What Exactly does a doula do?
It's so hard to describe the work of a doula without experiencing our wonderful support first hand! Simply saying we support you through pregnancy, birth and postpartum doesn't do our work justice. Here at Maternal Instincts, we aim to provide you an empowering birth. One where you set the course and your crew helps navigate you there.
It's so hard to describe the work of a doula without experiencing our wonderful support first hand! Simply saying we support you through pregnancy, birth and postpartum doesn't do our work justice. Here at Maternal Instincts, we aim to provide you an empowering birth. One where you set the course and your crew helps navigate you there.
🔸 When you have no idea what you want for your birth → we will help you.
🔸 When you know exactly what you want for your birth → we will support you.
🔸 When you forget to convey your wishes → we will remind you.
🔸 When you need a drink, a warm blanket, your lip balm → we will grab it (probably before you ask for it too!)
🔸 When your back hurts → we know how and where to provide counter pressure or massage.
🔸 When you don’t know what your newborn needs → we can help you recognize your baby’s cues.
🔸 When you are exhausted → we will help you get rested.
🔸 When you think you can't do it → we will help you harness your inner strength.
🔸 When it seems all you and baby can do is eat and sleep → we will keep your household running smoothly.
🔸 When you’re worried about postpartum depression → we can direct you towards the appropriate channels.
About our doula
Tracy's passion for serving and nurturing people goes way back to childhood. Just ask her family how annoying movie night was with her constantly taking food and drink orders - menus, notepads and all!
While she sometimes said she wanted to be a waitress when she grew up, she absolutely loved babies and simply wanted to be a mommy (ummmm.... wait a minute....)
Fast forward to adulthood where, thanks to reality TV shows, she became an armchair birth expert. Only to find out with her first pregnancy and birth that she really knew nothing. After having her second baby, she stumbled across doula work and realized how beneficial a supportive birth professional could be, thus realizing her true passion in life (finally!!) Nurturer + passionate about birth + love of babies = the perfect mix for doula work!
When not working, Tracy can can be found spending quality time with her husband and 3 kids. Preferably outside - camping, travelling, seeing and exploring. Or inside - reading, bingeing on Netflix or Prime or blaring music way too loud while she embarrasses her kids with her awesome dance moves.
2009 - Birth doula training through DONA
2011 - Certified through DONA
2012- Understanding and Addressing Vicarious Trauma Advanced Doula Workshop with Loree Siermachesky
2014 - Advanced Doula Training through Birth Ways International
2014 - When Survivors Give Birth training through Penny Simkin Center
2014 - Rebozo workshop
2015 - Politics, Boundaries and Change with Sheri Deveney, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA)
2015 - Advanced Doula Workshop through ProDoula
2016 - Childbirth Educator exam through ProDoula (achieving a 99% grade)
2016 - Advanced Doula Workshop through ProDoula
2019 - Postpartum Doula training through DONA
2020 - Community Votes Bronze winner for Calgary's best midwives and doulas
2021 - Pregnancy and Infant Loss Workshop through PILSC
2021 - Community Votes Platinum winner for Calgary's best midwives and doulas
Member of the Calgary Doula Association since 2011
Executive board member of Calgary Doula Association 2013 - 2017
Member of ProDoula since 2015
Member of the Doula Association of Alberta since 2021
While she sometimes said she wanted to be a waitress when she grew up, she absolutely loved babies and simply wanted to be a mommy (ummmm.... wait a minute....)
Fast forward to adulthood where, thanks to reality TV shows, she became an armchair birth expert. Only to find out with her first pregnancy and birth that she really knew nothing. After having her second baby, she stumbled across doula work and realized how beneficial a supportive birth professional could be, thus realizing her true passion in life (finally!!) Nurturer + passionate about birth + love of babies = the perfect mix for doula work!
When not working, Tracy can can be found spending quality time with her husband and 3 kids. Preferably outside - camping, travelling, seeing and exploring. Or inside - reading, bingeing on Netflix or Prime or blaring music way too loud while she embarrasses her kids with her awesome dance moves.
2009 - Birth doula training through DONA
2011 - Certified through DONA
2012- Understanding and Addressing Vicarious Trauma Advanced Doula Workshop with Loree Siermachesky
2014 - Advanced Doula Training through Birth Ways International
2014 - When Survivors Give Birth training through Penny Simkin Center
2014 - Rebozo workshop
2015 - Politics, Boundaries and Change with Sheri Deveney, CD(DONA), BDT(DONA)
2015 - Advanced Doula Workshop through ProDoula
2016 - Childbirth Educator exam through ProDoula (achieving a 99% grade)
2016 - Advanced Doula Workshop through ProDoula
2019 - Postpartum Doula training through DONA
2020 - Community Votes Bronze winner for Calgary's best midwives and doulas
2021 - Pregnancy and Infant Loss Workshop through PILSC
2021 - Community Votes Platinum winner for Calgary's best midwives and doulas
Member of the Calgary Doula Association since 2011
Executive board member of Calgary Doula Association 2013 - 2017
Member of ProDoula since 2015
Member of the Doula Association of Alberta since 2021