Childbirth Companion

By Stephanie Hayes, CD(DONA), Childbirth Educator

Recently my daughter and I participated in a two-day first aid course.

“Sometimes, as a first aider, it may simply mean holding a hand. That may be the only care you can provide,” our instructor stated at the very beginning of the first day. “But know that it may also be the most important thing you will do for that person.”

By Stephanie Hayes, CD(DONA), Childbirth Educator - January 25, 2013

Thirteen years ago I gave birth to our son ten weeks prematurely. The time seems to have passed so quickly as the memories still seem as clear as if they had just occurred yesterday. Last year I began sharing my birth stories on my website as a means of letting others see beyond the professional doula that I am. While I am a st...

By: Stephanie Hayes, CD(DONA), Childbirth Educator

I have been musing for some time on how to present the value of a doula to a society that enjoys many benefits of a free health care system. While much of the dilemma relates to misconceptions of a doula’s role and the lack of awareness of the proven benefits of continuous labour support, paying out of one’s own pocket for care not covered by government programs is a huge drawback to many parents. Over the years, we have ...

As I sit here tallying homeschool grades that need to be submitted by the end of the week, I am acutely aware of how quickly time passes. It wasn’t that long ago that my teenagers were just babies, and these days of high school and summer jobs weren’t even a blip in my thoughts of the future. Now, as I live them, I often wonder where the day went as I compare my aspirations with what actually was successfully eliminated from my daytimer.

When I consider what fills my life t...

By Stephanie Hayes, CD(DONA)

(Originally published in WHAT'S UP Muskoka - May 2, 2012)

When my journey to motherhood began a number of years ago, I embraced it, with confidence in the natural process of birth. Yet as I navigated through three very different labours, I discovered how much I would have benefited from the constant presence of a birt...