I met Sammy when she was a student doula taking my Supportive Caregivers course.
We hit it off and it has been such a pleasure to watch her come into her own as a supporter of women and birth.
And my clients who have hired her as their doula have AMAZING things to say about her.

If your goal is to labour at home as long as possible, it is important that you have some tools that you can use at home.
In this video she shares some simple things you and your partner can use that are comforting and that keep you comfortable.

Enjoy!

And if you would like to be notified of upcoming Zoom sessions, you can sign up to my weekly-ish newsletter here. 

Hello again!

How is your week going?

As it seems like restrictions are easing, I have been thinking about what aspects of social isolation I want to maintain once life returns to our new normal.

Weekends with nothing to do have been wonderful.
As have afternoons without the swimming, gymnastics, scouts rush.
I have been loving exercising at home…and the living in active wear that come along with it.
The lack of traffic has been amazing.  It is so fabulous that the bike paths have been busier than the roads!

Is there any part of isolation that you want to incorporate into your life?

Here is what’s coming up on Zoom:

Weekly Mother’s Group – Tuesdays at 12:00pm
Conversation and connection. 
Access to wonderful women’s health practitioners.
And mothers to be are welcome too!

Sammy Griffin Doula – Wednesday 29 April at 12:00pm
Sammy will share comfort measures for labour as well as answer any questions you have.

Birth Story Open Mic – Wednesday 6 May at 12:00pm
Come and share your story…or just listen in.  And this is not just for those with babes in arms!  If you haven’t birthed yet but are looking for positive guidance, please join us!

Hypnobirthing Information Session – Wednesday 20 May at 7:00pm
If you or any of your friends are interested in hypnobirthing but want to know a bit more before committing, please spread the word!

Pregnancy Choices Webinar – Wednesday 3 June at 7:00pm
This is another one for those who aren’t pregnant yet or who are newly pregnant.  We will chat about models of care and how the decisions you make early in pregnancy can have major impacts on your birth.

Here are five things that might help to boost your oxytocin this week.

“These days I settle for feeling only 85 percent sure about most things, most of the time. I believe this is keeping me sane, and I also believe that it’s keeping me human. In fact, I’m 85 percent sure of it.”
— Elizabeth Gilbert

1 – Why is it so hard to end a Zoom call? And what do you talk to friends about when there is literally nothing new in your life? I didn’t know how badly I needed this piece on Quarantine Etiquette.

2 – John Krasinski’s Some Good News keeps getting better. With a LEGO scene, a segment from the International Space Station, and some good tunes, this is a good one to watch with the kids. Brad Pitt makes an appearance too!

3 – Chris Hemsworth is doing meditations “for kids” on Centr.

4 – I somehow missed that Brene Brown is doing a podcast!

5 – If you are on FB, I have been loving the group A View From My Window. People all over the world share a little peek into their worlds. I should warn you though that after seeing some of the views you might be tempted to pack up and move. Its probably a good thing we are not allowed to travel at the moment!

If you would like to get oxytocin boosters and other updates delivered directly to your inbox, you can sign up to my weekly-ish newsletter here. 
I will only ever send you information about upcoming free Zoom events and links to things that I think will make you happy.
And to be honest, before this pandemic the last time I sent an email was probably 2018, so don’t worry about me clogging up your inbox!

I feel like I have found my isolation groove and as a result, the days are flying by!
Or maybe it is more of a ground hog day phenomenon and because every day feels mostly the same, days go by and I seem not to notice?
Either way, I feel like I was just writing a newsletter but that was over a week ago now!

Anyway, I hope that you all are well and are enjoying this amazing autumnal sunshine.  
This is by far my favourite time of year – when being inside calls for mugs of steaming tea and fuzzy slippers but you can still head out in summer wear.

I have a favour to ask those of you who have worked with me.  
If you are comfortable writing a review of our class or even recording a short video review, that would be amazing. 
Written reviews on either Google or Facebook would be ideal. Or if you do a video or want to include a photo, you are welcome to email me directly (maybe you took a Zoom class and have a photo of you relaxing at home while learning).
Obviously the idea is to share these reviews and your words or images might make it onto my website or social media.
Thank you!
And birth stories are always welcome too!  Either to share or for my eyes only.  I always think about you, wonder how your births might have gone, and want to know how you are adjusting to motherhood!
Your support is always appreciated!

Here is what’s coming up on Zoom:

Weekly Mother’s Group – Tuesdays at 12:00pm
Conversation and connection. 
Access to wonderful women’s health practitioners.
And mothers to be are welcome too!

Sammy Griffin Doula – Wednesday 29 at 12:00pm
Sammy will share comfort measures for labour as well as answer any questions you have.

Birth Story Open Mic – Wednesday 6 May at 12:00pm
Come and share your story…or just listen in.  And this is not just for those with babes in arms!  If you haven’t birthed yet but are looking for positive guidance, please join us!

Hypnobirthing Information Session – Wednesday 20 May at 7:00pm
If you or any of your friends are interested in hypnobirthing but want to know a bit more before committing, please spread the word!

Pregnancy Choices Webinar – Wednesday 3 June at 7:00pm
This is another one for those who aren’t pregnant yet or who are newly pregnant.  We will chat about models of care and how the decisions you make early in pregnancy can have major impacts on your birth.

Here are five things that might help to boost your oxytocin this week.
Collectively our isolation efforts have made a tremendous difference.  So hopefully we will see restrictions easing over the next few weeks and we can begin to connect in person again.  But I think so many lovely online connections have been made during this time…and I know want to continue to nurture those connections even as the world reopens.

1 – Because food is my love language. And because we are heading into cozy curry season.

2 – Speaking of food, here is a list of great food shows and movies. Although they didn’t mention Mystic Pizza! Big mistake. Huge.

3 – Isolation must be hitting me hard as I am all about food and screens this week! Here is a list of 30 shows to watch online – I am absolutely saving this one for later. I loved both Years and Years and Dead to Me…and I am definitely adding Search Party to my watch list.

4 – Desert Island Discs is such a fab program – interesting people imagine getting cast away to a desert island but first share their life story via eight tracks, one book, and a luxury. Its wonderful to think about your own life and choices. You can listen here or via a podcast app.

5 – Get down in lock down! This fun for the whole family starts out slow, but you will be sweating by the end! I especially loved the mom life moment in the middle!

If you would like to get oxytocin boosters and other updates delivered directly to your inbox, you can sign up to my weekly-ish newsletter here. 
I will only ever send you information about upcoming free Zoom events and links to things that I think will make you happy.
And to be honest, before this pandemic the last time I sent an email was probably 2018, so don’t worry about me clogging up your inbox!

Miranda is a fellow hypnobirther (she took a course with me when her super cute Zoom photobomber was still in her belly)!
She is a holistic practitioner of nutritional medicine and is all about easy whole food.
I love her approach as ain’t nobody got time for complicated macros and micros when you have young children!
The takeaways from her session were keep it simple, always add veggies, and we are not all going to have perfect diets everyday so go easy.
I hope you gain something from her flexible and balanced approach!

And if you would like to be notified of upcoming Zoom sessions, you can sign up to my weekly-ish newsletter here. 

Thanks so much to Bekki for joining us on Zoom this morning and sharing some of her midwifery and breastfeeding knowledge…her presentation had so many messages that I think are so important for new mothers to hear.

– breastfeeding is an individual relationship between you and your baby
– your body (well your boobs) and your baby will let you know what is working…and what is not working
– you are the expert when it comes to your baby
– needing support (whether that is causal chats with other moms about how challenging life with a newborn is or IBCLC input) is normal

Here is the recording of her session.  
Please share with mothers to be and new moms!
And you can find Bekki at Full Circle Midwifery & Lactation – she offers in home, clinic, and Telehealth appointments for both antenatal and postnatal women and she runs a monthly mothers circle and of course she is a breastfeeding mother!

And if you would like to be notified of upcoming Zoom sessions, you can sign up to my weekly-ish newsletter here.