Midwife Heather

04/04/2026

I, too, am alarmed. Don’t we love a vitamin supplement?

US doctors are sounding the alarm that an increasing number are declining vit K at birth.

As doulas, we don't give medical advice, we share evidence-based info.

Vitamin K shot has been recommended since 1961 in the US. Vit K impacts the body's ability to properly clot and prevent bleeding.

Why? Vit K is a fat soluble vitamin humans do not produce and don't store well. Older infants can maintain vit k through diet.

Newborns have low levels as it doesn't transfer well from the pregnant person to the baby.

Human milk also doesn't have high levels of Vit K.

Most infants' blood will clot even with naturally low levels, but some babies will not. We aren't sure which until bleeding occurs.

Why is vit k given to babies? In the 1930s, a Dutch scientist discovered vit k deficiency caused Haemorrhagic Disease of the Newborn (HDN), now named Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB) as it can occur after the newborn period.

Since 1961, we have over 60 years of data showing the vit k shot reduces the risk of VKDB. There is also data showing oral vit K reduces the risk, however, it has not shown to be as effective as the shot.

What is the risk of VKDB? The overall risk is low. However, once it occurs it can be life altering and even fatal. Classic VKDB is more common but often less severe. Late VKDB can be severe.

Among infants who do not receive the vit k shot: Risk of classic VKDB (first week of life), depending on the source is 0.25% to 1.5% of newborns (250 to 1,500 out of 100,000) or 0 to 0.44% (0 to 440 out of 100,000)

For late VKDB, no vit k: 4.4 to 7.2 infants out of 100,000 will develop late VKDB

One dose oral vit k at birth: 2.6 infants out of 100,000 will develop late VKDB

Oral vit k at least 3 doses in infancy: 0 to 0.9 infants out of 100,000 will develop late VKDB

Vit K shot at birth, anywhere from 0 to 0.4 infants per 100,000 get late VKDB. The shot doesn’t prevent every case of late VKDB, but most countries report incidence rates of zero or close to zero.

So, should your baby get vit k?

Research shows it reduces the risk of VKDB.

Parents should look at the evidence, chat with providers, and make informed decisions.

04/03/2026

I can’t believe it’s been 11 months already! Here we are at our last birth together, Anna’s last primary birth as a student midwife!! You made it through 4 years of midwifery school and I’m so proud to have been part of your journey, Anna! Congratulations 🎈🎊🍾

03/30/2026

03/30/2026

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".

03/24/2026

💕 thank you Sarah! 🫶🏻

03/13/2026

01/02/2026

Also, a clever midwife once told me that a hard boiled egg at bedtime can help normalize fast blood sugar (for those with gestational diabetes) and this has worked well for a number of clients! Win win!

Nutrition during pregnancy plays a vital role in a baby’s brain development. Research shows that women who regularly consume eggs while pregnant give birth to children with stronger memory, faster learning, and healthier brain development throughout their first year of life.

Eggs are rich in choline, a nutrient essential for brain growth, memory formation, and neural development. Adequate choline intake supports the development of the hippocampus, the brain area responsible for learning and memory. Other nutrients in eggs, such as protein, vitamins, and minerals, contribute to overall cognitive health and development.

Babies whose mothers include eggs in their pregnancy diet often show advanced cognitive milestones, improved attention, and better memory retention during their first year. These early advantages can have lasting effects, supporting curiosity, problem-solving skills, and early learning readiness.

Pregnant mothers can support brain development by including nutrient-rich foods like eggs in a balanced diet alongside fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats. Consistency in proper nutrition ensures that the baby’s brain receives the building blocks it needs for optimal growth.

Early nutrition has long-term benefits for cognitive development. By making thoughtful dietary choices during pregnancy, mothers can give their children a strong foundation for learning and lifelong brain health.

12/31/2025

🫶🏻 Sonya Duffee-Seguin

Doula Tuesday meet Sonya




Since 1998, Sonya Duffee has supported families as a labour doula and postpartum doula through the sacred transition into parenthood with respectful, nurturing, and evidence informed care. She is the owner of Full Circle Birth Collective, one of Edmonton’s first and longest-standing doula collectives, and serves as CAPPA Faculty for both the Labour Doula and Postpartum Doula programs, as well as a mentor for new doulas entering the field.
Her background in midwifery across Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Saskatchewan, and Alberta has deeply shaped her commitment to safe, family centered care and has enriched the perspective she brings to every birth space.
As a CAPPA Certified Childbirth Educator and New Parent Educator as well, Sonya provides comprehensive prenatal education and many other services such as facilitating ceremonies and celebrations, placenta support and postpartum belly binding. She has extensive experience supporting surrogacy and adoption journeys, 2SLGBTQIA+ families, VBAC births, and high-risk pregnancies in home, hospital, and birth centre environments.
A mother and grandmother herself, Sonya brings warmth, wisdom, and steady advocacy to every family she serves, helping each one create a birth experience that reflects their values, their voice, and their vision.

12/22/2025

Transfer to hospital is not a failure. It is part of the safety net that makes planned homebirth a safe and well integrated option. A transfer means that midwives are doing exactly what they are trained to do. They assess, they monitor, and they act early when something would be better managed in a hospital environment. This is how risk is managed in evidence based homebirth models, and the research consistently shows that timely transfer contributes to good outcomes.

Homebirth is not about avoiding the hospital at all costs. It is about beginning labour in the environment that best supports physiology and then moving into higher level care if it becomes clinically appropriate. Transfers are not dramatic events in most cases. They are thoughtful, collaborative, and often precautionary decisions that reflect the strength of the model, not a weakness. Women who transfer frequently report still feeling respected and informed because continuity and relationship are preserved throughout the process.

Join Homebirth Queensland for only $33 a year. Membership gives you a place in our advocacy, and for birth workers, access to valuable community networks, support groups, and resources.

12/20/2025

Does not feel like 14 years 🤯

12/18/2025

Had a moment and decided to see if I could find info on cesarean rates in Alberta these days. Haven’t heard much talk about it in media or at meetings. Wow. 36% overall.

In the UK it’s 45%!!