Birthing Hope Doula Services

06/25/2022

Little feet.

Feet that will one day walk.
Feet that will one day run.

Feet that will one day follow.
Feet that lead you, son.

Little feet that wander,
Feet that stay the course...

Feet that are so precious,
Simply because they're yours.

Loved, you are, and cherished,
Precious in God's sight.

Before He even formed you,
You were loved with all His might.

Chosen.

Woven.

Deep in your mother's womb,
These little feet were kicking,
And Mommy felt that too.

And all the little feet, long before they're born,
Each belong to somebody, while they are being formed.

God bless the little feet
Of all the little babes.
Help the Mommies love them well,
And help them to be saved.

04/09/2022

Taking a trip down memory lane as I remember this beautiful moment with a client, just an hour or so after she had a successful homebirth. The gentle strength she displayed left me in awe. In awe of the beautiful design that is womanhood and childbirth, in awe of the tenderness, love, and joy that follows just moments after a final display of strength and courage... And the sweetness of a newborn in her mother's arms. Every birth I attend leaves me inspired.

Shared with permission.

09/04/2021

Here at Birthing Hope Doula Services, I want you to know that life matters. Your baby is precious, sacred, and intrinsically valuable from the moment of conception until forever. And so are you, Mama. That means that your desires, needs, experiences, comfort, and support are of the utmost importance to me. Your baby will always be treated with dignity, respect, and kindness. And so will you. I am committed to helping you know the truth... That you are powerful, capable, and strong enough, not only to be a mother, but to be the best mother to YOUR baby. You are strong enough to do this. You are strong enough for pregnancy. You are strong enough for labour. You are strong enough for delivery. You are strong enough to parent a newborn. Toddler. Child. My goal is simply to give you the tools and encouragement to see what you are capable of. You can do this.

08/09/2021

A common question during Birth Doula training is - does someone need a doula if they are having a Cesarean. And the short answer is - YES!

Doulas are trained to provide support in all manner of birthing situations, including a Cesarean. In the graphic below we lay out the 5 key ways a doula can make a difference.

We cover this and a whole lot more during our Birth Doula training. The next class is fast approaching on October 22nd. Follow the link below to learn more and reserve your spot.

https://doulaschool.ca/product/oct-virtual/

06/21/2021

Dads, you are so so important.

You too, are embarking on the life changing journey of being a parent.

The role you play in your child's life will always be one of immense value and significance.

So the last thing I want as a doula is for you to feel left out of the process of your child's birth. As your doula, I want you to know that my role is not in any way to replace you as your partner's primary support person during labour. Rather, my goal is to help you feel confident in your role as her primary support person.

In prenatal visits we will establish beforehand various ways in which you can support the labouring person. During labour, my role is to support you in supporting her. I can remind you of things that you can do to help her, make suggestions of new things you can try, and step in when you get tired.

You know and love your partner best. You are equal parts parent to your child. You are exactly the person both of them need. And I am here to support you in that.

Happy Father's Day!

05/26/2021

Birth can be unpredictable.

It is a known fact that being an active participant in your labour, as opposed to being a patient who is acted upon, increases birth satisfaction.

In an overwhelming moment, when you are faced with a tough decision, using your BRAIN can help you know what questions to ask.

What are the BENEFITS of what is being proposed? What RISKS might this intervention carry with it? Possible side effects? Are there any ALTERNATIVES that may help reach the same desired outcome? What are the risks and benefits of those alternatives? What is your INTUITION telling you? (Intuition is different than logic OR emotion... it's that gut feeling you get that tells you something doesn't feel right.) What happens if you do NOTHING and wait to see what happens?

Your OBGYN, Midwife, or labour and delivery nurse has a wealth of knowledge to share with you to help you make the best decisions possible for you and your baby.

Asking questions is not being defiant or difficult... It is practicing good communication skills and cooperation with your service providers. A good provider will be happy to help you understand your options make well informed decisions.

An informed birth means an empowered birth. An empowered birth means a more satisfying birth experience.

Happy Birthing!

05/15/2021

Do you know what this is? Magic. That's what it is. 🤣 But in all seriousness, this is the best TENS unit I've ever used, even better than the one I owned for physiotherapy. Let me explain what a TENS unit does and how it can help during labour!

TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. That just means that this unit stimulates the nerve endings through the electrical impulses that are sent to the electrodes that adhere to your skin.

In labour, two electrodes are placed on your upper/middle back (channel 1), and the other two electrodes are placed on your lower back (channel 2). The earlier you start using a TENS unit during labour, the more effective it is for pain relief over the course of your labour experience.

Studies with randomized groups showed that women who used a TENS unit during their labours were less likely to rate their pain as "severe" than women who did not use a TENS unit. Women who used a TENS unit requested pain medication after a longer amount of time on average than those in the control group, and women who used a TENS unit were more likely to be satisfied with their birth experience than those who did not. These studies are fascinating, and to read more about them, I would highly recommend checking out this article: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/transcutaneous-electrical-nerve-stimulation-tens-for-pain-relief-during-labor/

HOW does a TENS unit help with pain management during labour? The gate control theory. Do you know how sometimes you burn your finger and it hurts SO bad, but when you run it under cold water it feels fine? That's because the sensation of the "cold" is reaching your brain before the burning sensation does. TENS stimulation works much in the same way. The sensations of the TENS reaches your brain before your contraction, dulling the pain. And, since YOU control the TENS unit, you can regain a sense of control during your labour.

05/13/2021

My belief that God designed our bodies helps me trust the process of birth. When you step back and look at the intricate and perfect design that has served humanity so well over the centuries, you have to marvel! If you feel fearful about birth, look to your Creator. He "created [your] inmost being," and "knit [you] together in your mother’s womb" (Psalm 139:14). Yes, even when you were on the other side of birth, even in your mother's womb, God was designing you to be YOU. Just as He designed your little baby body then, He has enabled it to function now as a mother. Just as He knew you then, He knows your baby now. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Your baby is fearfully and wonderfully made. Know that full well. And let that knowledge induce praise.

05/11/2021

This is what labour support looks like.

You are not alone.

I can offer you the physical and emotional support you need during your labour experience, whether that is in your home, at a birthing center, in the hospital, or even virtually.

My goal is to help you meet your personal goals for your labour and delivery. I will support you no matter what type of birth you are looking for. Epidural, unmedicated, induction, planned cesarean... It doesn't matter as long as you know that you are:
*informed
*in control
*supported

That's what I'm here to ensure.

For more info about how YOU can have an empowered birth, and for a FREE consultation, send me a message!

***20% off when you book in the month of May as our Mother's Day special!***

Located in the GTA, Ontario, Canada. (Or worldwide for virtual support!)

05/09/2021

I want to acknowledge YOU today on your motherhood journey! No matter what your motherhood journey looks like or what stage of life you are in, know that you are seen, honoured, and loved.

05/09/2021

Happy Mother's Day! As my Mother's Day gift to you, ALL Birthing Hope Doula Services booked with me in the month of May (before June 1st) will be 20% off! That means that whether you are looking for in-person labour support, virtual support, or a hybrid of the two, I can offer you a customized package at 20% off! To learn more about the services I provide and to book your FREE consultation, please visit my website! Link in bio!

05/06/2021

Penny Simkin, author of "The Birth Partner," conducted a study in which she asked women who attended her childbirth classes taught between 1968-1974 to send her their birth stories shortly after giving birth to their first child. Between 15 and 20 years later, she contacted these mothers again, asking them to write their birth stories as they remembered them and to rate their satisfaction with those childbirth experiences. Penny Simkin writes the following:

In comparing the two stories from each person, I was astounded at how clearly they remembered their birth experiences and how consistent they were with their original stories, despite the intervening years! Everyone vividly remembered specific things said and done to them. Many could quote the exact words! Some actually wept as they recalled some of these things--either with joy over the kindness and care they received or with sadness and anger over being treated disrespectfully or thoughtlessly. Briefly, those who felt they had been well cared for by the professional staff reported the highest satisfaction, even if the labors had been long or complicated. Those who felt they had been disrespected or ignored felt the least satisfaction. Also, those who reported a great sense of accomplishment in giving birth were the most satisfied. They felt they had been in control and that the birth experience had been good for their self-esteem. The less satisfied women did not have these positive feelings.

I learned from that study that birthing persons need and appreciate loving, familiar people to stay with them, help them, and share the birth--one of life's most meaningful moments. The kind of professional care and emotional support they receive during labour largely influences how they look back on the birth experience--with satisfaction and fulfillment or with disappointment, sadness, and anger. I realized, in this age of high-tech, high-pressure obstetrics, it is unreasonable to expect busy nurses, doctors, and even hospital based midwives to provide continuous individualized emotional and physical comfort throughout labor and birth.

I have always been guided by the question, "how will they remember this?"

05/02/2021

To all the mothers who lost their children too soon, I wish you a warm and gentle Bereaved Mother's Day.

Your child's life is valuable, precious, and worthy of love and respect. Your motherhood may look different than the other motherhood journeys you see around you, but you too are a mother. I read once that grief is love with no place to go. All the sadness you feel welling up inside is just that. Love. Your child is so incredibly loved by you. That is Motherhood.

Feel free to honour your child by telling your story and saying their names in comments below.

04/27/2021

04/24/2021

Looking for and people to !!!

If any of the following apply to you, comment below so I can follow you and we can learn from each other!

04/20/2021

This week is Infertility Awareness Week.

1 in 8 people who try to conceive are diagnosed with infertility. Infertility is defined as having tried to conceive for one year with no success. Sometimes there is a medical explanation, other times there is not. The primary factor of infertility can be male related, female related, or a combination. There can be so many reasons and circumstances surrounding fertility, or, perhaps even more frustrating, a total lack of explanations.

Those who go through infertility are sometimes even further grieved through the tragic loss of their little ones via chemical pregnancy, miscarriage, or stillbirth.

Once pregnant after infertility a couple may be have high expectations for their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period. These high expectations can be met with stress and anxiety, overwhelming feelings at decision making, or disappointment over expectations vs reality.
OR
On the flip side of that, a couple might have put so much effort into ttc and learning about their fertility that they feel totally out of the loop regarding pregnancy and childbirth.

At Birthing Hope Doula Services, I will support you throughout your pregnancy after infertility. With personalized support, you can be sure that I will provide the emotional, physical, informational, and partner support that you need while helping you to advocate for your birthing hopes. You deserve to be empowered and supported in your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period.

If you are still ttc and have not yet achieved pregnancy, know that you are not alone. You are seen, heard, and loved. My prayers are with all you beautiful people around the world who are trying to grow your families. ❤

04/19/2021

Mama, you matter. After your birth, you have a huge new life adjustment. Feeding, sleep, diapers, etc. It can feel overwhelming and suddenly all the attention is on baby. But it is SO IMPORTANT that you take care of yourself. Your birth doula (me!) at Birthing Hope Doula Services will have one postpartum visit with you. During that visit we will review and process your birth experience, then we will take a little time to pamper you and make sure you get some self care, which you need and DESERVE.