Hi ,

I hope you and your loved ones are doing well!

I've had a cluster of spring births and am just catching my breath.

Last week on May 5th was International Day of the Midwife, and that night, I went to a speedy second birth attended by midwives. I arrived first, and the midwives came just as my client was pushing. I was happy to see them!

My client asked me how many babies I've delivered when the healthcare provider didn't arrive in time. I said exactly zero in 13.5 years and think that's an excellent record!

Although I've had some fast births (not typically first babies) that have kept me on my toes. I've run out of the room at hospital births to find the doctor or midwife. And I've learned to trust my instincts when telling people to go to their birth locations or call their midwife, especially when things are progressing quickly.

I also prepare my clients for how to know the signs of active labour, and how someone's labour might progress if it is their first, second, third, or fourth baby (I've yet to attend a fifth!).

Know someone who could benefit from the supportive care of a doula?

I am currently booking clients with due dates from October to early December and would be happy to chat. They can click here to fill out the form and I will be in touch.

It's National Nurses Week!

The photo above is a flashback of Jessica Katz and myself, circa 2018. 

Jessica is a wonderful and highly experienced nurse, educator of nurses, and nursing program professor.

Jessica and I have known each other for over a decade (12 years?!), when she began attending my prenatal and then postnatal yoga classes at Kaer (formerly Yoga Mamas)

We then began working together for my hospital birthing clients when she was on the labour & delivery unit and the charge nurse.

Jessica is passionate about helping patients to have positive birth experiences, especially after they have had a previous traumatic birth. 

She was a strong advocate for both my labouring clients and cesarean birth clients, and was instrumental in bringing me into the OR to assist with maternal/newborn skin-to-skin. Jessica has also connected me with much needed resources and staff within other hospitals.

It’s been a pleasure to work with such skilled and dedicated nurses over the years.

When advocating for my clients, I’m thankful for the conversations I’ve had that were met with openness and receptivity. Conversations that resulted in deeper collaboration and client-centred solutions.

And I’m grateful for all of the ways that nurses work behind the scenes to go above and beyond for their patients. 

Recently, when I circled back to an earlier conversation with a nurse about a big ask for a birthing client, she said:

 “Yes. I will make it happen.”

Those words. That moment. It mattered so much.

Warmly,

PS - If you would like to book a complementary consult to chat about birth or postpartum doula services, click here to fill out the form!