Maple Ridge Doula

Baby, Belly and Kid Show

March 18, 2014

I was asked to host a table at the Belly, Baby and Kid Show at the Act in Maple Ridge. It was first a shock that someone knew who I was to contact me. I started my little business formally in May 2013. That’s when my website and blog went up and when I decided to try and turn this passion into a career. So for me to know in less than a year I have a) made enough money to afford a table and b) get recognized in the community makes me very proud I followed my heart.

Besides over 40 vendors a few other things are happening…

-interactive family fun zone
-stage performers (dance, karate, magician)
-mini seminars (sleep consultant and nutritionist)
-the Easter bunny!
-queen Elsa is visiting
-200 swag bags

Come out to support local businesses in our community and to spend time with family and friends.

Oh, and don’t forget to come by and say Hi… Maybe buy an essential oil or book a birth doula interview. My and my assistant will ready to help you!

How to choose the right Doula?

February 19, 2014

The doula interview is an important step in hiring the right doula for your family. A doula is a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth. As a parent looking to hire someone to be there for emotional comfort You need to feel like you connect and this is hard in an hour.

Do your research– Read their website, follow them on facebook… do they blog? Read it. Do this all before you meet them… Educate yourself on what they do and get a feel for them online. Do they swear like a sailor? maybe you do too… Then it could be a good match, if not maybe you need find another doula.

Have a list of questions— “What is your training?” “How many births?” “How do you handle stress?” “When do you go on call?” “How would you work with me and my partner?” “Do you have a back up doula?” These are all pretty common ones I get often but I love the ones like “do you like garlic? because I cant handle garlic at all” “my husband can’t handle blood so so how will you keep him busy” Listen to the answers, are they genuine, are you connecting with them?

Don’t hold back– It may feel awkward to discuss intimate details about your feelings and plans for birth within minutes of meeting someone but to a doula it is natural. Open up, let loose and say what you really feel. because in birth, there is no holding back.

Reflect— What is helpful for you when you are stressed? What brings you back and grounds you? Does this doula sound like she has those skills? Do they match your needs?

Do you like them? Really, you need to like them. if you find them annoying how are you going to feel 24 hours in on the big day?

Choose your Doula– Sit down and have a frank discussion with your partner. lay it all out and see listen to each other. Both of you will have an active part in the birth, so you both need to feel comfortable.

have you like my Facebook Page? https://www.facebook.com/RidgeMeadowsDoulaServices

Essential Oils for Healing

February 18, 2014

So, when I’m not at a birth, helping a mom postpartum, encapsulating a placenta, being a mom or a wife or working full time…. Phew, I decided to distribute Essential Oils For Healing.

Now this is not something I thought i was going to do, it was actually something that was relativly new to me. Not until I was pregnant in 2009 did I learn more about Essential Oils and the benefits. I’ve since used them in cleaning products, in my cloth wipes, in baths, in diffusers, orally, topically…. (and probably more). I’ve decided to write a few ways I use them in my day to day life.

Diffusing

If you asked my husband he would say my new favorite past time is researching diffusers and then purchasing them. Well, partially true, I have 3 very different diffusers. I have one that is a plug in (think Glade without chemicals, only pure essential oils) and I have a candle diffuser (I think its about 15 years old from the Body Shop, but it’s a goody) and lastly my most prized possession is a cold air humidifying diffuser.

These allow me to diffuse my favorite scents (right now eucalyptus, lavender and grapefruit). Some are for healing– (I have a nasty cold right now and the eucalyptus helps my nostrils do their job properly). And some are for air freshener– our bathroom smells like grapefruits, better than what it has smelled like in the past.

My Every Day Cleaner

When I was pregnant I started reading labels of household cleaners and freaking out a bit. So many chemicals! To make me less paronoid I started concocting my own cleaning products. After many attempts I think I perfected my everyday cleaner. Here is a simple one I use on a regular basis.

4 cups of water

1/4 cup vinegar

20 drops or tea tree oil

1 tbs castile soap

Home Made Bum Wipe Solution

This is so simple and much easier and healthier for your baby. No nasty ingredients you can’t read or pronounce.

–Roll up your soft cotton wash cloths and place in a wipes warmer

–add 2 cups of warm water

–5 drops of Tea Tree Oil

–1 tablespoon of coconut oil

What do you use Essential Oils for?

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Happy Birthday and happy day YOU birthed!

January 10, 2014

Never did I realize the importance of birthdays until I brought a child into this world. January 11 2010 was the day I birthed my daughter. Did you catch that? the day I birthed her. Where is my cake and party hat? Who is pampering me as I wipe away hidden tears because my baby is 4 years old? Is there at least wine when she goes to bed at night?!

I am making a choice to celebrate birthdays for the parents…

For the dads that walked blocks and blocks with their wives (ME!) who were 42 weeks pregnant and were trying everything to encourage their babies to slide down the birth canal, for the dads that applied pressure on all the aches of labour and for the dads that learned quickly that love is meant to be expressed with kisses, cuddles and silly voices.

For the moms that carried children inside them for 10 months, for the moms that changes their eating habits for their child because of heartburn, Gestational Diabetes or to just eat clean, for the moms who sat in the dark at 2 in the morning breastfeeding a newborn every 1-2 hours while in tears because they were wondering if they are going to be a good mom.

I celebrate you! Happy Day you birthed!

***Feel free to share this post with all your friends and families that are celebrating the day they birthed… they will appreciate your awareness***

December Promotion!

December 4, 2013

I am offering Placenta Encapsulation FREE if you book your Birth Doula Service with me. Value of $150

To redeem this deal- please email [email protected] and tell me how you heard about this deal.

*50% Birth Service Investment must be paid by January 30th 2014