1 in 4 – Edmonton

The Cause

It is a well kept secret that 1 in 4 Canadians will experience pregnancy loss. Guaranteed you know several who have lost a baby at some point during a pregnancy. Some are open and public about this loss but most suffer alone; afraid to speak the words and have been taught to hide this pain.

As doulas we support families giving birth, we are with them to experience their joy as new lives are welcomed. Those who have to birth babies that have passed, or deemed "incompatible with life" are often alone in the room as they labour and meet their baby. Those who lose a pregnancy before 20 weeks gestation are sent home to wait. They are given no in-person support, told to take over the counter meds and that it will be like heavy period, which could not be further from the truth. These families need support more than any other, but this is support unlike any other.

As a doula trainer/mentor I would like to bring a Loss Doula Course to Edmonton to provide doulas with the skills to offer support to the families experiencing these tragedies. I would like to offer the course at a reduced fee so that as many as possible can attend and then in turn be able to offer their services to people at all gestations for a reduced fee, if not free.

The specialized education needed in order to support people experiencing pregnancy or infant loss is not something that can be learned from a book or online. We need these skills available to Albertans and we need proper training.

Who Will it Benefit?

Last year almost 15,000 babies were born in the Edmonton region. Considering that 1 in 4 pregnancies end in a loss there are over 5000 who have personally experienced a loss, miscarriage, still birth or infant death last year alone.

Not only will those personally experiencing the tragedy benefit, but their families, their extended family, their friends, and of course any future children.