Supportive Birth & Postpartum Care for Barrie Families

Newborn photography session in Barrie hospital RVH by Doula By The Bay

Compassionate doula services and timeless newborn photography in the heart of Simcoe County.

Whether you are planning a hospital birth at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) or a cozy home birth in the Barrie area, having a dedicated support team makes all the difference. At Doula By The Bay, I provide mindful, personalized care to help you navigate your journey with confidence and peace

Book Your Free Barrie Consultation

Comprehensive Support for Every Stage

Birth Doula Support

Professional Labour & Birth Doula Support at RVH in Barrie, Ontario

Continuous holistic physical and emotional support, evidence-based advocacy and guidance for home and hospital births in Barrie.

Night Postpartum Support

Get the rest you need while I care for your newborn and support your recovery. Overnight infant care, lactation support bottle feeding in Barrie.

Newborn Photography

In-home newborn photography, candid and film-style nostalgic newborn and family photoshoots, Barrie Ontario

Professional, film-inspired digital sessions captured in the comfort of your Barrie home. Maternity, birth and family photography available.

Birth Pool Rentals

Birthing Pool, Birthing Stool and TENS unit Rentals in Barrie, Ontario

Full-service birth pool rentals delivered to your door for a peaceful labour experience. TENS unit and birthing stool rentals also available in Barrie.

Meet Your Barrie Doula & Photographer

A Decade of Mindful Support for Your Journey

Bringing a new life into the world is a transformative experience that deserves to be met with steady hands and a calm heart. My name is Leah, and for over 10 years, I have walked alongside families as they navigate the profound transitions of birth and early parenthood.

My approach at Doula By The Bay is rooted in the belief that when you feel safe, informed, and truly seen, you can lean into the power of your own story.

Why Work With Me?

  • Experience You Can Trust: With a decade of professional background in birth, postpartum, and end-of-life support, I bring an evidence-based lens and a deep toolkit to every birth—whether you are giving birth at RVH or in the comfort of your home.

  • A Calm, Mindful Presence: As a mindfulness meditation teacher and a musician, I specialize in "holding the space." I use mindfulness, breathwork and sound to help you maintain peacefulness and resilience, even in the most intense moments of labour.

  • A Queer-Affirming Space: I am proud to provide inclusive, LBGTQ+ affirming prenatal, birth and postnatal care. Every family in Barrie deserves to feel celebrated and supported exactly as they are.

  • Capturing the Magic: My background as a professional photographer allows me to see the beauty in the raw, quiet moments. Using a professional Fujifilm system, I capture film-style digital imagery that preserves your family’s first memories without ever disrupting the peace of your space.

I’m here to be your advocate, your educator, and your steady support system. Whether we are practicing prenatal yoga together or I’m supporting your recovery during an overnight postpartum shift, my goal is to ensure you feel confident and empowered every step of the way.

Learn more about Leah
Barrie Birth Doula & Photographer for Homebirth and Hospital Birth at RVH

Client Testimonials

“Leah is also exceptionally well educated. What I appreciated most is that she never pushed a particular philosophy or agenda about birth. Instead, she meets women exactly where they are. Whether someone envisions a highly medicalized birth, something deeply natural, or anything in between, Leah’s approach is to expand the mind a little… to share knowledge, context, and perspective so women can actually discover what they want from their birth experience.”

— Laura Primeau Vlahovic

"We rented a birthing pool and stool. Pickup and drop off the pool went seamlessly and my husband and I felt completely comfortable setting up the pool with Leah’s detailed instructions. We also did newborn photos which are so special postpartum. Leah has a calm presence and is so supportive - I’m so happy to have found her!"

— Lauren

“Having the experience of a doula at our home birth was hugely reassuring to us for starters; but far beyond that, Leah's peaceful presence, her confidence in my abilities, and her relentless positivity lead us to have the medication-free homebirth of my dreams…Having her know-how, her experience, and her calm and loving presence there was really reassuring…I am proud of myself and my son for what we accomplished with Leah's help.”

— Sarah Waggott

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Absolutely. As a Barrie-area doula, I am very familiar with the labor and delivery unit at RVH. Whether you are working with an OBGYN or a midwifery team, I provide seamless physical and emotional support alongside the hospital staff to ensure your birth plan is respected and supported.

  • It is best to reach out during your second or third trimester to ensure availability. Because I use a professional Fujifilm system to capture film-style digital images, I limit the number of sessions I take each month to provide high-quality, intimate galleries. For Barrie families, these sessions take place in the comfort of your own home, usually within the first 14 days of your baby’s arrival.

  • If you are planning a home birth in Barrie or the surrounding Simcoe County area, I provide professional-grade birth pool rentals. I handle the delivery and pick-up, ensuring you have everything needed—including a new liner, sanitized hose, water pump, and universal tap adapter—to create a peaceful, water-based labour experience. Bonus: Each rental includes unlimited waterbirth text support with Leah and an educational binder to prepare for your home waterbirth.

  • My goal for overnight doula shifts in Barrie is to ensure parents get the restorative sleep they need. I arrive in the evening to assist with newborn care, soothing, bathing and feeding (supporting breastfeeding, pumping and/or bottle-feeding goals). I also help with baby’s laundry and tidying the kitchen. This allows you to wake up feeling refreshed and more confident in your transition to parenthood.

  • Yes. Inclusion is a pillar of Doula By The Bay. I am proud to offer queer-affirming prenatal, birth and postpartum support to all LGBTQ2S+ families in the Barrie community. Every family deserves a birth team that celebrates and respects their unique identity and structure.

  • The first step is a free, no-obligation 30-minute phone or video consultation. We’ll chat about your vision for your birth or postpartum period, and you can see if my mindful, calm and evidence-based approach feels like the right fit for your team.

Let’s Work Together

Book your free Barrie consultation: a 30-minute video or phone call with Leah.