Offbeat Doula - YYC Full-Spectrum Doula

My name is Andi and I am a Full-Spectrum Doula/Placenta Encapsulator in Calgary, Alberta. This means that I work with women at any stage of pregnancy, including miscarriage, sillbirth, and abortion. I was trained as a birth doula through DONA International back in June 2009, and shortly after took the postpartum doula training. I completed the Loss Doula training through LDI (Loss Doulas International) in 2017 and feel passionately about helping families navigate through their path of loss. I have attended a variety of births including those in hospitals, at home, in birth centres as well as waterbirths in a variety of locations. I believe in every woman’s right to experience empowerment, receive education and be supported during the birthing process, which can help ease the transition from pregnancy to motherhood.

In April 2010 I travelled to The Farm to learn from some of the highest regarded Midwives in the birth community. Ina May Gaskin, Pamela Hunt, and the rest of The Farm Midwives were an invaluable source of resource and information. My experience at The Farm confirmed my calling to birth work.

Aside from my DONA Birth Doula training and the Midwifery Assistant Training, I have attended various conferences and workshops about pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. I recently became certified as a Holistic Advanced Doula through The Matrona. What I haven’t learnt from my own birth experiences of my four children, I have most certainly learnt from seeking knowledge and supporting women and families over the years.

I have also been encapsulating placentas since 2009 and I’m proud to say that I was one of the first professional encapsulators in Southern Alberta/Calgary. I took training through PBi and have been providing services ever since.