Doula Hsin-yi
Birth & Postpartum Services
Hi, Amazing People, Welcome! I'm Hsin-yi
(pronouced "sin-yi")
I (she/her) am a doula, a mother,
a reproductive rights advocate, and a trauma-specialized counselor.
I come originally from Taiwan, and have lived and worked in 3 different continents (Asia, North America, and Europe). I currently reside in Munich with my family.
My first encounter of "Doula" was when I worked as a counselor advocate in New York City in the field of ending gender-based violence. I had an opportunity to meet a several doulas during a training on supporting sexual assault survivors, and I was instantly intriged to their work in supporting women in their reproductive choices and caring for their body and mind along the way. To me, it is healing and empowering that women are listened to, are respected, and are treated gently in their reproductive journey and in becoming parents.
I told the then 25-year-old me, " I want to become a doula one day."
In 2020, I made one of the biggest decisions in my life to move to Munich with my German partner. I knew that it was my chance to finally become certified and to start my own doula business. I have since supported more than 30 families with my services internationally and in Germany.
Having been researching and working for a decade with survivors of sexual violence, I am well aware of how trauma can affect a person as well as how resilient human beings can be overcoming pain and struggles. I have come to understand that the key towards healing is being heard, believed, and seen as a whole human with inherited ability to thrive.
That is why I am dedicated to creating an environment that is safe and empowering for my clients to thrive and to heal in their journey of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum time. My practice is trauma-informed and sensitive to gender-related issues. Since I am also a certified postpartum doula in Chinese tradition (月嫂/陪月), I would be able to support families according to this particular cultural practice, including herbal resurgence and belly binding.
My Birth Stories
I have had two births. Both pregnancies were not easy. We conceived both times through the infertility treatment, Intraunterine Insemination (IUI.) With one pregnancy, I gave birth to my son; the other was a natural miscarriage at the end of the first trimester.
Having been a doula for two years at the time, I was determined to have an unmedicated natural birth with my first pregnancy at a birth center (Geburtshaus) in Munich. My water broke at 36 weeks 6 days, one day before I'd be eligible to give birth at the birth center. I was anxious as much as I was excited. My baby was patient and waited 21 hours before he activated the contractions. 6 hours later, he was born at the birth center where I had made a plan to labor. It was the most magical moment in my life holding him for the very first time.
Two hours later, I was taken by the ambulance to the hospital due to postpartum hemorrhage.
The midwives were able to stop the bleeding within a couple of minutes but it was a safe decision to be transferred to the hospital for further medical examinations and treatments.
My first postpartum was challenging but satisfying. I was well supported by family and professionals including midwives, a lactation consultant, and my doula. Being a parent is still a challenge every day. The stress from the physical effort, the emotions, and the times that we are forced to self-reflect our flaws is just as much as the joy that is brought to us through laughter, affection, and bonding. Learning to find balance between the good moments and the bad ones is still an everyday task.
My second birth again was coming from love and with the hope to love more. We found out at the 13th week of the pregnancy that the fetus/embryo had no heartbeat and was only about 9 and a half weeks in size. My cervix was already opened and the tissues had begun to pass. We decided to have a natural miscarriage.
On the day of my 37th birthday, my body activated the "little birth" contractions and I gave birth to the remains of the fetus and the placenta in our living room. Healing and grieving for pregnancy loss has since become a new assignment for us.
Like my first birth, I was supported by a doula with my second one. This is a reaffirmation to me that I have chosen the right path. Being supported by doulas and being a doula myself is allowing me to embrace life and death, is encouraging me to have compassion not only towards others but also myself, and is reminding me that we all need a village to heal and to overcome hardships.
And I want to continue to be a part of building that village.