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Labour, Birth and Postpartum Doula Services
Prenatal Education Classes
CARIAD & CARE
DOULA SERVICES
Certified Birth & Postpartum Doula
Supporting those in Ottawa, and surrounding areas
Certifying Prenatal Educator
CATHERINE & CARIAD AND CARE
Catherine
My name is Catherine (Cat), and I moved to Canada from Wales in 2012. Married, with three children, Kanata is now where I call Home.
While navigating pregnancy, and parenthood, and allllllll that comes with it, it became apparent to me that helping others along the same path is what I was meant to do. It felt like support wasn't as available as it could and should have been, and that's not OK
Knowing what I know now has really opened my eyes as to how much my husband and I could have benefited from Doula support. (Isn't hindsight a wonderful thing?!)
When I'm not running around with the littles, or supporting families, you can find me reading a book, drinking tea, laughing with friends, watching true crime documentaries and spending time with my husband.
Cariad and Care
You can take the girl out of Wales, but you can't take Wales out of the girl! When forming this business, I wanted to find a way to honour where I'm from. Cariad (Carry-ad) is the Welsh word for Love, and is often used as a term of endearment. Using it in this context felt right. It felt like connecting where I'm from, with where I'm going
Certifying as a Birth and Postpartum Doula with Doula Canada means I can offer physical, emotional and informative support prenatally, during birth and during the postpartum period
Get in touch out to find out how to book a complimentary consultation, with a tea or coffee on me!! I'm really looking forward to getting to know you, and to find out how I can give you the support you deserve
Everyone deserves to have a positive Birth experience. Everyone deserves support with a newborn.
YOU DESERVE SUPPORT
FAQS
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MIDWIFE AND A DOULA?
Midwives and Doulas are both professionals who work together to make sure that you and your baby are fully supported through pregnancy, labour and delivery, and postpartum. Two very different roles, but they work well side by side.
A Midwife has a clinical role throughout. They are medical professionals who ensure your health is taken care of prenatally, and during labour and birth. They join you when you're in active labour, and catch the baby.
A Doula has a non clinical role throughout. They are non medical professionals who ensure your emotional well being is taken care of prenatally, during labour and birth and postpartum. They give you the tools you need to ask the questions you want to ask, and to make informed decisions. They join you when labour starts, and stay with you for the duration. They work alongside the partner, and make sure the family is well supported as a whole.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HIRING A DOULA?
Studies have shown that when doulas attend births, labours are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily. Those who use doulas report having more positive feelings about their childbirth experience.
Studies have shown that having a doula's support can:
- shorten labour by about 1.5 hours
- decrease chance of cesarean birth by 51%
- decrease the use for pain medication by 36%
- reduce the need for pitocin by 71%
- reduce the need for forceps by 57%
- help partners participate with confidence
- facilitate parent-baby bonding & nursing
DO YOU PERFORM ANY PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS?
A Doula does not, and should not be performing, or offering to perform any physical examinations. If you come to your Doula with a health concern for yourself, or your baby, then the Doula will recommend that you talk to your primary caregiver.
HOW WILL HIRING YOU AFFECT MY PARTNER’S ROLE DURING THE BIRTH?
A Doula is not there to replace the role of you partner, but rather to work alongside them to support the person giving birth.
Labour can be a long process, and having a Doula can mean the partner has help taking care of the person giving birth, with tried and trusted methods, and they can eat, go to the bathroom, and sleep knowing the person giving birth is taken care of.
