Doula Studies students to offer free virtual sessions to parents

The pandemic has made it difficult for new and expectant families to connect and seek supports during the perinatal period. To help reduce these feelings of isolation, students in Fanshawe’s Doula Studies program will begin offering free virtual drop-in sessions to new parents and parents-to-be.

The sessions will be a friendly and supportive space for all family dynamics, including LGBTQ.

The sessions, held weekly, will be offered under the guidance of faculty members Christal Malone and Jennifer Surerus and will facilitate a supportive space that will create connections, learning and growth during the pregnancy, birth and postpartum period.

Workshop dates: every Tuesday beginning February 9 until April 13, 2021
Time: 2 p.m. (sessions usually last one hour)
Location: Online via Zoom (passcode: 88511339)

Having a baby can be stressful and the goal of these drop-in sessions is to create supportive spaces to navigate early parenthood while connecting with other new and expectant parents to form friendships and relationships.

Doula Studies faculty bios

Christal Malone is a full spectrum doula with several years of experience in birth work, combined with a Fanshawe College-certified education and training in the doula field. She has a passion for serving her community from a reproductive justice lens. Christal has offered chest feeding support to the London community for many years and has a passion for supporting those in the postpartum period.

Jennifer Surerus is a full spectrum doula, practicing since 2015. She is passionate about reproductive and social justice and in supporting people to build confidence in their own autonomy and intuition. Jennifer believes in the power of the community and integrates connections whenever possible. Jennifer is an alumna of the Development Services Worker program at Fanshawe College and is currently teaching in the Doula Studies program.

For more information, please visit Fanshawe's media contact page.