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Maureen RobinsonMaureen has been guiding moms through labour since 1983. She started out at the age of 22, after hearing of how her sister unnecessarily endured a very difficult and lengthy delivery. Knowing the power of becoming peaceful, Maureen was determined to ensure that her sister would have a better experience with her next birth. Her sister was given meditation tapes leading up to her next birth. They were so powerful that the nurses had to “wake her up” to push! After that experience Maureen was sold on the power of the mind, and wanted all women to have the advantage of a peaceful birth.
As a certified Doula, a Reiki Master, and Level 3 Healing Touch and Qi Gong/Guided Meditation instructor, Maureen, along with Rayann Harris, have created an innovative teaching program for Doulas. Maureen loves seeing the beautiful connection between the mother and father during labour and delivery. As one of the founding members of Birth Entourage, Maureen is grateful to be part of such an amazing group of women. Maureen and her husband have owned & managed a chocolate manufacturing company in Aldergrove, BC, for the past 25 years, and three cafe's for the past 10 years. Maureen has two grown children, five (and counting) grandchildren, and two dogs. All of her grandchildren arrived with the loving support of a Doula. Both her son and her son-in-law will attest to the support of Doulas (thank you to Rayann!) |
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Rayann HarrisRayann has been a helping birthing families as a Doula and a prenatal teacher for the past 13 years. Having supported women in various birthing environments, and learning various birthing tools to enhance a woman's experiences in labor and delivery, Rayann’s most valuable asset is her experience.
Rayann is proud to be one of the founding members of The Birth Entourage Birth Services. Supporting birthing women to find the power that resides inside them is the most humbling and inspiring job, and she has been privileged to help many women and their spouses navigate through the journey of birth into parenthood. Rayann completed her Doula Certification through the Douglas College Perinatal program, and additional certifications for teaching prenatal classes, supplemental Doula trainings, and Doula Mentorship through the Birth Place. She also attended the Midwifery conference in Eugene Oregon in 2015, where she took many courses, of mention, was the training for Spinning Babies Techniques with Gail Tully. Rayann has volunteered with Breastfeeding Buddies at the Maple Ridge Health Unit, and sat on the Fraser River All Nations Aboriginal Society Board. Inspired by Midwife Ina May Gaskin, Rayann continues to help encourage families to view Birth as an experience that can be shaped to be positive and rewarding. “Whatever and however you intended to give birth your experience will impact your emotions, your mind, your baby and your spirit for the rest of your life.” -Ina May Gaskin. |
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Alison DubeAlison began her Doula journey seven years ago and was fortunate enough to be mentored, from the beginning, by both Maureen and Rayann. After completing her DONA International Doula course at Douglas College, Alison decided to go one step further and began her journey to become a naturopathic physician. She pursued and completed her science degree at the University of the Fraser Valley, and is currently studying at the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine to fulfill her dreams of becoming a naturopathic doctor. Alison plans to one day focus her practice on women’s health, pregnancy, and fertility.
Throughout her educational journey, Alison strived to maintain her connection to the amazing job of being a Doula. She has provided services to many and cannot imagine a more fulfilling feeling than supporting a family as they welcome their brand new baby. Every birth is unique and is a gift. Regardless of a mother’s birth story, Alison’s goal is to help them believe in their power. Alison wants every mother and father to receive the story they deserve and desire. The work of a Doula is to love, connect, inspire, support, and do all of these things without judgement and with an open heart. Alison feels so blessed to be one of the founding members of the Birth Entourage. These are some of the most amazing women she has met in her life, and she is grateful for every minute of this journey shared with them and their clients. |
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Shan HaberShan has lived her adult life tending and caring for those both young and old. She completed her Health Care Assistant Certificate at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and worked in an Assisted Living home for seven years. It was there she gained a deep understanding of the power of impression, and how memories with strong emotion, such as childbirth, stay with you your entire life.
Shan now works as a home-based child care provider in the small community of Aldergrove, BC, where she grew up. She is married to her high school sweetheart and best friend with whom she has had three daughters. She and her husband are proud to be part of the Langley District International Program. So with three daughters, one international student, and two dogs - she is a loving mother of six! It was with her third daughter that she accepted the love of a Doula. She learned first hand how someone else's hands, heart, and words can move your body, strengthen your desire, and talk to your soul. It was her Doula in this birth that inspired her and led her down a path of wanting to help other women reach the level of contentment she felt throughout her child-birthing journeys. She attended Douglas College to complete the DONA International Birth Doula training program and is now a proud member of the Birth Entourage team. Shan believes that her role as a Doula is unique with every labour and should individually fit every mother's desired birth story. |
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Shannon KazakoffShannon has been working with families in her community and beyond for the past 15 years. She studied Early Childhood Education at the University of the Fraser Valley and Child Development at Larahogskolan in Stockholm, Sweden. She has completed the DONA International Birth Doula Training and the Breastfeeding Education Course at Douglas College in Burnaby, B.C.
Shannon loves travel and was a nanny for many years, working with children along the way, in cities such as Vancouver, BC, Orlando, Florida, and London, England. She grew up in Aldergrove, B.C., and eventually found her way back to her roots where she now resides with her husband and their three children. She started out attending births with friends and family members. She is a strong believer in situational awareness and understanding the environment when it comes time to birth a baby. It wasn’t until the birth of Shannon’s first child (6 weeks early!) that she realized what an important role a Doula plays. Now she’s able to give back and be there with women to offer her love, support and assistance, in creating positive birth stories. |
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Pamela PannuPamela Pannu was born and raised in Aldergrove, BC. She enjoyed nine years working as a human resource professional between retail and private companies before becoming a full-time homemaker (or as she calls it, a "domestic engineer,") after marrying her high school sweetheart in 2011.
It was during her own pregnancies where she learned the significant role Doulas provided as part of the birth team. The post traumatic stress from her first birth, which had quickly turned traumatic, and resulted in an emergency caesarean section, weighed heavily on her. She and her husband decided to incorporate the work of Doulas into their next birth, where they saw firsthand the benefits of having a Doula support team. Thanks to the loving support of Alison and Maureen, Pam was able to have a successful VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean). Becoming a mother changed Pam, she instantly grew very passionate about helping new mothers navigate through birth and motherhood. In 2016, she became a licensed Doula through the DONA International program at Douglas College, and has since become an honoured member of the Birth Entourage. As a believer in lifelong learning, she continues enhance her knowledge and skills in the areas of birth, motherhood, energy work, and child development. |
Jen Snow - Hypnotherapist
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Jen SnowJen has spent over a decade developing her healing abilities, formulating and formatting universal healing techniques, and expanding her personal awareness and knowledge of all layers and realms of the mind, body and soul. She is constantly striving to discover, learn and implement original ground breaking ideas and methods in the holistic healing realm.
As a Clinical Hypnotherapist, Reiki Master and Master Energy Healer, Jen works closely with people who are ready to activate their personal healing and begin transforming all areas of their lives. She combines her unique and powerful intuitive gifts with a vast knowledge of the human psyche to guide and empower you to reach permanent change in your life that supports your healing, transformation, and personal growth. Jen completed her training as a certified Clinical Hypnotherapist at the Coastal Academy of Hypnotic Arts and Science under Leslie Macintosh and Cindy Schultz, and achieved her Master in Reiki from Linda Nash at Reiki Heals. She has also had the opportunity to complete the Heart Resonance level 2 and Peaceful Pregnancy Hypnosis practitioner training from Leslie and Cindy, the same two amazing women above who she is continuously grateful to have met. Jen prides herself for achieving these educational goals at an accelerated rate and obtaining top marks in all her courses. Through her Peaceful Pregnancy Hypnosis and other modalities, Jen loves to support and encourage the well-being and calmness of mothers as they active their own unique birth plan support mothers and partners as they connect with their child at all stages of pregnancy, and overall, help you to create a wonderfully calm and peaceful birthing experience. |
