Doula Moncton

04/05/2019

Wow 💗

02/23/2019

A healthy baby is NOT the ONLY thing that matters. You are NOT one feeling or one emotion. You are a complex human being who is allowed to have more needs than just staying alive, and more desires than having a healthy baby.
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The systematic dismissal of women and the importance of their experiences, and disregard for their comprehensive health is, perhaps, the ultimate driving force behind my purpose as a doula and educator. The “A healthy baby is all that matters” platitude is damaging and further perpetuates this disregard and dismissal of women.
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First of all, I have *never* met a parent who wouldn’t do anything necessary for the health of their baby, if recommended by a provider they *trust*. The healthiest mom and baby possible is the bottom line. But. OTHER THINGS MATTER TOO. Acknowledging that trust, autonomy, respect, being heard, and even hopes and dreams MATTER does NOT detract from one’s gratitude for their baby.
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Second, these needs can be met *regardless* of mode of delivery or birth preferences obtained/not obtained. When these comprehensive needs are met, many kinds of birth experiences can be positive.
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Third. Some babies are not born healthy. How a mother is treated its *always* important. Following the logic of “a healthy baby is all that matters”, then what matters when a baby is not healthy?
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Regardless of preferences, circumstances, controllables, and uncontrollables…How a mother feels during and about her birth experience affects her mental health, physical health, and bonding with her baby. That matters.

I regard this hierarchy of needs as imperfect and a work in progress! Please share anything you feel could be added.
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via .app

01/11/2019

The failure to recognize the value of breast milk contributes to gender inequality in wages and the labor market.

01/06/2019

💗

A powerful image of by Amber Denae Photography.

If this scares you, sit with it. Lean into those feelings. Get to the why. Your why. Then you can honor and work through the valid emotions you carry in your heart and mind. You will go deeper. Layer by layer. And then, finally be in a confident sync with your body and baby. You will find the power you’ve always had. Hidden away. That is ready to be used to do what you were always meant to do. Let is flow through and out. You are ready. Love, Mama J

“A serene water birth. Baby guided gently by her incredibly strong + gorgeous mama. I’ll never stop being in awe of the miracle of life.”
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01/03/2019

Des mamans qui s'entraident ❤

12/15/2018

Ensemble, on peut faire mieux ❤

Vitalite Health Network: Is the maternal care in New Brunswick ready for change?

11/29/2018

Merci Kevin d'adresser les droits des femmes lors de l'accouchement!

10/19/2018

Changeons le discourt

Boys will be boys!

10/04/2018

A correlational study recently published in the Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology revealed an interesting connection between birth delivery type

09/02/2018

"But for reasons that seldom distinguish life from death, does an instinct injured human female suffer politely abuses to body, mind and soul in the name of birth. If birth is the beginning of everything else, there is little wonder that the wounded female instinct keeps the sacred feminine from her rightful place in our wounded societies...Human rights cannot be reduced to options with a check box and the right of a mother to choose where and with whom and how she will birth her baby cannot be upheld even by putting a professional midwife on every block...How and who will preserve the knowledge, skills and experience of wise wimyn elders as bit by bit what they know is discounted or forbidden in practice? What was once a special circumstance or variation of normal is now a risk factor that labels a mother too early, too late, too small, too large, too many, too breech, too young, too old, too non compliant, too much and yet getting too little when it comes to looking at factors such as thought and feeling and fears and desires and compassion and home visits and genuine interest and patience and ethnic respect and kindness. For native peoples the world over, the professional has become the greatest risk factor in an undisturbed, instinctual birth.

Cherokee-Catholic midwife, Sister MorningStar, wrote the following letter last week to the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) as she declined to re-certify with the organization on ethical …