Victoria O'Hara- Pregnancy to Postpartum Coach

Is your due date on or around the holidays? Are you feeling pressured to 'get this baby out' sooner rather than later? The pressure may be coming from your partner, your family or even your OB or midwife. It's important you know you have options! It's important for you to know: -you have the right to say no to an induction - you have the right to ask your OB/midwife what clinical indication there is for an induction?... -you can ask for the risks and benefits of both waiting for spontaneous labour and an induction -being induced while you are 'still covid negative' is not a clinical reason to be induced -holidays are scheduled, your baby's birth doesn't have to be! - inducing to avoid 'the rush', 'lack of hospital staff' or O.B/midwife going on holidays are NOT clinical reasons to be induced Remember: birth is a normal physiological event that starts when baby is ready! Certainly, an induction can be a life-saving, valuable tool in high-risk pregnancies or specific circumstances, but I highly discourage using induction for low-risk pregnancies as a 'solution' to get baby out so they aren't born during the holidays. Make sure you are able to make an informed decision about your labour & delivery! Check out Evidence based birth's article on inducing for due dates: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-on-inducing-labor-/ Or listen to the podcast at: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/ebb-117-the-evidence-on-ind/ #holidayinduction #christmasinduction #pressuretobeinduced #informeddescisionmaking #support

Have you got babies on the brain? Are you feeling a pull to grow your family? First of all; so exciting! Second of all, here are a few things to consider while you are considering trying to get pregnant: -is a pregnancy advisable in your current state of health? (physical and mental) (there are both physical and mental health conditions that can be effectively managed during pregnancy, but the more you know the better!) -is there a season you want your baby to be born in ?(i...f you have the option to choose) -is there a season you DON'T want to be pregnant in? ( blazing HOT summer or icy COLD winter?) -how will pregnancy affect your job? Will you be able to safely work throughout your pregnancy? -what is the status of your finances? (you don't have to have a whole bunch of money saved, or own a home etc. but having a baby will affect the financial requirements for your family, and so it is something to consider) -do you have the support of your partner, family and friends? ( again, its not a must, but is something to consider) -do you have access to a health care provider? These are just a few questions to ask yourself before you start trying to become pregnant. A pregnancy to postpartum coach, despite the name can actually be an asset even BEFORE you are pregnant! I can help you navigate some of the hurdles before pregnancy such as; family support, fertility support, community referrals etc. If you'd like to have someone to work through these questions (totally judgement free), please reach out, I'd love to chat! #prepregnancy #pregnancyplanning #buildyourvillage #pregnancytopostpartumcoach #support

Here are some realities of postpartum that aren't always talked about openly: -struggling with breast/chest feeding - feelings of guilt about formula feeding -fear of first post-delivery bowel movement -struggling with a low supply or over supply of breastmilk... -intrusive thoughts -conflict and resentment in your relationship -struggling to define boundaries with family and friends -navigating new family roles at home -finding time for self-care -feelings of loss of your pre-baby identity -Struggling to connect with baby Many of these things can come up unexpectedly during the postpartum period. You might expect to be sore, you might expect to be tired, you maybe expect that it will take time to settle into your new normal, but you didn't know some (or all) of these things could be part of your postpartum experience. Truth be told, many first-time parents aren't aware that these things can become part of their reality, once baby arrives. As part of my work as a pregnancy to postpartum coach, I help parents to be aware of these less-often talked about challenges so that they are able to have a plan in place, in order to help them manage, should some of these things be present in their postpartum journey. By talking about some of these possibilities with clients, it also brings awareness, so that should a client be faced with one of these realities, they are more likely to recognize it and feel more equipped to manage it! I'd love to have a chat about postpartum realities with you, and brainstorm how you can be best prepared to rock your postpartum period! DM me! #ididntknowididntknow #postpartumrealness #thestruggleisreal #rockyourpostpartum #letstalkaboutit #notopicofflimits

How do I choose a health care provider for my pregnancy? There are several options when it comes to what type of Heath Care Practitioner you see for care during your pregnancy, labour & delivery and postpartum. Options include; OB/GYN, Midwife, Family Dr., traditional midwife/birth attendant etc. Also keep in mind, there will be differences between practitioners in their approach to care, even within the same profession.... How will you know which type of care provider, and which specific practitioner is the right fit for you? Answering some of these questions may help you: -Is my pregnancy healthy and normal? -Where do I want to deliver? -How important is 1on 1 care to you? -Is continuity of care important to you? -How do you feel about pain management? -What are your thoughts on interventions? -Which HCPs are available for your due date? -Is vaginal delivery a priority to you? -Do you want your HCP there with you during labour? -What kind of support do you want after baby is born? -Does your HCP provide patient-centered care? -Do you trust your HCP? -Does your HCP make you feel comfortable? There are pros and cons to each type of HCP, and there is no wrong answer. Choosing a HCP is a personal decision, and will differ based on your individual circumstances. I encourage you to trust your gut when choosing! If you'd like help working through the pros and cons of each provider, with your personal preferences, goals and circumstances in mind, so that you can confidently choose a care provider, reach out! I'd love to help! (1st photo) cred: @rebeccacoursey_photosandfilm #options #informeddecisions #support #pregnancycare #pregnancytopostpartumcoach #trustyourgut

Today is International human rights day, and I want to remind you that birthing people have RIGHTS when it comes to their entire experience (pre-conception to postpartum and beyond). These rights include but are not limited to: their choice of care providers, birth setting, access to information, labouring positions, tests/procedures conducted, support given (physical, emotional) etc. This also means that birthing people are entitled to these rights, even during the Covid-1...9 pandemic! Although this list uses gendered language, the list of rights applies to ALL BIRTHING PEOPLE: A list of rights of childbearing (Women): www.childbirthconnection.org/rights For more information, also check out: www.humanrightsinchildbirth.org *note: website uses gendered language #birthingrightsarehumanrights #humanrights #birthingpeoplesrights #knowyourrights #support

Original post by @theeducatedbirth: As Breastfeeding Month and Black Breastfeeding Week are winding down, let’s talk about how these are complex reproductive justice issues. . Part of reproductive justice is having the autonomy to parent our children in safe and sustainable ways. That means being accurately informed, having quality support, being free of the impacts of discrimination, oppression and bias, and being able to make our own choices.... . We need to talk about breastfeeding, and talking about breastfeeding does not suffer when we talk about bodyfeeding, chestfeeding, and formula feeding as well. . Nobody’s free until everybody’s free. - Fannie Lou Hamer . What has your infant feeding experience been like? What made you feel supported and cared for? What would have made you feel it more? . The Educated Birth Shop exists to equip expecting parents for well-informed and empowering pregnancy, birth and more by equipping reproductive health workers with high-quality, easy to learn from, visually engaging reproductive health education materials. . #birth #labor #laboranddelivery #babybump #takebackbirth #pregnancy #pregnant #birthmatters #knowyouroptions #informedbirth #midwife #motherhood #parenthood #fatherhood #parenting #breastfeeding #chestfeeding #infantfeeding #bodyfeeding #postpartum #uterus #contractions #womb #birth #newborn #lactation See more

Maternal Health Niagara is a collective of professionals who support birthing people in the community of Niagara (and everywhere else virtually!) I can't even count how many times I have recommended the team of professionals at Maternal Health Niagara; clients, friends even strangers in Facebook communities! One of the key principals I believe makes the biggest difference in a person's pregnancy to postpartum journey is the 'village of support', or as Emily Pollock, Materna...l Health Niagara's founder likes to call it; the 'circle of support'. Having the right people to support you through your journey will make ALL THE DIFFERENCE to your experience as a parent! Maternal Health Niagara's team is always growing to better serve the community, and currently includes: 3 social workers, a pelvic floor physiotherapist, a Registered Nurse, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and a Sleep educator and parenting coach! *I also want to add, that although their name is *maternal* health, the collective is a 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming, safe space. The professionals are also provide trauma informed care, and are supportive of the BIPOC community. Check out Maternal Health Niagara's website for more information: www.maternalhealthniagara.ca #circleofsupport #findyourvillage #maternalhealth #parentalhealth #communityresourcespotlight