Centre for Growing Families

A wonderful well sourced article with links to other resources. Questioning Induction. https://www.birthtakesavillage.com/question-your-induction/

What are the most important things for me to do, to give myself and my baby the best chance at a safe, natural childbirth? . Sharing my many responses to this often asked question and curious to hear yours too! . I have 9 points to share and more on the way. (See my previous post sharing points 1 - 4. Today continuing with points 5 -7. ... . 5. Be Intentional. Surround yourself with stories and people who have birthed naturally, normally. Surround yourself with people who approached their births with that intention and then, had some sort of assistance or intervention by choice, because it was the best response for them to the birth they were having as opposed to something that was being imposed on them. IE Surround yourself with stories told by people who felt empowered during their births and notice, it isn’t the details of the outcome (assisted or unassisted, natural or cesarean) that counts. . 6. Develop Fierceness. Understand that you are going against the current and everyone around you, from your peers, to your friends, to your family members, to even your trusted care givers, are all enmeshed in the old stories as well. Notice what comes up for you when and if you find yourself navigating their fears. Use these moments to build your muscles of fierceness and resolve. . 7. Practice Surrender. A natural birth is something that is always a potential. We need to let go of where we place our control ie. What we try to control. If we are aiming for a natural birth, the adjective itself suggests a surrendering to the natural forces of birthing, to nature. Preparing for that surrender requires a profound letting go of everything we think we know to be true about birth, about ourselves, about life, about our relationships, a profound letting go of our ego, of needing to control everything and letting nature, letting the vital life force that is making your baby, bring it into the world. Let yourself be guided, hand yourself over to the energy that keeps the blood flowing through your veins, the air moving in and out of your body, that rushes through you when you have an orgasm, when you feel ecstasy, when you are in a state of awe, that moves mountains. That life force that helps you heal through tears and sobbing when you are ripped apart by grief and heartache, and heal through laughter when you are filled with pleasure and joy. That life force that mends broken bones, that keeps our planet rotating around the sun, that lives inside a flame, that transforms an acorn into a magnificent oak tree. It is a surrendering to a force that is not outside of you but is you, is the deepest, most powerful, truest aspect of you, of who you are. See more

This is a wonderful Indiebirth podcast episode featuring two fathers (one father of 9 married to a midwife and the other an obstetrician, father-to-be) talking about birth and support. It's a rich, deep conversation I encourage you to share. https://indiebirth.org/birth-the-greatest-opportunity-for-/

Calling all breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and pumping parents! Can we count you in?! In 2020, breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and donor milk-banking need support ar...ound the world. Join us to celebrate breastfeeding in a fun and FREE competition where every child wins because they are breastfed, chestfed or receive human milk! We celebrate breastfeeding, chestfeeding and milk-banking, and demonstrate promotion, protection and support for breastfeeding parents and their families. It’s a chance for education and peer support done in a fun social way. Quintessence Foundation holds the Challenge to provide support for breastfeeding and chestfeeding parents. Breastfeeding has many well-documented benefits including better health for both parents and babies. However, many fail to meet their own breastfeeding or chestfeeding goals and wean their children prematurely, well before meeting the recommended guidelines. Two of the biggest hurdles continue to be lack of support and marginalization by the community. The Challenge strives to increase public awareness of the normalcy of breastfeeding and chestfeeding, the benefits to the parent, child and community and the ways in which parents need support to achieve the recommended duration for breastfeeding. Please note this challenge is for parents only. Register here: https://www.lllc.ca/breastfeeding-challenge-2020 #lllc #lalecheleaguecanada #nationalbreastfeedingweekcanada #virtualbreastfeedingconference #WBW #WBW2020I