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 excited to be presenting this workshop with Safe 'n Sound Squamish! Geared to birth workers and anyone working with expecting and new families, learn how to create a more inclusive practice for gender diverse  families. The workshop is free of charge however space is limited, registration is required. Register by emailing safensoundsquamish@gmail.com

My upcoming weekend immersion will complete my first year of mentoring Birthing From Within® childbirth preparation classes. Through Doula-ing and childbirth classes I feel privileged to have supported 83 families this year...and there's still another six weeks to go!

This is the time of year that I start spending more time reflecting and looking back on what has transpired. It's been another busy year of supporting expectant and newborn families. The addition of teaching prenatal classes has opened up an incredibly inspiring outlet for how I continue to serve local families. To say that I love mentoring my classes just doesn't do it justice. My Birthing From Within® classes have fuelled my desire to do more to support families in our community in a way that has taken over my birth work. Expectant families coming from all walks of life, working with all kinds of care providers, are coming together as a community to prepare and gather information for their  births. Having such a diverse group of families has benefits beyond lively conversations in class. Before they have their babies they are already starting to build a village of support with other folks who are all headed towards the same transition into parenthood. The benefits of creating a support network before birth can make the entire process less daunting just by knowing you're not the only one going through it! My desire to reach deeper into the community to support these families has only grown. From working with another local doula to offer free Doula Information Nights to cultivating growth in our local La Leche League group and spearheading the Breastpump Fundraiser for SGH, the volunteer hours I have put into this community have been richly satisfying. 

I am also very proud to be part of an interdisciplinary group who's goal is to improve care in the childbearing year for families in our community. The Sea to Sky Maternity Project has put out this survey for families who are currently pregnant or have birthed in the corridor in the past three years. Since the first step in improving care comes from understanding what needs to be changed, your participation is greatly appreciated.

Here's to another successful year ahead! Thank you for your support, Lunamama doula services wouldn't be where it is today without you!