Expert Prenatal Course Instructors in Vancouver

Our teachers, all health professionals and parents, add their extensive training and reading on subjects related to pregnancy, birth and parenting to their personal experience. All instructors are Certified Childbirth Educators either with Douglas College, Vancouver Community College or ICEA (the International Childbirth Education Association). All have a love and passion for the childbearing year. Click here to learn about our Apprenticeship Program and start teaching with us, too!

Aleksandra Henderson, CBE

director, instructor

The miracle of birth has made an everlasting impact on Aleksandra’s life and for this simple reason she chose to become a doula and prenatal class instructor. Her aim is to make birth an experience rather than a process.

A mother of five, she has been a doula since 1996 and in that time has attended over seven hundred births. In 1998 she finished her training as a Childbirth Educator through Vancouver Community College and has been teaching for Lower Mainland Childbearing since then.

She currently teaches many of Childbearing’s weekend workshops, as well as taking on the occasional evening series and the training of new teachers. Her enthusiasm for birth is contagious, and she receives rave reviews from her prenatal class participants and doula clients alike.

Stephanie Ondrack, MA, CBE, CD (Dona)

executive director, instructor

Stephanie’s interest in birth began with the birth of her own first child in 2001. With an academic background in English Literature and Women’s Studies, Stephanie attained certification as a Birth Doula and as a Childbirth Educator through Douglas College in 2002. She has been pursuing the topic with passion ever since, attending conferences, reading journals, and constantly upgrading her knowledge.

Stephanie is honoured to cross paths with so many families at such a pivotal juncture in their lives. As the mother of four children, she is personally familiar with the unpredictable nature of pregnancy, birth, and parenthood. Her goal is to help empower parents to make their own best choices according to their own circumstances and beliefs, and to help promote the best possible experience for the new baby within that context. She believes that the birth of a baby can be a joyful and transcending experience for the whole family, made better with accurate information and a sense of confidence. Stephanie’s enthusiasm and compassion shine through in her teaching, as does her genuine love of the topics.

Katy Thomson CD (Dona)

instructor

Katy Thomson has been involved with the wondrous world of birth for over fifteen years. She has worked, lived and volunteered with many families and organizations while travelling around the world before settling in beautiful Vancouver to further establish her career as a Doula and Childbirth Educator.

Being away from her own family Katy really got to see and feel the importance of family and learn how other cultures support a new mother during the childbearing year. Drawing her closer to her doula nature, Katy has been privileged to witness and participate in births within different cultures, giving her a wealth of information on pregnancy and the birthing process. Katy is a mum of three, a Breastfeeding Counselor, Childbirth Educator, as well as a certified Birth and Postpartum Doula, who is always continuing her education and working towards a lactation consultant certification.

Shahrzad Tayebi, B.Sc. in Midwifery, IBCLC

instructor

Shahrzad, a mother of two, was a registered midwife in Iran for 18 years. They moved to Canada in 2009. Searching for her passion, she found the Childbearing Society.

Shahzad is also a certified doula who loves attending births and helping mothers and families in any way she can. In 2013, Shahrzad added the title of International Board Certified Lactation Consultant to her credentials. Her goal and philosophy in offering prenatal education, doula services and breastfeeding support, is to make birth and breastfeeding the most memorable experience in one’s life.

Molly Eitzen, CBE

director, instructor

While completing her undergraduate degree in Medical Anthropology, Molly discovered a passion for birth and midwifery. Molly completed her doula training in 2001, and then studied midwifery at Seattle Midwifery School.

Molly became pregnant shortly before completing school and realized she did not want to parent while on call. After taking her own prenatal and postpartum classes through Childbearing in 2005, she joined Childbearing as an instructor in 2008. She loves getting to connect with expectant couples and help them on their journey towards being parents. Having experienced a cesarean as well as two home births after cesarean, Molly has a special interest in helping clients who have experienced a cesarean and VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) at our Refresher workshops.

Lily Golan

breast/chest feeding clinic facilitator, postpartum instructor

Lily is a postpartum doula and breastfeeding support professional. Her decades of experience as a mother (to 4 daughters), educator, and specialist has taught her that the postpartum experience is unique for every parent, child and family. Lily understands that the birth of a new child impacts more than just mothers- it can change the dynamic of the entire family. Lily incorporates this understanding to develop tailored experiences for every family that she works with. Lily has worked with everyone from first time parents, large families, new immigrants, and LGBTQ2+ families.

Lily became a doula after an extensive 25 year career as a professional educator in Toronto’s private school system. As an educator, Lily strives to continue to grow and learn in order to better understand others' experiences and takes the time to explain her advice and rationale so parents can learn on their own. Lily completed her CAPPA (Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association) Postpartum doula training in 2016, is an active member of the Doula Services Association of British Columbia, and participates in breastfeeding workshops and mentorship programs. Lily is also a volunteer and has co-founded Mamatefet, a non-profit organization that offers various services to women and young families in Vancouver’s Jewish community.

Blending her rich background in education, ample experience working with children and parents, and her passion for supporting young families, Lily puts the family at the heart of everything she does.