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Birth Doula Support
You are SO Excited about your pregnancy and birth...
But you know you want support bringing your baby into the world.
You're here because you're ready to give birth with confidence-- in yourself and your body--- no matter what type of birth you want.
You are in the right place if you...
✨Are excited about your first pregnancy... but have no idea what birth or postpartum are actually going to be like.
🧑🏽🍼Have given birth before, but feel like the medical birthing system didn't give you the information and support you needed...
🌳 Want an unmedicated , "natural" birth, and want help managing labour pain...
🌟 Are certain you want an epidural, or c-section, but want supportive care 24/7 (not just when the doctor steps into the room!) throughout your birth....
👩🏼🏫 Know what you want your birth to be like, and want an expert guide to help you advocate for it!
You are strong. You can do this.
Now, you just want a shoulder to lean on and an experienced guided to show you EXACTLY how to have the birth of your dreams.
What would it look like if you could ...
✨Have open, empathic support throughout your pregnancy that doesn't try to convince you that there is ONE RIGHT WAY to bring your baby into the world...
✨Learn evidence-based pregnancy, birth, and postpartum info so you can stop doom-scrolling, and make your own decisions about your birth...
✨Build a birth plan for the birth you want so that no matter what happens during your birth, you feel good about the decisions you make...
✨Be a team with your partner and doula, so you can relax during birth knowing you and your baby are looked after...
✨And have the birth of your dreams and bring home your little one feeling confident and ready for the journey ahead.
Book your birth with Kelsey and get...
On Demand Prenatal and Postpartum Support
I'll walk you through all the nitty-gritty of pregnancy, holding your hand each step of the way.
Wondering whether something is "normal"? Got questions about the gestational diaabetes test? Need a recommendation for a pelvic physio? I got you. From the moment you sign your contract, until 6 weeks postpartum, you have access to UNLIMITED email, text, and phone support.
In-Person Prenatal Visits
I'll teach you what you can expect during labour, birth, and postpartum! YES-- you're getting all the juicy details and every piece of expert advice I know, including:
- What I learned about labour and birth in my 14 years as a birth researcher, so you can decide how YOU WANT to birth...
- The process of giving birth in the HRM so whether you birth at the IWK or at home you know what to expect..
- How to manage labour pain using comfort measure and medical pain management, so you can give birth as comfortably as possible...
- How to plan for the birth you want (and the birth you don't), so you feel confident and assured no matter what happens during your birth...
- How to make postpartum easier, including how to feed and care for your baby (and yourself!).
After our prenatal visits, you'll know exactly how you want to give birth and feel confident heading into labour no matter what changes or challenges come up.
Continuous Birth Support
From your 38th week of pregnancy, I will be on call 24/7 for your birth. Night or day, when you go into labour, I will be there. No matter what happens, or what you decide, I'll:
- Support you in whatever decision you make, 100% judgement-free.
- Support your partner in supporting you.
- Provide comfort measures to make your birth as physically, emotionally, and mentally comfortable as possible.
- Offer suggestions and techniques to help you manage pain, progress labour, and navigate the medical system.
- Advocate for your birth preferences, or create the space for you to advocate for yourself
- Provide immediate postpartum care, staying with you until you are settle, helping with the baby's first feed or whatever you may need.
In-Person Postpartum Visit
I promised to be with you every step of the way, and that includes the first weeks after you bring your little one home.
Once you are home with your baby, I'll help you settle into your new life, from debriefing the birth with you to helping with diapering, feeding, and basic infant care during a three-hour in-person visit.
And, of course, I'll help you get some sleep if that's what you really need 😉
Yes, I'm Your Doula If...
Another Doula Will be a Better Fit If...
Another Doula Will be a Better Fit If...
You are a first-time parent who want to welcome your baby into the world confident and with expert support.
You already have kids, but want this birth to be easier, happier, and without trauma.
You want to make your own decision about your birth, but with expert advice about the options.
You have an attitude of "I'm brave, and I'll do whatever it takes."
Another Doula Will be a Better Fit If...
Another Doula Will be a Better Fit If...
Another Doula Will be a Better Fit If...
You want to give birth at home, without midwife support (AKA freebirth)
You feel you don't need support during birth, and are ready to tackle the journey all on your own.
You want someone to make your birthing decisions for you, or to tell you what to do. If you are just look for me to tell you HOW to give birth... I'm not the doula for you 😊
You feel that baby gadgets will be a better investment than in-person support.
Hey! I'm Kelsey!
I'm a doula, birth research, and complete birth dork.
I've been supporting people along their birth journeys since 2009--- first as a birth researcher, and now as a birth and postpartum doula. I learn along the way that having continuous support throughout birth makes a HUGE difference in birth outcomes and postpartum mental health. My goal is for every birthing person to have an amazing birth experience.
The best part of my work is that every client and every birth is different. I'll let you in on a little (non) secret-- there's no "right way" to birth. It's all up to you. I'm going to teach you some tipsand tricks to make your birth your own, exactly as YOU want it.
You can have the birth of your dreams. And As your doula, I'll do everything in my power to make sure you do.
So, are you ready to work towards the birth you want?
Choose Support that Fits Your Birth...
I will provide phone and text support while you progress through the early stages of labour, and will be by your side (either at home or the hospital) once you are in active labour (usually 6cm dilated).
$1350.00
I will join you at home or the hospital when your contractions start and you decide you'd like me by your side.
$1500.00
Want help bringing baby home? adjusting to parenthood? I'll provide all of the support in my Active Labour package, with an additional 12 hours of daytime postpartum support.
$1650.00
The Next Steps... To Your Dream Birth...
30-Minute Chat
Book a 30-minute chat with me! We'll talk about what you want out of your pregnancy and birth, and how I can support you in making the best birth and postpartum decisions for you. This is a chance for us to get to know each other better-- I CAN'T WAIT TO MEET YOU.
Contract Review
After our 30-minute chat, I'll send you a copy of the contract for you to review. This will include the specific terms of my support, my on-call schedule, and the payment plan you decide to opt-for. Take your time and think about it. I'll follow up with you 3-5 days later.
Let's Get Started
Once we've signed the contract, I'm your birth doula! I'll be available to you by email, text, or call whenever you have questions or need to talk. I'll check in with you once a month to see how your pregnancy is progressing and how you are feeling. We will schedule your two prenatal visits for later in your pregnancy (usually between weeks 34 and 36).
My birth support extends throughout your pregnancy and up to six weeks postpartum.
Looking For the Nitty-Gritty?
All the details:
✨ Unlimited text, call, and email support throughout your pregnancy and birth--and 6 weeks postpartum!
✨ Two 1:1 Prenatal Visits to discuss YOUR BIRTH YOUR WAY
✨ 24/7 On-call Support from Week 38
✨ Back up Birth Doula Support (just in case!)
✨ COMPLETE birth doula support based on the package you choose.
✨One 1:1 Postpartum visit to debrief, and support you bringing baby home
✨ALL OF MY RESOURCES, TOOLS, HANDOUTS, GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT
Note: In-person birth support is available for clients in Halifax, Bedford, Dartmouth, and the surrounding area. Virtual birth support is available on a case by case basis.
Starting at $1350.00
You've got Questions. I've got Answers.
Please reach me at info@collectivecare.ca if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Early labour and active labour are different stages of the birthing process. Early labour is usually define as the first stage of labour-- when your cervix is between 1cm and 5cm dilated-- while active labour happens later-- when your cervix is between 6cm and 10cm dilated.
In practical terms, the difference between these two packages is WHEN in your labour I join you in person. With Early Labour Support, I'll join you at home or the hospital as soon as we confirm you are in labour, and you decide you want me with you. With Active Labour Support, I'll wait until you are 6cm dilated and/or admitted to the birth ward before joining you in person.
With both Early Labour and Active Labour Support, I provide text and call support throughout your labour--- until I join you in-person.
The Active Labour + Postpartum Package includes 14 hours of postpartum support total-- 2 hours that are in included in the Active Labour Package, and 12 additional daytime hours.
Yes! You can find my daytime Postpartum Support packages here, and my Sleep Support package here.
I offer a limited number of scholarships for my Supportive Starts program annually. Unfortunately, I cannot offer discounts on my Birth Support Packages. If financial investment is a concern, please reach out to me at info@collectivecare.ca-- I would be happy to recommend other doulas or support programs.
Nope! I provide in person support for birthing people and families outside the HRM on a case by case basis. However, depending on where you live, my fees may be increased in order to account of transportation costs. I also offer virtual birth support on a case by case basis. If you are outside the HRM, please reach out to me at info@collectivecare.ca to book a chat-- let's see what we can sort out!
Before becoming a doula, I was a birth researcher for 14 years. I worked on research projects about infertility, the medicalization of childbirth, pregnancy experiences, motherhood and mothering, and how pregnancy and birth happen in different places around the world. I have a PhD in Reproductive Anthropology and Gender Studies. My last major research project was about experiences of pregnancy and birth in Sweden. I did research by spending time with pregnant people and their families.
I did my certification as a birth and postpartum doula through Doula Canada. I have also completed training in perinatal mental health, supporting water births, and pelvic physiology.
Yes! I am happy to provide proof of insurance, as well a Vulnerable Sector Criminal Record Check on request.
To protect the privacy of my clients, I do not offer direct references-- I will not give you past clients contact info. I will provide testimonials from previous clients upon request.