Labour, Birth & Post Partum Doula
Kayla Jensen
Serving families from Surrey to Abbotsford!
Certified Breastfeeding Support Person
Certified in Holistic Health
Prenatal & Postpartum Yoga Instructor
About Me
My name is Kayla Jensen and I am originally from Coquitlam, BC, but now live in Aldergrove, BC, within the Fraser Valley. My whole life, I have always loved being around mothers, infants, and children and devoted most of my working life serving them through teaching swimming lessons, nannying, and working one-on-one aiding children and adults with physical and mental disabilities.
The shift in my career path came from the birth of my daughter in August of 2016. It was a very long 29 hour back labour and birth with numerous high-risk complications. I was a first time mom at that point and had little to no education of what the process of childbirth involved or what my options were. I remember (as if it were yesterday) feeling scared, and feeling like I was trapped by my own body, with my anxiety out of control. My husband was left absolutely helpless, trying to confide in nurses and doctors, but not getting many answers, and not knowing how to help me. During the post partum period, I had experienced severe post partum depression, luckily I had received medical attention and got myself help!
It was a traumatic birth experience for us, but all of it could have been helped immensely!
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If we had simply educated ourselves of the various options and procedures, and
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if we had someone to be there to answer our questions and support us emotionally and mentally; and physically before, during, and after birth.
We really underestimated this entire life-changing time in our lives.
This whole experience greatly inspired and empowered me to continue to grow in my devotion in serving others. I took the necessary steps to become a Labour, Birth & Post Partum doula with Doula Training Canada, which has enabled me to aide and support women and their partners through one of the most beautiful experiences of their lives!
I am always striving to broaden my knowledge and absolutely LOVE learning! I have completed certifications in: breastfeeding support, holistic health and my newest achievement as a prenatal/ postpartum yoga instructor!
I deeply encourage the trust in a woman's body and her abilities, and trust in the birth process. The moment that a baby is born is breath-taking and magical, and it is my wish for mothers and their partners to have a beautiful experience in the birth of their babies. I believe that my role as a Doula is unique with every labour and will individually fit every mother's desired birth plan.
What is a doula?
The word ‘doula’ — pronounced ‘doo-la’ — is a Greek word meaning ‘woman servant or caregiver’. More recently, it refers to someone who offers emotional and physical support to a woman and her partner before, during and after childbirth. A doula (also known as a birth attendant) believes in ‘mothering the mother’. She enables a woman and her partner to have the most satisfying birth experience possible, from pregnancy and into motherhood. This type of support allows the whole family to relax and enjoy the experience too.
What Does a Doula Do?
A doula empowers the clients she works with by providing information, emotional support and physical comfort.
Whether you are having:
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A midwife or doctor,
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A hospital birth or a home birth,
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A natural, a medicated or a Cesarean birth,
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Low risk or high risk pregnancy,
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Your first baby or your 2nd/3rd/ child,
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An adoption or surrogacy,
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A teen pregnancy
A Doula ensures the client [and their partner] feel empowered to make the choices they feel the most comfortable with and have the opportunity to have the birth experience they desire!
"She [a doula] is a valuable addition to the maternity team, ensuring the woman (and her partner, if applicable) are empowered to make the choices they feel the most comfortable with and have the opportunity to have the birth experience they desire." - Doula Training Canada
What are the benefits of having doula care?
High quality research and studies have identified that continuous labour support by a doula has proven to be very beneficial!
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9% drop in use of medication
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31% less use of pitocin
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34% fewer negative birth experiences
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40mins shorter labour
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12% more spontaneous vaginal births
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28% fewer cesarean births
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14% decrease in the risk of newborns being admitted to a special care nursery
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57% reduction in forceps delivery
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Increased breastfeeding with prenatal and postpartum doula care
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Increased self confidence
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Lower incidence of post partum depression
Who can Benefit from Doula Support?
Doulas support BOTH the labouring woman and her partner, and does not replace the partner, midwife or doctor!
"For the partner, the doula is a trained professional that can help them to participate in the birth process within their level of comfort, process the intense emotions they may experience as well as offering them the opportunity to rest when necessary." - Doula Training Canada
As your Doula, I promise to...
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Be comforting
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Be a reliable resource
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Be a good listener
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Be understanding
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Be a good communicator
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Be nurturing
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Be a positive support person
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Be emotionally supportive
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Be informative
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Be a labour coach
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Educate you of the options available to you during labour and birth
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Be a friend
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Support you and your partner
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Be unbiased to your birth decisions
"I deeply encourage the trust in a woman's body and her abilities, and trust in the birth process. The moment that a baby is born is breath-taking and magical, and it is my wish for clients and their partners to have a beautiful experience in the birth of their babies. I believe that my role as a Doula is unique with every labour and will individually fit every client's desired birth plan." - Kayla Jensen
