Jena Nakamura

c-fsd(badt)

Hi! I’m so glad you’re here!
Let’s start off with some fast facts about me:

• I have two of my own kiddos, as well as welcoming a baby as a surrogate in April 2022!

• I cry at everything. I cannot help myself. Happy or sad (and sometimes even angry), my emotions leak out my eyes. Be forewarned; if you invite me to attend your birth, I WILL CRY.

• I have been with my partner for nearly 15 years. We are almost high school sweethearts, since we started dating two weeks after graduation.

• I love hobbies! I crochet, cross stitch, bake, read, garden, and dabble in resin and knitting. I also have a deep and abiding love for Dungeons & Dragons. My partner and I even have a little side hustle with some friends called Young Adventurers Society!

• You can also find me over at Five Elements as one of their birth and postpartum doulas. I absolutely adore the Five Elements team.

Now that you know some of the basics, I’d like to tell you a bit about why I do what I do.

I stumbled upon birth work at the Baby & Tots show that I attended with my sister-in-law and newborn niece in March 2014. I struck up a conversation with a doula that was working at a booth there. As she explained what she did, my mind was blown. That sounded like the most incredible experience in the world! How could that be a real job? I immediately fell down the rabbit hole, registered for my first training, and ordered every textbook I could get my hands on. I haven’t looked back since.

What do I love most about being a doula? I think the word that I’ would sum it up with is, ‘Witnessing’. Of course, I’m going to give you that clean, crisp, single word and then proceed to drone on and on about what it means to me. But that’s what happens when you get me started about birth, so what did you expect?

WITNESSING! There are so many things that I get to be witness to in the reproductive journies of the people that seek out my care. First and foremost, I’m invited into the most intimate of spaces to witness new life being brought into the world. What a fricking honour. Truly, if you’re looking for a doula who will gaze serene and unruffled at you while your baby comes into the world, I’m not your girl. I cry Every. Damn. Time. Tears of pride and awe will inevitably stream down my face. It’s never not an absolute miracle to me. It is always the most special thing that I’ve ever seen and it never ceases to amaze me what the human body, mind, and spirit are capable of. And, if you know me, you know that my eyes are filling with tears as I type this, just thinking about the births I’ve witnessed. I already warned you that I cry a lot. It is what it is.  

I also get to connect with families. I get to watch the dynamic between partners. From just them, pre-kids, to how they interact in the moment they become parents. And then, in the postpartum, how things shift, expand. The relationships between parents and their children. The beautiful bonds foraged over sleepless nights, way too many bodily fluids, and suspiciously sticky kisses. And then those kiddos meeting their new siblings. Sometimes awe and giggles, sometimes gentle hostility…but we honour those feelings, even if it is kind of funny to watch. And, occasionally, I’m even lucky enough to see the love and support from the extended family as well! Grandmas dropping by during a postpartum visit to bring food and get some snuggles. A friend dropping by a home cooked meal while you’re taking a nap. These connections are what makes this birth and parenting thing doable. 

My aim is that I will soon be one of those connections for you. Someone who has earned your trust and helped you to build trust in other areas of your life as well. Trust in your body, your baby, your partner. But, most importantly, trust in yourself. I want you to know that YOU are the authority on you, your body, and your baby. It’s easy to forget that with all of the “professionals” around, but I trust you to make the best decision for you, and I hope that you do as well. That’s why I love to share knowledge and resources with you. And why I am constantly taking a new course, or attending a webinar, or conference. Knowledge is power. You deserve all of the information possible when making your decisions. One of the best parts of my job is getting to learn all the things - thank you, hyperfocus!

As a bonus, I’m often able (when asked) to capture photos during births. A professional photographer I am not, but it’s something I’ve loved being asked to do. Between some of those dimly lit, semi blurry photos, I find special gems. Tender moments and details that seem small and insignificant, but showcase the sacredness of birth. A partner’s hand steadying a birthing person. The peaceful moment leaning against the side of the pool in between contractions. The crinkled forehead of someone roaring out their baby.  A grandmother watching her baby have a baby of their own. Magic.

One of the things that I’ve been focused on learning more about is Reproductive Justice.  Reproductive Justice, despite being a basic human right, is all too often put at risk by the systems in power. By nature of my job, I vow to be, not just an ally, but an accomplice in the fight for Reproductive Justice for ALL people. Birthwork is activism. I am grateful to have the opportunity to walk alongside people through all facets of their reproductive experiences. For more on this, visit my Values page.

Think you might want to work together? Me too.
I cannot wait to meet you!