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lunamama & Après Baby

Postpartum Plans

4/25/2021

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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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Covid-19 Resources

3/28/2020

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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.

The College of Midwives of British Columbia has a dedicated covid-19 information page as does Mountain Maternity.  The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) has also released information regarding covid-19. 

The World Health Organization has common questions and answers regarding pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding:
WHO questions & answers for pregnant and breastfeeding/chestfeeding

I will be hosting a virtual La Leche League meeting on April 9th, please email lllsquamish@icloud.com for the Zoom link.

For all other inquiries please connect with me here. 

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GLOW Prenatal Retreat

2/12/2019

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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.
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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.
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Glow is an inclusive space.  All genders and gender expressions are welcome.  All variety of family types are welcome.
Tickets to Glow
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Breastfeeding Preparation Workshop

9/5/2018

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Date: October 16th, 2018
Time: 7pm
Location: #210, 38026 Second Ave. Squamish
​Cost: $28 per person 
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Give yourself the opportunity to create a postpartum plan that will support your transition into parenthood. Understand how to prepare for the early days with a breastfeeding baby. We will share information on what can be helpful for common challenges and how to get breastfeeding off to a good start. 
Register here
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. 
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Does Birth have to be Painful?!

5/16/2018

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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. 


Saturday, June 16th from 10am to 1pm
Grinning Weasel Photography Studio
38026 Second Ave. Squamish BC
​Cost $95
Register Here!
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Curious about Midwives?!

12/4/2017

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Before we were even pregnant with our first, I dragged my husband to a Midwifery Info Night in Vancouver. He obliged, as the partner of a fresh newly trained Doula, and was curious to find out what midwives do and how they support families. He was blown away by the amount of information we left with. If you are expecting, or plan to in the future, I would highly encourage you to start gathering information from care providers now. Our local midwives, Roots Community Midwives, are holding an information night and will be happy to answer all your questions about midwifery care. Join the midwives on December 13th at 7pm, 210-38026 Second Ave. (Grinning Weasel Photography Studio). RSVP to rootsadmin@rootsmidwives.ca
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World Doula Week,  March 22 - 28

3/22/2017

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What better time to celebrate this work than when the ground itself starts to show signs of new life. Spring equinox, return of fertility and of course...world Doula week. I don't really need a reason to celebrate this work, after-all, this work is my life, it's the kind of work that is all encompassing. And I love it. I get to witness new life coming into this world and the transformation of couples into parents and families growing by one (or two!) at a time. 

Someone asked me recently what I like about this work, they couldn't fathom the late night/early morning calls to births, the long hours, the not knowing when you get to sleep or eat or see your own family. I smiled, like birth itself, it's hard to explain the most tender moments that strike right into my heart and make it all worth while. Seeing the unbelievable strength of a birthing woman as they make it through transition, watching their partner see that same strength and be beyond proud...locking eyes with a laboring woman and not speaking a word but being able to translate to her that she's safe, she's strong, she's going to be alright. Seeing a new life emerge, watching the new parents in awe of their baby, supporting the first latch...these are just a few of the moments that keep the fire burning to continue doing this work. 
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Image credit: Bloom Business Solutions

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Why are childbirth preparation classes important?

1/17/2017

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My two cents on why just using the internet and reading some books on birth might not cut it when it comes to your labor and birth...

​As a mentor who leads childbirth preparation classes I definitely have a bias in thinking prenatal education is important, as a Doula, I find that families who have taken a prenatal class have more realistic expectations of labor and birth. In either role, it’s become more and more apparent to me that the key to this preparation is not just about learning the obstetrical events. Your care provider is there to monitor, guide and keep you and your baby safe, it’s important that THEY know these events inside and out. What’s important to the birthing family is how they will cope and how they will make it through. 

Like any major life event, it can be less daunting when you have an understanding of what it will be like and what will be asked of you. Labor, birth and early parenting ARE a major life event, so why do so many default to “we’ll take it as it comes”? Leaving this event up to chance is an option, and some people make this choice unknowingly. The idea of “letting it unfold as it needs to” without knowing about the possibilities of what labor requires of you adds an element of risk. There may be surprises that come up in your birth and you’ll need to make decisions that will affect you and your baby. Making these decisions in the middle of labor is hard enough, but having to decipher and process the information you are being given is A LOT to ask of a laboring family. 

And what about other sources of information like social media, TV and movies? How they portray labor and birth really depends on what they want the viewer to see and feel. Scenes of a laboring women are often dramatic and full of suspense. These theatrical scenes are not an accurate prediction of your individual labor. Unless you have the magical ability to write and execute your labor and birth like a movie script, then it’s worth looking into prenatal classes. 

The laboring parent is not the only one to benefit from childbirth preparation. Unless your partner has attended births before and taken some kind of doula training, they may feel a little lost and unsure of how to support you in labor. Classes can give partners an understanding of what happens and what can be helpful and useful for them to do during labor. Because they know you best and love you more than anyone else in the room, giving them some knowledge about labor and birth can increase their confidence and allow them to be more present with you during your birth.

Another great benefit of taking a prenatal class is the camaraderie with other expectant families in your community. You’ll most likely be seeing these same families in baby groups around town after your birth, wouldn’t it be nice to see a familiar face?  I welcome the families in my classes to support one another with meals for the early postpartum days or to gather after the babies are born. It’s never too soon to start building your village! These families can end up being friends for years to come!

There are options in how often you gather for classes, either a series of classes over a number of weeks, or a weekend immersion. I feel both are beneficial, the main difference is the time you have to take in the information. A weekly series allows your brain to take in smaller amounts of information at a time. The week in between the classes allows you to process and let that information settle, often prompting intelligent questions which help guide you in gathering the information that is important to your family. Weekend immersions can be intense, there’s a lot to learn in a limited amount of time, so I would encourage you to take notes and stay in touch with your instructor and fellow classmates should questions arise after the weekend is over. There are no limits to what we can learn about birth, if we went into detail with each piece we could spend years in prenatal classes! I’m always learning and I’ve been in birth work for many, many moons.

I look forward to answering questions about the classes I offer or recommending a class that seems better suited to your individual needs. Birthing From Within® classes are available in Squamish in both six week series and weekend immersions, class size is limited so register early to avoid disappointment. 

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    lunamama,
    ​Kimberly Daniels

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