From Seed to Sprout Perinatal Services

Happy birthday Sara! Today is the day that this amazing human was born, and how grateful I (Loreli) am for that! Sara is the raddest chick you will ever meet! She’s fun and funny. ... She’s cute and quirky. She’s kind and caring. She’s the best work wife in the entire world! Sara is From Seed to Sprout’s resident website builder extraordinaire, and our breastfeeding guru. Besides that, she has such a passion for birth and women empowerment, hanging out with her you can’t help becoming excited about birth yourself! She’s always learning and growing and lapping up all the knowledge she can get her hands on... she’s a birth geek and that makes her the coolest She’s an avid runner, and loves the outdoors. This is one thing (of many) that I admire so much about her, she is inspiring in how much she cares about her’s and her family’s health. She has the best laugh ever, it fills any room she’s in, and gets everyone else giggling too. She is always game for anything, but also knows how to reign it (aka me ) in when needed. She is so calming when needed, and then passionate and fired up when that’s needed too! Basically, Sara is the bomb. And I love her so much... I am so thankful that she agreed to take this wild ride of private practice and entrepreneurship with me, without her, From Seed To Sprout would have been just a dream She had no idea this was coming today, so please everyone, flood our comments and inbox with your own stories and birthday wishes for this chica! Let’s make today extra special

Today we are sending love and strength to all those mother’s out there that have lost a baby. This is probably a group that you never expected to see yourself in. We stand with you, mama’s who have experienced: Miscarriage Pregnancy loss... Stillbirth Infertility Infant Death Child Death We recognise you in your grief and anguish, and the trauma that you have endured. We also recognise that this day can come with mixed emotions, and feelings of isolation and possibly resentment. Your feelings are valid. Your words are heard. Your heart is worthy. Today we honour motherhood in all of its forms, and we would love to hear your journey into motherhood if you feel called to share #bereavedmothersday #bereavement #stillbirthisstillbirth #infantloss #sendinglove #sendingsupport

Mother’s Day is coming up, and you know we sure do love the mama’s! In honour of all of the mom’s, mama’s, mommy’s, and the people out there filling the motherly role in your life, we have a special giveaway! Swipe through to check this out, we are giving away 2 prizes! One for a special mother figure in your life that you will nominate, and one to you for nominating them! ... The mama will get this super awesome prize pack filled with a gorgeous MAMA crewneck from @_ninematernity , an amazing cookie bouquet from @21treatsyqr , a plethora of bath goodies to pamper her from @pickle.and.bee , and a gorgeous floral keychain and notebook by @riflepaperco If we choose the mama that you nominated, then you will also receive a goodie pack, with cookies from @21treatsyqr , and bath items from @pickle.and.bee , as well as a few other items to make your day great, including these earrings from @bellachiccanada ! Entering is easy! 1. Like and save this post 2. Make sure you are following @fromseedtosprout.yqr @21treatsyqr , and @pickle.and.bee 3. Nominate all the mama’s and mother figures in your life! One nomination per comment :-) For 5 extra entries, share this to your stories, and make sure to tag us so we see it! Let’s show those mom’s some love! Contest closes Wednesday, May 6th at 6pm! This giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram in anyway #fromseedtosproutyqr #giveaway #mothersday #supportlocal

Hi There! It’s been a little while since we introduced ourselves, and there are lots of new friends here, so we thought we would say hi, and welcome If you are one of our clients these days, this is how you see us, looking through our computer screen, into yours! Covid times are weird, but we are making it work. ... We love working with pregnant families, and empowering them with education through this journey into parenthood, and this crazy virus certainly isn’t going to stop us A little more about us; we are Loreli and Sara We are both Registered Nurses, and combined we have more than 15 years of experience helping perinatal families through this journey! We are so passionate about educating you during this big life changing event, because we know that education and support are so important to ensuring that not only your birth goes well, but the transition into becoming a parent is a smooth one. We are here to help guide you through labour, birth, infant feeding, sleep, and perinatal mood disorders, just to name a few! Above all, we are here to help you learn to trust yourself, trust your intuition, and know that you are the perfect parent for your baby Now it’s your turn!! Tell us about yourself in the comments #fromseedtosproutyqr #yqr #yqrprenatal #yqrprenatalclass #prenataleducation #pregnancyjourney #birthsupport

When we talked about introducing solids, we had many people ask what foods would be best to serve first, especially if going the Baby-led feeding route We always want you to check in with your babe’s healthcare provider if you ever have any questions about there health, but here is the 411 on baby feeding! The Canadian Pediatric Society recommends starting with foods that are rich in iron, like meats, egg yolks, or beans ... They also recommend that we SHOULD NOT wait to introduce foods that have allergies. If you have a family history of food allergies, speak with your doctor first, but generally speaking, this means introducing things like peanuts, fish, and eggs sooner rather than later. Introduce foods one at a time, and stop offering that food if you notice baby has any reaction to it, like a rash/hives or swelling. Call you doctor or 911 if you feel it’s an emergency. If you are choosing to Baby-led feed, offer foods that are easily smooshed between your finger and thumb. If you can smoosh it with your fingers, baby can smoosh it with their gums. Some nice foods to try are: ripe avocado, slices of toast with a thin coat of peanut butter, strips of cooked egg, or shredded chicken or beef. The concept behind Baby-led feeding is that baby picks up the food and feeds themselves, so you will need to make sure they can pick the items up easily. This means that until they have their pincer grasp (around 9 months), they need long and skinny items (think French fry-shaped) that they can easily pick up with their palmer grasp. What foods did you feed your baby first? For those that aren’t this stage yet, save this post for the future! #fromseedtosproutyqr #yqr #yqrprenatal #yqrprenatalclass #prenataleducation #pregnancyjourney #blw #babyledweaning #babyledfeeding

Breastfeeding is often thought of as a lovely bonding experience between a mom and her babe. But for some mamas, D-MER can cause unwanted negative feelings during a breastfeeding session. D-MER stands for Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex. It’s an abrupt negative feeling some moms get in association with milk ejection, or let down, while breastfeeding. D-MER is not a psychological response, rather our body’s response to a sharp drop in dopamine - one of our brain’s feel-good ...chemicals. Feelings may be quite intense and include: Restlessness Agitation Homesickness Loathing Anxiety Anger If you experience D-MER, you may notice these feelings right before a let down during breastfeeding. Symptoms last a short time, from around 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Some breastfeeding folks notice mild symptoms that don’t last too long into the breastfeeding journey, while others may require medication to help manage severe symptoms. We encourage you to talk to your healthcare provider about any negative mood changes that you notice, whether during breastfeeding or any other time. They can help you determine what is normal and what is not, and make a plan with you to manage any mood changes that you’re seeing. #breastfeeding #thirstythursday #fromseedtosproutyqr #yougotthismama #breastfeedinghelp #breastfeedingtips #prenatalclass #birthprep #birthpreparation #yqr

Parents! This is your Monday morning reminder that you are doing great! You got this! We know that the polar vortex is a b$;ch and covid restrictions feel unbearable at times... but you have survived everyday up until now, and you will continue to be a survivor! May your coffee be strong and your babe’s naps be long #fromseedtosproutyqr #yougotthis #mondaymotivation

Sometimes being a support for someone experiencing a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (PMAD) can feel scary. You may not know what to say or how to help. Try to put yourself in their shoes... how would you want to be supported if you felt so low, or so scared, or so out of control? Things that are not helpful: Telling them not to think about it, because believe me, if they could they would. ... Saying things like oh yah, well not sleeping and having sore boobs, and not having time for yourself is what you signed up for, it’s motherhood! This helps no one, and could make them feel more scared. Telling them to just be thankful for their baby is also not helpful. A parent can love their baby and still be scared/depressed/enraged. The two are not mutually exclusive... Instead, try to listen, try to let them know you’re there for them, and try to help in meaningful ways. Hold baby while they have some time to themselves. Bring over some grocery staples, or a prepped meal. Check in with them to let them know you’re thinking of them. What helped you in those early days? #pmad #fromseedtosproutyqr #prenataleducation #postpartumsupport https://www.instagram.com/reel/CK9g_UxFlgf/

When we have a baby the amount of change that we go through in a matter of days is miraculous! We start the process as a pregnant person, we labour for a day or two, then we end it by either the tremendous effort of pushing out a baby or having a major abdominal surgery to ensure their safe delivery. Most of the time, we perform this incredible feat on very little sleep. Then at the end of all of that, a pink, sticky baby is placed on our chest and we begin to feed them from... our bodies. So what makes it all happen? HORMONES Behind the scenes of menstruation, conception, pregnancy, labour & birth, and breastfeeding, the hormones in our bodies get. ish. done. And after birth, they are working on overdrive to help with healing, bonding, and milk-making. This is why it’s completely normal to feel quite the range of emotions in the days and early weeks after baby is born. Our bodies, hearts and minds are undergoing rapid adjustment, and that is why around 80% of Canadian birthing people experience some form of the Baby Blues. Around day 4-5 after baby is born, we experience a major hormonal day: our milk finishes changing from colostrum to mature milk, and our breasts can become quite engorged. This day is often when all of those baby blues feelings can come to a head, and we can feel our feelings a bit stronger that day. We might be more weepy, or have a lower mood, or less patience. Plus, our boobs are sore, and probably leaking breastmilk. It can be quite the day. This is an important day, as after this we usually see our mood change in one of two ways: our hormones either begin to level out, and our mood starts to stabilize, or we may start to see signs that a perinatal mood disorder might be developing and will need management. We want you to talk to your healthcare provider about whatever you are feeling, so that you have appropriate follow-up. It can be scary to talk about feelings like depression & anxiety, but we want to normalize the conversation. This change is temporary. Always remember, you are not your worst days. The most powerful thing you can do is ask for help if something isn’t quite right.

All of our posts are for information purposes only. Please check with your healthcare provider about your unique situation. When a breastfeeding mamma comes into contact with a virus or bacteria, her body responds by creating an antibody that is specific to that bacteria. That antibody enters her breastmilk, then binds to the bacteria in babe’s tummy. The bacteria is then carried out of their body, protecting babe from infection. This is true for any bacteria, virus or ...other germ that both mamma and her babe come into contact with, which is why even if a mom may experience symptoms of an infection, her baby may not! Her body is sooo smart and has made specific antibodies to protect her sweet wee one, giving baby the defences they need to fight off that same infection. When we look into breastfeeding and the connection with the virus that causes Covid-19, the information is fairly limited. But we do know that Health Canada states that the virus that causes Covid-19 has not been found in breastmilk at this point. The World Health Organization also maintains that there is no data to show that Covid-19 can be transmitted via breastmilk. Because of this information, the WHO recommends that moms who have Covid-19 continue (or start) to breastfeed. Your healthcare facility may have specific recommendations about mask wearing and hand washing, as you can still transfer the virus through your respiratory droplets. Please be sure to follow any and all recommendations from your healthcare team regarding protecting your babe from Covid-19! As for now, we are excited and happy to share that breastfeeding and room sharing are still recommended by the WHO. Recommendations that keep families together and thriving is one of our favourite things! Breastfeeding mamas: have you ever gotten sick while your breastfed babe stayed well? Tell us about it in the comments! #breastfeeding #breastfeedingmama #breastfeedinghelp #prenatalclass #yqrparents #fromseedtosproutyqr #covid_19 #covidbreastfeeding

For Snoozy Sunday, we are resharing this post, regarding adult sleep! It’s so important to get enough sleep as new parents, for our physical and our mental health. We know there is a link between inadequate sleep and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. We also know that a vicious cycle of not sleeping, then feeling anxious, then worrying about sleep, then not sleeping even more can happen, for those in the postpartum stage. Think about ways to set yourself up to get more rest and sleep throughout your day

Have you heard about baby blues? This is the term many use to describe the emotions that most birthing parents (about 80%) go through in the first few days and weeks postpartum. It’s characterised by major fatigue and emotional lability... labi-whaaaa? Emotional lability means you go from happy to sad to cheerful to worried, seemingly all in a matter of moments. You can be so so excited about your new baby, and then start to cry a few minutes later... The baby blues are due to a combination of the major hormone shift that happens with birth, plus the fatigue that comes with sleep deprivation, and the new stress or overwhelm of becoming a caregiver to this new little bundle Baby blues symptoms are usually mild to moderate, and should be fairly resolved by about two weeks. If you’re feeling MORE Whether that’s more sad, more scared, more overwhelmed, or even really really excited, whether baby is two weeks yet or not, this could be a sign of more than baby blues. Swipe to see our quick list of signs & symptoms for baby blues, postpartum depression, and postpartum anxiety The big take home here is, speak to your support people and a health care provider if you have ANY of these. That’s right, even if you think it’s just baby blues, talk about it, do not keep those feelings in. You have a right and a need to be supported always in your postpartum period. Tell us about your experience with the first two weeks with baby #fromseedtosproutyqr #prenataleducation #babyblues #ppd #pmad #postpartumsupport

Who’s bringing in the roaring 20’s with a baby?! Check out our prenatal classes! Sara and I opened up two class, starting in March or April! We would love to empower you through education and support, so you can have your best birth

VBAC? TOLAC? Maybe also WTH?? Abbreviations are apparently our jam in obstetrics, (in healthcare across the board, really!?!) We are here to shed some light on these abbreviations, and what they mean for you!... VBAC stands for Vaginal Birth After C-Section, and in order to have a VBAC, one is said to TOLAC, meaning Trial of Labour After C-section aka go into labour and have contractions, rather than schedule a subsequent c-section picking up what we’re putting down This means that once a c-section, always a c-section a thing of the past! If you had a c-section birth with your last baby, there’s a great chance that you will have a vaginal birth with your next! We know that there are benefits to both the birthing person and the baby when having a vaginal birth, so we encourage you to speak with your healthcare provider about VBAC’ing We know that c-sections happen for all sorts of reasons; babies in funny positions, getting stuck, or having heart rate changes are some of the common reasons. Many times, these things happening in a first pregnancy DO NOT mean that they will happen in subsequent pregnancies. We encourage you to work through each birth on its own, and remember that each baby and birth is different. Just because something happened in birth one, does mean it will happen in birth two, or three, or ten! Some quick facts: About 90% of previous c-section birthers are good candidates for VBAC Successful VBAC’s often happen when labour has as few interventions as possible, so remember to be upright, mobile, and active! Education is empowering, so try to get as much support and education on the birth you wish for ahead of time And lastly, just because you are a theoretical VBAC candidate, does not mean you MUST have a VBAC. You and your family need to do what feels best for you, above all else Where are our VBAC’ers? Tell us about it in the comments #yqrprenatalclass #prenataleducation #pregnancyjourney #birthsupport #vbac #tolac

Cheers to the New Year We are happy to say thank you for the lessons, and see ya later 2020! To usher in 2021, we are so excited to announce that we are opening enrolment for our signature course, Pregnancy to Parenthood. We are opening intakes for the beginning of both March and April. Each course will be weekly, via zoom, for 7 weeks. ... In our course we empower you with education about your third trimester, labour, birth, and the newborn and post-partum period. We recommend starting our course close to the end of your second or beginning of your third trimester. Follow the link in our bio for more details #fromseedtosproutyqr #yqr #yqrprenatal #yqrprenatalclass #prenataleducation #pregnancyjourney #birthsupport #pregnancytoparenthood

Whew! We can’t believe its the LAST Thursday of 2020! While we sure do talk a lot about breastfeeding around here, we want to say that there is more than one way to feed a baby! Today we’ll be chatting about some safe guidelines for bottle feeding your wee one. If you are thinking that bottle feeding full time might be your jam, we encourage you to talk to your public health nurse or family doctor about all the safe bottle feeding guidelines so that you can develop a rou...tine for cleaning, sanitizing, and finding the right beverage to suit your baby’s needs. Below are some general bottle feeding tips if this is something you’re considering, whether it be occasional or full time. If you are feeding expressed breast milk, be sure to refer to Health Canada’s website for safe storage guidelines. Bottles should never be warmed in the microwave, as this can destroy vital nutrients in breast milk. Microwaving can also create hot spots in either formula or breastmilk, which are like secret hidden little pockets of heat that can burn baby’s mouth. If you’re feeding expressed breast milk, know that it’s normal for the fat in the milk to separate and rise to the top. Be sure to swirl the bottle gently rather than shaking it to mix it all together again, as a hard shake can also destroy nutrients in breastmilk. For any bottle feed, Health Canada recommends that once a bottle feed has been started, that individual bottle must be utilized within two hours or thrown out to reduce risk of bacteria growth. Baby must be fed and supervised by a capable individual, meaning the bottle should NEVER be propped, as propping a bottle for a baby can cause them to choke. Finally, if you are switching between the breast and the bottle, it’s a good idea to practice paced feeding, which includes using a slow flow nipple and feeding baby in a more upright position. This makes your baby still work to get their drink, and helps to prevent them from developing a preference for bottle feeding. Mamas, we would love to hear from you: are you a breast feeder, a bottle feeder, or a little bit of both?

Our #topnine from 2020 How amazing that in the short few months since we launched From Seed to Sprout Perinatal Services, what we really launched were some of the most beautiful relationships with you, our fabulous followers! While 2020 will certainly go down in history as a strange year, for us it will be one we look back on; proud of what we built, and excited for what’s to come! ... Two Registered Nurses, without a lick of business prowess between us, have accomplished the goal of building community and capacity amongst the parents of Regina (and beyond). We are so thankful to all of you for your love and encouragement, and can’t wait to grow with you in 2021 and beyond What will you remember fondly from 2020? Tell us in the comments! #fromseedtosproutyqr #yqr #yqrprenatal #yqrprenatalclass #prenataleducation #pregnancyjourney #birthsupport #happynewyear #bye2020