 If you are going to write a plan while pregnant, write a postpartum plan.
Think about how you will be taken care of while you are consumed with your sweet new baby. In those early days, your main tasks are feeding and sleeping. All the other household chores, errands, and meals can be delegated to those well meaning family and friends. They want nothing more than to help… and maybe get a glimpse of the baby. Even with the current restrictions, they can still help by dropping off meals, taking your dog(s) out for a hike, pulling your garbage bins to the curb and back… Over a week, write down all the chores and errands done in and around your house, then put them on your postpartum plan. Hang that plan up or have it on your phone so when someone asks what they can do to help, send them your plan!
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 Stay in bed, snuggle a bit longer, and don't worry about putting on pants! Virtual doula visits mean you can relax in the comfort of your own home, cuddled up all nice and cozy. For well over a month now, I have been "visiting" my clients regularly with FaceTime and Zoom meetings. We have worked together to navigate how to learn comfort measures, the perfect hip squeeze, and discussed an endless number of possible scenarios for birthing in this fragile time. We have worked through common breastfeeding challenges, and I have ooo-ed and awe-ed at my laptop screen as if the baby was actually in arms reach. I am continually impressed with the families I am supporting and their ability to adapt and be great sports while I demonstrate exercises for optimal fetal positioning. Working with families at this time has pushed me beyond my comfort zone and allowed me to be more in tune with their experiences and the immense feeling of vulnerability. In the last month, we have managed a virtual La Leche League meeting, a weekend immersion of childbirth education classes, and countless home visits. I am grateful for technology and the connections I have with my clients. While so much is unpredictable right now, there is one thing that has been clear from the onset of this significant shift; the undeniable resilience of the families birthing during this time. I am blown away at your courage and continue to feel deeply honoured to be supporting you. Thank you. Stay safe. Stay home.  At this point, my clients have been receiving emails regarding doula support with the latest details as they become available. I have attended several virtual meetings and webinars to uncover as much information as I can for myself and my clients. Working closely with the North Shore Doulas through Zoom meetings, we are supporting one another so that we may support you. Our commitment to you all at this time is stronger than ever. Navigating this uncharted territory is not easy for any of us, but with information, support, and connection (albeit virtual), we are doing what we can in a very unpredictable time. The point of this post is not to give medical advice but rather to provide a starting point for gathering information so that you can make informed decisions about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. For specific protocols and policies, always speak to your care provider.
 March 12th will mark the fifth year of LLLC Squamish! When I started this venture into becoming a Leader, my vision was to have a thriving group that parents could rely on like I had when I first started attending LLL meetings. I had done volunteer work before, but this was a whole new level of commitment. Every month I plan and look forward to these meetings. Every month I leave those meetings feeling deeply satisfied. This community of parents and their willingness to show up, to share their stories (sometimes with intense vulnerability), and to support one another is beyond humbling. This has become so much than I thought it could be! Thank you to every one of you who has come to these gatherings, you make this work incredibly fulfilling! Meeting details: March 12th, 10:30am-12pm at The Squamish Academy of Music. 38121 Second Ave., Squamish, British Columbia No pre-registration required, meetings are always free and baby friendly! I am pretty darn excited to be part of this special event! On March 30th you will find us nestled in at the stunning Cheakamus Center preparing growing families to thrive through comprehensive workshops, building community and celebration with nourishing food! Glow is a prenatal day retreat set in an ancient cedar rainforest, aimed at: - Empowering and Inspiring confidence in expectant women and couples, - Guiding women and couples in creating personalized family plans to THRIVE into the "4th trimester" - Reclaiming birth as a sacred ceremony and celebration; dispelling fear and embracing trust - Celebrating life, birth, family and community. We will explore everything no one tells you about having a baby, including such topics as sleep, returning to intimacy, taking maternity leave, proper self care, baby care basics and more. Think beyond birth and prepare for the lifetime that follows it. Glow is an inclusive space. All genders and gender expressions are welcome. All variety of family types are welcome.  I always encourage my clients to learn more about pelvic floor health, and here's a great opportunity to do so! Lauren is as knowledgable as she is lovely! Her information night is coming up this Tuesday, the 4th. Door prizes and snacks to entice you even more. RSVP to lauren.lozinsky@lifemark.ca 
Workshop includes information on; how milk is made, how supply is set up, instincts and reflexes in parent and baby, latching and attaching baby at the breast, normal baby behaviour, common breastfeeding challenges and how to cope if they arise, local support resources, setting realistic expectations of the early weeks, and creating clear individual postpartum plans.
An ideal time to take in this workshop is anytime after 20weeks. Wow! I cannot thank you all enough! With the support from Squamish Hospital Foundation, Vairdy Photography, This is Beauty-AnnaMarie, Grinning Weasel Photography, Squamish Savings, and all the individual folks who supported this fundraiser directly or through one of our events...THANK YOU SO MUCH! THE PUMP HAS ARRIVED! It was no small feat! With a good dose of patience and support from Roots Community Midwives, Dr. Kim MacDonald our local OB-GYN, Mountain Maternity and nearly every OB nurse at SGH, there is now a brand new Medela Symphony Plus and trolley at Squamish General Hospital! Seeing first hand how quickly this community is growing, I knew we needed another pump and I am incredibly humbled and grateful to have made it happen!   I am very proud to be presenting this interactive workshop for expectant folks preparing for the reality of pain-coping in labor. Join Judy Mclaren, a certified Birthing From Within® Childbirth Educator, seasoned Doula, owner of Dancing Star Birth and an integral member of Vancouver’s birth community for over 12 years, to discover and understand your perception of pain in childbirth. Gain confidence in your ability to cope with the intensity of labor and birth while exploring the pain coping mindset in preparation for the transition into parenthood. 
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