Contact Me

THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY SITE!!!

I can be reached at 604-264-9357 or doulatricia @hotmail.com to arrange an initial consultation.

About Me

I made the decision to become a doula when I was pregnant with my son. Becoming a mother was the most important event in my life. I believe birth is one of the most significant events in a woman and her family’s life and I want to help women achieve better, more fulfilling birth experiences.

I believe childbirth is a beautiful, awe inspiring event rather than a medically managed procedure. I feel it is my role as a doula to provide emotional, informational, and physical support to the mother and also provide the support and encouragement a couple needs to ensure the partner enjoys the birth experience more fully.

If you are interested in my own personal birth story it can be viewed at: http://asukabook.com/book-club-2006.html. It is called "Becoming Leif".

My Beliefs & Goals

Pregnancy is a natural process.

Pregnancy and childbirth are beautiful and should be celebrated.

Giving birth is often the most important thing a woman will do.

I believe in the strength of women and their minds and bodies.

Providing accurate information without judgement will assist women in making decisions that are right for them. Informed choices lead to good decisions.

Women have the right to choose who they would like with them and where they will give birth. I will ensure women feel physically and emotionally safe throughout childbirth.

A mother will remember the birth of her child forever. I will help each woman to have the birth experience she wants.

I will make a difference in how a new mother views herself and her birth.

Women should feel they are in control of their pregnancy and during childbirth. They should feel empowered with the choices they have made.

This is not only a moment that a child is born, it is also the moment a mother is born.

My Experience

June 2007, 200 Hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification recognized by Yoga Alliance
March-April 2007, Substitute Prenatal Yoga Teacher, Unity Yoga
March 2007, 12th Annual Breastfeeding Education Day, Douglas College
February 2007, Child and Infant CPR Certification
November 2006, Prenatal Yoga Teacher Certification with Janice Clarfield
September 2006, Member Doula Services Association
May 2006, Observed Birthing From Within Childbirth Series with Nikiah Seeds
February 2006, Completed Labour Support Course, Douglas College
January 2006, Member of DONA International
December 2005, Occupational Level 2 First Aid Certification- valid until December 2007
1998 - 2006, Developed and taught educational programs for children at various organizations including Stanley Park Ecology Society, Capilano Suspension Bridge and Park, Science Alive at Simon Fraser University, YMCA of Greater Vancouver, and Science World
1997, Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of Western Ontario

Birth Doula

My Role

I will provide continuous physical, emotional, and informational support during labour and birth, and the immediate postpartum period. I will provide encouragement and comfort through relaxation techniques, breathing, massage, and positions. My presence at a birth in no way takes away from the role of the partner. My presence compliments the partners participation in this wonderful, incredible experience. I like to say if your partner is your right hand, as your doula I am your left and together we make the perfect support team for you.

My Practice

I am independent and self-employed. As your doula, I will be working for you to help you have the best birth as you define it. I like to meet for an initial visit to become acquainted and explore your priorities. This meeting does not oblige you to hire me. If you decide to select my services, I would like to become familiar with your birth plans, and provide any information you may need to make informed decisions about your care.

Contacting Me

After our decided number of prenatal visits (typically two home visits), I encourage you to call me any time you have questions. I would also like to hear from you with any updates you may have after visits with your caregiver. Please call me or page me as soon as you are in labour. This allows me to make arrangements and be available when you want me with you.

After the birth

Usually I will stay with you for a couple of hours after the birth until you are comfortable and I can assist with breastfeeding if you like. You may call me anytime before our postpartum visit with any questions you may have. Our postpartum visit will be arranged at a mutually convenient time. The postpartum visit is a time for reflection on your feelings about the birth, and to provide any assistance that I can to aid in your transition to parenthood.

Limits to Practice

As a doula I do not perform any medical or clinical tasks. I provide emotional, physical and informational support.
I do not make decisions for you or speak on your behalf. I will help you get the information you need to make informed decisions about your care. I will advocate for your wishes as you defined them in your birth plan by encouraging you to ask questions and express your preferences and concerns.
In an extraordinary circumstance where I am unable to attend the birth, my back-up doula will remain with you throughout labour and birth. This doula will have the same beliefs and goals as I do.

Fees

My fees for the services described here is $800.00. This includes:

The initial consultation - approximately 1/2 hour

Two prenatal meetings - 2 hours each to cover your birth wishes, comfort measures, and breastfeeding information

My support throughout birth!!!

Postpartum visit - 2 hours to review birth, provide breastfeeding assistance and any resources to assist in your transition to parenthood

Belly Casting

A belly cast is a wonderful way to remember your pregnancy. A belly cast is made of plaster casting strips which are soaked in warm water and applied to your pregnant form. When it hardens, it forms a durable, lightweight cast of yourself. Many people choose to paint, decorate, frame, or hang their cast and keep it as a lasting memory and beautiful work of art. If you would like to hire me to do a casting of you, I charge $100 to cover supplies and time and will do the casting in the privacy of your own home. It takes about 1-1.5 hours to complete the casting. It will need to dry overnight and then you can choose whether you would like to paint or decorate it.

Postpartum Doula

As a mother I understand the type of support a mother hopes to have once her baby is born. As a postpartum doula I care for both mom and baby in the tender, sometimes trying time following birth. I provide emotional and breastfeeding support along with practical newborn care tips and take care of necessary household tasks such as: grocery shopping; meal preparation; doing the dishes, laundry or tending to the older children. I assist in providing ease with the transition into motherhood. By supporting the parenting style you choose and assisting with your needs, I make it easier for you to parent your new baby.


Postpartum doula care is usually started within 3 months of the birth (the fourth trimester), but the sooner the better. I generally spend 2-4 days a week with your family for a minimum of 2 hours at a time. With enough notice I can accommodate most scheduling requests, and overnights are available. My fee for postpartum care is $20/hr with package rates available.

References

"I was exceptionally pleased with Tricia’s presence during my labor and after. If I decide to have another child, I would definitely employ Tricia again. I have nothing but praise and gratitude for Tricia’s guidance in the journey of the birth of our first child."

Nuan and Brendan W.

"It is obvious in her approach that she truly feels connected with her clients and she is always by the side of her client helping them through contractions, providing soothing touch, massage, and encouragement. She provides suggestions for comfort techniques as well as offers suggestions of position changes that can help in the progression of labor. She is able to answer questions about procedure and acts as an advocate for her client often reminding them of their birth wishes and encouraging them to ask questions of their care provider. Tricia is a wonderful person. She is extremely supportive to her clients and I fully recommend her services as a birth doula."

Nicola B.

" I am pleased to provide a reference for Tricia Collingham who my husband and I are lucky to have as our Doula. Our baby was born on March 11th. Tricia has been absolutely fabulous to work with. She has been very supportive through my pregnancy, labour and birth, and postpartum.
I got Tricia’s details through the Doula Services Association of BC. When I first contacted her, she came over to our house that weekend. We discussed my pregnancy, some useful tips, and what I could expect from her in her role as our Doula. My husband and I both immediately liked her and felt comfortable inviting her on this important journey.
Throughout my pregnancy Tricia sent me emails enquiring as to how my appointments with the midwife were going. She was also interested to hear about my ultrasounds. She took a genuine interest in my pregnancy and provided me with a lot of very useful information and resources. She also assisted us with our birth plan.
Tricia was a wonderful source of calm and support during my labour and birth. Tricia has faith in women’s bodies to birth their babies well, and her reassurance was extremely valuable to me throughout the birthing process. I had an un-medicated, natural birth and I attribute much of this to Tricia’s presence.
Post partum Tricia has continued her support. She has helped me both practically and emotionally. Tricia goes out of her way to help me meet the challenges of having a newborn baby. The postpartum care alone has reminded me how important it is to have a Doula, and how lucky I am to have found Tricia. I am confident in Tricia’s knowledge, skills and experience and this confidence increases each time I see her. I find Tricia to be very approachable, warm and competent. I highly recommend her services as a Doula."

Melanie and Ian P.

From our first meeting with Tricia she was enthusiastic about our pregnancy and we knew right then we wanted her to be part of it. Tricia's sense of calm during the entire birth was greatly appreciated and I am very very thankful that she was there to provide relief. I would not hesitate to recommend Tricia as a Doula.

Pamen and Scott P.