Spectrum Doula Services

25/04/2022

happy le***an visibility week to all the lovely le***ans out there! you and your identity are valid and important 🧡🤍💗

04/09/2021

30/08/2021

Asking for help can feel like a daunting task, and you may have some feelings and emotions that are holding you back. This is your reminder that you are worthy of taking up space and that you can and should ask for help when and if you need it.

Prioritize yourself and your mental and emotional well-being. Reach out to trusted friends or loved ones and ask for the support you may not only need but deserve.

26/08/2021

Identity first language vs. Person first language; what is it, and which is preferred?

This post will be using the acronyms IFL (identity-first language) and PFL (person-first language) to make things easier.

Widely speaking, IFL (autistic person) is preferred by autistic people. "Wait, I was taught to always put the person before the disability!" Many people are taught to use PFL, to put the person before their disability; because they are more than their autism and their autism doesn't define them. And that isn’t necessarily true. Most likely, these people learned from someone neurotypical. This is when it is important to listen to autistic people, to make an active and conscious effort to relearn what might have been taught.

Now, of course, every autistic person you meet is unique and we need to recognize and appreciate this. That's why it's important to ask each autistic person you meet which they prefer since we are all different! However, having said this, the general consensus amongst autistic people is that IFL is preferred.

"Why?" You ask, unaware of how an assumption that we are more than our autism is harmful. Autism affects the entire world around us, how we perceive things, react to things, and how we experience our lives. It is an intrinsic part of who we are.

Looking at other examples of IFL we find that these identities are important and affect the way these individuals see and experience the world: Deaf people, trans people, Black people, q***r people. Not only are these a huge part of someone's identity but there is a subsequent community, rich with its own culture.

PFL also supports the rhetoric that autism is an accessory to the person, something that can be separated from them, and something that could be cured. Autism cannot be cured, but this is not a tragedy, as much as it is a celebration of who we are. Autistic people shouldn't need to remind others that we are people or that we should be treated as such. Being autistic isn't a bad thing, autistic isn't a dirty word and shouldn't be treated as such. It's a part of who we are and how we were born, you cannot separate it from us.

We are autistic.

21/08/2021

Slowing down, setting boundaries, and taking time for yourself isn’t selfish, it’s self-care.

Carve some time out to reconnect with yourself this weekend. Go for a walk, read a book, take a nap, pick up a hobby, listen to your favourite music! The options are endless!

How do you like to take care of yourself? What are some things you do to feel balanced again?

14/08/2021

Keep hearing the term “birth plan” but confused as to what it is or where to start?

A birth plan is a document created by the birthing person that contains their preferences and wishes for before, during, and after labour and delivery. This is typically a “best case scenario”, as we cannot fully prepare and plan how birth goes! Some items on the birth plan may include:

- being able to walk around during labour
- labouring in the water
- using specific birthing/pushing positions
- use of pain relief medications
- delayed cord clamping
- uninterrupted first hour after birth

A birth plan is not only a useful guide to birthing people and potential support people, but also to any staff or health care practitioners present during the birthing process. It may help you feel more prepared for what to expect and to have informed conversations beforehand.

Still feeling lost? Don’t know where to start? A doula can help walk you through potential preferences or requests, allowing for time to have conversations about your options!

11/08/2021

No matter who you are or what you’re doing, you are deserving of rest.

09/08/2021

The go-to for many people when both labouring and pushing is laying on their back. While that may work best for some, did you know there are other options that come with their own unique benefits?

Try out a few of these positions before your due date to see how they feel in your body and to practice so you’ll know what feels best and can be relied upon when labour starts!

20/07/2021

09/06/2021

Along with a new virtual business card, my new website is also live! The link is in my bio! Feel free to share this post and/or my website with anyone you think may be interested in my services!

01/06/2021

Getting super close to being able to launch the new and improved Spectrum Doula Services website! Keep an eye out!

In the meantime you can still access information and resources through my temporary website, linked in bio!