March 22nd – 28th is World Doula Week! Happy WDW to all my fellow doulas. If you had a doula for your birth, tell someone how she helped you this week. Spread the word about doulas and the good they do!
Happy World Doula Week!
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Tag Archives: doula
MamaViews: What To Do When Your Doctor Is Not Doula-Friendly
The fine people over at MamaViews recently asked me to express my views on dealing with doctors who aren’t doula-friendly. The ideas presented in this piece are really more about what doulas can and should do in such a situation, but they give moms an idea of how a doula might fit into a more challenging birth-team. This might also be food for thought if you’re going to be interviewing doulas: something you might want to ask is how your potential doula might deal with this. You should feel good about her answer! A woman in labour should never have to deal with any social or political unpleasantness, so making sure that your doula has an approach that prioritizes your comfort and a stress-free environment for you is important.
Check out the article by clicking on the badge below!
A new home…
I am thrilled to announce that as of yesterday, my doula and childbirth education practice has found a new home in Cobourg. I couldn’t be happier to have joined the team at House of Wellness!
Beginning next week I’ll have office hours there on Tuesdays and Fridays and I will be teaching both prenatal education and pregnancy fitness classes there too. I couldn’t be more excited! I’ll be working alongside some amazing health professionals, including Kristi Prince, ND; Marissa Wopereis, RMT; April Boyd, MSW, RSW and one of the midwife teams from New Life Midwives!
Keep your eye on my class schedules page and on the House of Wellness website for more info on upcoming courses.
MamaViews: How to Get the Most From Your Relationship With Your Doula
While I’m working on part two of my post about prenatal exercise, I thought I’d share something with you to tide you over! The lovely folks over at MamaViews recently asked me to contribute to their article, How To Get The Most From Your Relationship With Your Doula. Check it out by clicking on the badge below!
Warm and Fuzzy: New Client Testimonial
photo credit: Nina Matthews Photography via photopin cc
Another testimonial from a wonderful client. There’s nothing like the privilege of being invited into someone’s birth experience.
We looked at a number of Doulas before selecting Heather. She provided exceptional care and support throughout our unexpected excessively long labour. Her skills and wisdom, especially in regards to pain management were especially helpful. Over four days she became part of our home and helped us to welcome our little girl into the world. We would highly recommend Heather as a Doula, she offers exceptionally good value, especially considering her extensive knowledge base.
Podcast Interview: doulas, gender politics and birth culture in Ontario
Check out the recent interview I did with Paul Dore of Open Kwong Dore, a podcast for curious people.
Birth Without Fear
Photo credit: Jackie Dives
I came across a beautiful set of photographs this morning, in the UK Daily Mail and wanted to share them with all of you. Check out the full article and photo series here.
Taken by fellow doula, Jackie Dives, these pictures really capture the beauty of a home birth. There is a level of bliss that seems only attainable in birth when a woman is truly comfortable, cared for and respected. It’s a pretty hard thing to achieve in a hospital setting but I see it every single time at home.
Obviously, home birth is only right for those who really want it – in other words, if you’ve done your research and you feel you’d be more comfortable in a hospital, then that’s where you should be – but for those who prefer it and who work with their midwives and are deemed good candidates for home birth, let no one call their choice “wild or erratic” again.
To learn more about home birth and the studies that have been done to determine its safety, check out my post (Home)Birth. Is. Safe.
Plan Schman?
I recently came across a blog post on the subject of birth plans and whether it’s worth writing them. (Full disclosure: I now can’t find the original post, or I would link to it here…). As a doula, I have always encouraged my clients to write birth plans and I believe that there are very real benefits and little to no risk, as long as you recognize why you’re writing it and acknowledge both your hopes and your fears while doing so. Continue reading
Available Now: The Link’s Summer Solstice issue …
…which contains an article I wrote on doula support!
If you live in Northumberland, Peterborough, Hastings or Prince Edward Counties pick up your copy today! If not, check it out online, here. My article is on page 24 and my gorgeous new ad, courtesy of Shoshana Coodin is on page 25.
Now Serving Northumberland County!
Happy Saturday everyone!
I’ve finally done it! At the beginning of July I officially moved to Cobourg. I am so thrilled to be here. Cobourg is such a lovely little town; I’m going to the beach every day and we have bunnies in the yard. What’s not to love?
I’m still working with clients in the east end of Toronto (I’m on-call for a couple of Toronto clients right now as a matter of fact!), but will now also be serving clients in Northumberland County and surrounding counties (e.g. Peterborough County, Prince Edward County and eastern parts of the GTA such as Oshawa and Ajax). I will also be continuing to teach group prenatal education classes – primarily weekends in Toronto, along with weekends and weekday evening classes in Cobourg, Peterborough and possibly other nearby towns as well.
I’m not taking on any more clients for the summer or early fall at this point, but if you or someone you know is expecting October through February, I have availability at those times. I’ll keep you posted on my group classes once I’ve got myself a teaching space.
Empowered Birth 