Welcoming a new baby into the family is a momentous occasion, one that can be even more magical when older siblings are involved. Homebirth offers a unique and intimate setting where children can witness the miracle of birth in a safe and supportive environment. However, preparing older children for this experience requires thoughtful planning and open communication. Here’s how to ensure your older children are ready and supported when attending the upcoming homebirth of their sibling.
Birth, with its blend of anticipation and unpredictability, is a journey filled with moments of joy, challenge, and profound connection. However, the way birth is often portrayed in movies and TV shows can sometimes create unrealistic expectations.
Applying for midwifery care in Alberta?
Here are five tips to increase your chances of getting a spot…
The best thing about routine cervical exams?
You don't need them!
No really.
You don't need them to tell how far along a labour is.
Although it’s common to experience back and or pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy, it’s also possible to enjoy this incredible time of your life. Here are 5 simple tips to help you feel strong and healthy through your pregnancy and prepare your body for your best birth.
(Please enjoy this guest blog post from our Community Partner, Christine Dixon, Osteopath extraordinaire!
See her bio below for more info on Christine and how to book treatments with her.)
Osteopathy in Calgary (and most of Canada) is by no means a household term. I want to give you an introduction to what osteo is and what to expect out of a visit with me (stay tuned for my next blog post where I’ll explain in more detail the changes that happen to your body during pregnancy and how osteopathic treatment can help your body adapt to these changes ❤️).
I can’t count the number of times I’ve worked with clients who have a clear vision for their birth that would 100% be better supported by birthing at home (and conversely, has a high chance of being derailed by birthing in hospital) and yet they’re dead set on birthing in hospital anyway.
Pregnancy is a time of transition. With each passing week, your body works hard behind the scenes to accommodate your growing baby or babies. It may feel difficult or overwhelming to figure out what you can do to support this process. As a physiotherapist with a special interest in pelvic health, I am passionate about providing people with tools during and after pregnancy to feel their best physically and emotionally.
We can influence birth, but we can’t control it
What I mean is that there’re a lot of decisions that you can make in advance of birth that statistically affect outcomes on a population level. For example:
Choosing a midwife increases the chance that you’ll feel positively about your birth experience
Choosing to birth at home decreases the likelihood of experiencing birth interventions
Choosing to have a doula present at your birth reduces the chance you’ll use pain medications
Choosing which hospital you birth at affects your chances of having a cesarean birth
But none of the above are guarantees. When it comes to YOUR birth, you’re a sample size of one and either a thing happens, or it doesn’t.
Have you ever thought about what qualities you want in your medical care providers? What makes a care provider/patient relationship work for you?
If not, and you’re currently pregnant, now’s the time to ask yourself the following questions. In my experience, answering yes to these questions increases the likelihood that you’ll get respectful, nurturing care whether you’re with a midwife, OB, or family doctor for your birth.
I love attending home births - they’re often calm and cozy, even when labour gets intense. Here are my top tips for a great homebirth (most require prepping BEFORE labour but the last three can be done as early-labour-do tasks).
Welcoming a new baby into your family is a time of change and transformation. Because things are already shifting, it’s also a time that lends itself well to updating your rituals and traditions around the holidays.
There are many reasons we hold onto old rituals and traditions (you love them, social conditioning, passive aggressive family shenanigans, obligation) but it never hurts to take stock and see if what you’ve always done is still working for you now.
(Bonus, if your family or friends get weird about it, you can blame the baby. 😏)
Here are five questions to consider for building the type of holiday time that serves you and your family:
