About Others

 

Meet one of our Childbirth Educators!

Melissa Caines

The birth of my niece in 2003 marked my exit from the world of academia and my entrance into the field of childbirth.  Over the next two years I completed a research master’s from Trinity College Dublin in German and Gender Studies and trained as a doula through ALACE (Association of Labor Assistants and Childbirth Educators). After finishing my master’s I returned to the United States and began working as a doula and volunteering in the birthing community of New Haven, Connecticut.

Not long after establishing myself in Connecticut, I met my Canadian husband, married and moved to Vancouver, where we experienced the amazing birth of our son under the equally amazing care of Commercial Drive Midwives. After becoming a permanent resident and taking my own version of maternity leave, I decided to put my on-call doula work on the back burner and became a childbirth educator through Bastyr University (formerly Seattle Midwifery School). This profession is a perfect union of my background in academia and my previous work as a doula. The vibrant childbirth education field allows me to remain a part of the birthing community while chasing after my energetic toddler. I am also happy to report that I am currently training to become a La Leche League Leader.

From the time I first discovered my interest in childbirth I have found myself having countless conversations about midwifery, breastfeeding and how our culture influences the decisions of new moms and their families. I am thrilled to be back at Commercial Drive Midwives and look forward to helping those families navigate their own childbirth stories in my upcoming prenatal class series, "Natural Beginnings: Paths Through Childbirth and Early Parenthood."

 

Meet one of our alternative medicine practitioners!

 

Amanda Buckle   
   

I am Amanda Buckle, a Licensed Acupuncturist and Childbirth Doula.  A Doula provides non-medical support to other women and their families during labour, childbirth and the postpartum period.

I am also the happy and proud mother of a five-year old boy.  My birth experience was supported by acupuncture and the services of a Doula.  The acupuncture greatly reduced the pain of my contractions during the 22-hour birth and enhanced my ability to enjoy a wonderful birth experience.  This experience fuelled my passion to share my knowledge, skills and experience to support other women in achieving their own positive birth experience.

I have a devoted interest in promoting natural pain relief for childbirth and approach my work with a calm and relaxing demeanor.  My practice includes supporting reproductive health and birth acupuncture.  Another great interest for me is providing support when a woman is trying to conceive.  The treatment services I provide include acupuncture, massage, reiki, cupping, dietary therapy and moxibustion. 

In addition to my training as an acupuncturist and a Doula, I have completed the four-year Practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine Program at the International College of Traditional Chinese Medicine.  I am also a Hypno-Doula and certified in water birth.  A Hypno-Doula is trained in supporting women/couples that are using hypnosis for childbirth.  As well, I have served as a director on the board of the Doula Services Association, a non-profit association promoting Birth and Postpartum Doula support for families in British Columbia.

I continue to develop my skills and deepen my knowledge through research and continuous post graduate education.

I am a devoted practitioner and look forward to supporting you and your baby at this wonderful time.

Currently appointments can be booked for Amanda on Monday and on Wednesday mornings.