Birth Journeys Doula Care Services

08/30/2021

I love being a Doula and have been so privileged in being a part of building families for many years. Now I am embarking on a new challenge! This September 2021 I am starting at UBC School of Medicine, Midwifery Program. It has been my dream for many years and I am so excited to get started! I will not be taking clients during my semesters but will take clients in the summer between May 2022 and mid August 2022. I will still be an active member of VIDA Doulas so please feel free to connect if you are looking for a Doula either during those times or not and I will help to find the support you need!

08/21/2021

Food for thought!

06/29/2021

Take care out there!!

📷:

06/02/2021

“Swedish oxytocin researcher Kristin Uvnas Moberg writes that the doula enhances oxytocin release which decreases stress reactions, fear, and anxiety, and increases contraction strength and effectiveness. In addition, the calming effect of the doula’s presence increases the mother’s own natural pain coping hormones (beta-endorphins), making labor feel less painful (Uvnas Moberg, 2014).” -

https://evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas/

04/11/2021

Truth.

02/24/2021

This is a great representation of how a baby comes to the breast and the open mouth required to achieve a god latch!

This illustration beautifully conveys how latch is asymmetrical. Baby should be taking in more of the underneath part of the breast.

02/15/2021

Use your BRAIN! Ask questions!

Making decisions in childbirth? Use your BRAIN!

This simple acronym is so useful - in fact it's brilliant for any decision making situation!
But in the birth room, it offers you a really simple, tangible, grounding technique to help you pause and get some clarity.

Unless the situation is a full scale emergency (which is very rare) there is always time for you and your birth partner to pause and consider.

Faced with a decision to make, ask yourself and / or others:

What are the Benefits?
What are the Risks?
What are the Alternatives?
What does my Intuition say?
What if we do Nothing?

These 5 key questions will bring you back to feeling in control and help inform your next step.

12/20/2020

This is an excellent tutorial on hand expression!! Super helpful!

10/15/2020

I will be lighting a candle 💜

Royal Oak Burial Park, Little Spirits Garden and Healing Hearts Foundation invite you to join us on for a virtual Wave of Light celebration.

As the wave of light travels around the world, we acknowledge that grief isn’t meant to be carried alone.

To take part in our Wave of Light celebration, please add your child’s name to our list to be read by emailing healingheartsfoundationca@gmail.com by Thursday, October 8th.

Then, join us here on the Healing Hearts Foundation page at 7:00 pm PST on October 15th to join us in honouring .

Post photos of your own candle with the hashtag . Let’s remember, honour, and celebrate our babies - together. ❤️

10/10/2020

09/29/2020

👍

“Researchers believe that giving birth in an upright position can benefit the mother and baby for several physiologic reasons. Physiologic refers to a healthy body’s normal function. In an upright position, gravity can help bring the baby down and out. Also, when someone is upright to give birth, there is less risk of compressing the mother’s aorta, which means there is a better oxygen supply to the baby. Upright positioning also helps the uterus contract more strongly and efficiently and helps the baby get in a better position to pass through the pelvis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have shown that compared to the back-lying position, the dimensions of the pelvic outlet become wider in the squatting and kneeling or hands-and-knees positions (Gupta et al. 2017). Finally, research has shown that upright birthing positions may increase maternal satisfaction and lead to more positive birth experiences (Thies-Lagergren 2013).” https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-birthing-positions/
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Stunning 📸: Kayla Grey

09/19/2020

Doulas are now able to support at Victoria General Hospital!! Thanks to the support of many people advocating and demanding that labouring people deserve choices for support! So happy!! 💜💜💜

09/04/2020

Every little bit counts!

08/24/2020

Do this!!

Dates have been used around the world for centuries as a natural approach to preparation for labor. Several studies now support their effectiveness. Though we don’t know exactly why, they do have an impact on the start and progress of labor - likely due to an impact on the hormone oxytocin which helps labor start and progress effectively.⁠
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A 2011 study found that women who ate dates starting at 36 weeks were:⁠
🔸 Significantly more dilated when they got to the hospital⁠
🔸 Had a significantly higher rate of intact membranes⁠
🔸 Were significantly more likely to go into labor spontaneously (i.e. without induction)⁠
🔸 And had nearly half the length of first stage of labor⁠
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A 2014 study found that women who ate dates from 37 weeks on had:⁠
🔸 Greater cervical dilatation at admission⁠
🔸 Higher success rates of labor induction when needed⁠
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A 2017 study concluded that all the above was accurate and yet another study found that eating dates in pregnancy led to less bleeding immediately after birth.⁠
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Any type of dates work! The ‘dose’ is about 2.5 ounces of dates ( ~6 to 8 small dates or ~4 larger dates) daily, starting at 36 or 37 weeks and until labor begins. I love eating them plain, but you can include them in my “herbal bliss bites” (recipe on my IGTV), use them to sweeten cashew or almond milk, or include them chopped in yogurt or oatmeal. Amazingly, they also haven’t been shown to be a problem for blood sugar.⁠
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Did you use dates to prep for your labor? Do you know a pregnant mama who is prepping for labor? Tag her in the comments below so she can learn about the power of this ancient medicine!⁠
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07/10/2020

Night 2! 💜💜💜 It is going to be ok!!

You've made it through your first 24 hours as a new mom. Maybe you have other children, but you are a new mom all over again... and now it’s your baby's second night. All of a sudden, your little one discovers that he's no longer back in the warmth and comfort – though a bit crowded – womb whe...

06/29/2020

💜

We encourage immediately after birth, with mum, with partner and whenever possible thereafter 🤗

06/29/2020

The July 60/40 class has spaces available. It starts next Thursday. Please share.

06/15/2020

Yes!!!

Yes!