Doula Profiles

Our Doulas

Monica Lipscombe is one of the birth doulas providing shared care with Doula Connections. She is a certified doula with Doulas of North America (DONA) and is certified as a Childbirth Educator with the Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA). She is a volunteer doula assisting with teen mothers at the Terra Association, and has served on the executive of the Doula Association of Edmonton (DAE).

"My decision to become a doula came as a natural progression of my life's journey. I feel that my experiences have brought me to this place and I perceive that I can offer support, information and knowledge to all types of women. I feel that my role as a doula is to assist the mother on her journey of self-discovery into the inner power she already possesses to be in control of her special birth experience. Over twenty years ago when I had my children, the concept of having the dads present in the delivery room was very much in fashion. While this was a vast improvement from the way things previously were, I feel that my birth experiences would have been drastically different if I would have been fortunate to have a doula as a part of the labour team.

I am a mother of three adult children and I have also experienced the loss of a set of twins. My first experience as a doula was over 25 years ago! I take a particular joy in facilitating Blessingway ceremonies that nurture, honour and celebrate a woman's transition into motherhood. I also believe that my duty as a professional childbirth assistant is to help women and their partners understand that they are the authors of their birth experience and I am there to support them as their story unfolds."

Tamara (Tammy) Bylsma is one of the birth doulas providing shared care with Doula Connections. She is a certified doula with Doulas of North America (DONA) and is certified as a Childbirth Educator with the Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA). She is a volunteer doula assisting with teen mothers at the Terra Association, and has served on the executive of the Doula Association of Edmonton (DAE). She is currently pursuing her dream to become a gestational surrogate for a couple struggling with infertility.

"My first experience with birth got me very interested in pregnancy and birth. My husband and I drove his best friend and his wife to the hospital when she was in labour, because they did not have a car. We stayed during her labour, and I ended up being present during the birth of their baby girl! It was one of the most amazing experiences in my life. Within six weeks I was pregnant with our first child.

When a friend of mine had a doula for her birth in 2002, I thought, "I would love to be a doula." I took the doula training in April of 2003, and the rest is history! I thoroughly enjoy being a doula and feel very honoured and excited to be a part of a very special time in a family's life. I have personal experience with an epidural birth and a natural birth, and have assisted many women during their labours and births, as well as in the immediate postpartum period. I enjoy helping women try to achieve the kind of birth they desire, so that they can look back on their birth as a positive, empowering experience."