Mountain Mama Doula

Summer has FILLED! I have no more space for June & August I have 1 more space in July & September 💞

It's been quiet......again 😆
Social media always takes a back seat to life for me. It's one of the last things I have the energy for- but here we go! A reminder I'm still here, still working and still taking clients!

Last minute May babies are welcome- I have space in
June 0/ July 0/ August 1spot /Sept 2spots /Oct 3spots and beyond!

Quick reminder for indigenous families only 1 parent needs to be status/non-status/Métis/Inuit to qualify for the grant program that can provide funding for doula support- and I am approved to provide those services!

Let's chat 🖤

Happy international women's day 🖤

Wear your stripes with pride
Keep your head high
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The haze after labour has finished;

baby is here and you try to think back of the last 24 hours..
Nothings really there, you remember tiny pieces but it's all a blurr.

Snuggle up, it makes hormones surge and these hormones are so important for labour and keeping you calm 🤍

February is well known for being heart month, but it is also Turner Syndrome awareness month 💜

I always want to post about Turners and how it changed our lives- but my bucket isn't always full enough to do that!

This month, there may be some sprinkles of TS facts & maybe my experience as a parent who has a daughter with TS and how it changed our world. But for right now, I'll leave this little purple page 💜
Google definitely gives some scary info, but it's also the reality for a lot of families who are given a dx of TS during pregnancy and after baby is born. It's also not the reality of a lot of families- Turners is a spectrum, and some girls have many signs & symptoms while others have barely any at all!

The answer:
Yes, but ask questions and have a conversation with your providers.  

Having a high BMI -(body mass index) does increase some risk- but let's look at what that means and how wording can help change the conversations in the birth world.

A person with a high BMI may have a 50% increased risk than someone with a low BMI.
Example: This means the absolute risk 1/1000 is multiplied by 0.5 - so the risk for a high BMI mom will be upped to 1.5/1000.

Evidence based birth has a great scale to show the chances of developing Gestational Diabetes (solely based on weight with no other contributing factors)-- they show how a person with a BMI of 25-30 has a 5% chance, a BMI of 30-35 has a 5.5% chance, and a person above 35 has a 11.5% chance. 

Yet when speaking about risk with our providers often we are told having a BMI above 35 means we have over double the risk of developing GD as a person with a lower BMI- which is scary to hear!

Plus typically we have at least 1 extra GD test early in pregnancy with no symptoms other than our base weight (which testing isn't necessarily a bad thing but asking why do you NEED it/why's it indicated? Is importnant to make informed decisions.)

Or we are treated as though we have GD even when we have been tested MULTIPLE times and "passed" (This has happened to me with all 3 pregnancies! BUT my last I did have GD detected at 28wks😉)

Changing the wording to my risk of having GD is 11.5% is a lot less daunting than being told my risk of developing GD is over double of someone with a lower weight is.

Next time,  I want to talk about the BMI scale and how it's outdated & not at all inclusive...

Over the next few weeks I'll be sharing my experience as a plus size momma in the birth world along with anecdotes from past plus size mommas & situations where moms size  truly does matter and others where it really doesn't.

Let me know your thoughts!
Is the pregnancy/birth world size inclusive especially from a plus size perspective?
Are there ways to make it better?
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Over the next few weeks I'll be sharing my experience as a plus size momma in the birth world along with stories & experiences from past plus size mommas & situations where moms size does matter and others where it really doesn't.

Let me know your thoughts!
Is the pregnancy/birth world size inclusive especially from a plus size perspective?
Are there ways to make it better?
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Here it is 🩷 my 2024 availability!

I love taking on last minute clients, but being able to really get to know and connect with clients during their pregnancy has always been a favourite!
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✨️1 year✨️

1 year past my last C-Section
1 year past being freshly postpartum
1 year past my last newborn stage
1 year past my last NICU stay
1 year has passed.

We've had
1 year of growth
1 year of new love
1 year of adventures
1 year of breastfeeding
1 of the best years of our lives.

Time is a thief, but watching my kids grow has been the best thing in the world.

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3.5 years ago I wished I got the chance to do skin to skin in the OR, now policies are slowly changing/doctors are more open-minded.

Moms are now getting that chance!
Fraser health (at least Chilliwack hospital) have been doing skin to skin with some moms in the OR and it's been amazing to witness this change 🖤
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Sometimes it happens first try others you wait years, shed countless tears, have many procedures, do every test under the sun, and spend thousands of dollars to get this moment.

IVF babies are miracles ✨️
Skin to skin with dad when mom has her post-birth shower is the perfect way to say hello to your new baby 🖤
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I have some birth availability at the end of the year (early December) & my new-year is now wide open for birth & postpartum families! 🖤🖤

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Fierce, proud & pregnant 🖤

Embrace the changes pregnancy brings✨️
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That first latch 😌🩷
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Happy fathers day to all the dads, step-dads, grampas, uncles and everyone in between. 🖤🖤

There's been SO many "team green" births this month it's been amazing watching families get a huge surprise after going through all the hard work of growing baby and finally birthing them 💚💚
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Babies are popping like popcorn! It really shows estimated due dates are just that- Estimates!

Tonight I got to head into the woods and capture one last set of belly photos before baby makes their way earthside💚
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maternity

With restrictions lifting in hospital settings, it's allowing more connection once again for families going through these life changing moments.

For the first time in a long time, I witnessed a mom watch her daughter become a mother, and it was amazing 🖤

(Remember your birth space is yours - don't cater to what everyone else wants. Even with restrictions lifting you're allowed to say no.)
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Coming back to birth work after having Jasper only 5.5 months ago has been crazy!

But it's been so worth it 🖤
I've been supporting some amazing families so far and have been apart of some beautiful births this year!

I can't wait to see what the rest of the year holds.

This sweet baby is nice and comfy in momma - just goes to show EDD (estimated due dates) are in fact, only ESTIMATES, not the expiration date of pregnancy! Chances are baby will stay snug as a bug for a little while longer, and they'll gain some more fat & strengthen those teenie tiny lungs before their grand entrance. 🖤💚

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit NICU- a place no one plans to be but many families enter!

Bonding is hard! You have doctors & nurses watching all the time, isolates, phototherapy, wires, tubes - literal life lines keeping your baby safe, and it's scary to think about touching babe (if you're able to).

For families who cannot touch baby- being in the room, reading stories, taking photos, pumping, doing babies care when allowed, asking questions at rounds,

For families who can touch baby- all of the above along with touching baby, trying to breastfeed if that's your goal, skin to skin kangaroo care.

A huge one most people forget about is taking care of yourself!
This means feeding your body, hydrating and taking some YOU time- you do not have to be in the NICU all day everyday. It is EXHAUSTING even if you're just sitting around.
Take a shower in the morning(or evening), do your hair, do your make up, take a walk!

How did you bond with baby in the NICU?

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A few more weeks of cooking and this little boy will be snuggled into his mommas arms 🩵🖤
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Transporting your newborn from the place of birth to a higher level NICU can be SUCH a scary & emotional experience because 9/10 times it wasn't expected.

I've been there twice- once with my oldest she went from Chilliwack L&D to BCCH NICU and my youngest we went from Chilliwack ER at 2 days old to BCCH NICU!
We never expected it with either baby.

The ITT (Infant Transport Team) is a specialty branch of our paramedics- they are miracle workers.
They care for your baby as if they're their own and will explain everything as they go.
Don't be afraid to ask questions, or even chat with them if everything is stable.

Depending on severity, weather, and a few other circumstances you may be transported by helicopter or on ground.

Baby will be monitored with wires & can keep all the tubes they need while being transported.
They'll be in their very own space ship
(a special isolate fit for transport on a stretcher).
One parent can go with baby- depending on if moms been discharged typically she will go otherwise the partner will go.
(I couldn't go with Alice because I was still inpatient from a C-Section! So my husband went with her, but I was able to go with Jasper since I wasn't in patient anymore!)

No one wants to experience this because it means baby needs extra support- but it's important to know it's there just in case it is needed.
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Happy valentines day from one squishy baby to another 💋❤

Pain relief during labour & birth-

For both home & hospital you have more holistic options;
- massage
- counter pressure
- breathing
- hypnosis
- TENS unit
- hydrotherapy
- affirmations
Etc...

In hospital you have a few more medicinal options as long as there's no contraindications;
- laughing gas -- can be used all through labour and wears off quickly.
- morphine -- earlier labour because it lasts longer typically mixed with gravol as well.
- fentanyl --later labour because it wears off quicker.
- epidural -- as long as you can stay still for it to be placed & babies not actively coming out!
- sterile water injections

Remember there's no shame in accessing & using pain relief while delivering your baby! You & baby will be monitored to ensure everyone is reacting well to the medications and if you feel the pain relief meds were needed- then they were needed!
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Diapering! Disposables or cloth.

We can find disposables in almost any store and there's SO many brands but not all of them fit the same or hold the same amount. I always encourage families to have a small pack of each type until you find what fits right for your babe.

Then there's cloth!
It is a big learning curve but once you've figured it out it gets to be SO simple. Trial and error is the name of the game just like with disposables you need to figure out what's right for you & your babe!

Which does your family do? Have you tried both? 🖤

One of many ways people are able to give birth here in the fraser valley!

If you can snag yourself a midwife (send your inquiries sooner than later!) You have the option of having a home birth as long as you are a low risk pregnancy 🩶

With a home birth you can opt to rent or purchase, a birth pool, alternatively you can birth babe on land and use your shower & tub if you decide you want some hydrotherapy.

Homebirth doesn't have to be expensive and full of extra things- it can be just you & your support team.
Your midwives have a list of items that are needed/recommended but it is pretty basic!
(I also have a list of things I've noticed families like or extra things that you may like).

A few extras I find families are fond of for home births are;
Birth pool
Birth stool
Yoga/Birth ball
Peanut ball
Affirmations on the Walls
Twinkle lights
Essential Oils
Diffuser

That final walk before welcoming your baby into the world.

A planned C-Section isn't a "bad" way to give birth, it's definitely not the "easy way" out, it can be very emotional!

I can close my eyes and feel the walk this mom & dad are taking- the hospital socks with little grips under my feet, a slight breeze where I don't care to feel one in public, the hair net slipping down, my gown slightly sliding, the slight pull of the IV, hospital smell, and feeling my baby move in my belly for the last time.

Sitting on the cold OR table feeling exposed as my gown is opened by a stranger, and feeling the spinal (for myself multiple times) being tried to place. I know the heavy feeling of the spinal working and hearing a babies cry & also barely hearing a wimper, I also know the feeling of being put to sleep with general anesthesia & waking to no baby, no husband just a nurse with me- yet this was my favorite birth 🤭

Birth is beautiful and emotional but everyone's experiences are different and it's okay to be excited for a planned C-Section! It's also okay to be scared and sad. Don't let anyone tell you any differently. Your feelings are valid and what you feel may not be what I have felt or what your cousin or friend felt.