Wellness Within Doulas - Member Statement
CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, I rise today during World Doula Week to recognize all doulas working here in Nova Scotia, but specifically those who work with Wellness Within, the only volunteer prison doula service dedicated to advancing reproductive justice in Canada.
Doulas are non-clinical support people who provide information and emotional and physical support during the perinatal period. The doulas who volunteer with Wellness Within devote an extraordinary amount of time, and their hearts, to compassionate and justice-seeking support. Their work is highly specialized and includes attending court appearances, care planning across both carceral and hospital institutions, and sourcing extensive maternal and newborn resources.
Thank you to Wellness Within and their incredible doula team for their service to people experiencing pregnancy and post-partum in the criminal justice system.