THE START
When Michelle Tyliakos first dreamed up the My Powerful Birth education program in 2015, she wanted to build a class that was unlike what was available to families. While yes, there was plenty of choice for classes, she was hearing from so many parents that they felt like they didn't actually get anything out of their classes. Families shared that it felt like they were just being told what to do, and what they were told to do didn't feel right in their gut. Michelle knew that what was missing was the essential elements of self discovery, informed choice and intuition. With that, she built the first version of My Powerful Birth Prenatal Classes.
THEN...
In early 2020, as the world was shifting, pregnancy experiences were changing drastically and support was getting hard to access, it was time for Michelle to shift as well. She invited her long time doula friend, Samantha Garcia Gagnon, to join her in this mission. Together, they revamped the MPB program, became more clear with the messaging and grew MPB to support so many families across Canada as they prepared to welcome their babies. Together they were able to offer their participants a more diverse knowledge base, different insights that stem from their vast doula experience and a whole lot of laughter. There was magic happening in those moments.
AND NOW
The My Powerful Birth team has grown a little bit more. While Michelle and Samantha love being able to offer in person classes in Pitt Meadows, and welcome families from across Ridge Meadows, Tricities, Langley and Surrey, they were hearing from families further in the Fraser Valley that they too wanted the same classes. They knew that having another duo teach makes a big difference in the quality of the classes.. In winter of 2025, our team expanded with two more big hearts with a passion for educating and birth! Welcoming Brenna and Grace to our team of educators who believe in making a difference for birthing families. Located in the Fraser Valley, Brenna and Grace will be teaching our online classes to families across BC + Canada, and eventually expanding to in-person classes in Chilliwack BC. Later in 2025, we also began expanding our educators across North America, who are known as our licensed educators.
Michelle TyliakosÂ
Michelle's passion for advocacy and medical rights shines brightly, fueled by her personal journey of supporting her husband through the challenging terrain of a rare form of heart cancer. As a widow and a mother of four children, she has experienced the depths of adversity firsthand. Yet, rather than allowing it to dim her spirit, Michelle invites others who have faced adversity to join her in crafting a future filled with brightness and hope, all while navigating the meaningful and everyday moments of life.
With unwavering dedication, Michelle is committed to the mission of My Powerful Birth: to continually enhance perinatal education in ways that profoundly impact families, birth workers, and medical professionals alike. Through her work, she aspires to uplift and empower all those involved in the birthing process, ensuring that informed choice and holistic care are at the forefront.
Join Michelle as she fearlessly champions the rights of individuals and families, and together, let's forge a path towards a future that embraces resilience, joy, and the transformative power of education.
SAMANTHA GARCIA GAGNONÂ
With nearly a decade of experience as a birthworker and educator, Samantha's world revolves around supporting families through this journey. She's not just passionate about her work; she's all about building tight-knit communities and forging meaningful connections. Growing up in the Philippines, Samantha witnessed the incredible strength that comes from supporting and nourishing new families as a close-knit village.
Now, Samantha brings that same sense of community to the My Powerful Birth program and perinatal groups at the Bellies Community Space in Pitt Meadows BC. She's on a mission to empower families with her unique perspective and wisdom. Samantha is also the proud owner of bellies inc. which offers products designed to help individuals prepare, recover, and restore after birth.
Samantha is excited to meet so many new families through the My Powerful Birth program where community, connection, and celebration of life's most transformative moments take centre stage.
Brenna VinkÂ
Brenna is a mama to three wild little ones, gardener, sourdough baker, birth doula, and passionate childbirth educator based in Chilliwack, serving families throughout the Fraser Valley. Each of her three births taught her something profound about herself and the process of birth—from navigating unexpected interventions and NICU time with her first, to powerful home births with it's own set of challenges with her next two, each experience had her lean into her intuition, advocate for what was right for her, and lean onto her village.
These experiences shaped her passion for supporting parents as they prepare for birth with confidence, informed choices, and trust in themselves. In teaching families, Brenna brings her personal journey, training, and belief in the power of individualized support to help families feel prepared and aligned with what’s right for them.
Grace DavidsonÂ
Mom to two high-energy toddlers, a birth and postpartum doula, and childbirth educator. Grace live in Chilliwack and work alongside Brenna at The Valley Doulas, offering childbirth education and doula support to families throughout the Fraser Valley.
Her own journey into motherhood was both challenging and transformative, with two births that shaped her understanding of the resilience, strength, and support parents need during this life-changing time. After the birth of her second baby, Grace felt a profound shift in how she viewed parenthood and the importance of preparation, community, and intention. Her first birth taught her the depth of what families can experience, while her second showed her the beauty of feeling informed and powerful. This blend of experiences drives her passion for helping families approach birth with confidence and clarity.
As a childbirth educator, Grace believes in creating a space where families feel equipped to make informed decisions, advocate for their needs, and tune into their own intuition. You also may recognize Grace as the person behind our Social Media and our Admin!
Â
LICENSED EDUCATORS:
