By Samantha Garcia Gagnon, Pitt Meadows Doula + Birth Photographer

This birth was so special to be witness to. I met with this lovely family at a point in there pregnancy where doubts were popping up. She had a very clear goal in mind - to do everything she could to safely get her VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean). 

Our first prenatal together was great. The connection we had in our consultation was even further cemented during this session. There were some "aha" moments and with the information presented, the family made a plan that was right for them and their goals.

Our second prenatal couldn't have been more timely - for just 10 hours after saying our goodbyes - I got the first text at 5am that her birthing time had started.

By the afternoon, I had joined them at their home where it was clear she had done such a remarkable job that we really wouldn't be staying long.

When we got to the hospital, she was already 9cm and soon after, her body began taking over and her pushing time began. It was intense. She was strong. 50 minutes later, her beautiful baby was born at 8lbs 2oz with a head circumference of 36.5cm! She did it. She got her VBAC that she had worked so very hard for. 

To say I enjoyed working with this family is truly an understatement. They were so sweet and the love they have in this family is so full. 

Happy birthday baby A. Your family would move mountains for you.

Thanks for your interest in employment with The Maya’s Nest Birth Services!

We are looking for a responsible and reliable person to join our team of birth doulas and postpartum doulas. We service primarily the Tri-Cities and Ridge Meadows areas, as well as Surrey, Langley, New Westminster, Burnaby and Vancouver. If you do have a service that you would like to offer and you would like to be a part of this dynamic team and growing local business please send us a resume.

We are currently accepting applications for the following positions:

A Birth and Postpartum Doula (Ideally we would like a new team member able to provide both services) - Contractor

Role Of The Birth Doula
A doula is experienced in childbirth and provides the pregnant person and her family with continuous educational, physical and emotional support before, during, and after the birth of her baby.

A birth doula:
- Is trained in the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a person in labour.
- Assists the birther and her partner in identifying and carrying out their plans for the birth.
- Stays with the birther throughout her labour and delivery, utilizing non-medical comfort techniques.
- Facilitates communication between the birther, her partner, and her clinical care providers.
- Works together with the partner to provide support at home and hospital births.

Requirements

• Attending 1-4 births per month (as per your availability– work may not be consistent), which includes 2-3 prenatal visits, phone and email contact with clients, attending the birth, and 1 postpartum visits per birth
• Attend one prenatal visit if working as a back up doula (compensation for this included)
• Acting as a back-up doula for the other Maya’s Nest Birth Doulas. In turn, the other doulas will act as a back-up for you.
• Experience attending birth is an asset.

Role Of The Postpartum Doula
A postpartum doula provides in-home care to families after the birth of a baby. The postpartum doula’s role includes helping with breastfeeding, sharing information about parental adjustment, teaching about infant care and development, processing the birth experience, light housekeeping, meal preparation, and whatever else the parents need done. The doula’s focus is usually on taking care of everything else so that the parent can take care of baby, however the doula may also do some baby care while she is in the bath, napping or out of the home.
A postpartum doula generally begins working with the family right after the baby is born, and depending on the family’s needs, she will continue to work with them from a few weeks to a year or more.

Requirements:
- Variable hours depending on the contract. Minimum 4 hour shifts for daytime and 6 hours for evening.
- Reliable & responsible
- Knowledgeable about maternal postpartum adjustments and infant care and development.
- Healthy working knowledge of pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and infant care
- Additional training in breastfeeding is ideal
- Experience as a postpartum doula and/or birth doula is an asset

The successful candidate will have:
- Access to reliable transportation and a cell phone
- Access to a computer and email account
- Current Infant & Child CPR (or willing to obtain ASAP)
- Criminal record check
- Doula Liability Insurance (or willing to obtain ASAP)
- Able to attend networking events and must be willing to promote herself and the company as a whole.

Rate Of Pay:
Variable (details will be discussed with applicants selected for an interview).
To apply for this position, please send your resume, cover letter and references to:
Email: themayasnest@gmail.com

We will be accepting applications until January 31, 2017. Interviews for the shortlisted applicants will take place February 2017.