Cat Brown Birth Stories & Doula Care Winnipeg
70 Arthur St, Winnipeg, MB R3B 1G7 R3G 1Z5 Winnipeg, MB, Canada

Before we went back into lockdown I was able to attend a few births and document some new sweet little souls! Unfortunately due to restrictions baby Wynn’s 2 big brothers couldn’t come to meet her in hospital and be part of this session but I was still so grateful to be able to capture these precious moments and memories. Thank you H family for hiring me for your Fresh 48 memories for the third time. Always an honour xoxo Cat with @_holly_hjart_

When a big account shares your work and you’re equally happy and gutted I sure miss being able to capture precious moments like this for my clients. #fuckcovid

And for the record I am not against formula I am against shady companies using marketing tactics to undermine new parents when they are at their most vulnerable times. In covid times families (and babies) often are getting no in person support postpartum unless their covid bubble includes a family or friend that truly knows how to care for a new family and baby, they have Midwifery care or they hire a Doula or Postpartum Doula. It is really heartbreaking. We are not meant to ...do this alone in solitude. Even public health is not visiting to check in on families unless there is a good reason - Guess what? Having a baby is reason enough to deserve support. Large manufacturers of breastmilk substitutes have inappropriately positioned themselves as sources of public health expertise, and suggested various unnecessary hygiene measures, the use of expressed breastmilk, and the separation of mothers from their babies. Such recommendations undermine breastfeeding and thus increase the risk of infant death. Baby Milk Action and the International Baby Food Action Network8 have documented numerous infringements of both the Code and laws associated with COVID-19.

We spend a lot of time talking pregnancy, birth and new baby but lets not forget that very important postpartum time. If I could go back I would put way more time and care into planning for postpartum which is why I always stress this importance to my clients I’m so thrilled that Amy is going to be serving Winnipeg families during their postpartum time. If you fit this description and would like to learn more please don’t hesitate to reach out to her!

It’s World Breastfeeding week, and while your feed may be filled with happy faces as a parent is nursing, I also want you to see what is the reality for many pa...rents. The problem with society only showing happy faces of people nursing is that it builds this idea that nursing should be easy and come very naturally each and every time, and it makes people feel like anything besides that picture is unacceptable. A new parent goes into the nursing journey expecting the smiling and bubbly feelings they were promised from the beautiful nursing photos and the pretty photos on packages and social media. And when nursing issues arise, the lactating parent feels inadequate and like a utter failure, because they are not looking or feeling anything like the photos they saw. The reality is this. Nursing can be fucken hard! It can be so draining. It can be exhausting. It can be filled you with trouble shooting problem after problem. There’s days where you may feel like you’re not enough. There may be days that you doubt your capability. There can be days that you’re nursing and crying at the same time. There’s days that you may resent everyone around you because it all falls on you. There’s times it can be painful and hurt. There’s days that you just do not want anyone touching you. There’s days that you just want to give it all up. There’s days that it can feel so unnatural! There’s days where it can feel so isolating. There’s days where you want to scream. IT IS HARD WORK! Find your team, prepare for the long journey, know that there very well may be issues that arise and you may need help. THAT IS OK! Here’s a picture of me when my son was 2 weeks old. He had 4 oral ties that were causing him to not be able to nurse effectively and he was not gaining weight. His ties were revised and he refused to latch to me for 2 days. I was in tears constantly. I was dead ass tired, pumping, syringe feeding him, and desperate for him to feel better and latch to me, while also caring for 3 other children. The people around me were so encouraging and helped me through every single day by just speaking loving words, offering advice and wiping my tears. One day at a time. We made it through, and are almost 7 months deep into successfully nursing. There was a time where I didn’t think we were gonna make it very far. To whoever needed to hear this today, take it one day at a time babe. Be gentle with yourself. You’re doing great. Love, Flor Cruz