Ridge Meadows Doula Services

The Elite Doula Collective (Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows and beyond!)

Research Shows The Effectiveness of Doulas

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A 2011 study from the Cochrane Collaboration Pregnancy and Childbirth Group showed clear evidence for the effectiveness of doulas in creating positive birth outcomes.

Hiring a doula is part of creating a birth you are happy with, asking questions, trusting your care provider and informed consent are all pieces to the pie. Research does indicate…

 

 

 

 

fewer medical interventions
less vacuum/forcep delivery
less analgesic use
less Cesarean Births
report more positive birth experience

25 things you didn’t know about Allison

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1. I am a procrastinator. I was supposed to send this list in yesterday.
2. I live in yoga pants/tights. Since having kids I’ve only owned one pair of jeans. It’s either a special occasion or laundry day if you see me in them!
3. I have a garden growing on my coffee table, dining room table, couch table, and kitchen counters. We purchased a lot of seeds this year, and saved a lot from last year. I can’t wait for everything to move out into the ground in May!
4. I’m the youngest of 3 girls. My oldest sister grew up with the office as her bedroom. (Surprise! Birth control isn’t 100% effective, and so I exist thanks to shotty Trojans!)
5. My daughter is a new years baby! (Not the very first of the year, but she was close in 2010)
6. I’ve caught a baby at a birth and it was an incredible experience. I didn’t sleep for 2 days from all the excitement after.
7. I’m currently doing some GPA upgrading so I can apply to midwifery when my kids start school full time.
8. I hold my pen incorrectly. Not quite in a full fist, but certainly not the way they wanted me to hold it in school. I have horrible hand writing because of it!
9. I hate computers. I’ll write everything out by hand over typing it any day. I have tons of notebooks all around my house with lists in them. It doubles the work for me when it’s something that has to be typed up after, but I always write it out first anyway
10. I’m a kind of sort of vegetarian. I’ve tried a lot of different diets out in my life and I keep going back to meat free, I don’t mind cooking it and I love eating meat, but I find my body feels better without it. (although, you’ll see me sneaking some steak from my husband’s plate in BBQ season, and I always eat turkey at Christmas!)
11. My husband and I have a goal of owning a farm. The full deal with greenhouses and animals. I want to live off my own land completely. He thinks if I don’t go into midwifery I should learn to spin my own wool after doing my own shearing and knit scarves and toques to sell at farmer’s markets when we get there!
12. I can’t knit. I started a dish towel 2 years ago and have yet to complete it!
13. I tried to get married in lululemon shorts. My husband and I got married this past September after a lot of years and 2 kids together. I wanted to do it 6 days after we decided on it, in our living room with just our witnesses there. My aunt (a marriage commissioner) was out of town that week so we had to wait, which resulted in telling our parents about it. That spiraled quickly into the rest of our families finding out. I got a lot of pressure to wear a dress so finally folded and bought one. We got married on the beach in Golden Ears park 5 weeks after and came back to our yard for UBrew beer and appies. (I changed into my lulu’s at 6pm when we went to the casino!)
14. I love pop. I try to be crunchy and live naturally. We eat mostly organic and GMO free, but there is ALWAYS pepsi or gingerale in the house.
15. I’ve never owned an automatic vehicle. Even though I’ve had 2 brand new cars, both have been standard. (and my new to me beater at 17 was standard too!)
16. If I never wrorried about money I would buy our farm tomorrow and have 4 more kids.
17. I hate kale. The whole kale thing drives me nuts. It’s easy to grow, it’s healthy and there are so many great products out there made with it. I’ve tried so hard to love it but I think it’s disgusting.
18. I own enough cloth diapers to cover all the little bums in a 5 block radius. If something terrible happens to me, please don’t let me husband sell them for what I told him I’ve spent on them. They’re worth A LOT more.
19. I play video games. Years ago I thought I was the best girlfriend a guy could ask for. I bought a playstation 3 for Stu’s 30th birthday gift. (it had just come out) I quickly realized that was a bad idea, and that if I wanted to spend any time with him I’d have to do it playing video games. With life and kids I don’t have much time anymore, but I’ll still skip cleaning the kitchen once in awhile to sit with him and play when the kids are in bed.
20. I don’t exercise and never have. I had a gym membership 10 years ago and went twice. I played a lot of sports growing up and have never gotten the satisfaction of exercising alone. I need to competition to motivate me.
21. I consider myself a feminist. I’m all for equality and nothing being any particular sex’s role, but I won’t take out the garbage. It was something I watched my father do each week growing up, and it’s engrained in me that it’s my husband’s job. (It’s also driven it in that children are really affected by what they see rather than what they’re told!)



25 things you didn’t know about Nicole

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1- Last year I went gluten and dairy free because my daughter was diagnosed with Celiac Disease (I feel amazing!)

2- at only 5’1 I play co-ed volleyball 2-3 times a week 3- I’m American, born in Indiana

4-I proposed to my husband and he took my last name

5-I was married in April because I love Cherry Blossoms

6- A good cup of coffee can solve just about anything

7- I’m a children who witness abuse counsellor in my other job

8-I’m a certified car seat technician

9- My mother-in-law lives with us and we get along!!

10- There is often a concert happening in my living room, my daughter and husband will be in a band one day, I just know it!

11- We have a Labradoodle puppy named Luna

12- I am a new age hippie (or that’s what my husband calls me) I like to garden, make tinctures and salves and try and heal most illnesses with homeopathics, herbs or Essential Oils.

13- I’m a beach gal, give me warm sand and an ocean any day.

14-My daughter was born at 42 weeks, induced and born in a hospital (we had planned for a home birth)

15- I collect buttons, all shapes and sizes. For what you ask? I don’t know yet!

16- I love beets, pickled beets, beet salad, roasted beets, beets in smoothies… Any and all ways

17-I breastfed my daughter for 31 months. It got easier, but the first 6 weeks I didn’t know if I would continue at all.

18- I LOVE placentas. Really! Before I process them, I stare at the complexities of the veins. They are referred to as the tree of life and I truly value the placenta as the life line.

19- I had cervical cancer in 2011 and had a hysterectomy in 2012.

20- I have a mad addiction to Grey’s Anatomy… Who’s idea was it to put a dozen seasons on Netflix?!

21- I could spend any sunny afternoon in the back yard with my husband, daughter and dog. Gardening, playing soccer, climbing the apple tree and giggling.

22-My husband is an actor and I spend many, many, many evenings watching improv.

23- I am not afraid to speak up, be an advocate or voice my concern when needed.

24- I want to feed my family as natural and organic as I can, but ice-cream (yes, im dairy free…. mostly) is my weakness.

25- I find peace in mandalas. I love them so much I have a tattoo on one on my shoulder (and 3 other tattoos!)

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Mothers Day 20130714-212809.jpg

Happy Mother’s Day

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I have invited 6 moms with children age 7 months-32 years old to take part in this questionnaire. Mothering is more than giving birth as  one mother has an adopted child and mothering isn’t always smiles as one mother has lost her son shortly after birth.  Mothering is something very special, emotional and loads of hard work and I would bet it doesn’t end when your child graduates, gets married or even sleeps through the night!

 

These moms are all special to me and I’m proud to have them impacting the way I mother my daughter. I appreciate all their emotions and heart filled answers.

nicolesig

1)How old are you children/child?
– 7 months NH
-Children are 3 years and twins at 5 months. LA
-4.5, 2.5 and pregnant LB
-I have 2 boys (16 and 18) years old. MB
– 18 3/4 SD
-23 and 32 LM
im 1
2) My family is…
-My everything NH
– One of the most important things in my life. LA
-Growing LB
-Better together. MB
-Amazing SD
-The most important thing to me LM
nicole
3) Bedtimes are…
– Snuggles, warmth and love NH
-Bedtimes are a relief and often don’t come fast enough LA
-Late LB
-A time when I have the best and deepest, most meaningful conversations with my kids…still my favourite time of the day.MB
-Random….(He’s almost 19….and puts himself to bed.  If I were still in charge he would get the “proper” amount of sleep needed for this age group.) SD
-Early and getting earlier it seems LM
love daddy
4) meal times are…
-Messy and fun. Experimentation NH
-Loud and chaotic LA
-Interesting with 20% on the floor LB
-Far too rushed with work and sports schedules but strive to eat together MB
-Regular, we like to sit down as a family and eat dinner together SD
-A time to reconnect LM
meal time
5) One mommy moment that stands out to me is…
-When baby first kissed me NH
-Hearing my son talk to his sisters and telling them all the things they will do together when they are bigger. LA
-When I gave birth to my son and felt an instant, overwhelming bond you can only understand when you are a mother. LB
-Earlier this year my 18 year old shared with me what he was submitting for his personal grad write up in his high school yearbook…it was a tribute to me as his mom and what I have meant to him…he fell into me crying as I read it…which in turn had me crying…great pair we are!!! MB
-The day our son arrived.  I felt so happy and amazed that this incredible child would be my son. SD
-Camping trips singing in the car, being there through all their childhood illnesses and hurts; emotional and physical ones, first days of school, last days of school, dinners that flopped (I am remembering the failed salmon loaf recipe), pants that were too short, too long, too old, too loose, too tight or too great to take off to wash, friends and then girlfriends/boyfriends, soccer and scouts and blue hair dye and laughter and tears and all the things that make up a life LM
babywearing
6) How often to do you recall your birthing experience?
-Never, I don’t remember it NH
-Whenever a friend has a baby LA
-Almost everyday- LB
-On my kids birthdays, whenever a friend or family member has a baby, at milestones my kids have reached over the years…and sometimes when I walk into their rooms late at night and see these young men sound asleep in their beds…I kneel by their bedside and say a prayer of thankfulness for them. MB
-Never SD
-Occasionally, always on my children’s birthdays I tell them the story of their birth LM
hospital
7) How do you feel on your child’s birthday?
–I don’t know yet! NH
-I feel excited and reflective LA
-It’s different for each child. because my son passed away after his birth I have a mixture of emotions.  Sadness over the loss and that I couldn’t protect him. Mindful of how far we have come as a family. Thankful for the time I held him in my womb and a sense of wonder what it would be like when we meet again.  For my daughter I feel joy that I get to watch her grow and blessed that we have her here. LB
-give me cause to be incredibly joyful and thankful…as well as a little melancholic knowing my time living under the same roof is coming to a close. MB
– Amazed (and a little sad) that the time has gone so fast. SD
-Grateful that I know this amazing person LM
2nd Bday
8)  Mothering is…
-Amazing NH
-Intuition, patience and a lot of prayer. LA
-A journey, I learn something new everyday. LB
-my greatest accomplishment, joy, calling and challenge in life…nothing could ever compare to the satisfaction I have in being a mom MB
-A  beautiful responsibility that is colored by blessing after blessing SD
-A privilege LM
mamas
9) For Mother’s Day I would love…
-A quiet day with my family NH
-I would love to sleep in and spend some time at the spa! LA
-To be with my family LB
-I would love to have a nap and not have to cook dinner for my mom and mother-in-law every year…none of the men in my life can cook!!! MB
-A conversation SD
-to be with my family LM
sleep
10) My favorite Mother’s Day was…
-This one is my first! NH
-I loved when my husband made a homemade card from my son. LA
-The first one with my daughter to hold LB
-My very first one as a mom…I couldn’t have been prouder or more honoured to have been given the privilege of being a mom…still stands to this day! MB
-Last year.  I got a homemade care with amazing words of affirmation about my motherhood from my son.  I thought I might have actually done a few things right…. SD
-Too many to name just one LM
Mothers Day
happy Mother’s Day to all the Mother’s out there!

How to make a Placenta Diaper Cake

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Diaper cakes are trendy right? Tiered diapers stacked up elegantly with beautiful ribbons and baby good attached. This center piece for many babies showers in the last decade is a statement. One to give recognition to the creator who hand sculpted this beauty. As I was deciding what to get for a friend for her baby shower, I thought about her love (for my love) of placentas. Really it left me one option. I MUST MAKE A placenta diaper cake. I searched on Pinterest and couldn’t find a DIY so I’ve decided to make my own “Do It Yourself placenta Diaper Cake”

 

 

Supplies Needed:
-50 pack of diapers
-50 small elastic bands
-Round shallow bowl
-Red tissue paper
-Red ribbon
-Red streamers
-clear tape
-A love of placentas

Step 1- Roll up diapers and place a small elastic band around to secure them

Step 2- Line the bowl with red tissue paper, not too neat, stick tape where ya need to….

Step 3- Place diapers in bowl, it’s a little tricky balancing, but keep adding diapers until they are tight together.

Step 4- Ok, now we are making the veins of the placenta. Remember a placenta is called the tree of life, so spread out the red ribbon in a tree like formation. This step also requires the supply “a love of the placenta”. You know that placenta you have in your fridge? The one you are waiting to get in the dehydrator after the kids are in bed? Use the visual as a frame of reference and make a beautiful tree of life.

Step 5- take another piece of tissue paper and twist it up, this will be your umbilical cord. Using the streamers, wrap it around the twisty cord from the top towards the bottom. Secure both sides with tape. Now tape it to the bowl (near the base of the ribbons/veins)

TA-DA! Here we go, a unique conversation starter.

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Placenta Encapsulation Request Form

 

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Childbirth Education Request Form

 

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