About Me

I see pregnancy as a state of health and childbirth as a normal, natural, physiologic event. They are, however, events we experience seldom in our lives. So, we benefit from surrounding ourselves with knowledgeable, compassionate guides.

I believe that childbirth is a peak experience in a woman's life, but that it should not be isolated from the other aspects of her life. Women benefit when they are empowered to integrate their experience of childbirth into the narrative of their lives. We all bring a wealth of life experience into the birth process, and everything from the relaxation techniques we learn to the decision making style we adopt can become a part of how we live the rest of our lives.

I believe that we all have the right and the responsibility to educate ourselves about our health and our health care. The tools for making informed decisions are ones we can all learn to use. Their usefulness extends well beyond the limits of making health care decisions.

I support women in creating their own definition of the ideal birth experience. I also support women in creating their own definition of family. Every woman has the right to decide who will support her during childbirth, and who (if anyone) will parent with her. My practice therefore welcomes women in any relationship structure.

“We have a secret in our culture, and it's not that birth is painful. It's that women are strong. --- Laura Stavoe Harm“

Who am I?

My name is Rean Cross. (Rean is pronounced "REE-an" to rhyme with "Ian".) I've been involved in birthwork and women's health since 1988.

I have formal training as a Birth Doula and Postpartum Doula through DONA International. I have a range of experiences with breastfeeding, including training through INFACT Canada and CAPPA Canada. I hold an honours bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto where I majored in psychology and minored in women’s studies and bioethics, which turned out to be amazing doula training. As part of my ongoing pursuit of continuing education, I am currently working towards Birth Doula and Childbirth Educator certification through Childbirth International, as well as Lactation Educator certification through CAPPA.

I first trained to teach prenatal classes in Vancouver with the Greater Vancouver Childbirth Education Association in the late 80s and in Ottawa with the Ottawa-Hull CEA, where I also certified with the ICEA (International Childbirth Education Association) in the early 1990s. I have been teaching independent prenatal classes in Toronto since 2003. I have also taught for The 519 Community Centre and The Parenting Partnership.

I have spoken and presented at several conferences including the Guelph Sexuality Conference in 2007. I was a reviewer for the book Postpartum Depression: A guide for front-line health and social service providers (CAMH 2005).

My newest interest is providing placenta encapsulation services to assist women in their recovery from childbirth and support their mood, energy level and milk supply.

I have three young adult children, two cats and one life partner.

Lucina supports and adheres to the World Health Organisation's International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes. I endorse the CIMS Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative.