Doula Essentials

03/15/2026

03/13/2026

Beautiful

03/10/2026

Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles introduced Belgium’s first walking epidurals, allowing women to remain upright and mobile during labor rather than confined to bed. The technique provides pain relief while preserving movement in the legs, meaning women can sit, stand, or walk during childbirth.

Research from the Cleveland Clinic suggests that mobility during labor can help shorten delivery time and improve the overall birth experience. A Cochrane review also found that upright positions during labor can reduce the first stage of labor by more than an hour on average and may lower the likelihood of certain medical interventions. The ability to move freely during labor can give women greater dignity and control.

03/09/2026

This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating the women who show up for you 💚
 
The ones who hype you up, back you in rooms you’re not in, and remind you who you are when you forget for a second. That kind of love? It sticks with you.
 
Because when women stand together, powerful things happen.
 
Tag a woman who’s always in your corner 👯‍♀️
 

03/08/2026

02/02/2026

✨ Advocacy Update: Good News for Midwifery Care ✨

We’re thrilled to share encouraging news for Edmonton-area midwives and families.

Following ongoing advocacy by the Alberta Association of Midwives (AAM), in-hospital midwifery services at the Royal Alexandra Hospital will continue in the near term while longer-term planning is underway.

Midwives will be on shift at RAH Monday–Sunday, 7 AM – 7 PM. A huge thank you to all midwives who stepped forward to help cover shifts; please reach out to Meghan at PMAO to get started.

And to everyone who supported our campaign: your dedication shows that advocacy works and makes a real difference in sustaining safe, high-quality midwifery care across Alberta!

01/23/2026

🌿 Doulas are the specialists in continuous, hands‑on, emotional, physical, and informational support during labor.

Not medical care.
Not clinical decision‑making.
But labor support? That is their entire domain.

Midwives are experts in physiologic birth and clinical care.
Doulas are experts in supporting the birthing person through the process itself.

Their skill set is unique:
Comfort measures
Positioning
Coping techniques
Advocacy support
Partner coaching
Trauma‑informed care
Continuous presence (something no other provider offers)

And the research is rock‑solid:
Continuous labor support from a doula leads to:
Lower C‑section rates
Less need for pain medication
Shorter labors
Higher satisfaction
Better outcomes for parents and babies. No other role in the birth room is trained specifically and exclusively for this.

01/10/2026

On January 9th, we honor the birthday of one of DONA International’s founders, Dr. John Kennell (1922-2013).🙏🏽

Long before the word “doula” existed, women supported one another through pregnancy, birth, bonding, and breastfeeding. Dr. Kennell helped bring recognition and research to that support, giving language and evidence to what families had always known: presence matters.

A pediatrician and researcher, Dr. Kennell is widely remembered for the quote:

�“If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it.”

His work showed that continuous labor support leads to calmer births and better outcomes for mothers and babies. As the doula field continues to grow and adapt, remembering how this work began helps shape how doulas show up today.💪🏽

We remember Dr. Kennell for helping ensure that no one labors alone, and for shaping the foundation of modern doula care.💜

01/10/2026

📚🐾 New Club Alert!

We are so excited to announce that our Reading Buddies, for ages 8-11, will begin next Friday, January 16th! This club blends literacy with compassion 💕. Children gain fluency and self-assurance in a completely judgment-free space, learn how calm voices and respectful behaviour support animal wellbeing, and explore CHS’s mission through hands-on, animal-themed activities 🐶!

Reading Buddies takes place on Friday evenings from 5:00–7:00 pm, giving kids a cozy, end-of-week activity they can look forward to 🤩! Register today:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/reading-buddies-winter-club-ages-8-11-tickets-1975000604975?aff=oddtdtcreator

12/31/2025

I love you, Mom. Always grateful.❤️

12/22/2025

Run, don’t walk 🏃‍♀️

12/15/2025

Happy first night of Hanukkah to all of our friends who celebrate!