DOULAS
Labour assistants who provides physical and emotional support to you and your partner during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period.
MATERNAL CONSULTANTS
Professionally trained and educated birthworkers who can help work through concerns you have, give nonmedical advice and direct you to education & community resources.
HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONERS
A wide range of practitioners that work with pre-conception, pregnant and postpartum women who need support beyond the scope or maternal consultants and doulas.
Our Story
We, as a dedicated team of three birth workers and mothers, possess a diverse range of skills and expertise. Each of us have witnessed firsthand the gaps in care experienced by our clients, and this has ignited a deep passion within us to create positive change. United by a common goal, we are determined to make a difference in our community to ensure that mothers receive the care they truly deserve.
Our collective experiences moved us, as we see mothers lack the support and attention needed during such a vulnerable and pivotal time in their lives. Motivated by this realization, we felt compelled to take action and address these shortcomings head-on. This led to the inception of our vision: Ummah Maternal - a heartfelt initiative aimed at transforming the maternal care landscape and providing comprehensive, holistic support to mothers throughout their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey.
Our Team
Victoria Qasim
Birth & Postpartum Doula,
Lactation Consultant (Student)
Victoria Aasiya Qasim holds a diploma in Early Childhood Education from Sheridan College, is a certified Birth Doula and is currently enrolled at Mohawk College to pursue her dream of becoming a Lactation Consultant. Victoria felt incredibly supported during her pregnancies and births which included struggles with hyperemesis gravidarum, prematurity and a NICU stay. Because of her personal experience, she knows the value and impact that support has on early motherhood.
Sanna Padela
BA, MSc Physiology,
BSc Midwifery,
Birth Trauma Counsellor (Student)
Sanna Padela holds a Bachelor's degree from the University at Buffalo and a Master’s degree in Physiology from the University of Toronto. After learning about lactation consulting, she was led to, and ultimately completed, her Midwifery BHSc at McMaster University. She has always been passionate about female healthcare from a young age, volunteering and working with locals, newcomers, refugees, and also women and children internationally.
Heileen Zein
Birth & Postpartum Doula,
Traditional Birth Companion
(Student)
Heileen Zein, founder of Faithful Birthing, has over ten years experience as a certified birth and postpartum doula. She is also a Childbirth Educator and currently pursuing her dream of becoming a Traditional Birth Companion. Heileen’s personal journey through birth complications, miscarriages, caesarean and successful VBACs led her to her passion for becoming a Doula. She has a love for educating and supporting women and their families.
Testimonial
“Heileen is very kind, caring, knowledgeable and the experience with her was very empowering. She helped me make informed choices, as well as answered my questions at any time with reassuring explanations. I was traumatized with my first birth and she was able to help me process my feelings and accept them. She took my hand and helped me reach my dream birth; a 100% natural, unmedicated, home birth.”
- Sumaia, Toronto
“Victoria was respectful, reliable, patient and present. We were glad that we had her by our side to bring our baby into this world. One of the things that has stayed with me is her respect towards my birthing and my postpartum body. She took care of me in a way that made me comfortable and at ease. I am confident she'll be able to work with a range of clients.”
- K.S., Mississauga
“I got introduced to Sanna through my midwife, which gave me initial confidence that she will be capable of taking care of my daughter. Once I started seeing her she gave me much needed reassurance of my ability to care for a newborn at a time my anxiety levels were so high. She was available in a matter of hours and she even helped me get passport photos for my daughter when I needed to travel to be with my family at that critical time. She was so kind and understanding and reassuring, and the help she provided to me during my lowest moments of life was tremendous."
- Zahraa, Milton
“Amazing organization that provides answers to all your maternal needs! I highly recommend them to anyone going through anything related to pregnancy and parenting. Treasure chest of knowledge and information for Muslim women looking for a safe space to learn and find support in their journey to motherhood.”
- Hina Mirza
“I have had the privilege of collaborating with the brilliant co-founders of Ummah Maternal - Victoria, Sanna, and Heileen. These three committed women are a true blessing to our community alhumdulillah - as they offer a holistic approach to assisting mothers during their pregnancy, delivery, and the critical postpartum phase. These exceptional doulas understand the absence of support for mothers throughout their motherhood journey, and their work is at the forefront of comprehensive maternal care. Being passionate about maternal care myself, I strongly recommend that you contact Ummah Maternal as their reliable and unwavering support for mothers continues to impress me.”
- Sehrish Malik
