SUPPORT FOR YOUR INTUITIVE PREGNANCY AND AUTONOMOUS BIRTH
Squamish | Whistler | Pemberton
SUPPORT FOR YOUR INTUITIVE PREGNANCY AND AUTONOMOUS BIRTH
Squamish | Whistler | Pemberton
Hello & Welcome
Clara Johnson
I am a mother of 4 beautifully-wild children. They are my greatest teachers and the compass and pulse of my life. Each of their births were uniquely different and carried learnings, challenges, and joy.
I have been supporting people in birth for over a decade and currently provide in person care in North & West Vancouver, along the Sea-to-Sky Corridor up to Pemberton, as well as virtual support globally. For me, birth work is a lifestyle and my soul's purpose. I specialize in supporting people who desire a non-medical birth experience in the comfort of their home and in alignment with their body's inner wisdom. I also offer early postpartum mentorship for new parents and support birth workers who are looking for guidance in supporting birth outside of the medical paradigm.
OFFERINGS
Homebirth Doula
It is always an honour to be asked to support someone in pregnancy and enter into their birthing space. Please connect with me if you'd like to grab a tea/coffee and chat about birth and see if I'm a good fit for your journey.
Birth Community Circle Squamish
Join us to connect with birthing people, hear a powerful mother's metamorphosis through homebirth, and participate in meaningful practices of reflection & embodiment.
Prenatal Education
Are you ready to prepare for your birth and postpartum in a mindful, knowledgeable, and skillful way? Work with me privately, with your partner, or in a group class as we dive deep into pregnancy, birth and early parenthood.
Doula Mentoring
Are you feeling called to step out of the medical model of birth? I offer doula mentoring for new and seasoned doulas who are passionate about holistic care and supporting undisturbed homebirth.
Prenatal Womb Massage and Craniosacral Healing
Are you desiring more spaciousness and softness within your womb? Would you like to unlock the wisdom you have within yourself to feel your own tissues, connect with baby, and invite more ease into your own body? Join me for a therapeutic womb massage and craniosacral healing session.
Learnings
WombSpace - Mandy Verghese - 2023
Birth Doula - Birthing From Within - 2020
Childbirth Educator - Birthing From Within - 2020
Craniosacral Healing Level 1 - Kari Toft - 2019
Mat Pilates Teacher Training - Layla Dawson - 2018
YHot Yoga Teacher Training - YYoga - 2017
50 Hr Yin Yoga Teacher Training - Bernie Clark & Diana Batts - 2016
The Art of The Rebozo - Gina Kirby - 2016
85 Hr Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training - Mamata Yoga - 2015
Sacred Pregnancy Facilitator - Annie Daulter - 2015
200 Hr. Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training - Semporna Yoga India - 2015
Birth Doula Training - CAPPA - 2014
Childbirth Educator Training - CAPPA - 2014
Master of Public Health (MPH) - University of Alberta - 2014
Bachelors of Art Medical Anthropology - Mount Holyoke College - 2012
Postpartum Doula - Warm Welcome Birth Services - 2009
Kind words from clients
"Clara was instrumental in building my courage to OWN my vision of birth..."
"I came to Clara early in my first pregnancy knowing deep down a hospital birth wasn't for me, but not really knowing much else about birth or my choices. Clara held a totally judgement free zone as me and my partner explored all things birth and post-partum. She holds this judgement free space while being a fierce protector and proponent of physiological birth - this is obviously a really challenging balance, and Clara has absolutely mastered it. We asked what felt like a million questions over our incredibly valuable pre-natal sessions, and she was amazing at guiding our thinking rather than giving us absolute answers.
Clara was instrumental in building my courage to OWN my vision of birth, a game changing perspective for me - we often hear that 'going with the flow' is the safest bet, but I learned how powerful my mindset is in chasing what I want most in this world - she helped me be master of my own destiny. She was also the final source of strength I needed in those challenging hours when I didn't think I could do it, pulling out all the stops to ensure I had my dream home birth - breath work, positions, rabozo scarf techniques, she helped me dig deep when I needed it most.
Post-birth she's just an awesome momma and is the heart center of the community she has built in Squamish - there are so many that look to her and look up to her as we all navigate motherhood in this complex world, we don't know where we'd be without her!
I took the full suite of post-partum options - placenta encapsulation, tincture and prints - one of which is now pride of place in my bathroom. I can't wait to tell my baby girl all about it, I beam with pride every time I walk past it :) I am so thankful to Clara, she's changed my life and I couldn't recommend her highly enough!"
- Becky
"For us, this connection was in fateful alignment and we are so grateful."
"When I found out that I was pregnant my world changed instantaneously. The essence of mother began to flow through me and become the essence of me. Thoughts I had not thought and things I had never considered became the forefront of my priorities. Within me, I knew I had to find someone aligned with our hearts desires and world views to help bring our baby earth-side. So, as it goes, by ‘chance’ happenstance’ I met another pregnant mama who referred me to Clara. Straight away, there was an inner knowing that this doula would assist us in our daughters first birth story. What then proceeded were months of beauty, challenge, and growth in my relationship and the process in a whole. Clara was a witness and force of strength and solidity within these upheavals. For everything that we needed prior, during, and post birth, she was there. For us, this connection was in fateful alignment and we are so grateful. Thank you Clara from the bottom of our hearts."
- Shelby
..."she reminded me that I can do everything."
“I have first met Clara at one of the births I have photographed and I was surprised and amazed how gentle yet powerful her support was. I believe it must have been a predestination to meet her that way as I ended up hiring her to support me during my own pregnancy and birth eventually. I wanted to experience a home birth but I had a lot of doubts and fears about. Clara helped me to go through all of that without any pressure and she has taught me so much about physiological birth and how to trust my own inner self. She was there for me 24/7 during the pregnancy and postpartum, listening and answering all my questions. I cannot imagine not having her at my birth. She was there to hold my hands, press my back during contractions, fill the pool with warm water, take care of our 15 month old very soon to be big brother. But most importantly she was there as a mental support, she reminded me that I can do everything, her presence brought so much peace into our space and I will forever be grateful she was by my side! I wish to every birthing person to have a person like Clara by their side! Thank you from all my heart! ❤️”
- Gabi
"She supported me no matter what I decided..."
"Me and my husband were so grateful for having Clara as a precious guide throughout our last pregnancy and birth. I think her biggest strength is asking the right questions and letting the mamas find their own answers. We are so used to be told what to do that sometimes it is what we expect but not being told what to do is the biggest gift Clara could offer me. She supported me no matter what i decided in the process and it allowed me to go really deeply every time I had to make a decision. The process of choosing to free birth came naturally for me just by answering simple questions with honesty and simplicity. This was the most empowering experience I had and I felt really well supported and safe with Clara. I recommend her to any women who want to be 100% in charge of their process AND 100% supported in their pregnancy and birth experience. Thank you Clara for being exactly who you are and helping so many mamas on their unique journey."
- Catherine
"...if we had a million children, we would go with you each time."
"I'm going to address this to you personally. Clara, you are an all-around gem. If we had a million children, we would go with you each time. Although you were my wife's doula, I felt you were equally my own doula because you understood very well that I had to be guided through the process as well, I needed support, and I needed to know how to support. At first I was unsure what you would offer that the midwife couldn't offer, but then I realized that your role of personal support and encouragement was every bit as important as having someone oversee the medical side. When choosing a doula, it's important to have someone very competent and intelligent who can answer questions and provide information about the many variations pregnancy and childbirth can take. You did this many times over, showing a broad range of experience and expertise. But at least as important in a doula is the ability to offer reassurance and a positive perspective during a potentially stressful time, genuinely being there for you to help us emotionally. I couldn't have possibly known beforehand how indispensable your supporting role would be. You were incredibly well suited to this role because of your amazingly genuine, giving, positive, calm, enthusiastic personality. You are a ray of sunshine in the turbulent time of pregnancy and childbirth. Along with your regular doula expertise, you brought us a wide range of other skills. Especially useful is your ability to teach helpful prenatal and postnatal yoga poses. You are an incredible yoga teacher as well as a doula. Clara, you are someone anyone going through pregnancy and childbirth would want in their life at a time like this. Thanks Clara! We'll never forget all you've done for us and the lessons you've taught us."
- Joseph
"....I explored and released the fears I had for the experience..."
"For the birth of my second child, I wanted an intimate container for the experience and to be held in it by a strong yet soft feminine presence, which I found and more in Clara. One of Clara's greatest gifts is her capacity to lead women back to their own intuition; her knowledge and reassurance enabled me to feel educated and empowered in my choices during pregnancy and labour. With her kind guidance during our prenatal visits, I explored and released the fears I had for the experience, which I credit for the surrender to my body and my baby's innate wisdom during the birth itself. While I was in labour, Clara magically knew just when I needed counterpressure during surges or sips of water between. Her support allowed me the freedom to just be in the experience without worrying about any of the logistics, like setting up the birth pool.
I recognized after the birth of my first child how focused I was on the baby and how depleted I became so my daughter's birth was an opportunity to reclaim my relationship with nourishment, and having Clara available for postpartum support was vital to this. She offered regular check-ins where I felt safe to ask any questions I had or voice any feelings that were surfacing, educated me in healing modalities like yoni steaming and belly binding, and gave me the confidence in transitioning to this new identity as a mother of two.
The birth of my daughter would not have been the same without her, and I am deeply grateful for her to share in that story. "
- Lauren D.
"The first time I met Clara (3 years ago), I knew she was going to be my doula someday."
"The first time I met Clara (3 years ago), I knew she was going to be my doula someday. Over the years my birth envision has drastically changed from wanting to had an unmedicated hospital birth, to having a home birth, to free birthing. I didn’t even know what a free birth was before I met Clara. I had so many questions! In my gut I knew that it was safe, but there was so much programming and fears I needed to work through. Fast forward to the last 10 months when I became pregnant for the first time. I contacted Clara right away to make sure she could take me as a client!
The way she views birth and human physiology makes complete sense. When ever my partner or I would have a questions or concern she would have a really knowledgeable response that left us feeling even more trusting of ourselves and our abilities to birth our baby.
We had four in depth prenatal sessions. Clara shares a lot of information, asks very insightful questions and is an amazing listener.
During the birth Clara was amazing. Knowing exactly when to help support me (or my husband) and when to lean back and just be very grounding, loving and supportive.
She has also been incredibly helpful during the postpartum period. Helping us to navigate newborn life, breastfeeding, healing a tear without sutures, vaginal steaming and so much more.
I had my dream birth and I owe so much of it to Clara.
I almost forgot to mention how amazing her monthly community birth circles are!!"
- Alyssa
"Her energy at my birth was nothing short of serene."
"Clara’s involvement in my journey as a mother began as I processed the birth of my first child. I attended her monthly Birth Community Circles and I felt a strong call to have her support throughout my pregnancy and at the birth of my second child.
Clara holds the utmost respect for undisturbed physiological birth. Her wisdom, from years of experience and devotion to her craft, helped me to find crystal clarity on my vision for the birth. She took her time to deeply understand my vision and beautifully mirrored my intuition and intentions back to me if ever I questioned myself or the journey. Throughout my pregnancy, she offered prenatal education and questions for my partner and I to reflect on, delivered in the most loving and intentional way.
Clara carried this wisdom and reverence into the birthing space, demonstrating incredible care and intention in every action and sentiment expressed. Her energy at my birth was nothing short of serene.
In addition to capturing images and videos along the way that I will cherish forever, she honoured my wishes for a lotus birth, facilitated a beautiful mother blessing ceremony, and created a gentle herbal yoni steam blend to support me in my postpartum healing.
I am forever grateful to Clara for such a nourishing and fulfilling experience. I highly recommend any of her services and hope to one day be a repeat customer!"
- Kelsey
"She helped me find power and strength I didn't even know I had."
"After a very traumatic first birth I thought I was never having anymore kids until I met Clara. She helped me find power and strength I didn’t even know I had. Hiring her as my doula for my second pregnancy was the best decision I made. She helped me achieve my dream birth. She asked meaningful, thought provoking questions that helped me prepare for the birth I wanted. She provided unbiased, factual information so I could make informed decisions. She made me feel empowered and heard. I think the standard of care Clara provides is what every pregnant women deserves to have. Her services were worth every penny and I’m so grateful to have found Clara when I did."
- Lauren A.
"I can’t put into words how helpful it was to have Clara by my side."
"Clara was an amazing partner for our pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey. Initially, we didn’t plan on hiring a doula nor did we have the intention for a natural home birth. We’re so grateful a friend recommended Clara.
Clara’s extensive wisdom and knowledge were evident during the one on one prenatal education. It wasn’t just about the technicalities of childbirth but an exploration of our preferences and fears, which left us more prepared and empowered.
During labor and birth, I can’t put into words how helpful it was to have Clara by my side. She went above and beyond to support me during a long labor and delivery.
The journey didn't end at childbirth; her postpartum support was invaluable. The education continued on an intimate level, she cared for our newborn so I could get some sleep, and helped us reflect on our birth story.
I wholeheartedly recommend Clara!"
- Megan
"She held us through very challenging decisions and supported us in becoming informed..."
"When we crossed paths with Clara it was as if our prayers had been answered. From the first time we met with her we knew we had found our person. She was equally able to guide us and offer us the support we didn’t even know we wanted while honouring the vision we held for our birthing journey.
She held us through very challenging decisions and supported us in becoming informed for our best way forward. We were able to preserve and stay true to how we desired to feel throughout the journey.
I wish for every birthing person to have an ally and guide like we had in Clara.
We are eternally grateful for her wisdom, guidance and overall essence. She’s a wealth of knowledge and a heart of gold. And she’s an amazing cook too!"
- Carmen
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