“Erika was absolutely incredible. She far exceeded expectations when it came to her love and care, knowledgeability, ability, professionalism, patience and most impactfully her exuberant energy throughout the time before, during and after my birth.

Erika guided my husband and I through becoming informed on every decision leading up to the birth of our daughter, supported every single one of our ideas and intentionally built a relationship with us along the way.

Erika not only invited us into her heart, but also into her home, providing a safe place for me to birth our daughter if I chose. 

Erika was there for me to glean from her courage and calmness during the 2 weeks of waiting past my due date. 

Erika stepped up to every obstacle & challenge during my labour and delivery and for that we will forever be grateful!” 

“MY BIRTH STORY

I would like to share 3 important moments with Erika: one from before birth, one during, and one after the birth.

PLANNING A HOMEBIRTH

Erika was my yoga teacher. At that time I was considering home birth but I needed something more to convince me 100% that it would be the right decision. For me, that was Erika. She was sharing some stories during her yoga classes and it resonated with me so much. I had never thought about having a doula before and it was already quite late to ask whether she was available but I was lucky and she was. After our first meeting, it was clear that it was going to be a home birth, and as she used to say it was going to be epic! I got very excited about it. 

BIRTH

The birth was very long, almost 2 days. Erika was there with us all the time. I would say that waiting for the birth to come was all about trying to make a time go quickly. Erika was amazing, she was suggesting some activities all the time. In the beginning, I felt weak and didn’t want to do much. She wanted me to go to the pool but I felt sick and going into warm water didn’t sound like a good idea to me at all. I ended up going and it was divine like a full-body massage. Later she suggested a walk outside. I thought she was crazy, I was happy to just sit on the ground, I couldn’t imagine walking outside. We went and it was amazing, fresh air, sun. We walked slowly around a block, made some stops for contractions, and another few hours passed. After that, I trusted Erika with everything and I was open to anything. Acupuncture, yoga, dance, screaming, and time went quickly. I ended up in the pool for the last part. I was told to catch my baby underwater when Julia was halfway out. I saw nothing underwater, just a bloody cloud. I dipped my hands, felt the body, and pulled her to my chest. She raised her head and looked at me and dad and me and dad again. She didn’t cry at all. There are not enough words to describe the feeling. Wonderful!

 RECOVERY

My body was sore after the birth. I didn’t feel a thumb on my leg, my back hurt I felt there are a lot of stiff spots in my body. Erika gave me a full body massage and some chiropractic moves and it was like being born again. She read my body very well and she knew exactly where to touch. It was the best massage I have ever experienced in my life. I think that having a body check after birth is a must! I recovered quickly. I have beautiful memories of my birth and I wish to have more like this. Erika became my friend and I feel blessed to have her in my life. Even though I live far away, I miss her very much!”

“Erika has been amazing, helping me throughout my pregnancy.  I first met Erika as she was teaching prenatal yoga classes that I was attending.  From the beginning, she was a great teacher and very knowledgeable. After talking to her, I felt like she would be a great fit for me as she took a very holistic and natural approach to health and wellness.  As my doula, I felt like she was there for me whenever I needed her or had any random questions that popped into my head. During our prelabour sessions, we would do meditation, yoga, and acupuncture. She took the time to get to know me and my partner, and what we wanted in our birth plan so that she could better help me manage pain during labour.  Our sessions pre-labour had really helped my husband and I gain more confidence leading up to labour. When I did go into labour, she was there the entire time helping me relieve pain by massaging me, encouraging me through the contractions, and working with nurses to follow my birth plan. Everything went well, and I had a precious baby girl in my arms and overall it was a pleasant experience!  Thanks again!”

Erika’s response to Colienne:  

“That’s AMAZING!! Sooo much Love and sooo many congratulations to YOU for knowing your own ability and having the courage, strength, and TRUST in Yourself to follow through. And simply by virtue of trusting your own Being and trusting Éléonore, you teach and inspire all those who surround you and witness you in your strength, determination and commitment!

… Words are less than able to fully describe the depth and magnificence of the Miracle that You offered to so many (including yourself and Éléonore!), on so many levels, by staying unwaveringly TRUE to YOURSELF!  Well done Beautiful Goddess!”

“Éléonore was born this Sunday evening with an intense natural birth! Everything is all right!

I can say that breathing into contractions and opening it like a flower was easier thanks to the yoga… almost vital, to not break the uterus during more than 4 hours of counteracting my body’s reflex to push (exhausting), because she was so engaged – super low – before the opening of my cervix! Visualizing the process helped me a lot! Even if I was awake for 21 hours and had the feeling that it will never end! At one point, the mid-wife called the obstetrician staff, and by seeing me super focused on what I was doing, they said that they felt that I can do it without invasive intervention (the mid-wife told me afterwards, I didn’t realize it at the time). They respected my wishes (no epidural, etc.) by seeing that I was so committed to them… our conversation had reinforced that as well! Belief in my inner strength was a big big deal! Thank you for all.”

“What a pleasure! Baby Arthur was born October 1st, at 38 weeks and 6 days! Yay to early and naturally occurring labour! … Now I’m just trying to adjust in this new chapter of my life! My birth journey was intense, wild and emotional, no epidural and a lot of water, even if I didn’t give birth in the tub, but I stayed in there most of the time! It has been very magical, I’m looking at myself with new eyes now…”

Erika’s response to Satomi: 

“Wow!! …Tears of Joy and Gratitude!! Gratitude for your strength, determination, and trust in yourself, to give/gift yourself and your family a most incredible birthing experience! And Gratitude for my own voice, which has grown to a point of having so much influence.  Thank You Satomi, for being so amazing and for Being an Inspiration and Example for Mothers everywhere, to step into the fullest experience of them-self, without fear, only Trust & Love!

I had a few favorite moments, including the jump in the pool, but top of my list was the moment your eyes lit up with renewed and revitalized energy and you said “Ok, I’m having this baby at home!” – Erika

“The first thought that comes to mind is the relief I felt when I realized I was going into labour earlier than expected. It was 2 weeks before my due date and the back pain that excruciated me during the entire pregnancy was getting worse every day. I was insomniac, and exhausted so I took this advance as a truly bless!

I took prenatal, breastfeeding, yoga and cpr classes. I read books, articles and talked with midwives, doulas, lactation experts and other moms about labour, delivery, feeding and the first hours of the baby. I was ready! I did everything I could do to prepare myself for this journey! I planned for waterbirth and to give birth to my little boy in the easiest way possible, from water to water.

I’m ready, I thought..

My water broke around 1 pm and until 5 pm I had no pain. Around 5 I started feeling little discomfort, like menstrual cramps, still bearable. Since the beginning I was worried about the backpain because after 9 months of constant pain I was sure it wouldn’t give me a break during labour.

Sure enough… the first strong contraction took my breath away because it was like a knife in my low back. Real contractions began around 9 pm and I felt I was going to pass out with every, single one.

During the past months my husband helped me relieve my pain with some positions learned during the prenatal class but I wasn’t able to put them in practice at all during labour. I was stuck on my couch, sit and unable to breathe and change position.

At 1 am my doula arrived. She helped me with breathing, tens, hot showers. I remember I totally forgot English, I kept speaking Italian saying “I can’t do it, it’s too much”

After another 3 hours contractions were really long and close so we went to the hospital.

At BC women’s I met one of my midwives, she checked the dilatation and I was only 3 cm.

I still remember the panic that invaded me

I thought I could not survive without knowing how many hours I still had to withstand that pain.

They offered me morphine and to go home and then come back after a good sleep

Go back home?? No way! I’d rather have spent the rest of my labour in the parking lot, I thought.

The alternative they gave me was to be admitted at the hospital but also accepting induction. I wasn’t enthusiastic about induction actually…

Then my midwife proposed to go for epidural. 

I accepted and after the epidural procedure, when I finally was able to breathe again, I felt like I had failed my first task as a mum: I’ve been weak and I wasn’t able to stay with my son during this journey.

Turned out that epidural was the best choice, without the back pain my whole body relaxed enough to gain 6cm of dilatation in few hours.

My midwife told me that she’s never had seen an epidural so effective!

My little boy was born after 4 hours of pushing, so overall after 27 hours since the water broke.

I’m so glad to have had not only my husband but also amazing midwife and doula and an extraordinary nurse. They supported me and my choices every step and they cheered me up when I felt down.

Now that everything went well I know that I wasn’t weak, I didn’t abandon my son to his destiny, I was with him the entire time, just not suffering like a dog.  

I believe that only the mother can decide for her own body and her labour and every decision she made for her well-being is the best not only for her but also for the baby.

I hope my experience will be helpful for other women. We are strong!!”

 “After a less than ideal hospital birth with my first born I knew I wanted the help of a doula with my second. I wanted myself and my partner to be more informed and involved in birthing our second. I wanted our child to come into this world peacefully without the bleeping and monitoring of hospital gadgets. I wanted to feel the full capacity of what my body mind and spirit were able to do, birthing without any intervention. I couldn’t have accomplished any of that without Erika. She came to our home before our birthing date and I immediately felt a warm connection. I was really excited to hear that she had a background in naturopathy and was familiar with using acupuncture/acupressure points to assist in pain relief and induction. She really listened to our wants and needs, the top ones being to have a water birth at home with as little intervention as possible so we could bond as a family and bring our little one into the world with peace, love and joy.

On delivery day when my contractions started to be more regular Erika was already at the door on our request. It was comforting to have the extra support and advice before the midwife arrived. Erika had some great techniques up her sleeve; she helped with pain relief, with calming and allowing me to open, and with guiding my partner in how he could assist me. I didn’t feel rushed or worried in her presence, she guided me to really trust in the process and she helped me and my partner to really connect throughout. 

At one point our midwife was thinking it would be better to go to the hospital and my spirits sank because I really wanted to deliver at home. Erika was a strong advocate for my wishes and since there was no medical emergency, her reassurance and confidence in me helped me decide to stay strong and deliver at home. Thank you so much for that Erika! My whole birth story could have been completely different if I hadn’t had her vote of confidence. 

My favorite memory of Erika is when I was in the pool and feeling the ring of fire… I begged for Erika to use her hip pushing technique to help me and she dove into the pool without hesitation, clothes and all! Without her strong hands pushing on my hips I don’t know how I would have gotten over that edge…Then she quickly stepped aside to let my partner take over when she was no longer needed. As I kneeled against the pool my partner caught our baby underwater and passed him through my legs to me. I was able to watch him come up out of the water peacefully to take his first breath. It was a beautiful way for our baby boy to be born and I couldn’t have wished it to be better. 

I’ll never forget all that Erika did to help bring our boy into the world. I absolutely and highly recommend anyone that wants to be involved in their own birth story, to look up Erika, she is the best!  Thank You Erika, for being so amazing!”

 “Erika, You ARE the medicine!  What you offer is not just black and white. You are, and You offer a whole rainbow of colors. When You show up, the healing possibilities are infinite! It’s True, You pull out exactly what people need, and you show up to offer it exactly when they need it!” 

“You are so intuitive! It was like you knew exactly what I needed, just before I asked, every time!  Showing up and choosing to stay overnight, when I wasn’t even 100% sure the baby was coming yet; encouraging me to change position just as I considered doing so; stimulating specific acupuncture points as I was feeling the need for them, without even having to ask; compressing my hips during contraction with perfect pressure every time and for just long enough; knowing exactly how to stimulate and encourage baby to get in to position and start pushing for himself!  I am so grateful for your presence, attentiveness, and intuitive awareness during the birth of our son!”

“You were a big part of our first birth journey in 2016, and as I tell people, I don’t think our son’s birth would have been natural without you! You helped me a lot to control my pain during birth! … We were wondering if you would help us with ROUND TWO! We are expecting again!!” 

“As first time parents, we never fully understood the wave that was about to come our way, but knew we wanted support. Our Healer and Doula, Erika, was outstanding at ensuring our mental and physical energies were channeled towards the birth of our son, effectively. Her connection was personal, open, and warm. Prior to the birth, she was present to help, listen, and guide us through our concerns and decisions. She also helped both of us to relax and release stressors present. Throughout the birth, she was an effective team leader by being hands-on to release pain, communicate details of our medical plan and synchronize best approaches for birth with the hospital staff. Our birth could not have been more of a success! She came in to our life at the right time!”

“Even just your words offer so much comfort and support in this time of personal exhaustion and worry for my premature infant.”