Authentic Heart Listening Doula Services Colleen Stadlwieser

05/29/2021

Change is coming...

Update: May 26, 2021

The Doula Association of Alberta (DAA) has reviewed the Alberta government's newly released "Open for Summer" plan, and has noted the following information, as it relates to birth professionals and Alberta birthing families:

- Birth and postpartum doulas may continue caring for families in private residential settings, provided PPE and public health guidelies are followed.

- In Stage 2, group activities such as childbirth education, feeding and parenting support groups will be expected to resume in indoor settings such as community centres and libraries, in accordance with masking and physical distancing guidelines.

- In Stage 2, doulas could resume client engagement activities in public settings such as coffee shops, restaurants, or local meeting facilities, both indoors and outdoors, in accordance with masking and physical distancing guidelines.

- No changes have been announced with respect to birth or postpartum doula access in acute care sites in any outlined Stage of the Open for Summer plan. The current policy of one support person in inpatient settings only remains in effect; an additional designated support person may be considered by unit leadership to meet the needs of some birthing circumstances.

Alberta doulas are eager to resume normal operations in hospitals across the province, where more than 90 percent of all births take place. As such, the Doula Association of Alberta will proceed, as scheduled, to discuss professional doula access at acute care sites with stakeholders including Alberta Health Services, representatives of the provincial legislature, and local association liaisons on June 2, 2021.

Further updates to accessibility and public health guidance will be released as soon as any changes are confirmed.

For more information:

Lindsey Bowns

Public Relations Manager, Doula Association of Alberta

Media Cell: 403.971.8499

Email: doulaassociationofalberta@gmail.com

www.doulaassociationofalberta.com

05/27/2021

Internal examinations can feel invasive and sometimes unexpected during pregnancy and birth. Knowing your choices and rights is important so you can decide when and how they happen. Birth From The Inside. Love Your Body. Love Your Baby. Love Your Self.

04/22/2021

Birth Tip #1:
Let your body unfold and open up to bring forth new life...

If you choose to push during your birth, and baby is crowning, avoid pushing at the point of greatest stretching to prevent tearing and injury. Instead, as baby's head crowns, push between contractions. That way the additional strength of the uterus is not behind the push and baby can ease out gently without causing as much trauma to the va**na, perineum or other pelvic floor tissues and organs. Have a gentle birth.

Photo courtesy of Catrina Farrell. #

04/20/2021

An alternative position for pushing with an epidural. Care providers like the supine position because it gives them good visibility of what is happening and allows them to easily assess and provide any interventions that might be necessary. However, for the birthing person or mother, this can leave you feeling vulnerable, exposed and stuck on your back. Furthermore, it can impede the flexion of the tailbone (coccyx) which is necessary in order for the baby to depart the body without causing injury to the pelvis.

Side lying with support in a bed, enables your care provider to still have the good view and allows you to feel more in control. Plus, you can have your partner, nurse, doula or support team help you hold your leg up during contractions. Make sure your heal of the lifted leg is pointing up and the toes are pointing down so that the bottom of the pelvis opens up nicely and baby can exit easily. When you're not pushing you can close your legs up if you'd like or use a peanut ball or pillows to support you.

Have a gentle birth. Love Your Baby. Love Your Body. Love Your Self.

04/15/2021

What I love most about helping pregnant and postpartum people and mothers is that I get to witness the transformation that the perinatal period brings. I get to guide them on the journey as they tune into the innate wisdom of their body. Mothers and birthing people have the keenest intuition and occasionally need reminding that they possess all the necessary skills needed to bring forth this new life. Trust in your self. Trust in birth. Trust in your body.

04/12/2021

How babies are born matters always...

This is the face of my child after her face-first presentation at birth two years ago. Notably bruised, swollen, and her forehead is literally a part of the bridge of her nose.

My mom helped get my girl into position so that she could be born by using the Spinning Babies technique of the Abdominal Lift and Tuck. Ironically, my mom had not attended any prenatal appointments with me and had no idea of how to do this maneuver but she was the only person available to help me in the moment. So I instructed my mom on how to do the Abdominal Lift and Tuck with my hands because prior to this my baby had not been properly positioned to enter my pelvis and I was in a lot of discomfort. It took only three contractions with this technique before she was engaged in my pelvis and ready to be born. She found her way, even though it was notably more trauma on her face. My mom was a rock star student at helping us both and my little Squish was born about 15 minutes later.

Paediatric chiropractic care cleared up baby's facial trauma in the upcoming weeks and provided us both with relief in our nursing relationship.

With the right support, mindset and patience it is possible to birth a baby in most positions and help them find their way earth side. Love Your Baby. Love Your Body. Love Your Self.
Carly Philpot Beaulieu Tracy Bradley Dale Cote Capilano Chiropractic Clinic Lucina Midwives Spinning Babies® Community

04/03/2021

Family. The value of the immediate people in my life has been restated on multiple levels throughout this pandemic. Family keeps me grounded to who I am. My family keeps me connected to humanity and actively participating in daily activities. I never feel alone when I am with my family. Even though relationships are often messy, we can play, chat, debate, support, listen, and hold space for one another. We learn lessons together about how to stay safe in life and how to parent. And we always work towards forgiveness for the times when we have been less than kind with one another. We try to understand one another's view points while ensuring that the entire family's needs are met. I am moved by the teachings that being in a family offers to me daily.

04/02/2021

Sleep is too often fleeting for new families and naps are essential to thrive. Support from others is critical and challenging to get right now. Take it when you can and get help when you need. Off to bed now.

How many hours of sleep do you need to thrive as a new mom or parent?

I always need between 7-8 hours to feel like I'm thriving but as a new parent this was obviously not something that happened easily. So it was essential to have the support of others who could care for my babies while I caught up on much lost sleep from night feedings during the daytime. Babies normally wake up a lot at night to eat in the early days, which is exhausting for new parents. Finding safe ways to sleep that promote the most sleep for as many people as possible is essential to every family's fourth trimester.

03/29/2021

I love Happy Buddha Babies.

Some of the best smiles are the pudgiest ones. Photo courtesy of Lisa K Victor.

03/03/2021

Birth is one of the most transformational moments in a birthing person's life. How birth happens matters because it has the ability to impact you and your baby for the rest of your lives. Your mental and physical health for your lifetime can be drastically altered (positively or negatively) because of the way your baby is born and your perspective. https://www.colleenstad.com/landing-page-opt-in
How The Calm Birth Series Can Help You
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*Develop Trust In Your Body's Ability to Birth
*Strengthen Your Birthing Confidence
*Gain Tools To Help You Remain Calm Throughout Birth
*Learn Breath Techniques For Endurance During Birth
* Learn how breath can help balance the flow of energy in your body
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