Meet Riley
Hi there! My name is Riley (she/her). Current Certified Birth & Postpartum Doula, formerly Licensed Practical Nurse, birth nerd, Twihard, black coffee drinker, Easter lover, breakfast hater, obnoxious newlywed, and hike avoider.
My path to becoming a doula began before I ever took my first breath.
“Here is baby A…” the ultrasound tech said to my parents.
“…and baby B…”
My mother shot up her head “Oh my god! We’re having twins!?”
“…and here is baby C!” The ultrasound tech finished.
A few months later I was born along with my two carbon copies.
Between the many many questions and conversations about being an identical triplet, a lifelong passion, perhaps obsession, for pregnancy and birth was sparked.
From pretending my dolls were giving birth, to reading pregnancy books for fun at 13 years old- my mom would take the covers off when I read in public, I always knew I wanted to turn my passion into a career.
In Nursing school I was lucky enough to be placed in obstetrics and gynaecology for my final practicum placement but still didn’t feel like I had found the right mix of passion and career. I continued my search and finally found my home as a Certified Birth and Postpartum Doula!
I believe that bringing life into the world is fundamentally a profound moment in the lives of each family, deserving of individuality, autonomy, and respect. There is no “right” way for how a family is made, birthed, or lives. All families and births are welcome.
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Qualifications
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Certified Labor & Birth Doula (Doula Canada), 2022- Certification requirements included coursework in maternal anatomy & physiology, fertility, pregnancy & fetal development, labor stages & phases, medical options & interventions, comfort techniques & labor alternatives, and postpartum support.
Practicum included prenatal and birth support for three families.
Final exam mark of 99%.
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Certified Postpartum Doula (Doula Canada), 2022- Certification requirements included coursework in postpartum physiology, nutrition, postpartum mood & transitions, infant care, and infant feeding practices.
Practicum included postpartum support for three families.
Final exam mark of 96%.
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Practical Nurse Diploma, 2016- 2.5 year (5 term) program. Courses included anatomy & physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, medical procedures & treatments, maternity nursing, pediatric nursing, mental health nursing, and more.
576 hours of practicum experience, with a focus on medical/surgical units.
Additional 320 hours professional preceptorship in high risk obstetrics & gynecology clinic, and gynecological surgery acute care.
3.76 GPA.
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Complicated Birth & Support Workshop- Continued in-depth education about labour, birth, infant, and postpartum complications and how to provide doula support in those situations.
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Postpartum Topics Workshop- Continued education about postpartum relationship dynamics, trauma, anxiety, mood disorders, body changes, pelvic health, and sleep practices & strategies.
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Holistic Practices & Knowledge Workshop- Continued education in perinatal self care, emotional health support, social well-being, and environmental considerations.
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Intentional Doula Workshop- Continued education in defining my personal doula practice and serving my community.
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Perinatal Mental Health Seminar- Continued education in mental health considerations and warning signs through the perinatal time.
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Perinatal Pelvic Health Seminar- Continued education in pelvic health considerations through pregnancy and postpartum.
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Fetal Flexion Prenatal Education Class- Continuing education on body prep and labor/birth positions for encouraging fetal flexion (chin-tucking) during labor.
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Exploring Breech Birth- Continuing education discussion in current information and approaches to care with breech babies.
