Labour Support
Just as every athlete needs a coach, every birthing woman needs the right support to help her through the most difficult physical and emotional transition of her life. While many people believe Doula services are a new, luxury option for expectant women and families, the role of a Doula has existed for as long as women have! In today's society, the reality of having a "village" to support you during childbirth and parenting is becoming more and more rare, while its necessity is becoming more apparent! Doulas are filling this unfortunate gap in society by providing the support that all women deserve during this special time in their lives. Hiring a Doula does not ensure that your birth will go exactly how you planned, but it is a huge step towards ensuring that you are heard, respected, and empowered during the most vulnerable hours and days of your life.
From the very beginning of labour, through to the birth of your beautiful baby, I will be there to support and guide you both emotionally and physically, while helping you make informed decisions that are in line with your original 'birth plan'. Childbirth is not just an emotionally vulnerable time for birthing women, but for their partners and family as well. I will be there to offer emotional support, helpful information and guidance to partners, so that the burden of being the primary support person is lifted off their shoulders and they can more fully enjoy the experience. All seriousness aside, childbirth can also be a time for laughter and the making of wonderful, happy memories! Together, we can create an experience that you will LOVE to look back on, and a story that you will never get sick of sharing!
From the very beginning of labour, through to the birth of your beautiful baby, I will be there to support and guide you both emotionally and physically, while helping you make informed decisions that are in line with your original 'birth plan'. Childbirth is not just an emotionally vulnerable time for birthing women, but for their partners and family as well. I will be there to offer emotional support, helpful information and guidance to partners, so that the burden of being the primary support person is lifted off their shoulders and they can more fully enjoy the experience. All seriousness aside, childbirth can also be a time for laughter and the making of wonderful, happy memories! Together, we can create an experience that you will LOVE to look back on, and a story that you will never get sick of sharing!
Postpartum Support
Have you spent so much time thinking about the birth of your baby that you haven't yet started to think about what comes next!? The postpartum period, often referred to as 'The Fourth Trimester' is such a wonderful, but also trying time in your lives as you settle in to new routines and establish new identities as parents. If you have other children at home, you may feel more at ease in some ways, and more anxious in others. Even if you have a 'perfect' birth experience, your body needs time to heal and your heart needs time to adjust. Add in the hormone crash and you've got yourself a recipe for some overwhelming emotions in the days following birth. This period of time requires absolute patience, from your family, your partner, your children, and most importantly, yourself! Support is essential for your mental and physical well-being as you find your new normal and get to know the new you!
The support I provide during the postpartum period can be entirely determined by you! If you know what you need, great! Often times, however, new parents (mothers especially) feel so tired and overwhelmed that they don't even know what they need. If this is the case, we will talk about how you are feeling and what the biggest challenge is for you right now, and I will step in to help in the area that I think you need it most. This could include housework, breastfeeding support, babysitting (my favourite!) while you get some rest or catch up on some alone time with your partner or other children, providing information or referrals to services that could be useful to you, or even just lending an ear. Whether you use my services or not, make sure you ask for help when you need it!
The support I provide during the postpartum period can be entirely determined by you! If you know what you need, great! Often times, however, new parents (mothers especially) feel so tired and overwhelmed that they don't even know what they need. If this is the case, we will talk about how you are feeling and what the biggest challenge is for you right now, and I will step in to help in the area that I think you need it most. This could include housework, breastfeeding support, babysitting (my favourite!) while you get some rest or catch up on some alone time with your partner or other children, providing information or referrals to services that could be useful to you, or even just lending an ear. Whether you use my services or not, make sure you ask for help when you need it!
Night Nanny
Your ability to function, not only as a parent but as a person in general, is directly affected by sleep (we all know this). Welcoming a new baby into your lives, while full of exciting new adventures, will undoubtedly reduce the amount of sleep you get and the quality of that sleep. While you may find yourself functioning on less sleep without issue during the early postpartum days, while your adrenaline is still surging and the novelty of having a new baby is still fresh, sleep deprivation will eventually wear you thin and can affect not only your mood, but your health as well. If you find yourself struggling, or better yet, BEFORE you find yourself struggling, hiring overnight support can make a HUGE difference for you and your family. I will come to your home at 10pm and stay until 6am, taking over nighttime feedings/changing for the entire night so you can catch up on some rejuvenating sleep (yes, it is actually possible to 'catch up' on lost sleep!). Every parent will experience sleep deprivation whether they hire support or not, it is part of the job description, but suffering can and should be avoided whenever possible. Do not hesitate to admit that you need a little extra support, we all do sometimes! If you are unsure, reach out to me and we can discuss your concerns and customize a plan that suits your needs. I'm here to help!
Belly Binding
Belly Binding is the Malaysian practice of binding a postpartum woman's abdomen (often referred to as "closing the bones") to promote faster recovery, comfort and support to her healing womb. The wrap, made of 100% cotton fabric, is tightly bound from just below the woman's hips to just below her chest. This helps to support her abdominal muscles, improves posture, supports loose ligaments and hips, and helps her organs return to their pre-pregnancy position. Women typically keep their bellies bound for 4-10 hours per day, depending on their comfort level, and continue to bind daily for the first 40 days postpartum. A warming paste, made with spices such as turmeric and cinnamon, can also be applied directly onto the belly to create a warm, soothing sensation beneath the wrap. Belly Binding and warming paste are not be recommended for women recovering from a C-section until they have been medically cleared by their doctor, usually around 6 weeks.
My standard belly binding service includes one in-home postpartum wrapping session to teach you how to bind yourself. The bind is yours to keep for future uses! Warming paste is optional. I can also provide a 5 day service to those looking for some extra support.
** If you are interested in the Belly Binding service, please let me know as soon as possible as each wrap is specialty ordered**
My standard belly binding service includes one in-home postpartum wrapping session to teach you how to bind yourself. The bind is yours to keep for future uses! Warming paste is optional. I can also provide a 5 day service to those looking for some extra support.
** If you are interested in the Belly Binding service, please let me know as soon as possible as each wrap is specialty ordered**
Birth Photography
During your labour and delivery, I am happy to take photos using your device or mine for no additional fee. If, however, you would like some higher quality, printable photos to commemorate the event, I can help you kill two birds with one stone! Since I will be doing double duty, and my primary job is to support you, the amount of photos may be limited and therefore my fee will be less than the average cost of birth photography. While I am not a trained photographer, I have worked as a freelance lifestyle photographer, before focusing on birth photography, where I discovered another true passion! Below is a sample of some of my work. It would be my privilege to not only support, but to capture your birth as well!
Surrogate Support
Surrogacy is such a wonderful gift to give, not only to intended parents, but to yourself! There are so many fun and exciting milestones along the journey, but there are also some heavy emotions and potential challenges that can come along with the experience of giving life to others. If you are on this journey, it means you have a heart for giving, and often those who are good at giving are not so good at receiving. If there is ever a time to accept extra support and love in your life, it is now! As an experienced surrogate myself, I have walked this path that you are on and I can appreciate your joy and your fears in a way that is difficult for anyone who has not experienced this before. Even if you are experienced with pregnancy, birth and postpartum, the experience of being a surrogate is completely unique and you will need unique support to navigate it. I will be there during your pregnancy to answer any questions you may have about the surrogacy process and help you prepare for delivery. I can offer helpful suggestions for communicating with Intended Parents and accompany you to your prenatal appointments if you would like support. During delivery, I will be there to support you physically and emotionally, as well as to support your Intended Parents as they prepare to welcome their baby! After delivery, I can help you adjust physically, as well as help your Intended Parents learn the ropes with feeding, diapering and handling in that first special hour. I will follow up with you 1-2 weeks after the birth to debrief, discuss your feelings and make sure you are adjusting well to this new, and sometimes confusing experience. If you require help with light housework while you are healing, I can help with that too!
