Belly Bloom Birth Services

10/24/2018

Wonderful Resource

If you are a new parent, you can call our 24/7 Crisis Line at 403.233.CARE (2273) if you are:

1. Feeling so stressed that parenting feels impossible.
2. Overwhelmed by the challenges that twins, triplets or premature infants bring.
3. Feeling too sick to care for your child.
4. Feeling isolated, tired, sad and overwhelmed

The In-Home Infant Respite program provides relief to isolated and stressed parents of infants in their first six months. When you call, a staff member will guide you through the admission process. In this program, a Respite Worker will come to your home and care for your infant while you rest and take time to care for yourself.

More info at http://childrenscottage.ab.ca/main/community-respite/

09/12/2018

I love this article. Finding your mama tribe or 'buddy bench' can be hard but once you do it can make all the difference in your motherhood journey. There is so much to be said about finding those special connections. Stay tuned for news about Belly Bloom's Mama Tribe and our start up date this fall. 🍁🍁

It isn't just kids who need the help. Sometimes making friends is hard for us all.

09/04/2018

Baby's first bath! Little ones deserve so much care & respect during such a new experience and although this video is in French I hope that the compassion, gentleness & genuine care this nurse shows little Sonia comes through. What a beautiful example of what a first bath should look like.

08/01/2018

A different understanding of childbirth pain & an old but 'new again' perspective. Positive birth. Powerful.

When a woman is in labor, a little fight goes on in the woman's brain. One part of here brain, the intellect, will tell her that she should do certain things.

08/01/2018

❤ Dr Suess

If Childbirth Education and Dr. Seuss had a baby...

I am so weird, y’all.

08/01/2018

TACKLING CONTRACTIONS! Learning ways to RELAX in response to contractions & pain, getting comfortable with various coping strategies and having rock solid support are powerful things. Labour is much like a marathon, starting out easy and getting harder as it goes on. All mothers get to a point when they question if they can keep going. And they can, one contraction at a time. While having a plan, knowing your options and having the ability to adjust the sails if things get stormy are all vital preparations, it's the positive mindset, unconditional support and strong mental stamina that often gets the job done. Doulas can help with that.

07/25/2018

Oh that first meal after baby arrives is a dream! Many mama's won't eat once they get into active labour, although it is a really good idea to try to get calories in somehow. Birth is incredibly physical and requires a lot of energy (one reason why bone broth rocks). Once babe is here & everything starts to calm down mom usually realizes quite quickly that she is absolutely STARVING!!!! I couldn't get a sandwich in me fast enough and it was the best sandwich I ever had ... both times. What did you eat after birth? Or what do you hope to?

06/27/2018

A mother's body and what it's capable of blows my mind...every time. In awe always.

It is truly amazing how our bodies change during pregnancy! And you can see here why we feel so uncomfortable with squished bladders and heartburn! 😊

{illustrator unknown}

06/15/2018

Celebrating all the Dad's this weekend & all they do as both partners and father's!

06/15/2018

Yes, I really love this article. There is no question that there are countless benefits to breastfeeding and it is what's best for baby but it is not what's best for every mother.

Motherhood is hard — really hard — and we need all the support we can get, including where, where, and how we choose to feed our babies.

06/11/2018

That last month, the homestretch can be so tough. Thinking of all the mama's playing the waiting game right now and sending you encouraging thoughts as you sit in anticipation. ❤💕💖

Current mood as I wait for my approaching due date (this Thursday -eek). What a surreal feeling - the calm before you meet your child...

06/06/2018

Why would anyone want to labour in a bathroom? Well there's a lot of really good reasons actually and using a bathroom as a labour room has great benefits. 1) It's PRIVATE, which helps your body relax and your labour hormones do what they are meant to. 2) The toilet is an awesome place to labour. Not only are you upright and in great position to crouch or lean through contractions but on the 'john' we all mentally let go and those muscles we tend to want to clench up let go too. 3) There's water everywhere! Hydrotherapy from a shower or tub can give a great deal of relief through the tough stuff.

06/02/2018

Yes! 😂😂 This is AMAZING and full of SO much truth. 👐

06/02/2018

One family's beautiful birth story and one that is close to home, captured by Shelby Story Photography in Central Alberta.

05/30/2018

For many women a TENS machine can decrease pain and increase their overall satisfaction of their birthing experience. It's always in my birth bag forsure! Have you used one in birth or do you intend to?

What is TENS and how is it used for pain relief during labor? In today's video, we'll share all about the evidence for using TENS during labor and how researchers think it might work. We'll also discuss its history, if it's linked to any adverse effects, and how you can acquire a TENS unit and learn...

05/30/2018

There is a whole lot of evidence suggesting that newborn babies do not actually need a bath after all but many care providers and hospitals still consider the bath an important part of care. Here is some great information on the benefits of holding off.

Our local hospital is "baby friendly", meaning the birthing ward adheres to certain standards that best promote a breastfeeding relationship between a mother and newborn. I have given birth twice here, and both times felt grateful that the nurses gav…

05/30/2018

Once I had my babies I definitely became more conscious of my menstrual cycle and all the ways in which it impacted my life, my hormones and my health. An important aspect of that has always been how menstrual products impact women's health and here is some eye opening information on how some of the most well known brands can actually be doing more harm than good and also some great alternatives.

Few of us realize that there’s a cocktail of chemicals used in the manufacture of menstrual products - especially tampons - that can be absorbed directly into your bloodstream, and can disrupt your hormones even causing major health concerns, like endometriosis, down the road. Here are some safe a...

05/27/2018

The new World Health Organization guidelines released this year set to raise awareness on the importance of care providers creating a respectful environment for families to birth in and how even the language used can shift a families perspective of their experience. While I have seen countless times care providers who have embraced this approach to care long before the guidelines rolled out, unfortunately guidelines do not always result in consistent application and human nature if often one resistant to change. I have seen the other side too. This in one more reason why doulas are such an asset to birthing families. In addition to communicating what options are available to birthing families and encouraging them to be educated about preferences, a doula knows what quality care looks and feels like and has the language available for birthing families to use in their advocacy.

New WHO guidelines warn that medicalisation of birth is creating a lack of choice for birthing women.

05/24/2018

Drink more water! Staying hydrated is so important in pregnancy, especially in those last few weeks as you never know when your labour will begin. Drinking plenty of water and other healthful liquids such as safe-for-pregnancy herbal teas & broths works towards optimal health for the big day. Your uterus near the end of pregnancy is the largest muscle in your body and has a lot of work to to so keeping your body well hydrated is a really simple way to prepare. Hydration is also crucial in postpartum as your body makes milk and heals itself.

05/18/2018

Doula Chat! Your birth is important and the way you birth is important too. Maybe not so much whether you have your baby in a hospital versus at home or whether you had an epidural versus laboured without pain medication but that you had the opportunity to make those decisions about your care and those choices were respected. Would you agree? I long for the day when I see all women supported in birth from a place of care and kindness. Thank goodness for obstetrics and for the days they have saved but even more so, thank goodness for all the mothers who have trusted themselves, their bodies & their babies.

05/16/2018

Yes!

How would our babies be born if best practice medicine were followed? Every day during the International Week for Respecting Childbirth we bring you an excerpt from…

05/16/2018

Belly Bloom is so honoured to be a part of the 'Darling Details Market' in Calgary on June 9th! An incredible opportunity here to grab one of the limited coupon books including entry to the market (there's only 25!). It's the sweetest market all geared to new parents and babies with all local vendors. 💕 Stay tuned as we will have tickets to give away soon.

05/13/2018

Happy Mother's Day! Wishing every mama a day of rest, relaxation and so much LOVE!

05/11/2018

Mother's lovingly supported by their mothers in birth ❤. Beautiful.

Wow!

05/10/2018

❤ 😢

05/08/2018

💕

In advance of Mother’s Day, I rounded up a handful of books I appreciate for their representations of motherhood too often left off the page. Here’s to motherhood in all of its forms, and to more books with more varieties of moms to come!

05/08/2018

Honouring every mother who has lost a baby & every woman who yearns for one, this mother's day. This time of year can be so HARD. Know that you are seen and so loved and that you are not alone. Sending so much love your way.

05/07/2018

Families Matter is an incredible local resource for families facing the many challenges of postpartum mood disorders. You can connect at http://www.familiesmatter.ca/programs/family-mental-health.

05/07/2018

For my southern mama's ❤

Are you home with your baby and 6 weeks post delivery or more?

Have you been feeling a little cabin fever or lonely?

On Thursdays at The Nest we have Moms and babies come together to meet one another, have raw discussion on how things are going for you and baby, and some days we get a yoga practise in!!

There is no make up, fancy hair do, or clean clothes necessary. We are all Moms and we just need a little time for ourselves. Holli is even here to walk with your baby to give you a break. (She LOVES baby snuggles)

It is ok to look after yourself.....💜

Start your self love today!

https://app.schedulehouse.com/SH/Client/004901

Next session begins May 24th at 11:00 for a 5 week session

05/05/2018

Happy International Day of the Midwife! I feel so blessed to have had the incredible opportunity to birth both my babes at home, supported by the same midwife. I received care that was continuous & wholehearted from a special and loving soul and got to watch my sister & my sister-in-law receive the same care in either a big way (or small) from this one very dear woman. I can speak loudly to the effect the midwifery model and this one incredible midwife has had on the way the women in my family birth and they way we see birth. As a doula she was my first teacher and I am forever grateful for the wisdom, kindness and friendship she has shared. I look forward to the day when many more women have access to the kind of care I was so fortunate to receive!