Jessica Medrea Birth

25/06/2025

Today I sent a letter to the BCCNM drawing their attention to the problems families are having accessing midwifery care across the province and in particular in accessing home birth.⁠ You can read it here https://www.jessicamedreabirth.com/blog/open-letter-bccnm
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I highlighted the hypocrisy of the College stating “B.C. midwives must provide healthy, low-risk clients with the choice of giving birth at home or in the hospital.” and then not holding their registrants responsible for offering home birth.⁠
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I made some demands around providing adequate access to home birth.⁠
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You can click the link in my bio to read the whole letter. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.⁠
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And if this issue bothers you, I invite you to write to them as well. Particularly if you had difficulty obtaining medical care for your own home birth or if you are a birthworker with clients facing these issues. You can email info@bccn​​m.ca

25/06/2025

I sent a letter to the BC Government today. You can read it here https://www.jessicamedreabirth.com/blog/open-letter-government

Join me in demanding better access to these critical components of health care, especially if you live in an area with subpar access to Registered Midwives.⁠
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You can email the Minister of Health at HLTH.Minister@gov.bc.ca⁠
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You can find contact information for your local MLA by searching the legislature website here https://www.leg.bc.ca/members/mla-by-community

25/03/2025

Our home birth information hub - the latest research on the safety of home birth and related issues, and links to relevant research.

17/03/2025

📕 The childbirth journey is holistic; it is physical, emotional, psychological, cultural, social and spiritual. Viewing it as a purely physical event disregards its power and potential. Considering childbirth as a rite of passage allows us to acknowledge that self-transformation occurs regardless of where it happens or how it unfolds. It supports women to find their individual pathways through their rite of passage and requires care providers to consider how their actions and interactions influence women’s experiences.
https://www.rachelreed.website/rcrp

07/06/2024

I absolutely *love* supporting VBACs (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean). I also love sharing information about VBAC! ⁠
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So I wrote a quick breakdown of the top 5 most common misconceptions about VBAC that I come across in my work. I talk about the big stuff like: is VBAC more dangerous than a repeat c-section? And there's loads of links to reputable information sources too.⁠

Check it out here: https://www.jessicamedreabirth.com/blog/vbac-myths

04/06/2024

These were both June due dates but the universe had other plans. And none of my expected May babies were born last month either, they waited for June!

29/05/2024

Why do we talk about preventing preventable cesareans? It's not because of shallow and smug ideas about vaginal or "natural" birth being better. Surgeries carry short and long term risks, and it is important to consider whether the right balance is being struck between benefits and risks, for each individual person and for public health as a whole. This article by Henci Goer looks at some of the facts you might like to know.

For any of you out there wondering why you should care whether you have a cesarean, this blog post will answer that question.

20/04/2024

Researchers have found that overall, support from a doula during childbirth leads to:⁠
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• lower chance of having a cesarean⁠ birth⁠
• lower chance of having an instrumental birth⁠
• lower rates of pain medication use⁠
• lower rates of medical induction & augmentation⁠
• higher rates of satisfaction with the childbirth experience⁠
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⁠(source: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas/)⁠
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⁠None of the above conclusions will come as a surprise to anyone who works with birthing women or who has had a doula at their own births. If you know, you know!⁠
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Why does having a doula improve outcomes and families’ experiences? It’s not because we are magical beings that have special tricks to make your labour go perfectly. (Although we do have special tricks to make you more comfortable) ⁠
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And it’s not because we have any real power to fight against flawed institutional systems of care. (Although we can help you navigate them more effectively)⁠
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⁠It’s because we teach our clients about how the biology of childbirth actually works. ⁠We encourage them and prepare them for what to expect. We give them confidence in themselves and help them discover and navigate their options.⁠
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And then we show up on the day to BELIEVE IN OUR CLIENTS AND THEIR ABILITY TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES FOR THEMSELVES. ⁠
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⁠Add a little nurturing personal care, soothing touch and encouraging words and there you have it: a doula’s recipe for a better birth.⁠
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26/01/2024

BIRTH DOULAS ARE FOR PARTNERS TOO. Yes, we have a lot to offer the person actually giving birth, but we actually support the whole family. Here are a few of the ways doula care can benefit your partner during your pregnancy and birth.⁠
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🌲EDUCATION: Your doula will meet with you both before the big day and will talk about what you need to know so that you feel prepared and know what to expect. Also how to be the most useful and supportive partner you can be.⁠
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🌲REASSURANCE: Your doula will give you added confidence as a partner just by being in the room. It's good to know you have someone else there who is experienced in birth, especially in the early part of labour before there are any medical professionals around. ⁠
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🌲DIRECTION: A good doula will (in my opinion) show the partner different ways to help their partner who is giving birth. We can guide you on how to massage or use counter-pressure in a way that often works well. We can anticipate what they might need or find comforting and tell you how to do it. Occasionally we can also gently tell you if you're doing something that is probably not helpful too.😉 We'll do our best to keep you on the right track.⁠
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🌲BREAKS: If you are your birthing partner's sole supporter it might be hard to find moments to eat or sleep, and you are not going to be as helpful to them when hungry and exhausted. Your doula can stay with them so you can eat, shower, nap or even just go to the bathroom without having to worry about leaving them alone.⁠
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🌲LOGISTICS: Your doula will make your birth go smoother by handling all the little tasks so you don't have to think about them. Keeping the water filled, making cool or warm compresses, making snacks, reminding everyone to eat and hydrate, updating the midwives, cleaning up messes, keeping an eye on when it’s time to leave for the hospital, etc. Your doula will handle things you hadn't even thought of yet and free you up to focus on your important job: being your partner's main supporter.⁠
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Did you find doula care helpful as a partner or did your partner?