, and trust your own intuition when it comes to your pregnancy, birth, and caring for your baby.
They say it takes a village (it really does!). Everyone needs support in different ways so whether it's prenatal prep, birth support, or in home postpartum and newborn care, we've got you covered!
"Whenever and however you intend to give birth, your experience will impact your emotions, your mind, your body and your spirit for the rest of your life." - Ina May Gaskin