Nurtured Nest

04/05/2026

Forced vaginal exam = battery and assault and negligence

There was a significant decision made in the Supreme Court of Victoria last week.

A woman had been forced to have a vaginal exam when presenting at hospital. The hospital midwife had withheld access to her continuity of care midwife, birth suite and pain relief until she complied.

The court found that consent cannot be obtained under coercion and found Bendigo Health liable for battery and assault and negligence. A likely precedent in this space. The health service was ordered to pay $275K + costs.

Far too often, strong-arm tactics are used to get women to comply to vaginal exams, including refusing admission to birth suite, to water immersion, or to pain relief. Many women, advocates, lawyers and staff have been saying for a long time that this is not okay; no does in fact mean no, and a yes under coercion /= consent. The court agrees.

Let's address the unfounded rhetoric we have already heard from factions of the maternity space
- women just need to be more educated in the antenatal space. [errrh, no. Yuck. Victim blamey. Just don't digitally pe*****te someone without cosent?!]
- drs need to be more involved in conversations in the antenatal period [errr, for what purpose? No means no, whether it is to a midwife or dr. Women don't need any additional pressure applied to them before they even get to hospital].

I think all staff and services should be on notice. If thousands of women's stories to multiple maternity inquiries across the country hasn't shifted the dial, perhaps it will be the litigation payouts that will.

Thank you to the brave woman that persued this. It was just as much about her own justice as it was for every other woman that has been subjected to forced procedures during maternity "care".

04/05/2026

It’s that time of year again!

If you’ve felt supported by my work or connected to what I offer, I would be so grateful for your nomination for Best of Kelowna 🤍
Your support truly means more than you know

04/04/2026

https://www.nurturednest.net/post/tens-in-labour-a-complete-guide

Labor is an intense, transformative experience. It's important to start thinking about your 'toolbox' of comfort measures to help manage the sensations of labour. One tool that many people find helpful is a TENS machine, short for 'Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation.' What is a TENS Machine...

03/24/2026

https://www.nurturednest.net/post/hair-comb-to-manage-labour-pain

The brain is a fascinating organ, especially as we begin to understand how pain is perceived. One theory that helps explain this is the Gate Control Theory of Pain.First introduced in 1965 by Ronald Melzack and Patrick Wall, this theory describes how non-painful stimuli can influence how pain is exp...

02/12/2026

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12/13/2025

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10/17/2025

I recently became an affiliate with a beautiful, all-natural tallow skincare company that creates gentle, nourishing products for the whole family, including a mom and baby line.

As someone who values simple, non-toxic products, I’m so happy to share a brand that aligns with those values. Their products are handcrafted with wholesome ingredients, no additives, no synthetics, just pure nourishment.

You can explore their line here:

https://genesistallow.com/kristineapen15

09/28/2025

https://llli.org/news/co-bathing-a-useful-technique-to-restart-breastfeeding/

Kelly Durbin, Austin, Texas, USA Every month, La Leche League meetings attract mothers who are struggling with some aspect of breastfeeding. Some need

09/18/2025

When you picture meeting your baby for the first time, you imagine the “golden hour”. Those precious first moments where the world feels quiet and still, where you breathe them in and memorize every detail.

But when your baby is born with a heart defect, those first moments look so very different.

Instead of being placed on your chest, they are swept away within minutes to be stabilized. Instead of soft newborn snuggles in the safety of your home, you find yourself freshly postpartum, sitting beside a hospital bed, holding their tiny hand through wires and monitors. Instead of taking sweet newborn photos, you’re signing consent forms for surgery. Instead of resting, your body healing, you’re walking long hospital halls each day, your heart heavy and hopeful all at once.

But here’s the thing, those firsts still come. And when they do, they carry a weight and a sweetness that’s hard to put into words. The first time you hold them, after waiting and aching for that moment. The first time you take them outside, showing them the world they’ve fought so hard to see. The first time you bring them home, crossing a threshold you once only dreamed of.

And for the moms whose babies never made it to those firsts, who had to say goodbye before there was a chance for outside walks or homecomings, your love is no less real, no less fierce. Your firsts may have been the onlys: the first time you held them, kissed their cheeks, whispered their name. And those moments are etched into your heart forever. They matter. You matter. Your baby matters.

These journeys are not the ones we dreamed of, but they are sacred. Every first, whether here or only in memory, is a testament to love. A love that begins the moment we see that positive test and never, ever ends.

08/24/2025

Helping families create their ideal labour and birth experience through evidence based information and continuous labour and birth support

08/15/2025

Exciting news! Morning meetings are starting in Kelowna this September!

💙 Having the right circle of support can make all the difference in reaching your breastfeeding goals. LLLC meetings are welcoming spaces for sharing stories, finding encouragement, and building community—whether you're facing challenges or simply connecting with others.

🗓️ Wednesday, September 17, 2025
🗓️ Wednesday, October 15, 2025
🗓️ Wednesday, November 19, 2025
🗓️ Wednesday, December 17, 2025

⏰10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (ish)
No worries if you're a little late - we understand🤗

📍Email kelowna@lllc.ca for location details

🌞 https://www.lllc.ca/kelowna-morning

✨ No matter where you are in your breastfeeding journey—seeking tips, reassurance, or just someone who understands—volunteer LLLC Leaders are here for you.

Connect at meetings or reach out for support by phone, email, text, messenger, or in person. You’re never alone.

📧 Reach out anytime: kelowna@lllc.ca

🆓 Informal group meetings and one-on-one support from a Leader are always FREE.

👶 Curious about what to expect?

📖 My First LLL Meeting https://www.lllc.ca/story-my-first-la-leche-league-meeting

💡 Why Come to LLL Meetings https://laleche.org.uk/why-come-to-lll-meetings/

🌙 Evening meetings also available: https://www.lllc.ca/kelowna-evening

🌐 Visit www.lllc.ca for more info and resources, including a free virtual library.

💛 La Leche League Canada is a registered Canadian charity offering free evidence-based, compassionate and skilled peer support for over 60 years.

07/10/2025

"Midwifery models of care are models of care in which the main care providers for women and newborns, starting from pre-pregnancy and continuing all the way through the postnatal period, are educated, licensed, regulated midwives who autonomously provide and coordinate respectful, high- quality care across their full scope of practice, using an approach that is aligned with the midwifery philosophy of care, which:

i. promotes a person-centred approach to care;
ii. values the woman–midwife relationship and partnership;
iii. optimizes physiological, biological, psychological, social and cultural processes; and iv. uses interventions only when indicated.
In midwifery models of care, midwives provide integrated care, addressing the needs of each individual woman and newborn, within functional and enabling health systems, equipped with necessary resources and streamlined consultation and referral processes. They collaborate within networks of care as part of interdisciplinary teams characterized by equality, trust and respect. This approach guarantees that every woman and newborn receives personalized care, tailored to their health needs.

Midwifery models of care are adaptable to all levels of care and contexts, including home-, community- and hospital-based settings; the public and private sectors and public–private partnerships; resource-constrained environments; and humanitarian and crisis settings. This ensures wide accessibility, equity and relevance across different cultural contexts for women, newborns, partners, families and communities."

Read More: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240098268