Edmonton Midwifery Cooperative
Unit 101, 10123 112 Street NW T5K 1M1 Edmonton, AB, Canada

We are so excited to be able to start gifting our stash of baby hats to our littlest clients! We have received so much support from our community, and not least from the incredible group of older women in southern Alberta who have been knitting up a storm for our babies since before we even opened our doors! We had visions of giving a hat to every baby in our care, and then the pandemic hit and we knew so little about COVID spread we held off. We’ve decided that this year w...e can start this initiative again, and we have received our first picture of a baby in her gifted hat! We are so honoured to share her mama’s testimonial of her care as well as her sweet little face! Welcome Adeline! Our powerful client’s experience: I had the privilege of having Rae as my midwife when I was at another clinic a few years ago. She delivered my now almost 2 year old and was so I felt super blessed to have her as a team with Sarah at Edmonton Midwifery Cooperative. Sarah ended up being on call when I delivered my newest daughter and my experience was second to none. The level of compassion, empowerment and care these ladies provided me was something I can never express enough gratitude for. So both ladies have delivered one of my babies now and it's something I will never forget! I am so blessed to have had these two angels in our lives and bring my babies earthside. Thank you so much for sharing, we’re so glad you had such a great experience with Rae and Sarah! If you’d like to see your #baby here and share your experience, please message us! #emcbaby #baby #babyhat #babiesofinstagram #thatsacutebaby #knitting #crochet #community #support #midwife #midwifery #testimonial

Welcome to the sweet babies born in January, February, and March 2021! Posting the birth boards is always our favorite because we love seeing updates about how our incredible families are doing! Please post a photo of your little love, if you’d like to share! #emcbirthboard #emcbabies #babynames #babynamesuggestions #birthboard #thatsacutebaby #midwife #midwifery #yeg #yegbaby #yegbabies #babiesofinstagram #yegmidwives #yegmidwifery

It’s true! It’s one of the most common occurrences in birth, and one that media always makes sound like an emergency when it very rarely is! Posted @withregram @whenabellyblooms Did you know that 1 in 3 babies are born with the umbilical cord wrapped around their neck and it’s typically no big deal? Some parents worry their baby won’t be able to breathe in this instance, but babies actually receive oxygen and nutrients through the cord itself. They don’t take their first br...eath through their mouth and nose until after they’re born. This is also why babies don’t drown during water births. They don’t take their first breath until they’re in the air. The cord supplies them oxygen. This is one of the many reasons that it’s so important to delay cutting the cord for as long as possible after birth. If baby is in distress, the cord will continue to provide oxygen and act as an incredible built-in life support. Was your baby born with their cord wrapped around them?

Tooooo cuuuute! BRB, buying all the Lucky Charms Marshmallows to recreate this photoshoot Repost @mother.ly : @kelseyjstone

Yes! Supporting young parents makes a difference for generations, in either direction. Thank you to the young families that have shown us again and again: Support matters, choice matters, birth matters Repost @liberaljane: Young parents deserve our trust and support, not shame and stigma. Let’s talk about ‘young parent’ stigma - the idea that those expecting or parenting under the age of 25 are inferior or unworthy of our trust, support and resources. Pregnant and parent...ing young people are often seen as society’s failures, unfit caregivers and bad influences on other youth - which is simply not true. Young parents are human, and they have the power and autonomy to make decisions about their own reproductive lives and health which includes: if they want to carry a pregnancy or choose to have an abortion. Justice for young parents is reproductive justice. [Digital illustration of a young family, including a mom with long curly hair, a pink sweatshirt, and beige jeans. She’s holding a toddler, who has their hair in pigtails, a pink flower cardigan and solid pink pants. On the right is another child who has their hair up back in buns, a purple overall dress, polka dot leggings, and a leg prosthetic. The text reads, ‘young parents deserve support, not shame’]

Thank you for sharing your incredible experience with our Heathers and Sarah Your words and photos perfectly capture how much birth matters Repost from @kristilee_parish (edited for length) I’m proud that my body carried two healthy babies; Zoey being nine pounds, I’m proud that I continued to workout till the bitter end (my last workout was 13 hours before Zoey was born) and I’m proud that I’ve had two unmedicated births. That being said If you choose or were told to ...choose a different route to deliver your baby, you should be proud too. However you brought your babies into the world should make you proud. And last but not least if you’re currently trying to conceive or have lost a baby my heart goes out to you and I’m sending you so much love. Today was our last appointment with our midwife (@edmontonmidwiferycooperative ) I’m feeling incredibly emotional over this fact. During this pregnancy and postpartum journey going to my midwife was the only sense of normal I had. And it’s definitely a bitter sweet fairwell. My midwife delivered both my babies safely into this world. Both with some complications. But she did it both times in an environment where I felt safe, even though with Sofia the last place in the world I wanted to be was the hospital. With Zoey I was lucky enough to have the home birth I had planned, but of course things didn’t go 100% As planned (as per most births). But still my midwives did what they needed to do to make sure everyone was safe. I’m thankful they didn’t listen to me when I told them not to come yet after my water broke, I’m thankful for their guidance and friendship during this whole process. After Sofia was born I said I wouldn’t have been able to deliver her without my midwives and I 100% feel the same after having Zoey. So to anyone even considering trying to get a midwife.... don’t hesitate. It was the best decision I ever made when it came to having babies. Sorry for the long winded post, emotional, probably to much info post. But isn’t that why we are all here?

It’s World Doula Week! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the care, support, strength, and knowledge doulas bring to birth in our communities. Doulas should be funded by our healthcare system because they improve health outcomes. Doulas work so hard to support their clients and they deserve more respect and acknowledgement than they receive! We love working with our #yeg #doulas. Thank you for being there to support our clients during this last year! We celebrat...e you! Repost from @doulaassociationofalberta IT IS WORLD DOULA WEEK This week, from March 22-28th we will be celebrating and empowering Doulas all over the world! These incredible human beings are evidence based support that improve the physiological, social, emotional, and psychological health of birthing folk & their families. Whatever challenges we face, doulas will ALWAYS find a way. This last year has proved to hold more than one obstacle & the Doula Association of Alberta would like to send our deepest appreciation to each and every doula who continue to serve families during this time. YOU ARE RESILIENT & YOUR EFFORTS ARE SEEN! Happy World Doula Week! Tag us @doulaassociationofalberta in your posts & stories this week! We will be sharing them through our stories! #albertadoulas #yegdoulas #yegdoula #yegmama #birthdoula #postpartumdoula #birth #yeg #worlddoulaweek #doulasfindaway #wdw2021 #doulasofalberta

We just HAD to share this post from our amazing Sarah! Sarah is a full-time midwife, cooperative founder, loves working and learning with @indigenousbirthab, AND is a mom to four amazing kiddos. To top it all off she is an incredible cook and makes a mean cheese plate She is an inspiring force of a human and we are so grateful she’s on our team! From Sarah’s own post: Someone asked me today how I do it. This is how: I have great clients, I eat on the run, and my hands are full. And my plant collection has replaced me having babies Also this is what my face looks like without a mask! #midwife #midwifelife #meetthemidwives #emcmidwives #midwivesunmasked #yegmidwife #yegmidwifery #yeg #midwivesarentafraidofhardlabour #andshesofftoanotherbirth

Say hello to all the beautiful babies we had the pleasure of meeting in July, August, and September 2020! If you see your baby’s name we’d love to hear how they’re doing, or even better, tag us in a photo as they get bigger so we can share your cuties in our stories!#emcbabies #emcbirthboard #thatsacutebaby #babynames @ Edmonton Midwifery Cooperative

Midwives getting ready for Halloween! If you’d like to share, we would love to see your kiddos’ adorable costumes! #happyhalloween #samhain #witchymidwivesfavoriteholiday

We feel so grateful to be able to work alongside these fantastic midwives, and build our dream practice!

Friday feels!! I broke a couple of my own rules for this little piece. It's Friday so instead of working on my long list of commissions I decided to give myse...lf a break, but still work in the studio; play with paint and pick something to please only myself. I really love my commissions, don't get me wrong, but it's nice to let go of expectations and just let loose and flow! AND, I asked for permission to use this image! I never 'cold call' - I believe the right people will come to me, that my work speaks to them in some way and they volunteer their images for commissions or references. Soliciting people directly never felt right to me. However when I saw this photo floating around on social media recently it just took my breath away and called to ME... her pose, her skin, her shapes... so beautiful. So - I asked! I got over myself, I just asked, she said yes. And I had fun. Add to all this, the small size (8x10) for a full figure subject. You know I love to work large! I just don't know what's going on, I guess things can change! I can change! #studiovibes #feels #art #babybump #artist #belly #figurepainting #mood #artistsofinstagram #pregnancy

Today is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day 2020. We hold all of the families we have walked through loss with in our hearts, today and always. Your babies are not forgotten. We are honored to have witnessed your love We would also like to echo these words and supports shared by @albertamidwives: There is no foot too small that it cannot leave an imprint on this world. Today we acknowledge the unique grief of bereaved parents and families who have suffered a loss th...rough miscarriage, stillbirth, SIDS or the death of a newborn. We stand by you, and grieve their loss with you. If you need support, the Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support Centre, a registered charity based in Calgary offers remote mental health support, peer support groups and a new nationwide pregnancy loss support hotline for immediate and anonymous support (1-888-910-1551). #ihadamisarriage #pregnancylosssupport #miscarriagesurvivor #stillbirthsurvivor #stillbornstillloved #iam1in4 #childlessnotbychoice #secondaryinfertility

Friday feels!! I broke a couple of my own rules for this little piece. It's Friday so instead of working on my long list of commissions I decided to give myse...lf a break, but still work in the studio; play with paint and pick something to please only myself. I really love my commissions, don't get me wrong, but it's nice to let go of expectations and just let loose and flow! AND, I asked for permission to use this image! I never 'cold call' - I believe the right people will come to me, that my work speaks to them in some way and they volunteer their images for commissions or references. Soliciting people directly never felt right to me. However when I saw this photo floating around on social media recently it just took my breath away and called to ME... her pose, her skin, her shapes... so beautiful. So - I asked! I got over myself, I just asked, she said yes. And I had fun. Add to all this, the small size (8x10) for a full figure subject. You know I love to work large! I just don't know what's going on, I guess things can change! I can change! #studiovibes #feels #art #babybump #artist #belly #figurepainting #mood #artistsofinstagram #pregnancy

Badass wedding photos!

Did you know that midwifery care is rooted in providing and upholding people’s informed choice when pregnant and giving birth? (Art by @liberaljane) As midwives we often find our clients are surprised to learn that there are no rules about what you’re allowed to do or decline. There is nothing we won’t let you do. There is nothing you have to do when pregnant, aside from decide what is right for you and your family. You are ultimately the only person who gets to decid...e what happens with your body. Your midwife’s role is to guide you with individualized evidence-based information to help you decide what is right for you and your family. Naturally, this means that choices can change based on the information available, and your midwife may change their recommendations if the clinical situation changes, but it is a midwife’s job to hold space for you while you make the choices that are right for you, even if plans shift. If you would like to share we would LOVE to hear examples of how your midwife supported your choices and what that meant for you! #informedchoice #bodilyautonomy #yourbodyyourchoice #birth See more

Thea Penashue will be giving birth to her second child in a traditional Innu way which hasn't been done in decades in a tent. ‘I'm looking forward to being able to connect with who I am as an Innu person, being able to connect with my culture and also the people who were born in tents in the past,’ she said.

Thank you to the @feministmidwife for always putting it so beautifully, and so powerfully. Midwifery allows us to live our politics everyday. Birthwork is activism, harm reduction, resistance. #blacklivesmatter #blackbreastfeedingweek #allytoaccomplice #useyourprivilege #holdspace

Did you know that dates can be an effective and delicious way to help your body prepare for birth? We particularly love them blended into a healthy dessert smoothie for extra sweetness with almonds for protein and helping with heartburn, and some greens for vitamins! What foods and recipes did you love or find helpful during pregnancy?

Welcome to all the beautiful #emcbabies we had the pleasure of caring for in the first three months of of opening our doors! Thank you to all the parents that have trusted us to be with you while you grew your families, we are so grateful to have met each and every one of your little loves Please tag us in your birth story posts and cute pictures as your babies grow, we love seeing those little ones grow! #edmontonmidwiferycoop #birthboard

Look at the smize on those midwives! While we know how stressful it has been for our clients to be growing their families during this pandemic, we are committed to continuing to do what is needed to keep our clients and their loved ones safe. Edmonton has enacted a bylaw as of August 1, 2020, requiring masks/face coverings to be worn inside all public spaces to reduce COVID-19 transmission. As of this week we will be requiring that anyone entering the clinic wear a face... mask/face covering Please feel free to bring your own, and if you forget we will have masks available for you to use! Aside from Heather’s and Layla’s smiling eyes, the other image is from the City of Edmonton’s website, which has information regarding this bylaw, and answers many frequently asked questions! As always, your midwives are here to help with any questions or concerns you may have. Thank you to all of our incredible clients and their families who have been so understanding and respectful of everyone in our community as we navigate this pandemic together! #strongertogether #edmontonmidwiferycoop #emcsmize See more

For any of our clients that this news impacts, know that we will discuss this in detail at your next appointment, but please note that giving birth at the Misericordia Hospital will not be possible for the foreseeable future. We are thinking of our incredible colleagues who work in L&D, postpartum and the NICU at the Mis during this intense time - the work you do is so valued, and we look forward to when we can see you again. We will continue to hold the affected patients and loved ones of those who have passed in our thoughts