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"Opportunities for empowerment are potent game changers."
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My father who is native to India was my bestie. He was brought up in a British Boarding School in the 1950’s from the age of 5 to 18 years old. He taught me many of my values around freedom and resilience. After only seeing his family a couple of times a year, upon graduating from school, with his hair long and with a rebel spirit he, then immigrated to Canada where he met my mother who is Irish & French, in remote northern Ontario (where I grew up).
My own personal family, like many others affected by colonialism, has been affected by addiction, and loss of cultural pathways that help us to heal and recognize important connections to the land and the world within. I believe that our healing begins with the connections around our bodies and our power to create and bring forth life-not only with babies, but in our everyday birthing of ourselves. This power ultimately surges upon the pulse of choice and our freedom to be ourselves. In the midst of a lack in the acknowledgement of our cross cultural power as women, my goal is to illuminate the beautiful resurgence and reclamation of this power. Through my workshops and services, I honor the universal experiences that we each have, while making room for the unique and diverse experiences of each person. |
About Serena
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You are looking to feel best prepared for the adventures of becoming or continuing to be a parent. Getting ready for any trip requires research and support so that you know what to expect and how to navigate choice and options in your most awesome way! Parenting is the adventure of a lifetime and of course you want to be ready for what's in store!
Following in the footsteps of thousands of years of folks being there for each other during the unforgettable time of childbirth, Serena helps you to discover efficient, cross- cultural empowering solutions that are guaranteed to benefit the whole family, for years to come! Serena is a Certified Doula through the Wise Woman Way of Birth based out of Vancouver, BC. She has been practicing herbalism with and for her family for 11 years. She is experienced as an outdoor preschool teacher, prenatal instructor, and has been facilitating the weekly postpartum group Mamacentric, sponsored by the Cumberland Community School Society since 2015. She also volunteers as the Vancouver Island Chapter Leader for the International Cesarean Network. Serena weaves together her diverse heritage, passion and holistic wisdom to nurture new and growing families of all ages and spectrum of choice. In her heart and hands, Serena Oliveira holds the highest intentions of support, education and wellness as she brings together 15 years working with dozens of families during pregnancy and postpartum as a doula. She loves eating chocolate and walking under the moon every night. She's held space for hundreds of women during weekly postpartum groups that she facilitates. |
Childbirth Consultant
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With an open mind and heart, Serena is a confidante and advocate for the best possible outcome in all of life's transformative, opportune moments. She is a coach, bridging her training and experience as an outdoor naturalist and guide to the wild room of the birth room. Pregnancy and childbirth are huge, life changing events. Are you wanting to address any fear or doubt or other potential stumbling blocks in your parenting before you give birth? Preconception and pregnancy are fertile times to do so. Serena encourages the potential for positive outcomes throughout the childbearing year by providing compassionate, emotional, and informational support that benefits everybody. She will be your guide as you connect, release and celebrate through all of the transitions and cycles on your pregnancy journey.
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Full Spectrum DoulaSerena is here for you throughout your full spectrum of experiences and family planning outcomes. She believes the pregnant person is the ultimate expert in their own process. Birthing Freedom includes compassionate support for the broad range of choices and outcomes in pregnancy such as miscarriage, adoption and abortion. Additionally, we serve families in their full spectrum of arrangements and identities, such as-but not exclusive to single, teen, genderqueer parents & LGBTQ families.
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Mother
Together the experiences of being a mother and doula create a strong foundation in my desire to create a loving, informed and empowered culture surrounding birth.
Serena is the mother of Akai, who is now 13 years old and Rueben who is 7. Her boys were both born at home, with midwives and friends. Both were very different experiences, her first was one filled with navigating the health care system and options available to her medical history with a congenital heart defect. Her second birth was pleasurable with lots of smooching and love with her partner.
Pleasure connects us to our creative genius and Serena loves to share the embodied lessons and awareness of going from pain to pleasure. At 13 months old and 5, she had two open heart surgeries and weaves in her experiences with traditional care with respect of modern medical practices. Her role as a mother, and the act of giving birth has taught her much about herself, her incredible capacities as a woman, and the importance of community. Giving birth to, and consciously raising her two creative, energetic boys has been the most challenging and fulfilling adventure of her life. She has experienced what it's like to be a single mom, and they are her biggest sources of inspiration, and empowerment. Raising them have taught her the importance and invaluable lessons of receiving and asking for support. AKai & Rueben are the spark that ignited her wholehearted desire to share her passion, knowledge and experiences as a doula.
Pleasure connects us to our creative genius and Serena loves to share the embodied lessons and awareness of going from pain to pleasure. At 13 months old and 5, she had two open heart surgeries and weaves in her experiences with traditional care with respect of modern medical practices. Her role as a mother, and the act of giving birth has taught her much about herself, her incredible capacities as a woman, and the importance of community. Giving birth to, and consciously raising her two creative, energetic boys has been the most challenging and fulfilling adventure of her life. She has experienced what it's like to be a single mom, and they are her biggest sources of inspiration, and empowerment. Raising them have taught her the importance and invaluable lessons of receiving and asking for support. AKai & Rueben are the spark that ignited her wholehearted desire to share her passion, knowledge and experiences as a doula.
Holistic Educator
Serena integrates her knowledge as a Childbirth Educator with her acquired experience over the last 10 years of working with women on their journeys of reproductive health and wellness. She facilitates the weekly 2 local postpartum groups: Mamacentric at the Cumberland Community School & Mommy & Me in Comox. She is also a daily teacher at Hand in Hand Early Years Nature Education Program.
Making Echinacea Tincture with her sons, ages 6 and 1 year old
Holistic refers to holism, which is the synthesis of the mind, body and heart connection in health and healing. Serena's understanding is that the body allows us to connect, the heart to feel, and the mind to inquire. She values the concept of holism as the search for balance in these three equally important aspects of ourselves, which together make us whole.
Serena's approach to holism stems from both her personal experiences and studies in different holistic modalities. She is adept in healing touch and massage, herbalism, as well as nourishing and therapeutic methods of food preparation. By offering loving support, empowering information, and deepest trust in our own bodies and babies, Serena offers her own unique 'healing touch' to new and growing families.
P.S. As a doula & holistic healer, I'm a rock solid community resource. I've supported new and growing families in a variety of settings and birth outcomes, both at home and in the hospital since 2007. As a birth professional, I weave together my own knowledge and variety of experiences to offer grounded, loving support to people and the broad spectrum of childbirth options available to them. Additionally, I support clients in their full range of arrangements and identities, such as single, teen, gender-queer parents & LGBTQ families.
When I am asked to be present at a birth, I feel a great amount of honor, respect and reverence. I love what I do, and that I can offer my presence in the form of continuous, trusted and grounded support during the entire process of childbirth (which can last hours or days). The connection that is created with new and growing families, whether you are a single mom or have a partner, is one that I hold dear.
xo
Serena
When I am asked to be present at a birth, I feel a great amount of honor, respect and reverence. I love what I do, and that I can offer my presence in the form of continuous, trusted and grounded support during the entire process of childbirth (which can last hours or days). The connection that is created with new and growing families, whether you are a single mom or have a partner, is one that I hold dear.
xo
Serena
