Chelsea Bootsman Doula.Photo.Film | Red Deer doula and birth photographer

I'm Chelsea!

I'm a mom of 4 and I've been married for 16 years to a ginger bearded man.

When I'm not doula-ing, I do a lot of designing and sewing, and I run a clothing pattern business called Socialite Patterns.

As a doula, I'm wildly passionate about physiological birthing and our body's role during labour and birth, along the preparation that can be done in order to help make the journey smoother.

The reason I doula is because I know that birth doesn't have to be what our culture has made it out to be. Pregnant women deserve support and proper education surrounding the perinatal period. It's a right that we should all have, and I believe that we need to give that journey more credit than it's getting.

More about me

5 Reasons to hire a Doula

It's proven that having a doula present for labour and birth, can significantly reduce the need for interventions, helping you to recover more quickly and have a better overall experience.

Doulas know birth. They know what's normal, what isn't, and how to help and adjust their support if something changes.

Doulas help you feel prepared and confident to get through labour with a bit more ease, while feeling more in control of YOUR birth.

Your doula may be the only person you know, in the birthing space. Most doctors and nurses are on rotation, while your doula is a consistent support.

Your partner may not know what you need, so a doula can guide your partner in knowing how to help you.

Learn more

Doula Testimonial

"Chelsea was my doula and birth photographer for both pregnancy’s/ labour and deliveries. I can’t recommend her enough. She went above and beyond to make sure that I felt valued, comfortable, knowledgeable and heard. She automatically felt like a part of the family, as you can feel how deeply she cares for her clients. She’s professional and personable and a really good human. She knows her stuff. She’s also an outstanding photographer! If you haven’t considered getting your birth professionally photographed, you really should. They helped me move forward after two pretty traumatic deliveries. I can’t say enough good things about Chelsea!"

Sam B.

Private Classes

Body Balancing & Labour Positions

This private class is essential for anyone expecting a baby.
Living our day to day lives, especially with minimal movement, repetitive motions, overworking, poor posture and habits, or even living with injuries can imbalance our bodies.

Our pelvic and uterine muscles and ligaments play a HUGE part in how baby engages and descends through the pelvis.
If our pelvic muscles and ligaments are imbalanced, it can put the baby into an off position, making labouring baby down even more difficult, resulting in a longer, harder labour.

By lengthening, balancing and toning your muscles and fascia, while also finding better ranges of motion before you go into labour, then your body can work more effectively to bring baby down and out. Preparing your body during pregnancy can also help reduce risk of aches and pains during your perinatal journey.

During this private workshop (done in the comfort of your home) I will teach you which stretches to do during your pregnancy, so that hopefully you can have a smoother labour and birth.

Investment

Childbirth Preparation

During this private workshop, we go over my birth guide that's been years in the making (and is constantly being added to), which includes;

Common Birth terms
Birth preference plans and interventions
Words of affirmation
Preparing your body for labour
Psychology of labour
Contraction patterns
Labouring at the hospital
Stages of labour
Physiology of birth
Working through contractions
Comfort measures and labour positions
Stalled labour
The golden hour
Breastfeeding basics
The fourth trimester
And so much more!

Workshops

Professional Birth Photography

Professional quality birth photography can be added on to any doula package.

Photos can help you heal and they can also help put all of the pieces together that are easily forgotten or missed.

Birth photography is less about the crowning shots and more about love, connection, strength, emotional healing, and just documentation of one of life's most memorable experiences.