Mothering Relief Services

10/29/2021

Help give them a gorgeous delivery room!

10/28/2021

10/19/2021

Boots to Help After C-sections?

Hospitals have found in the past decade a way to help prevent leg clots after C-sections. They are pressured leg boots! They inflate and are strapped onto your leg and may help prevent leg clots. Hospitals have already been using these boots in other procedures like hip replacements for example, but more recently some hospitals have also been using them for C-sections. Blood clots in legs may seem like a simple leg pain, but could possibly be DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis). If left untreated it could be fatal. It is more common to get more symptoms of DVT though as well, so don't stress. One way to help prevent and ease all worries is by simply asking for these boots if you are having a c-section. Only about 0.2% of women get DVT postpartum.

If you don't like the boot option, but are worried about leg clots the best advice is to stay active and drink water postpartum. Some support socks and keeping your legs elevated as well will help.

10/15/2021

Midwifery is a noisy job.
Women scream, partners shout, machines bleep, feet run on the corridors, water splashes, paperwork rustles
And the clip clop of a heartbeat punctuates the minutes.
We aim for peace but birth is a cacophony of sounds. A melody perhaps.
The music of birth. Culminating in the sweetest sound.

But sometimes babies slip into this world.
Silent and sleeping.
Sometimes the room waits chilled. Words unspoken.
Hearts barely beating as they wait.
For the inevitable silence.
Hoping against all hope that a beautiful cry will rend the still air.
Instead the silence in broken only by tears and a mother’s lament.

Ours is a vocal job.
We offer encouragement. Urging, “come on” “push” “you can do it” “It will be so worthwhile” “You'll be so proud”. Cheer-leaders, personal trainers, eternal optimists. We hold her hand, guide her way. To a joyful conclusion.

But sometimes mothers labour with broken dreams. Our love and care cannot heal their pain. Sometimes we carry the mum to the edge of the abyss, a place we cannot follow and soft words ring hollow.

Then midwifery is a painful job. We quietly care. Careful not to intrude but anxious to do what we can. Aware that these precious moments are all they have. A few cuddles, photos, footprints. Robbed of a lifetime of memories we cram in what we can. As heart’s break and sorrow consumes all. A sleeping angel is cradled in shaking arms.

And then we leave this place on the longest drive home. With shattered hearts and heavy shoulders. We would take their pain with us if we could. Preterm birth, sepsis, PET, abruption, undiagnosed abnormality, often hidden. And sometimes no reason, no explanation. Unexpected quiet. A light snuffed out without warning.

And we return the next day, weary and worn. Questioning ourselves. Questioning our skills. Just questioning why? Why? Then we wipe our eyes, replace our smiles and take a deep breath . Cheerfully we walk into another story, another day.

Author of poem: Katherine Mabey

10/14/2021

Thinking of our grieving brothers and sisters today on Sibling Loss Awareness Day.

10/13/2021

Really cool video on Tiktok by SerenityLifeDoula describing how different angles help open up your pelvis for an easier delivery.

10/12/2021

10/09/2021

Trained doula!!!

10/09/2021

Some additional photos from the workshop:

10/09/2021

Get to sit next to the cutest baby during my workshop.

10/09/2021

10/09/2021

Making new amazing friends! Also got to learn hands on techniques today!! Super exciting!! Felt like I did a decent job hopefully! 🤞

10/08/2021

Who knew sitting on people was so fun?!

10/08/2021

These are some of the multiple things I've learned that I found interesting in my DoulaVersity workshop so far. I really think that these workshops and classes teach you so much even if you think you already know a lot.

10/07/2021

DoulaVersity workshop here I come!!!!

10/06/2021

Don't forget to keep an eye on your pumpkins!!

10/05/2021

Extremely excited to go to a Doula Versity workshop this weekend and get officially certified as a birth doula!!!

10/02/2021

On September 27th, 2021, my sister Maggi was life flighted to Boise hospital while being only 25 … Andrea Silva needs your support for Support baby Francisco