Amber Hart
A little bit about me.
pregnancy
a bit of my journey
My pregnancy came as a surprise after endless bouts of endometriosis troubles. I was lucky to have midwifery care while living in New Zealand — which is what I believe led me to doula work. I took all the prenatal classes and read all the books. I lathered my belly with oil. I did perineal stretches to reduce tearing. I did yoga and lots of walking along the ocean.
I envisioned a water birth — but some health complications changed those plans, and I learned firsthand what it means to navigate a birth that looks nothing like you imagined. I was induced, and my son was born a few weeks early. With city lights in view, dim lights, and a calm music playlist, he arrived weighing 5 pounds 4 ounces — tiny and wrinkly and pure perfection.
labour + delivery
a bit of my birth story
Ten hours of labour. Bouncing on the swiss ball, acupressure, swaying in the shower, walking the halls, and finding my breath. I thought I wanted an epidural — so we tried three times, but it didn't take. Due to being so focused on my breath while sitting still, I dilated to 10cm and felt the urge to push.
With the guidance of my midwife, she coached me through my breathing and pushing. I remember the moment the head was born — and then the feeling of him coming earthside. He was immediately placed on my chest, skin to skin, where he cried like a goat until his lungs cleared.
I couldn't believe he had arrived. Ten fingers and ten toes. His fingers wrapped around mine. I had delivered a baby — and he captured my heart immediately.
motherhood
my fourth trimester
Wow. I had no idea what becoming a mother would do to me — in all the ways.
It started with two weeks in hospital. He was tiny and had trouble feeding and gaining weight. Feeding tubes, pumping, sleepless nights trying to learn how to breastfeed — and so much gratitude for the lactation consultants and midwives who stayed beside us. We got there.
And then we settled in at home. It took time to find our rhythms — many sleepless nights and lots of tears navigating all the new. In New Zealand, you receive in-home midwifery care for six weeks postpartum, which was invaluable. Hormones shifting. Emotions. Accepting the changes in my body — the weight gain, the hair loss, the leaky boobs, the vaginal stitches.
It took T I M E. And support. Good meals, community, friends, family. I was blessed to have a good village in those first months — and other new moms to remind me to be gentle and kind to myself. That gentleness, I learned, is the key to healing and moving through the fourth trimester.
doula
the work that feels like home;
nurturing new mothers
After coming through those early years of motherhood, I felt a pull — to use my nurturing nature to help other mothers. I knew that no one should have to go through any of it alone. That support should be available to every mother, especially in those first months when everything is a blur and the overwhelm is real.
I trained with DONA International in Victoria, BC, and have since had the honour of serving 50+ families through labour, delivery, and in-home postpartum care across the Okanagan.
This work feels like home.
Whispering affirmations. Emotional support. Rest breaks. Infant care guidance. Building confidence through trusting intuition. Grounded ritual. Light household help. Steady reassurance when everything feels new.
This is what I'm here for. And I'd be honoured to be here for you.
