Crystal and Chelse
a came together as doula partners during their doula course. Before that, they had been mere acquaintances, but their mutual love of birth and all things surrounding birth brought them together. They discovered that they have similar views on birth, society, and women, which created a solid bond between these two strong women. Through the class, they also found out that they trust each other and can work together easily. They are both extremely happy to be working together on this project.
Crystal Clarke grew up in a small farming community, where most women gave birth in a hospital. Her mother had a scarring experience giving birth to her and has always been a strong, female role model in her life. She often quotes her grandmother when talking about labour as being, “an awful pain soon forgotten.” After moving to Saskatoon, she accumulated two university degrees: one in environmental science and one in english. Crystal is a triathlete and avid cyclist, a cycling coach, a writer, and an active member of her community. From all of her experiences, she considers her perspective to be broad and well-informed, and hopes to pass this on to her clients as they go through their birthing process. To Crystal, being at a birth is sacred and special. She feels privileged to witness and be a part of this special time of life.
Chelsea Dignean has been told her birth story by her mother each anniversary of her birth. Despite it not being a simple or easy birth for her mother, she loves hearing the story and being told how special it was. It is with this respect of birth and birth stories that Chelsea approaches the role of being a doula. She has many skills in the caregiver role, as her day job is working with people with varying abilities. She was born and raised in Saskatoon, spent some time in Edmonton at the University of Alberta, and has more recently put down roots in Saskatoon. She is a certified yoga instructor, which is complementary to her doula services. Chelsea loves cats, reading, crafting, and being outside. Recently she has been stretching her legs as a new runner. She believes in strength that women possess during the special time of labour and birth; she trusts the capability and wonder of a woman’s body to give birth to another human’s life.
