Lexie Proudwillow Doula

02/10/2023

I think about this person a lot, when I think about my body and fatness. I'm a size 8/S here and about 8st which is apparently where I should be. I naturally plateau between 10 1/2 & 11 when I eat a recommended amount and I'm currently somewhere in the vein of a size 14/ XL depending on the company
I remember vividly what I used to eat. Skip breakfast, eat a really small bowl of potato wedges at the college canteen and then whatever Richard's mom my best friend at the time or my mom served for dinner, half of which I'd pass onto Richard or his sister. I cycled and walked excessively. I was tired a lot. I was ill a lot mentally and physically. I still thought I wasn't pretty enough, slim enough ect.
I'm classed as being on the cusp of obese at the moment 28.5). But I eat meals, don't have as much of a weird relationship with food, I drink water, I don't drink alcohol often, I don't actually get ill very often. Could I exercise more...probably, although I can pick up Harley my partner on good co-ordination days and regularly have to bench the eldest. I'm not perfect, but I don't think I should have to be penalised by the medical model sentiment of "have you thought about loosing weight" to every problem I come in for.
I guess this is my way of saying that there really needs to be a better measurement of health and BMI and such a better visual representation of what wellness looks like other than chizeled, toned, slim ect. Especially in a time where fashion and film are sliding back on regulation around size 0 and fat shaming is rife.

11/02/2023

This doctor should not be practicing. This is eugenics plain and simple. You can have babies if you are disabled. You can birth your way as you are the expert of your body.

"Consultant said to me THEY would "prefer a section if I hit my due date and highly recommend I have my tubes burned at the same time because my disabilities complicate pregnancy"

I've now literally switched hospitals in the last week after this and being told community midwives won't bring gas and air to my home birth because I labour fast and would be classed as a BBA ...

Luckily the new hospital have been fantastic and extremely supportive of ALL my wishes and needs. Feeling super positive now."

I rarely comment as they aren't my stories - but this one left me speechless.

08/02/2023

I bought these a little while ago from Stevie Paints . I loved my births 1 cat2 csec and one home water birth. But neither of them were the mythical perfect birth both shrouded by medical abuse.
Putting them up feels incredibly healing and reminds me why I do what I do. This is why it pi**es me off the current government thinks art is a waste of time. I've had therapy for my trauma but this art felt like the needle and thread on my heart.

I don't think I'd have it this together without the support of other birth workers and groups like the UK home birth support and the village ran by Samantha Gadsden Doula

01/02/2023

Pretty excited about this training to be honest. This is a gap in my knowledge I've been wanting to fill for some time!

Our next LGBT+ lactation workshop is coming up at the end of February.

During our 4 hour session we will cover terminology and language, co nursing, inducing lactation, feeding after top surgery and hormones as well as well as how to to be an ally to your lgbtq+ service users and coworkers, further resources and more.

You’ll also be invited to join the q***r birth club fb group with over 500 previous course attendees to share your lgbtq* competency journey with.

Payment plans, tiered pricing for historically oppressed and excluded folks are available. Please get in touch.

All service users deserve individualised and humanising care, that includes the q***r ones!

If you have already attended the workshop please let over know what they should expect from this session.

***r ***rnursing

12/01/2023

I'm back and ready to take bookings from the end of January be disability consultancy, antenatal support, attending birth or postnatal care. Despite it's politics I've missed my work.

21/12/2022

OK: science post!

It can be hard to explain this simply, but basically there is an ingredient in breastmilk called FIL. (Feedback Inhibitor of Lactation. Inhibitor means it inhibits, stops or discourages lactation)

As the breast fills up with milk, FIL gets bossy AF and tells the milk production to slow down.
So the fuller your b**b, the SLOWER milk is being made.

ALSO, fat kind of clings to your milk ducts, so when your breast feels as flat as a pancake after 2 hours of cluster feeding and your baby is pulling on and off like they haven't eaten for weeks they are actually pulling out that really high fat milk. So it is fine and beneficial even if they aren't getting really high volumes of it.

THEN because the breast is really soft and FIL isn't really hanging around at this point, the breast speeds up production so you have lots more milk later.

Clever isn't it?

11/11/2022

12/10/2022

March of mummies is on 29th October demand better childcare, maternity pay, paternity leave and so on to support families.
This is organised by Pregnant Then Screwed on instagram and it will happen in several cities.

We all struggle as caregivers and we need to show up and demand better opportunities for us all and our families. We're hoping to be there in Birmingham Chamberlain Square
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/march-of-the-mummies-2022-birmingham-tickets-313439093767

Spiralling costs are leaving some parents with no option but to give up work, says the writer Lucy Pasha-Robinson

06/10/2022

💜 More Volunteer Knitters/Crocheters Needed! 💜

Every person who trains with us as a Helper receives a pair of knitted or crocheted b**bs in their trainee pack. These are used for teaching but then later for supporting new mums and parents.

We have been so lucky to have a team of willing volunteers to keep us supplied and we really appreciate each and every one of you. However due to an increase in our training we are running low on supplies and are therefore looking for other people to join our team!

If you are looking for something to do as the nights start to draw in then this could be it. Expenses are available to cover the cost of wool, stuffing, packaging and postage and the patterns are available on our website:
https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/publications-leaflets/

It is really important for the knitted b**bs to go out in pairs to be able to demonstrate positioning and attachment on different shapes and sizes of breast.

The address to send any knitted b**bs to is PO Box 11126, Paisley PA2 8YB. If you have any questions please email admin@breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk.

17/09/2022

Finally got around to framing my placenta and cord tie by Umbilical Cord Ties by Heartstrings

14/08/2022

Thought about saving your placenta or just curious what one looks like?

Mine is currently being encapsulated by the very multi talented Michelle, Safehands- doula to get those all important iron levels back up and support a good milk supply. But you could do many other things with it

Some folks plant it under their own tree of life. 🌳

Others cook it and share with the family.as part of a ritual.🧑‍🍳

Some create beautiful artwork out of it.🎨

You can keep your placenta regardless of whether you home birth or hospital birth including if you have a C-section!. I requested mine after it decided to get stuck (thus why it looks a little battered) as testing is not mandatory as it's yours and babies organ!

25/07/2022

Delayed cord clamping is so important for baby!

🩸It increases haemoglobin levels at birth and improves iron stores for the first 6 months of life.

🩸If baby is preterm (and full term) it can help to improve transitional circulation, improve the building of red blood cell volume and blood cell flow to vital organs, decreases the need for blood transfusions and lowers the chance of necrotising enterocolitis and intraventricular haemorrhage

🩸Transfers up to 1/3 of babies blood back to them that’s inside the placenta. This blood is also full of white blood cells that help fight infections, antibodies and stem cells.

🩸Less need for oxygen stimulation because they’re attached to their oxygen supply still

🩸Decreases the risk of anemia

🩸Babies have a higher birthweight

🩸Better cardiopulmonary adaptation

🩸Increased duration of early breastfeeding

🩸Stabilises infant blood pressure

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Lauren Marsh
Doula

25/07/2022

Neils Yard offers some lovely products to help heal and build oxytocin

Neal's Yard Organic Smart Catalogue

21/07/2022