It’s the time of year where holiday gift guides are coming out and I wanted to chime in with my recommendations for the new parent. What’s different about this gift guide? After a baby shower, and spending months preparing for a new baby, the last thing a brand new parent needs is more *stuff* to organize. This gift guide focuses on things (mostly services) that will enhance the delicate time after giving birth and make life easier for sleep deprived parents. 1. Pre-paid postpartum doula services Postpartum doula services are a great christmas gift for a new parent! Postpartum doulas…

Today I’m sharing a collection of birth-related posts written by my friends and colleagues that I think are beautifully written and really touch on some great topics related to pregnancy, birth and doula support. I hope you enjoy! 1. “The best thing I bring to your birth” by Jen LeClair First up I want to share this beautiful post written by my friend Jen LeClair of Mama Bear Doula Care. Her post “The Best Thing I Bring to your Birth” is so great– because it really gets to the heart of doula work, which can be done with or without our bags of…

A question I get asked often about postpartum is “when can I leave my baby to get a hair cut/have a massage/have some quiet time/visit with my friends and how do I do it?” The answer to that question will be very different for every parent, but in general you can feel free to step out whenever you feel ready to do so. The timing will be different for everyone based on your comfort level and your baby’s temperament. Some parents will go out for shorter periods of time soon after baby is born, and some will choose to stay…

Today I was deeply saddened to hear that Kate Spade a beloved designer took her own life. She was 55. I always feel a tremendous sense of loss when I hear about anyone taking their own lives. Suicide is extremely tragic and complex, always leaving a deep sadness in my heart for the person who struggled for so long. Being both a mother and an entrepreneur like myself, this struck close to home. I have experienced both tremendous joy and loneliness as a mom and entrepreneur. Since beginning my journey as a mother 5 years ago, I have gone through…

What do I really need for baby??? Are you asking yourself this question right now as you walk the aisles at your local baby store? Has a feeling of overwhelm set in as you think about the hundreds of dollars you feel you need to spend now that you’re getting ready to welcome your little one? Which stroller to buy, which crib, how much gear? Swing, bouncer, jumper?? How do you decide? How do you do it all on a budget? I’m here to help with that! Unfortunately aggressive marketing really pushes the need to get every piece of equipment…

Welcome to the first in my monthly blog series meeting with local practitioners in Peel Region. The first interview I did was in January with Dr. Blake Broker, a local chiropractor in Brampton. (Forgive the lateness of the actual post since my family was ill for weeks after the meeting). He is trained in the Webster Technique, which is a series of adjustments used specifically in pregnancy to help optimize the mother’s pelvic function and is often recommended to mothers with breech babies. Dr. Blake and his wife Justine Blainey founded The Justine Blainey Wellness Center together, located here in Brampton and…

As a birth worker, I talk about labour and birth all the time. I work with clients to create birth plans to help prepare for the big day. Yet, there is little time spent preparing for after baby arrives, when you are healing from birth, tired and sore, all while caring for a brand new human! So, I thought I would share some tips here on how you can prepare to have a great postpartum period. 1. Fill your Freezer. I cannot emphasize the importance of delicious nutritious foods in your freezer before your baby arrives enough. Sure, you might…