Presence Doula Care

Happy World Breastfeeding Week! Below you will find a quote directly from the WHO website explaining the message behind this week. It is SO incredibly impo...rtant for families to have access to qualified breastfeeding support. Sending families home and expecting them to just figure it out and to know if something is wrong makes absolutely no sense. Please know that you don’t have to do this alone and if you’re having a hard time or need encouragement and reassurance, there are professionals who specialize this and they CAN help you! This week I will be posting some more good info about breastfeeding and where you can find support here in Calgary! I also just want to add that these posts are judgement free. I’m not telling you how to parent or what you should and shouldn’t do, I’m simply sharing some good information that may be helpful to someone out there. Informed choice is the basis of my care, and I applaud you regardless of if you breastfed for 3 minutes, 3 years or chose not to breastfeed at all. The theme of World Breastfeeding Week 2020 is Support breastfeeding for a healthier planet. In line with this theme, WHO and UNICEF are calling on governments to protect and promote women’s access to skilled breastfeeding counselling, a critical component of breastfeeding support. - WHO, World Breastfeeding Week 2020 Message See more

Fussy baby? You can have the happiest baby on the block! "All babies cryand that’s a good thing. How else would we know if our helpless infants were cold, hungry, lonely or in pain? Traditionally, moms and dads have just been encouraged to keep their chins up and wait until the baby grows out of it. But, that’s easier said than done! So, what are the 5 S's and why are they so important?" Dr. Harvey Karp The basics of the 5 S's to soothe your baby are: swaddle, side/stomach p...osition, sush, swing and suck. The techniques take practice but with a little effort you too will see the benefits for you and your baby. Read the full article here: https://www.happiestbaby.com//the-5-s-s-for-soothing-babies

Having a baby is both exciting and daunting at the same time. An experienced birth professional can provide education, support, coaching and help you to create the best birth experience possible. Please feel free to message anytime if you are feeling alone or overwhelmed and would just like a chat about all things motherhood.

As a doula when you are asked to be a part of a birth, supporting a family with their hopes, wishes and their goals, it’s one of the biggest honors in life (at least I think so!) Welcome to the world little one. You sure are cute and your Mama was a rockstar!

"Cluster feeding is when babies feed frequently. Cluster feeding often coincides with your baby’s fussy time. Baby will nurse a few minutes, pull off, fuss/cry, nurse a few minutes, pull off, fuss/cry on and on for hours. This can be VERY frustrating, and mom starts wondering if baby is getting enough milk. This behavior is NORMAL! It has nothing to do with your breastmilk or your mothering. If baby is happy the rest of the day, and baby doesn’t seem to be in pain (as with colic) during the fussy time just keep trying to soothe your baby and don’t beat yourself up about the cause. Let baby nurse as long and as often as he/she wants." Great advice and graphic from Milky Mama, LLC

As soon as your baby is born, if all is well, they will be passed on to your chest for skin to skin. Skin to skin is incredible for both you and your baby, it produces oxytocin, regulates heart rate and temperature and helps to encourage breastfeeding. You'll also see that this baby is slightly purple, this is entirely normal, so do not fear! Their circulatory system hasn't quite kicked in, so their hands and feet will remain purple for the first few days of life. The vernix (white sticky stuff!) is a natural moisturiser. Don't wash it off, the skin is so sensitive in the early days and the vernix protects it. If you have a premature baby, they are likely to have more vernix than if you have gone to 42 weeks of pregnancy, as it gradually gets absorbed.