Panoramic Doula

Lindsey McGahey, IBC, IFSD, BE

Panoramic Doula provides community-based, equity centered birth and breastfeeding services in Chippewa County, sharing the experience and knowledge of supporting people through and beyond their reproductive experiences while specializing in unique and comprehensive traditional, Indigenous postpartum care and lactation support.

Mission: To care and nurture people in their experiences as a foundation in restoring innate trust in the bodies of Indigenous peoples to heal the future generations.

Service model: Centering BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ families in birth and breastfeeding care that is culturally relevant and evidence-based from a traditional, Indigenous lens. She currently offers 24/7 lactation support services and practice as a full spectrum doula which includes:

Preconception and conscious conception counseling
Prenatal counseling and support
Lactation counseling
Birth and postpartum planning
Birth support- both virtual and in person
Postpartum care support inclusive of lactation support, loss support, and abortion support, primarily offered for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ peoples, which includes postpartum meals and postpartum kits customized for each family

Successes to date:

Member of the 2021 CORE Cohort
Racial Equity Young Parents Fund Awardee
MOASH presentation in July 2021
Great Lakes Breastfeeding Webinars October 2021 presentation: “Cultivating a New Culture: Revisiting and Reclaiming Lactation Practices for Black and Indigenous communities”
Created and published “Making Milk” e-course for lactating people and those that serve them
Nourishing Nations co-founder
Sacred Bundle Indigenous Birth Worker Alliance co founder
Co-contributor of 2021 Michigan Native Breastfeeding Week proclamation
Completed September 2021: Native focused, 40 hour sexual assault advocacy training

Leadership:

Lindsey McGahey is an active birth and breastfeeding worker within Chippewa County, an Indigenous Breastfeeding Counselor (IBC) and Indigenous Full Spectrum Doula (IFSD), and has recently expanded her services to include “Making Milk” an e-course for lactating people and those that serve them. Lindsey is a trusted provider who has worked consistently within her community to provide a full-range of prenatal and postpartum support services rooted in traditional care. She has worked for over four years as a leader and advocate alongside families during the vulnerable time of birthing.

Partners:

Michigan Breastfeeding Network
Postpartum Healing Lodge
Black and Indigenous Leaders of the CORE Cohort
Nourishing Nations
Sacred Bundle Birthworker Collective

Our Vision for the Future:

Restored trust in our intuitive and innate bodies and babies, ultimately bringing power back to birthing and lactating people, families, and communities
Indigenous peoples have the tools to make the best decisions for their experience and reproductive ceremonies are a shining light of traditional indigenous culture
Comprehensive traditional care available for every Indigenous birthing family at no cost for these services
Development of resources/handouts that are centered on the experiences of BIPOC families with inclusive language and images

#ReclaimIndigenousBreastfeeding Campaign:

Panoramic Doula and MIBFN collaborated on the #ReclaimIndigenousBreastfeeding fundraising campaign, which took place from April 22, 2021 to May 14, 2021. In order to continue seeing families, Panoramic Doula needed technology equipment, postpartum meals, and lactation supplies such as a scale and nursing supplies. We joined with Panoramic Doula to provide financial support and the material donations needed to do their work. Your support was crucial for continued birthing and breastfeeding support for Indigenous families in the midst of this deadly health pandemic. Click here to view a recap report of the fundraiser.