Doula Angie Birth Support

06/02/2022

Happy Pride Month!!
💜❤️🧡💛💚💙
🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈
ALL are welcome here at Doula Angie Birth Support.

Love is love is love is love is love is love is love is LOVE.

🌈

05/09/2022

Wishing Happy Mother’s Day to all of the amazing moms I know. 💜💜

I’m also holding space for everyone who is finding today hard.

Be kind, friends. This weekend can hold a lot of different emotions 💜

To those who gave birth this year to their first child—we celebrate with you
⠀⠀
To those who lost a child this year – we mourn with you🙏
⠀⠀
To those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear the badge of food stains – we appreciate you
⠀⠀
To those who experienced loss through miscarriage, failed adoptions, or running away—we mourn with you❤️
⠀⠀
To those who walk the hard path of infertility, fraught with pokes, prods, tears, and disappointment – we walk with you. Forgive us when we say foolish things. We don’t mean to make this harder than it is.
⠀⠀
To those who are foster moms, mentor moms, and spiritual moms – we need you
⠀⠀
To those who have warm and close relationships with your children – we celebrate with you
⠀⠀
To those who have disappointment, heart ache, and distance with your children – we sit with you
⠀⠀
To those who lost their mothers this year – we grieve with you
⠀⠀
To those who experienced abuse at the hands of your own mother – we acknowledge your experience
⠀⠀
To those who lived through driving tests, medical tests, and the overall testing of motherhood – we are better for having you in our midst
⠀⠀
To those who are single and long to be married and mothering your own children – we mourn that life has not turned out the way you longed for it to be
⠀⠀
To those who step-parent – we walk with you on these complex paths
⠀⠀
To those who envisioned lavishing love on grandchildren -yet that dream is not to be, we grieve with you
⠀⠀
To those who will have emptier nests in the upcoming year – we grieve and rejoice with you
⠀⠀
To those who placed children up for adoption — we commend you for your selflessness and remember how you hold that child in your heart
⠀⠀
And to those who are pregnant with new life, both expected and surprising –we anticipate with you
⠀⠀
This Mother’s Day, we walk with you. Mothering is not for the faint of heart and we have real warriors in our midst. We remember you.
⠀⠀
Author: Amy Young
*this has been borrowed from someone else but I think it needs sharing*

12/26/2021

Merry Christmas to all who are celebrating!
❄️
Wishing you and yours a safe & healthy holiday season.
❄️

07/01/2021

Listen.
Pause and reflect.
Listen.
Hold space. Mourn.
Listen.
Acknowledge privilege. Educate, educate, educate.
Listen.
Then…
begin the work, listening closely and learning from the many Indigenous Peoples and what they and their communities have suffered…and continue to suffer through.
Use privilege to push political leaders to action.
Now. Not later.
Not simply lowering flags. But real, discernible, necessary action.

So for us today, there is no celebrating Canada Day. We know the good and wonderful things about our country and frankly, many of us know these things because of our skin colour and privilege.

But the fact is that “our” Canada is not everyone’s Canada.
And to insist that we celebrate “our” Canada today while those who are truly native to this land are deep in mourning, yet again shows privilege and yes, insensitivity.

Look at your own children.
Now walk through how absolutely gut wrenchingly horrific it would be if someone showed up at your door and STOLE them from you.
And there was NOTHING you could do to protect them.
NOTHING you could do to get them back.
All of their days, hours, minutes spent in anguish and fear.
Wondering where is my mom?
My dad?
My family??

And then, as if that anguish wasn’t enough, they were then subjected to torture and abuse.
Daily.
For years.

And then, so many…
too many…
were killed.
And their lifeless bodies were then buried in unmarked graves. No ceremony. No family surrounding them and sending them off with dignity.
No closure.
No peace.
The anguish continues and is passed down from generation
To generation.

Why are “their” children less important than yours?
If this was your child or your family member, wouldn’t you expect your fellow countrymen, at the very least, to not celebrate the very institutions that stole,
abused
and murdered
your chid?

Quite frankly,
it’s the very least we can do.
The absolute bare minimum.

06/30/2021

⭐️Equality is for everyone⭐️

may be coming to a close but the fight for equitable, respectful healthcare for everyone irrespective of gender identity, gender expression and s*xual expression continues year round.

❤️🧡💛💚💜💙

All are welcome here.
You are loved.
You are important.
You deserve respect.

❤️🧡💛💚💜💙

🌈Love is love is love is love
x infinity.

🏳️‍⚧️Happy Pride!🏳️‍🌈

06/20/2021

Wishing all the dads out there a very Happy Father’s Day!!🎉💜
💚
Sending some extra love to my amazing husband today. You are honestly the best dad to our kids. You listen and support each of us through everything we go through, you show all of us how to be unapologetically ourselves and even more importantly, you make all of us laugh every day.
💛
You’re my best friend and I love you endlessly.❤️

06/13/2021

The tragic news this past week of the murder of four members of the Afzaal family and the survival of their son Fayez has shaken so many of us to the core, especially those who are a part of the Muslim community.

Their murders were a hate crime an act of terror. They were targeted simply because of their religion. And that is what makes this whole situation even more terrible: the fact that someone hated their religion so much that they planned out and murdered them as they were out for a family walk.

I certainly don’t want to center the attention on me or my feelings in any way. But it is not lost on me that my family would now not have to look over our shoulders during our many family walks. And why is that? Because there are people, too often white people, who focus their hatred on those who are different than them: in how they look, in how they dress, in what religion they choose. And it’s absolutely disgusting, deplorable and inexcusable.

In times like this, I, like so many, feel helpless as to what to do. How can we make things better for our Muslim friends & family? How can we shoulder the burden of sadness and anger that they must be feeling?

And I don’t have all of the answers and am open to hearing from anyone in the comments who have some suggestions of how I and others can extend our help and support.

One way that felt right to me was to be as public and vocal as possible with regards to how our family feels about this senseless act of hate. I also wanted to do something to show that we stand against all forms of hate.

A local woman came up with the idea to have the image in the picture made into a sign for anyone to purchase and display outside of their home.

It’s a small act. And we won’t stop there. But we want everyone who sees this post or passes by our home to know that hate has no home here.
❤️
And to everyone who knew or is mourning the deaths of the Afzaal family, may their memories be a blessing.❤️
And may their son feel the love and support from so many Canadians who love him and are sending him strength. May the love we send him collectively outweigh the hate a hundred times over.
💗 💗 💗
Edited to add the link to the beautiful graphic on the sign. You can go and download it here:
https://instagram.com/wryandgingerstudio

And while you’re there, give them a follow, a share and some likes.
Wry and Ginger Studio

06/01/2021

Like so many, I am so truly horrified about the discovery of the bodies of the Indigenous children who were found at the former Kamloops Residential School.
🧡
215.
🧡
215 sons and daughters.
215 sets of parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins and communities whose lives were shattered and broken when their babies were ripped from their arms. Never to see them again.😔
🧡
It is atrociously evil and is absolutely devastating for their families and communities.
🧡
And yet.
To date, according to conservative estimates from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, approximately 4,100 to 6,000 children died amid abuse and neglect while in the residential school system, which ran until 1996.
🧡
I graduated from high school in 1995.
This is our generations shame.
This must be paid attention to and a plan must be put into place to not only find any other missing children’s bodies but also that anyone involved MUST be held to account and justice must be served. Action must happen now.
🧡
Please follow and support these organizations and please leave any other names/organizations who support Indigenous peoples in the comments below.
🧡
Native Women’s Association of Canada

Indian Residential School Survivors Society Legacy of Hope

Anishnawbe Heath Toronto
🧡

05/13/2021

Eid Mubarak to all who are celebrating!🎉

05/09/2021

🤍Mother’s Day🤍
🌸
I am celebrating 19.5 years of being a mom today and I am just so grateful. Grateful for these four amazing people who not only made me a mom but who also have taught me more about love, patience, kindness, fierceness, determination and strength than anyone else.
💜
And as always I am so grateful for my partner in crime who is truly the best dad and husband ever. You rock baby.
💜
Thankful for my own mom who raised six kids! Love you lots .💜
🌸
And a Happy Mother’s Day to all of my past and current clients who invited me to be a part of your journey to motherhood.🌸
💜
💕 I am so grateful to be able to have the career that I do! And I am so thankful that you trusted me to support you during one of the most intimate and life changing experiences of your life.
💜

05/09/2021

Be kind, friends. This weekend can hold a lot of different emotions 💜

To those who gave birth this year to their first child—we celebrate with you
⠀⠀
To those who lost a child this year – we mourn with you🙏
⠀⠀
To those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear the badge of food stains – we appreciate you
⠀⠀
To those who experienced loss through miscarriage, failed adoptions, or running away—we mourn with you❤️
⠀⠀
To those who walk the hard path of infertility, fraught with pokes, prods, tears, and disappointment – we walk with you. Forgive us when we say foolish things. We don’t mean to make this harder than it is.
⠀⠀
To those who are foster moms, mentor moms, and spiritual moms – we need you
⠀⠀
To those who have warm and close relationships with your children – we celebrate with you
⠀⠀
To those who have disappointment, heart ache, and distance with your children – we sit with you
⠀⠀
To those who lost their mothers this year – we grieve with you
⠀⠀
To those who experienced abuse at the hands of your own mother – we acknowledge your experience
⠀⠀
To those who lived through driving tests, medical tests, and the overall testing of motherhood – we are better for having you in our midst
⠀⠀
To those who are single and long to be married and mothering your own children – we mourn that life has not turned out the way you longed for it to be
⠀⠀
To those who step-parent – we walk with you on these complex paths
⠀⠀
To those who envisioned lavishing love on grandchildren -yet that dream is not to be, we grieve with you
⠀⠀
To those who will have emptier nests in the upcoming year – we grieve and rejoice with you
⠀⠀
To those who placed children up for adoption — we commend you for your selflessness and remember how you hold that child in your heart
⠀⠀
And to those who are pregnant with new life, both expected and surprising –we anticipate with you
⠀⠀
This Mother’s Day, we walk with you. Mothering is not for the faint of heart and we have real warriors in our midst. We remember you.
⠀⠀
Author: Amy Young
*this has been borrowed from someone else but I think it needs sharing*

05/09/2021

My baby is ELEVEN!!🌸💕
🎉
Maeve means “intoxicating” and that suits my girl so well. She fit right into our family the moment she arrived, with a loud intensity and strength that was undeniable. She was (and still is!) independent & determined and is also so quick witted, empathetic and so smart. She is all of those things and so many more and our family truly wouldn’t be complete without her in it. She is just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside too!
💜
Maeve, I love you so much baby girl. Thank you for being such an amazing, kind & loving person to all of us and everyone you meet. Happy 11th Birthday !🎉🌸💜
🎊
And now here is her birth story:
I was four days past my due date and impatient.😅 It was almost midnight on May 7th, 2010 when I started feeling contractions. I had them on and off for weeks but these already felt more like the “real thing.” I kept it to myself but began timing timing them. They quickly began coming every 1-4 minutes, lasting a full minute. I told Rob and paged my midwife. She said she would meet us at the hospital shortly so we packed up, got the older 3 kids settled and headed for the hospital. I couldn’t wait to meet my last baby and find out her s*x.
🎊
The contractions slowed down on the drive there and I was a little discouraged. But once I was up and walking they surged back with force and intensity. We met our midwife, had my and the baby’s vitals checked and then we were off walking around the hospital. We did stairs for hours and things were so intense. We would go back once in awhile for the midwife to listen to the baby’s heart rate and she was doing great. But every time I sat down on the ball, things slowed a bit. Finally around 6am, I asked for a cervical check and I was 7 cms dilated. And I was exhausted. I had never had an epidural before so I asked for one. I wanted to feel more present for this, my final birth.
🌸
I got the epidural and after some figuring, it finally was working well. Rob was starving so he headed down to grab food for him and the midwives. My midwife encouraged me to sleep; but I had felt my baby rush down low as soon as I was relaxed.
(continued in comments)

05/05/2021

Happy International Day of the Midwife!!🤍
🌸
I love supporting families alongside midwives all across the GTA! I had midwives supporting me for all four of my pregnancies & births and had all great experiences.
🌸
If you had a midwife supporting you, please comment below and tell me about your experience!
🌸

05/03/2021

So happy to have gotten my first dose (Pfizer) back in March. Patiently waiting my second dose at the end of June.

Receiving my first dose helped me exhale a little bit as I continue to support many families in person during home labouring and/or home births.

Proud to be able to do my part to help keep my clients, their babies, my family and community a little safer.💛

05/03/2021

🚨Hot Button Topic Alert: TW🚨

The Covid-19 Vaccine, Pregnancy & Miscarriage.

Unfortunately there is a lot of misinformation going around about the Covid-19 vaccine and that those who have received it are “shedding” it and causing pregnant parents around them to experience a miscarriage.

This is 100% false and not based in any scientific fact.

Dr. Jen Gunter is a well respected Canadian/American gynaecologist and she just posted a great article explaining how there’s no way that this is even possible and also delves into a Pfizer vaccine study document that is being manipulated to further these false claims.

In this article, she also cites research that is over 10 years old on the mRNA vaccines and how much of a breakthrough they are and will continue to be. Not just for viruses but for cancer treatments as well.

I’ve included some screen shots from her article below.

Check out her article here and please read and share widely:

https://vajenda.substack.com/p/there-is-no-secret-pfizer-document

05/03/2021

This post is a day late but I wanted to make sure to send love and strength to any and all parents who have lost their child.

You are loved and so is your child.

🤍
Posted • On Bereaved Mother’s Day—and everyday—we honor those who live with an indelible ache. An enduring ache for what was lost. You are a mother.

04/23/2021

Very good, detailed info about how and when and where to book your vaccine as well as when to take it during pregnancy.

COVID-19 Vaccine at THP and in Ontario - Novel Corona virus - information for patients and families

04/23/2021

ONTARIO HAS PRIORITIZED PREGNANT PEOPLE FOR THE COVID-19 VACCINE🎉

“ELIGIBILITY UPDATE:
As of today, *pregnancy* is included in the highest risk category. Anyone who falls in this category, as well as their essential caregiver, can book an appointment now.
Call 1-833-943-3900 from 8am-8pm for booking info.”

This is a link that you can use as well:

https://covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/