Mama Clelland

Abortion to me was a very clear ‘no I would never, that is a life inside’ . Yet was raised to not be hateful to those who have chosen different, and instead sho...w love where I can. Then I got pregnant and my life turned upside down and got very dark. The baby inside me was killing me. It was sucking every bit of life from me. And in my despair I cried out to the Lord to be released from carrying the life inside. I thought in my head how if I aborted this child I could live. I could go back to my life and not feel this pain and suffer any longer. My life would no longer be in jeopardy. My hearts is in pieces as I remember where I was mentally and physically. I reached such a dark place and such a lonely place I wanted just to be back to the way things were before I got pregnant. It is excruciating how painful it is looking at my children and thinking I could have ever felt the way I did. But I did. And it does not make me any less of a mother or any less love towards them now because of how I felt in those scary times. I chose life. But my heart now is even more in a place of heartbreak for those women who are being broken over social media through hate and evil comments towards their choice over abortion. I do not believe woman come to this decision without a painful reason or journey ahead of them. This isn’t me giving excuses or making it sound better, but coming from having been in place of despair like I was, I felt it necessary to speak out from a place of love and understanding rather than cruelty and hate. Please offer support and love instead of hate and anger towards these women walking a very scary decision. And to the women who are considering abortion. I know you have heard it before but there are other options. There are couples that are aching to grow their families who would adopt your child. And to those who have already had an abortion, you are loved. And I am so sorry for what you went through. No one has to go through this alone. Build one another up. Give each other a chance to share their story. And just maybe we can learn something from one another. #justaskjenna FEEL FREE TO SHARE

I can’t wait to be part of your village! #postpartumdouls are back to work and I would love the privilege of being there with your family as you begin this crazy journey into parenthood! Whether it’s cooking some meals or some light cleaning or helping with breastfeeding techniques I am your person! As a mom of 4 and a culinary school graduate (I may have also competed and won a cooking show on #APTN) I bring so much to the table and would love to help you through this exhausting season of life and help any way I can! Contact me for more info if you’re in the #NorthBay or #Sudbury area give me a shout! #StudentDoula #Doula #Postpartum #MomLife #babies #Ontario #MamaClelland #ClellandAdventures

That about sums it up. (Via @bessbell)

Breast milk is amazing!

Do you recognize this picture? Is this a picture of you? This image from Pixar’s UP is a scene likely missed by most of its child viewers, but ripped the hear...ts out of every mother and father that has sat in a puddle of loss, a baby gone. October is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month. 1 in 4 women suffer from the loss of their baby through pregnancy, delivery, or infancy. There are likely SEVERAL women on your news feed who have suffered this loss. And you don’t know about it. We must end the stigma around miscarriage and infertility. We must share our stories so that others may come forward to share theirs. It’s time to shatter the silence. When a child loses his parent, they are called an orphan. When a spouse loses her or his partner, they are called a widow or widower. When parents lose their child, there isn’t a word to describe them. I see you. I hear you. I love you. I love your baby. Feel free to use this post to share your stories of loss, redemption, and to say your bab(ies) name(s). #shatterthesilence #miscarriage #fertilityjourney #pregnancyloss #infantloss #birthsupport #pregnancyafterloss #losssupport

These dilation pumpkins are the scariest thing I’ve seen all night. It was set up by midwives at the Royal Oldham Hospital in Lancashire, England as part of a pumpkin decorating competition.

THIS ... also, men can get PPD, 1 in 10 actually so check in on your dad friends!

Birth by strangers has become the norm, it’s sadly true, it’s understandable when one doctor or nurse has to care for so many families that they can’t give you constant support during labour. We also live in a society that isn’t familiar with birth. I was blessed with amazing midwives who were more able to give me one on one time throughout most of my labours, though at the birth of my second just 10 minuets after he was born (after being rejected by 2 hospitals and at 6cm ...I might add) she was called into the next room to catch another baby, from a women she had never met! Being able to birth in a space that is safe and without holding back is best and it sure helps to know the people caring for you. Birthing rooms should be safe spaces where moms are loved and supported, made to feel as comfortable as possible and to be everyone’s number one priority in every way which includes emotionally! #safespace #holdspace #support #labourdoula #thebirthpartner #studentdoula #birthbooks #normalizebirth #mamaclelland See more