Introducing the Montreal Birth Companions
These are professional doulas who donate some of
their time to providing doula services to MBC
clients. If you are looking to hire a doula, read on
and feel free to contact us for more
information! * If you
wish to contact any doula directly, please click on
their name.
Rivka Cymbalist
Rivka is the director of Montreal Birth Companions. She is a certified doula and a CPM. She teaches doula courses, has a private doula practice, and coordinates the MBC volunteers. Her book on natural birth can be found here.
You can visit her here.
Ayda
deSouza
My name is Ayda deSouza, I'm a trained doula. I am a
mother of four wonderful children. I have given birth
in a hospital and birthing center setting.
I believe in supporting women and empowering them to have the birth experience they desire. I do that through prenatal classes, birth and postpartum support. To know more about my services please contact me for a free consultation.
Email: doula-4-u@hotmail.com
Phone: 514 662 8642
I believe in supporting women and empowering them to have the birth experience they desire. I do that through prenatal classes, birth and postpartum support. To know more about my services please contact me for a free consultation.
Email: doula-4-u@hotmail.com
Phone: 514 662 8642
Charmaine
(Char)
Charmaine (Char), massage therapist, birth assistant,
documentary storyteller.
I believe in holistic healing of mind, body, spirit. I witness birth as three-fold: birth of the baby, birth of a mother, birth into parenthood. I support with your agenda: your birth, your voice, your way.
From formal classrooms to street-wise, hand-held, trench training with gurus, I bring fresh new approaches to ancient wisdoms: aromatherapy, homeopathy, birth massage, compassionate touch, artful-communication and trust. Today, I enjoy a wonderful private birth-assistant practice and a warm place within the MBC team.
BIRTH ASSISTANCE (doula)
Formally trained as a Prenatal Birth Assistant. Adult, Infant, Child CPR-certified. Member of DoulaMatch.net Association of Quebec Doulas (AQAN/QAD). See my Birth Assistance pricing & Pregnancy Education ateliers at MontrealMT.com.
MASSAGE THERAPY
Trained in Swedish, Ayurvedic, Lomi Lomi, Indian-Head, Craniosacral Therapy. My areas of focus are Prenatal & Postnatal massage, Abdominal Toning, Pelvic Drainage, Labor massage, Induction massage, Migraines & Vertigo, Sciatica, Neck, Arm & Shoulder Release, Infant massage, Foot Reflexology, Cancer Care, and Touch & Release™ stress-relief. Member of ACTMD. Offer Massage Therapy Insurance Receipts.
ALOHA
Website: MontrealMT.com
Email: Support@MontrealMT.com
Phone: 514-813-8566 (with voice mail)
I believe in holistic healing of mind, body, spirit. I witness birth as three-fold: birth of the baby, birth of a mother, birth into parenthood. I support with your agenda: your birth, your voice, your way.
From formal classrooms to street-wise, hand-held, trench training with gurus, I bring fresh new approaches to ancient wisdoms: aromatherapy, homeopathy, birth massage, compassionate touch, artful-communication and trust. Today, I enjoy a wonderful private birth-assistant practice and a warm place within the MBC team.
BIRTH ASSISTANCE (doula)
Formally trained as a Prenatal Birth Assistant. Adult, Infant, Child CPR-certified. Member of DoulaMatch.net Association of Quebec Doulas (AQAN/QAD). See my Birth Assistance pricing & Pregnancy Education ateliers at MontrealMT.com.
MASSAGE THERAPY
Trained in Swedish, Ayurvedic, Lomi Lomi, Indian-Head, Craniosacral Therapy. My areas of focus are Prenatal & Postnatal massage, Abdominal Toning, Pelvic Drainage, Labor massage, Induction massage, Migraines & Vertigo, Sciatica, Neck, Arm & Shoulder Release, Infant massage, Foot Reflexology, Cancer Care, and Touch & Release™ stress-relief. Member of ACTMD. Offer Massage Therapy Insurance Receipts.
ALOHA
Website: MontrealMT.com
Email: Support@MontrealMT.com
Phone: 514-813-8566 (with voice mail)
Erica
Gipson
In addition to her doula practice, Erica is trained
as a research scientist, aikidoist and yoga
teacher. Though her roots are in the scientific
method, she has found her passion in the holistic
approach to healing and self-care. She
remains in constant awe of the ecology of the human
experience and the power that lies within each of us.
Email: e.k.gipson@gmail.com
Email: e.k.gipson@gmail.com
Janet Torge
Janet Torge, prenatal teacher and doula.
Nothing is more magical or miraculous than the birth of a baby. And the journey to that OMG moment may be one of the most challenging undertakings of your life.
Every mother has been down the path, and now it’s your turn. All you need is a little wisdom of the ages to guide you, some medical knowledge if things go slightly off track and support of those who have been there before.
PRENATAL CLASSES
I offer prenatal courses – 4 sessions – for couples who are having their first baby and “top-up” sessions for those who are having a 2nd or 3rd but forgot the basics. The courses can be with one or two couples depending on due dates.
DOULA SERVICES
I offer doula services for hospital-bound couples who would like someone with experience to accompany them through the process. I will meet with the couple two or three times before the birth, be there through the labour experience and birth, then visit once after the baby is home to make sure breastfeeding is going well and the new family is getting used to being together.
Nothing is more magical or miraculous than the birth of a baby. And the journey to that OMG moment may be one of the most challenging undertakings of your life.
Every mother has been down the path, and now it’s your turn. All you need is a little wisdom of the ages to guide you, some medical knowledge if things go slightly off track and support of those who have been there before.
PRENATAL CLASSES
I offer prenatal courses – 4 sessions – for couples who are having their first baby and “top-up” sessions for those who are having a 2nd or 3rd but forgot the basics. The courses can be with one or two couples depending on due dates.
DOULA SERVICES
I offer doula services for hospital-bound couples who would like someone with experience to accompany them through the process. I will meet with the couple two or three times before the birth, be there through the labour experience and birth, then visit once after the baby is home to make sure breastfeeding is going well and the new family is getting used to being together.
Leah
Garfield-Wright
Allo Bonjour Hola! I've been involved with MBC since
Fall 2013, when I started the doula course with
Rivka. I came to it with a general interest in
community-based health, and curiosity about this
process of pregnancy and/or birth. I have learned a
lot about the complexity of forces surrounding a
woman that affect her experience of this process. I
am engaged with food as a medium of social,
environmental, and personal change in my work and
community involvement. I bring this knowledge to the
doula 'table' and also some self-taught understanding
of healing plants. One mother and child at a time,
earth and one seed at a time...
Melanie
Green
I became interested in Doula work after having a VBAC
with the help of a midwife. I am passionate about
birth and how it can be a very empowering experience
for women. I believe that a knowledgeable, calm
and empathetic Doula can help a mother to draw upon
her inner strength and have a more positive and
personalized birth experience. I look forward
to supporting and encouraging mothers during this
amazing and transformative time in their lives.
Michaela Chandler
Hello, my name is Michaela and I am a prenatal and
birth doula. As a doula I am committed to
providing women and their partners with
evidence-based information that help them make
informed decisions and stay active participants
throughout their journey into parenthood. I am an
advocate for natural birth and believe strongly in
women’s ability to have non-interventionist
labours. At the same time, I respect and support the
individual choices women make when handling their own
unique pregnancies and labours. I very much look
forward to supporting you through this life-changing
event.
Raizie
Perton
Hi, my name is Raizie Perton. I’m originally
from New York and have lived in 3 countries and many
cities eight of those years in Montreal. I’m a
mother of 6 ages 14 to 26 and a grandmother of 1.
I have been training with Rivka since September and am also DONA trained. I’ve also taken a workshop in Rebozo training which I find can help a mother in labor with pain and relaxation.
I’ve given birth to my children each in a different hospital with different Doctors. Some births were amazing but one was not. By number 6 I learned to find a voice and speak up for what I wanted in a birth not what the system wanted. I would like to be a mothers voice during her voyage into motherhood, making it a beautiful experience each and everytime.
Email: 4abeautifulbirth@gmail.com
Phone: 438-932-9843
I have been training with Rivka since September and am also DONA trained. I’ve also taken a workshop in Rebozo training which I find can help a mother in labor with pain and relaxation.
I’ve given birth to my children each in a different hospital with different Doctors. Some births were amazing but one was not. By number 6 I learned to find a voice and speak up for what I wanted in a birth not what the system wanted. I would like to be a mothers voice during her voyage into motherhood, making it a beautiful experience each and everytime.
Email: 4abeautifulbirth@gmail.com
Phone: 438-932-9843
Sarah Armstrong
Hi! My name is Sarah Armstrong. I was born in
the UK and travelled a lot in Europe, the USA and
Africa before settling here in Montreal with my
husband and young family. I work in a women’s
shelter and have recently trained as a yoga
teacher. Pregnancy and childbirth is such a magical,
yet challenging and life-changing journey, through
which we learn so much about life and about
ourselves. For this reason I became a doula –
to support and encourage women as they travel this
road.
Email: sarahelisaarmstrong@hotmail.com
Phone: 514 370 5361
Email: sarahelisaarmstrong@hotmail.com
Phone: 514 370 5361
Sara Vann
In the US I was a divorce and community mediator
who turned to healing modalities in the course
of my practice. I am a reiki master and
craniosacral therapist who now adapts these
techniques to the birthing process. I also do
some hypnobirthing techniques
and rebirthing for moms and past life
regressions. I have been successful inducing
births naturally with a mix of Craniosacral
therapy and hypnobirthing techniques -- kind of
like a pre birth session that will help the baby
engage and then eliminate the need for artificial
oxytocin.
Stephanie
Assouline
Hello, my name is Stephanie Assouline. I am a
volunteer doula, cranio-sacral therapist and
registered nurse who works in the post-partum
department at a hospital. I have many different
passions but what they all have in common is helping
and healing others. There is nothing more precious or
life altering than bringing a baby in to the world
and I love sharing my knowledge and being of service
to women and their families during that special time.
I am looking to getting to know you and understand
your needs as well as aiding them make the most
informed decisions possible. Please don’t
hesitate to contact me for a free consultation and
learn more about the services I can offer
you.
Svea Block
Svea is a traditional naturopath, classical homeopath
and volunteer doula for Montreal Birth Companions. In
her private practice she specializes in women and
children's health, and is passionate about natural
birthing. Svea's knowledge of natural healing can be
of assistance for mother and baby before, during and
after pregnancy.
Web: www.montreal-doula.com
Web: www.montreal-doula.com
Tamar Dodenhoff
I am a CAPPA Canada certified labor doula, mother of
four, who is presently serving the west end of
Montreal as well as off island ( Hudson, Vaudreuil,
St. Lazare, and Rigaud areas).
I am dedicated to expectant moms, helping them develop trust and confidence in birthing. It is my goal to support women emotionally and physically, as well as to inform and discuss all their needs.
Besides volunteering for Montreal Birth Companions I have a solo service, EnhancingYourBirth. I offer free consultations.
Email: enhancingyourbirth@gmail.com
I am dedicated to expectant moms, helping them develop trust and confidence in birthing. It is my goal to support women emotionally and physically, as well as to inform and discuss all their needs.
Besides volunteering for Montreal Birth Companions I have a solo service, EnhancingYourBirth. I offer free consultations.
Email: enhancingyourbirth@gmail.com
