Doula Kimberly

One of the things that makes me the happiest is when I go to visit a new mother postpartum and find her being mothered by her own mother. An additional perk of having both a grandmother and a postpartum doula on the scene is that you can find some time for enjoy doing holiday baking! . . . #doulakimberly #doulakimberlymontreal #doulainmontreal #montreal #doulamontreal #doulalife #doula #sheshavingababy #pregnancy #birth #labour #labouranddelivery #babies #itsagirl #empoweredbirth #birthworker #covidbaby #postpartum #holidaybaking

Rainy day crafts. . . .... #doulakimberly #doulakimberlymontreal #doulainmontreal #montreal #doulamontreal #doulalife #doula #sheshavingababy #pregnancy #birth #familytime #familycraft #stayathomeclub

Hannukah candles with Christmas trees in the background. This year we are celebrating everything with a vengeance! We may not be able to celebrate with friends or extended family, but we are making the effort to turn every holiday into a true celebration. Because we are together, warm, cozy and healthy in our house and that is worth celebrating! . . .... #doulakimberly #doulakimberlymontreal #doulainmontreal #montreal #doulamontreal #doulalife #doula #sheshavingababy #pregnancy #birth #labour #labouranddelivery #babies #itsagirl #itsaboy #empoweredbirth #birthworker #covid19 #covid_19 #isolation #coronavirus #covid19diaries #familylife #familytime #stayathome #stayinghome #stayathomeclub #hanukkah #hanukkah2020 See more

My new book! Every family has their own special traditions and in mine, we celebrate the Dutch holiday of St Nicholas’ Day, known as Sinterklaas in Dutch. Because we normally get all of our presents on Christmas morning, the Sint is normally fairly restrained and just gives us a book (and of course a wooden shoe full of candies and a chocolate initial)With my kids we never really did much about it on the actual day since half the fun of arriving at the Grandparents’ house ...the week before Christmas was finding the shoes full of candy and books there waiting as a sort of warm-up to more presents and excitement. This year was different (like, duh, it’s 2020! Nothing usual going on this year)! Since we won’t be seeing the Grandparents, it is even more important to have all the family traditions take place. We improvised with the wooden shoes, but they still got filled with liquorice and chocolate. The grown ups even got beer instead of a chocolate letter. And at 5 am, a few short hours before all the excitement of the discovery started, I got called away to a birth. It went surprisingly quickly, and when I returned around lunch time, I got a few surprises of my own. Mysteriously, all the pieces of liquorice that were put in my shoe the night before were missing. Considering I only have one kid who inherited the passionate liquorice loving gene, I have my suspicions as to where they went. It also turned out that my partner and I both unwittingly played St Nicholas for the adults, and ended up with two books each- much to the chagrin of the children who only got one apiece! This is my new book. Its a murder mystery comic that takes place in the Tiki quarter of Trois-Rivières. (Did you know there was a Tiki quarter in Trois-Rivières? I didn’t before yesterday) I keep having to hide it because my kids are trying to sneak it away and read it before I doone of these days I hope to make myself a full on Tiki drink, with loads of fancy garnishes- fruits, orchids, swords, parasols and all- and sit down and read it quietly all by myself. . . . #doulakimberly #doulakimberlymontreal #doulainmontreal #doulamontreal #doulalife #doula #familylife #familytraditions

That time where November 7th and December 7th delivered one day after the other A lot of people who are interviewing me as their doula ask me if I have someone else with the same due date as them. Or due the same week as them. They always seem concerned when I say I do, but that I am not worried. I have had clients go into labour on subsequent days, but never the ones who were actually due at the same time. Most doulas joke that it is the clients who are due two weeks apart... that will always cause the problems. In this situation, one client was at 41 weeks and the other at 37! Considering that an estimated due date is just that (an estimation) and that babies are normally expected to arrive somewhere between week 37 and 42, I almost always have overlap with my clients. That said, so far no two of my clients have gone into labour at the same time yet but I consider it inevitable, just as it is inevitable that at some point I might be down with some sort of illness, have a family commitment, etc. Preparing for all of these eventualities is one of the things I plan for the most in terms of making sure I have a different backup for each woman and staying in close contact the last few weeks of pregnancy. One year, I had two clients due April 14. I was super stressed about how crazy things were going to be in mid-April, to the point of having bad dreams where everyone went into labour simultaneously. In the end, neither of them even ended up having a baby in April! The first one had hers at the end of March and the second at the beginning of May. So if you call me to ask At the ultrasound my doctor said we should move the due date two days earlier, are you still free?, expect to hear a deep belly laughbecause I know that birth is unpredictable and I am planning to be there no matter when- two days early, two weeks early, or even two months early! . . . #doulakimberly #doulakimberlymontreal #doulainmontreal #montreal #doulamontreal #doulalife #doula #sheshavingababy #pregnancy #birth #labour #labouranddelivery #babies #itsagirl #itsaboy #empoweredbirth #birthworker #montrealdoulaservices #birthinmontreal #montrealdoula #duedate

I have a love/ hate relationship with doing births on the weekend. I hate having to cancel fun plans with my family. But I love love love it when I come home in the morning starving and exhausted and find a special breakfast in the making, get tucked into bed by my kids, and have the option to do low key activities like snuggle up on the couch and read or watch a family movie the rest of the day. . . . #doulakimberly #doulakimberlymontreal #doulainmontreal #montreal #doulamontreal #doulalife #doula #sheshavingababy #pregnancy #birth #labour #labouranddelivery #babies #itsagirl #itsaboy #empoweredbirth #birthworker #familylife #familytime #eggsbenedict

One day your big steps are starting solids and moving to a big crib, and then the next thing you know they move on to taking really sharp tools and carving a pumpkin! . . . #doulakimberly #doulakimberlymontreal #doulainmontreal #montreal #doulamontreal #doulalife #doula #sheshavingababy #pregnancy #birth #labour #labouranddelivery #babies #itsagirl #itsaboy #empoweredbirth #birthworker #kids #parenting #pumpkin #pumpkincarving

Today’s postpartum visit... I got to hold the bearded dragon while the baby slept!

When babies are hungry all else must wait!

Covid Isolation Diaries no. 20 The irises. As we start to gradually have friends over for outdoor play dates, one unfortunate victim has been the flowers. We’ve got lots, so it is a relatively small price to pay. . . .... #doulakimberly #doulakimberlymontreal #doulainmontreal #montreal #doulamontreal #doulalife #doula #sheshavingababy #pregnancy #birth #labour #labouranddelivery #itsagirl #itsaboy #selfisolation #covid19 #covid_19 #isolation #coronavirus #covid19diaries #familylife #familytime #homeschooling #stayathome #stayinghome #stayathomeclub #isolationdiaries #irises #irisesofinstagram #play date

One thing that I love doing is creating a big calendar using interesting photos with space enough to write every activity for the whole family. Obviously this would be tricky to print during the pandemic (oh, and we didn’t go anywhere)so I bring you our highly inelegant calendar hack. A bit of black sharpie, a bit of white crayon, a bit of bilingual mayhem and mars and avril from 2018 became mai and jvne for 2020. I have been informed that there are high expectations fo...r July, so fortunately the printer is now open. July must involve a picture of a cat, because one year July had a cat picture, so clearly now every year July must have a cat picture according to the kid whose birthday is in July. . . . #doulakimberly #doulakimberlymontreal #doulainmontreal #montreal #doulamontreal #doulalife #doula #sheshavingababy #pregnancy #birth #selfisolation #covid19 #covid_19 #isolation #coronavirus #covid19diaries #familylife #familytime #homeschooling #stayathome #stayinghome #stayathomeclub #isolationdiaries #calendar #lifehack

Covid Isolation Diaries no. 18 As our homeschooling year draws to a close, two of our most popular lessons have beenmemorizing times tables and human reproduction and sexuality! I have no idea why memorizing times tables was such a hit, but following some pretty off-the-wall comments by my kids, it became clear that we needed to refresh our knowledge about sex and reproduction. We had a no-holds-barred discussion about the mechanics, the emotions and more, and they asked sur...prisingly insightful and mature questions. Everyone voted to cancel recess! . . . #doulakimberly #doulakimberlymontreal #doulainmontreal #montreal #doulamontreal #doulalife #doula #sheshavingababy #pregnancy #birth #labour #labouranddelivery #babies #empoweredbirth #birthworker #selfisolation #covid19 #covid_19 #isolation #coronavirus #covid19diaries #familylife #familytime #homeschooling #stayathome #stayinghome #stayathomeclub #isolationdiaries #sexeducation See more

Covid Isolation Diaries no. 17 Today we moved school outside. . . .... #doulakimberly #doulakimberlymontreal #doulainmontreal #montreal #doulamontreal #doulalife #doula #sheshavingababy #pregnancy #birth #labour #labouranddelivery #babies #empoweredbirth #selfisolation #covid19 #covid_19 #isolation #coronavirus #covid19diaries #familylife #familytime #homeschooling #stayathome #stayinghome #stayathomeclub #isolationdiaries #backyard #currants #currantbush See more

Never have I been so emotional while doing my taxes. It’s been two and a half months since I moved to doing pretty much everything virtually, and while it was a necessary move, I have to say I really miss the connection of seeing you in person. My accountant always says that the books tell a story and mine certainly do. So many receipts, all telling their story. The cafés where we met for coffee the first time, the first deposit, months before the birth, the metro passes a...s I came over to do pre-natal meetings, the middle of the night Uber rides to the hospital, the early morning diner breakfasts or late night shwarma after leaving you, exhausted, to be with your precious new babies. What can I say, I miss you guys! Staying hopeful for touchy-feely times in the not too distant future. . . . #doulakimberly #doulakimberlymontreal #doulainmontreal #montreal #doulamontreal #doulalife #doula #sheshavingababy #pregnancy #birth #labour #labouranddelivery #babies #itsagirl #itsaboy #empoweredbirth #birthworker #selfisolation #covid19 #covid_19 #isolation #coronavirus #covid19diaries #stayathome #stayinghome #stayathomeclub #imisstouching

Covid Isolation Diaries no. 16 The playmobil set-up. . . .... doulakimberly #doulakimberlymontreal #doulainmontreal #montreal #doulamontreal #doulalife #doula #sheshavingababy #pregnancy #birth #labour #labouranddelivery #babies #selfisolation #covid19 #covid_19 #isolation #coronavirus #covid19diaries #familylife #familytime #homeschooling #stayathome #stayinghome #stayathomeclub #isolationdiaries #playmobil #playmobile #toys #toystagram See more

Covid Isolation Diaries no. 15 The bumper crop of rhubarb. . . .... #doulakimberly #doulakimberlymontreal #doulainmontreal #montreal #doulamontreal #doulalife #doula #sheshavingababy #pregnancy #birth #labour #labouranddelivery #babies #selfisolation #covid19 #covid_19 #isolation #coronavirus #covid19diaries #familylife #familytime #homeschooling #stayathome #stayinghome #stayathomeclub #isolationdiaries #rhubarb #gardeningwithkids #homegarden #bumpercrop See more

Covid Isolation Diaries no 14 And suddenly, it was spring! . . .... #doulakimberly #doulakimberlymontreal #doulainmontreal #montreal #doulamontreal #doulalife #doula #sheshavingababy #pregnancy #birth #labour #labouranddelivery #babies #selfisolation #covid19 #covid_19 #isolation #coronavirus #covid19diaries #familylife #familytime #homeschooling #stayathome #stayinghome #stayathomeclub #isolationdiaries #garden #blossom #cherryblossom #cherryblossoms See more

Covid Isolation Diaries no.13 Taking time for new hobbies. . . .... #doulakimberly #doulakimberlymontreal #doulainmontreal #montreal #doulamontreal #doulalife #doula #sheshavingababy #pregnancy #birth #labour #labouranddelivery #selfisolation #covid19 #covid_19 #isolation #coronavirus #covid19diaries #familylife #familytime #homeschooling #stayathome #stayinghome #stayathomeclub #isolationdiaries #hobbies #tlr #twinlensreflex #filmcamera See more

Covid Isolation Diaries no. 12 Our first (and hopefully last) birthday in isolation. . . .... #doulakimberly #doulakimberlymontreal #doulainmontreal #montreal #doulamontreal #doulalife #doula #sheshavingababy #pregnancy #birth #labour #labouranddelivery #birthworker #selfisolation #covid19 #covid_19 #isolation #coronavirus #covid19diaries #familylife #familytime #homeschooling #stayathome #stayinghome #stayathomeclub #isolationdiaries #covidbirthday #cake #cakes #birthdayinquarantine

Covid Isolation Diaries no. 11 An afternoon of homeschooling. Kid #1 reads about the digestive system while kid #2 constructs a basic LEGO model of the immune system. . . .... #doulakimberly #doulakimberlymontreal #doulainmontreal #montreal #doulamontreal #doulalife #doula #sheshavingababy #pregnancy #birth #birthworker #selfisolation #covid19 #covid_19 #isolation #coronavirus #covid19diaries #familylife #familytime #homeschooling #stayathome #stayinghome #stayathomeclub #isolationdiaries #humananatomy #lego See more

Covid Isolation Diaries no. 10 The cinnamon rolls. . . .... #doulakimberly #doulakimberlymontreal #doulainmontreal #montreal #doulamontreal #doulalife #doula #sheshavingababy #pregnancy #birth #labour #labouranddelivery #birthworker #selfisolation #covid19 #covid_19 #isolation #coronavirus #covid19diaries #familylife #familytime #homeschooling #stayathome #stayinghome #stayathomeclub #isolationdiaries #baking #homebaking #cinnamonrolls #homebakingrocks See more

Covid Isolation Diaries no.9 The blueberry liqueur. It gives me pleasure even though I can’t drink it for a month yet. . . .... #doulakimberly #doulakimberlymontreal #doulainmontreal #montreal #doulamontreal #doulalife #doula #sheshavingababy #pregnancy #birth #labour #labouranddelivery #babies #birthworker #selfisolation #covid19 #covid_19 #isolation #coronavirus #covid19diaries #familylife #familytime #homeschooling #stayathome #stayinghome #stayathomeclub #isolationdiaries #blueberryliqueur #homemadeliqueur #blueberry See more

Covid Isolation Diaries no.9 The weekend treat. . . .... #doulakimberly #doulakimberlymontreal #doulainmontreal #montreal #doulamontreal #doulalife #doula #sheshavingababy #pregnancy #birth #labour #labouranddelivery #babies #birthworker #selfisolation #covid19 #covid_19 #isolation #coronavirus #covid19diaries #familylife #familytime #homeschooling #stayathome #stayinghome #stayathomeclub #isolationdiaries #cake #patisserietillemont See more

Covid Isolation Diaries no.7. My daily walk or run is what keeps me sane. . . .... #doulakimberly #doulakimberlymontreal #doulainmontreal #montreal #doulamontreal #doulalife #doula #sheshavingababy #pregnancy #birth #labour #labouranddelivery #babies #birthworker #selfisolation #covid19 #covid_19 #isolation #coronavirus #covid19diaries #familylife #familytime #homeschooling #stayathome #stayinghome #stayathomeclub #isolationdiaries #pagodediatang See more