Meet our MACFE Doulas
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CARLA BRYSKI
I am a MACFE trained doula since 2015, and have attended 47 births as of fall 2017. I’m a country raised girl, living in Winnipeg with my husband and our 3 daughters. I’ve personally had three completely different birth experiences from 06-09 with our midwives; a 36 hour vaginal, an emergency c-section, resulting in birth trauma; and a beautiful healing natural VBAC the following year. In 2017 I was trained in Spinning Babies focusing on easier birth with fetal positioning, and I’ve completed a 4 week course on Baby Blues and Better Days focusing on postpartum mental health. I absolutely love learning everything about birth and I love sharing my knowledge and passion with others. My own vast variety of birthing experiences, my extreme passion, and absolute trust of birth led me down the path to become a Birth Doula. I felt a very strong calling towards birth and I followed my heart, so here I am! As your Doula I am here to encourage and support you and your birth plan, whatever that may be. I believe every woman should be empowered and respected during childbirth. I strongly feel if a woman is well informed with a solid support system, than a positive birth experience is achievable. I will assist you in your interests and respond promptly to your labor needs and desires. Birth is a beautiful thing and can be an absolutely amazing experience. It’s a true honor and privilege to do this work, and I would love to support you as your Doula! Cheryl Bronevitch *Currently on maternity leave
My name is Cheryl Bronevitch and I'm a doula. I'm also a wife to my husband of ten years and a mom to our three wonderful boys. I was born and raised in the country and I love nature and wide open spaces. I've always been interested in pregnancy and childbirth so becoming a doula just made sense. Pregnancy and birth can be such a beautiful time in a woman's life, but it helps to know that someone will be there to guide you and help along the way. That's where I come in. As a doula I can be there to help you have the birth you want. I believe that every woman should have a voice in how her baby is brought into this world. Sometimes unexpected things do happen and I can help you navigate through those times too. I took my training with MACFE in 2014. Every birth I've attended has been special as are the families that I have the privilege to meet. I've had experience with a VBAC birth, and births at St Boniface hospital, HSC and the birth centre. I've also had first hand experience with a successful breech birth (my third son decided to enter this world breech !) Until I began my doula training I didn't realize how many options there are for pain management that don't involve drugs and medical intervention. As a doula I'm glad to say that I can help you have a natural birth if that is something you wish for. I sure wish I would have known these things before I had my babies! Being a doula is something I love to do...... My clients are superheroes! And who can say they go to work and get to see miracles happen!! |
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Julie Western I have been a Doula with MACFE since 2011. As of the fall of 2016, I will have attended 50 births. Those births have ranged from natural, medicated, induction, c-section, vacuum and a forceps birth. Sometimes in labour, things don't go as planned but there is always a beautiful baby as a result and it is so exciting! As a Doula, I want to make your birthing experience as wonderful as I can and I hope to make all your requests on your birth plan happen. In our Prenatal visits we will get to know each other better and talk about what your expectaions are for the time of birth. After the birth I will be there for you to help you out with breastfeeding and any questions you may have. In the fall of 2012, I started teaching the MACFE prenatal class, which I enjoy a lot. I have 3 children of my own which I gave birth to all naturally in a hospital with a midwife. I think having the constant one on one care with a midwife is what I loved the most and why I think having a Doula at a birth is so important. Lorie Peters My husband and I have been married for 28 years and have 9 children and 1 grandchild. I first heard about a doula when I was pregnant with baby no. 5. I had a doula for the next 3 births and my last 2 births my doula was my midwife. The care and support I felt during pregnancy, labour, delivery and postpartum led me to want to become a doula. I wanted other women to feel that same support I did. Being a doula, to me, means supporting the couple in whatever choices they make. I want to empower them and have them come out feeling strong and ready to be great parents. I have been trained and certified with CAPPA and then continued my training with MACFE. I am also a prenatal educator and doula instructor. I continue to educate myself by attending workshops, and mostly recently the Birth and Beyond Conference in London, Ontario. My husband and I own and operate a dairy and grain farm. Our family enjoys motocross. Some of my other personal interests are gardening, reading, photography, singing and performing. Lori Hiscock I am a DONA International certified birth doula, in addition to MACFE and breast feeding training. Currently I am a doula and childbirth/prenatal educator and continue to take classes to increase my knowledge and assist my clients. In my early years I was asked to assist a co worker with the birth of her 3rd child. Unaware of the term "Doula" I was introduced to this role, through the wonders of birth I learned my destiny. As a mother of two and grandmother of also two beautiful granddaughters, I am fortunate enough to be in a place where my doula work can be my main focus, I compliment this with teaching prenatal classes and working as a birth centre assistant to midwives and the birth centre. My personal time is spent chasing the wind! I sail for quiet and inner peace with my partner and race on a all womens sail team to satisfy my competitive spirit! I have supported women and partners in many circumstances, new comers and cultural challenges, women with and without partners, youth to more mature aged women. Including women with health challenges as well as those that are facing baby health concerns. By providing emotional, physical support and sharing my birth knowledge, my strengths are my calm, peaceful presence. Respect, compassion as non judgemental individual I focus on empowerment and individuals strengths. Lorraine Goudie I love helping people and being a Doula is my way of helping any woman bring a miracle into this world. I have been married for 24 years and have two wonderful boys that were both delivered with the help of a birthing partner. My husband served with the military and this is how I became a birthing partner to all my friends and family having babies and when it was my turn the favour was returned. That is when I became very interested in being a Doula. I have been a registered dental assistant for over 28 years. I love to read, garden and cooking is my all time favourite thing to do. I took my training with MACFE in 2014 and loved everything about it. The organization was full of women that love what they do. I am proud to be a member of MACFE and look forward to being your Doula. Morgan Smith I did my Doula training with MACFE in 2011, and have loved being a part of this organization! I have had the honour of attending 25 births, all very different and beautiful in their own ways. I have experience with teen, over 40, cesarean, high risk, expected stillbirth, single parents, abuse survivors, and addiction recovery. I strongly believe in your right to birth in the way and place you want to, and will advocate for you when needed. I learn something new from every birth and am endlessly amazed by the strength of women and the love a baby brings! The birth process can be hard, I am there to help you keep focused and to encourage you the whole way. My goal is no matter what happens you feel in control, happy, and empowered by the birth of your new baby and go into motherhood as confident and happy as possible. In our prenatal meetings we will get to know each other and we can go over your plan for your birth and answer any questions you may have so that you are prepared and educated to make all the choices that come with birth. A little about myself; I am a country girl, a nature lover, and have travelled a lot. I have volunteered with youth and animals (mostly elephants and monkeys) in Thailand, Africa, and South America. I love photography which also comes in handy as i bring my camera to births to capture those precious moments as you meet your new baby. Nathalie Laramée I am a mother of three boys. I have been married 17 years and have a passion for helping others. I have always been in the industry of supporting and serving others. Babysitting, being a nanny and working with youth in care as well as volunteering have paved my path to becoming a Doula. A woman who serves other women. My training took place in 2013 with my MACFE. I have attended numerous births which have all been diverse. Not two will ever be the same. My role is to be an encouraging coach and your advocate as well as emotionally supportive to you throughout this momentous time in your life. I will be there during your labor and delivery as well as post delivery meet ups. I am also bilingual (French/English), and have helped women of different cultures and languages and relationship statuses. Susie Penner My journey to becoming a Doula started shortly after the birth of my first daughter. Her birth was difficult and made me question what I could do different the next time to have a better outcome. I did some research and was surprised and delighted to find such a thing as Doulas! I took my training with CAPPA in 2005 and later with MACFE in 2007. I have attended over 80 births at the following hospitals; St Boniface, HSC Womens, Selkirk, Steinbach and at the Birth Center. I have experience with a variety of births; moms wanting natural births, moms wanting to use pain relief, teen moms, VBAC and breech deliveries. My goal is for you to have a positive and memorable birth experience. This starts in our prenatal visits with us getting to know each other and hearing about your birth preferences. I believe constant support is crucial during labour and birth for both the Mom and her partner and am honoured to be part of this miracle of new life. I also enjoy teaching prenatal classes with MACFE. I am fluent in Low German. I have been married to my wonderful, supportive husband for over 15 years and we have three beautiful children. I enjoy living just north of Winnipeg, where I can grow things to my hearts content. |