Here at Discover Birth what makes us special is our wonderful team of doulas. We have a group of 20+ people who are all committed to birthwork and making a difference in clients’ lives. One of our doulas in Toronto is Kylie! She’s been an important member of the team for a number of years. Kylie was kind enough to sit down and answer a few questions about her life inside and outside of doula work.
You can read our previous posts on Sarah and Andrea here.
What has been the best part of being a doula the last year?
Supporting so many families in their first few weeks as they transition into parenthood. I love having the opportunity to be a part of their journey as they navigate this new and exciting chapter of life.
What is your favourite movie?
I’m definitely a suck for the romantic kind so I would have to say that “the bodyguard” and “dirty dancing” are my top two favourites. oldies but goodies! Who doesn’t like a feel good old movie?
Most used item in your doula bag?
I have labour station cards in my bag and I find these are the most used. I think having a visual for the different positions and comfort measures is so helpful. Even though we discuss these moves and techniques in prenatal visits, it’s helpful for clients to have these visual reminders during labour.
If you weren’t working in birthwork what do you think you’d be doing?
I’ve always worked with people in a care setting from Nursing homes to an emergency room in a hospital and daycares, So if I wasn’t following my dream of supporting new parents i would still be doing one of these jobs for sure.
What advice would you give to a client at the start of their birth journey?
Knowledge is power. I’d say that getting information is key to making informed decisions based on facts. Having a doula that is up to date with evidence based information is a great way to help support you through your decision making through both birth and postpartum.
What’s your go-to snack?
I’m often on the run so I try really hard to be proactive and have things ready to grab in the fridge like hard boiled eggs and ready chopped veggies. My favorite has to be sliced apples with almond butter.
If humans started a colony on Mars, would you go live there?
When I think of living on Mars, my mind always goes to the movie “Total Recall”. It’s a hard pass for me!
What pregnancy or birth related book do you always recommend to people?
My favourite is ” Expecting better”. I think it’s a really eye opening book and thought provoking.
What’s a hobby you have that people might not know about?
My hobby is curling. I absolutely love the sport and have been doing it for the last 10 years. Its alot harder than people think!
What would you sing at Karaoke night?
Hands down it would be “Dance with somebody” by Whitney Housten. My all time favorite song.
Is there a memory with a doula client from the last year that has really stuck with you?
That’s a hard question to answer, There have been so many impactful memories with clients. If I had to choose one, it would be when I had a follow up with a client that I had supported postpartum for about 3 months after the birth of their first baby. The Mom had reminded me that I was there for her and her husband within the first few hours of being home with their new baby. She was reflecting on how she felt so much support and calmness in that time knowing that she had me there to help guide them through such a new experience. I loved hearing that even though it had been a year since I had supported their family, she remembered feeling so good about that experience. Like my favorite quote, “people might not remember what you did, people might not remember what you said, but people will always remember how you made them feel.”
What’s the last TV show you binged?
This is Us. I was behind when it was on the TV so i got to binge when all the seasons came on Netflix. Every episode was thought provoking and led to family discussions with my kids and husband.
What are your goals for your birth career in the next 5 years?
I have hopes of expanding my training to be a childbirth educator in the next few years. I would love to add that extra layer of knowledge and support for the prenatal stage.
You can follow Kylie’s journey on Instagram at @Kyliejldavies.