Hi, my name is Lauren and I’m a DONA certified birth doula, recently relocated back to Quesnel after a few years in the Okanagan. It’s good to be home!

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Since receiving my training and certification in 2005, I’ve had the pleasure and privilege of attending well over 100 births. Each experience has reinforced my belief that birth should be, and can be, a safe and joyous event. Every person deserves to have the best birth experience possible, and with good evidence-based prenatal education, labour support, and trust in one’s own innate ability to give birth, this can be true for all people. A safe and healthy birth provides a strong foundation for parenting. This is the fundamental belief that I bring to my practice.

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As well as being a doula, I am a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator and Pre and Postnatal Yoga instructor. I received my training with Lamaze International and began teaching in 2007. I was employed by Northern Health for ten years teaching group classes and continued to teach classes privately in the Okanagan. I’m currently an instructor for Northern Health at GR Baker Memorial Hospital, and offering private individualized instruction as well. I received my training in prenatal and postnatal yoga with SOYA, and with MOGA. As a person who is passionate about yoga, I bring my knowledge of breathwork, meditation and body movement to my practice as a doula and educator as well.

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In my role as a doula I have supported birthing people who are alone, who have a partner or come with a whole team. Having a trained labour support person attend your birth can greatly enhance the birth experience. A doula in no way takes the place of the special love and comfort that only a partner can provide, and I’ve been told often that by having a doula, the partner felt free to just be there to provide love and encouragement and to enjoy the journey. It’s truly the birth of a family..I love that!

 

I also have a wonderful family of my own! I’m the mother to two beautiful daughters, and “Nona” to four wonderful granddaughters. I have family in Williams Lake and Quesnel and I’m so happy to be able to provide support to families in both communities! During the week I am a counsellor/ outreach worker at the Quesnel Women’s Resource Centre and in my free time, you’ll likely find me outdoors, enjoying all the great activities the Cariboo has to offer…often with granddaughters in tow.

 

I have a passion for working with birthing people and their families locally, while continuing to work to improve birth practices globally. I’m available for doula support, childbirth education, yoga, or just to get together to talk birth. “When you love what you do it isn’t work” - that’s so true for me.

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Trust Birth,

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Lauren CD(DONA), LCCE, RYT200