About Full Spectrum Doulas
Modern Doulas are often recognized for labour and immediate postpartum support work, and can be an excellent resource for pregnant people who have an OB or a midwife providing medical care. Full spectrum doulas, however, go beyond these typical roles and provide knowledge and support for the full spectrum of reproductive system health. Doulas are not clinicians - they are knowledge keepers, "aunties", or caregivers with shoulders to lean into when you need support.
A word about language
I recognize that pregnant people may self-identify as women, men, genderqueer/agender. They may be single, or coupled, or polyamourous. They may intend to parent or not. It is out of great respect for human diversity that the language on my site is neutral and inclusive of all intersections of identity.
About Monica
I'm a feminist queer cisgendered woman, a caregiver, a wife, and a mother. Born and raised in southeastern Michigan, I now live in downtown Hamilton and serve the GTHA (Toronto to Hamilton, ON) in person and provide distance doula support via video conference, email, or phone.
My origins are in fine art photography and portraiture, but it wasn't until I studied Medical Office Administration that I became fascinated by and immersed myself into birth culture. I had the pleasure and privilege to provide administrative support to midwives for 5 years, notably supporting the birth and continued operation of the Toronto Birth Centre. This fondness for the complexities of reproductive justice was further enhanced when my partner and I set out to make a baby of our own through artificial reproductive technologies, experienced a pregnancy and labour supported by midwives in 3 different locations (home, birth centre, and finally birth in hospital), and continue to co-parent one of the coolest people I know. Currently, I am working toward postpartum doula certification with the Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA) and studying human lactation at Mohawk College. I am an adviser for the Equity and Engagement Advisory Group for the City of Hamilton Best Start Network's Early Years Community Plan, and use my administrative skills to develop inclusive documents and policies for community organizations, clinics, and daycare centres.
I have completed Indigenous Cultural Competency training through both OFIFC and SOHAC and am a non-Indigenous member of the Ode'Miin Giizis (Strawberry Moon) Full Spectrum Doula Collective. While I feel competent in providing resources and support for Anishnnabe birth ceremony, I am happy to connect Indigenous clients to culturally safe care with Indigenous doulas if they prefer.
My areas of interest include supporting abortion, miscarriage, in/fertility, postpartum baby and parent care, human lactation, safe sleep, and prioritizing marginalized communities in their many forms.
