top of page

-Birth Mentoring and Education -

Labour & Birth support

Before becoming a doula, I began my journey working with children and their families as an award-winning preschool teacher. In 2017, I gave birth to my first baby. The pregnancy was fairly uncomplicated, but unfortunately, we suffered from a traumatic birth experience ending in a cesarean. While our birth is one of grief, I feel it has also made me the mother and birth worker I am today.

In 2020, during a global pandemic, I began to prepare myself to welcome my second baby through a vaginal birth after a cesarean (VBAC). While birthing during a lockdown did have its element of grief and trauma, her birth for me was a healing experience surrounded by my partner and midwife.

I began birth work as a career shortly after my daughter was born, and have been honoured to support many people throughout their pregnancy and birthing journeys (more details below). It is incredibly important to me that those who invite me to be a part of their birth feel informed, confident and empowered by our experience and time together.

As your birth support, I want you to know that during your pregnancy, labour, delivery and postpartum, you have options, and are the lead of your birthing experience. 

My background and training includes
Early Childhood Development with MacEwan University and two decades of supporting and mentoring families as a child development specialist and liaison
Birthing from Within  Doula and Birth Educator prioritizing client-centred advocacy support with Evidence-Based Modern education and person-centred intuitive wisdom
Certifications in Trauma Informed birth work, Nervous-informed training and Debriefing training with Edmonton Newcomers Centre, Bent Arrow and MacEwan University, with over two decades of working with families, children and pregnant people within marginalized communities 
500-hour Yoga Teacher with specialty training in Fertility Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, Family Yoga and Trauma-Informed yoga
Meditation + Breathwork Certification

I support all pregnancies, including but not limited to - Home, Birth Center (Lucina and Rinita), Hospital (all Edm and area hospitals, including rural), Midwife, GP and OB-led, VBAC(+)s, Cesarean, and Multiples.
I prioritize ensuring members of the 2SLGBTQ+, BIPOC, Bigger Body and Neurodiverse communities are being supported with equity and inclusiveness.
Trauma-informed care is of the utmost priority for me, and I have specialized resources to offer care to those who have any underlying traumas, such as previous birth trauma. Learn more here if this feels important to you.
 

​Ptakatak Photography

Who/What is a doula?
Birthing mentors [doulas] have been supporting families through pregnancy, labour and birth within many spaces throughout history.  Although the term Doula wasn't coined until the '60s, we were your neighbours, friends and family. Today, we work on a multidisciplinary model to coach and support you, emotionally, mentally, and physically, throughout the process. Doula support has been scientifically documented to reduce the use of birthing with medication, the need for birth interventions and deliveries via cesarean. 
 

At this time, Digital doula, Cesarean birth support  and Call the doula packages are being prioritized for booking

Seedling Package $1100

Specialty Doula Packages

Digital  Doula Support

Like having a birth besties and doula in your back pocket! A digital doula is for anyone who doesn’t have a birthworker within driving range, or would prefer to have just their partner and them in the birth space, but would like to benefit from all of the perks. \This option includes one online prenatal education class (regardless of where or how you plan to give birth), one online postnatal education class, support in creating a birth and postpartum plan, on-call 24/7 text, call or email prenatal support from 38 weeks onwards, support during labour, via text, call, or video conference and up to three online postpartum visits/check ins. 

Cesaran birth support
(Prices vary - please inquire)

$1000

This package is for anyone having a cesarean who would like a doula to be present for their elective cesarean, does not have a partner, or has a partner who cannot attend the cesarean. No one should ever birth alone. This option includes 1x prenatal visit, 1x online postnatal education class, on-call 24/7 prenatal support from 38 weeks onward, day of support for an elected cesarean, support in recovery and postpartum, and 1* postpartum visit.

Call the Doula

Respectfully, a full doula package is not for everyone. Sometimes people want a doula friend to call and ask questions, discuss comments from a medical professional, bounce ideas off someone or even just cry. As a mentor and advocate, there is healing and support in having a safe and secure professional to talk to. Sessions must be booked in advance with a minimum 90-minute/or an hour-and-a-half booking.

Starts at $40/hr and includes packages

Seedling Package 

The perfect, simple, need to know, hands on, supportive doula package. This option includes everything as mentioned above 

$1200

$1400

Growing Package 

The most popular package, as it has everything you need, and a bit more. Perfect for anyone who knows what they want. ​This option includes everything as mentioned above and one additional add-on from the "additional options"

$40/hr

Blooming Package

This is the full package deal for anyone who wants all of the bells and whistles. Perfect for anyone who wants it all because they deserve it. ​This option includes everything as mentioned above and two additional add-ons from the "additional options"

$1600

In-person doula support is currently booking into Aug 2026 and is limited with priority placement for return clients* and clients with complex birth support needs, such as : surrogacy, twin deliveries, birth after trauma, and midwifery clients

All Birth Packages include

* 1 customizable prenatal visit 
* 1 flex visit (prenatal or postpartum)
* Access to monthly Pregnancy circles and bi monthly online calls
* Ongoing communication support for questions and inquiries during pregnancy (email, text and/or call)
* On-call 24/7 prenatal support from 38 weeks onward
* In-person day of Labour/Delivery support
* Immediate postpartum support
* 1 postpartum visit* (apx before week 6)

Additional options include

* Birth Blessing Ceremony
* Nesting Party 
* Private Yoga classes
* Pregnancy Belly Casting Ceremony
* Birth Pool Rental
* Postpartum doula support
* Custom Prenatal or Postpartum class (incl but not limited to VBAC prep, cesarean prep, sibling prep)​
And more

* Repeat clients revieve discounted rates - please inquire 

Please do not let finances become a barrier to the birth support you deserve. I have various packages and offer payment plans, with 0% interest. I also offer a sliding scale package to those who otherwise couldn't access the support, and offer referrals to community members with various accessible options.

-Postpartum Mentoring and Education -

Postpartum support

Ptakatak Photography

After the birth of my first born I saw the realism of postpartum that no one can prepare you for. The longing for connection, the need for resources, the compassion for the new challenges and the consistent lack of support. I had already been working with families as a liaison and preschool teacher. In early learning, we understand that children are the foundation for our future, but in this moment I witnessed an Aha moment that parents are the cement of that cavillation.
By nurturing the parents to ensure no cracks, strong roots and levelled grounding, children will find themselves stronger, braver and more honest.

From the beginning of time, communities have gathered around gestational parents and their families to welcome the new baby Earthside. Through the development of cities and the change of roles in the home, birthing parents have found themselves miles, if not oceans away from their families and loved ones. And often, when you live even moments away from our daily lives, no longer support the ongoing challenges of parenting.

I acknowledge, as a third- generation settler with mixed ancestry from Bukovina, Ukraine, and Ireland, and that my practice is situated on Stolen Land, which is within Treaty 6 territory, in amiskwacîwâskahikan ( ᒥᐢᑿᒌᐚᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ Beaver Hills House in Cree); ti oda, (Many Houses as per Nakota Sioux); and Amakowsis, or omahkoyis (Big Lodge from Niisitapi). I understand it is also possible that the fort was known by other names as well, in languages which have yet to be revitalized, but is most recently referred to as Edmonton, AB. This land is the traditional lands of the First Nations, including nêhiyaw, Cree, Dené, Anishinaabe Saulteaux, Nakota Isga Nakota Sioux, and Niitsitapi Blackfoot peoples, the Métis’ homeland and the home of one of the largest communities of Inuit, South of the 60th parallel.

 

For these Nations, intuitive and inner wisdom always was, and still is deeply rooted in their birthing practice shared by their Knowledge Keepers and Elders. Much of the education here in the Western world of Birth Work is stolen and sold to people such as myself, from Indigenous people all over Turtle Island and other parts of the world. This is why I will continue to fight alongside Indigenous communities for Peace, Justice, and Sovereignty. I offer services at low or no price to First Nations people, as well as continue to donate time and money to causes which bring injustices to the First Nations, Indigenous, Inuit and Métis people. I welcome any and all support and feedback to do better at this time.

​

I call upon the Canadian Gov't to continue to work with the 94 call to Reconciliation and will continue to personally do my best work towards being a better ally and care taker of this land, while committing to support the agency and autonomy of Indigenous peoples in revitalizing and participating in traditional, contemporary, and future manifestations of their heritage and culture.

​

I strive to offer a family practice, inclusive of all people, with equity, inclusion and diversity offered and honoured. These priorities include, but are not limited to, race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability or attributes, religious or ethical values system, and national origin. As an act of reconciliation, I will continue to work towards creating inclusion, equity and diversity within my Birth Work.


If you identify as a member of a marginalized community and/or the prices I have offered publicly are not accessible for you, please let me offer you an appropriate exchange of services/fee for the services I offer, with the above acknowledged as a way to thank you..

@grow.gentlekind

ashayogaandwellness@gmail.com

​

Edmonton, Treaty 6 territory amiskwacîwâskahikan

AB, Turtle Island / Canada

  • Pinterest
  • facebook
  • instagram

Work with me

Birth Classes

Yoga Classes

two_spirit_ii_progress_pride_flag.webp

©2024 BY Asha Thomas.

bottom of page