Author Archives: angela j

How to find the right doula for you!

Posted by Oct 17, 2019 Birth, Burlington Doula, Doula, Happiness, health, motherhood, Oakville, Oakville Doula, parenthood, parenting, Pregnancy, Prenatal Yoga Leave a Comment
How to find the right doula for you!

Perhaps you have done some research or spoken to friends and family who have used a doula for their birth and you are now convinced that having doula support is right for you and your partner. Now what?! Maybe you have googled ‘Birth doula near me’ and don’t know where to start. Here are some tips to help you find the doula that is the best fit for you.

Start by making a list of the qualities you are looking for in your doula in order of priority. For example; experience, knowledge, friendly, philosophies, etc. This list should be fluid as you may find once you start interviewing, some of the qualities you initially thought were the most important suddenly are not. 

Ask around for referrals. Ask friends, co-workers, family members or other trusted individuals who have first hand experience with a doula in your community. This is a great place to start, however, the qualities that were most important to them may not be the same for you. Not every doula is right for every person, so know that you will have to make a decision based on who is right for you. 

Save time by searching online. If you have some leads or do not have any leads, the internet can be a massive time saver. Most doulas have websites or social media pages. Check them out. Read their content. Does it resonate with you? If you find their words speak to you then maybe it’s time to follow up with an email. 

Are you price sensitive? If so, it might make sense to ask for rates upfront that way if a doula’s rates are out of reach for you, save your time and theirs by continuing your search. Keep in mind that some doulas offer their rates on a sliding scale which means they are open to negotiating a lower rate (not everyone is comfortable doing this). Depending on the area that you live in you can expect to pay between 700-1300 for a birth doula. Doulas who are still certifying generally charge a bit less than those who have graduated so that could be an option as well. 

Set up some interviews. Most doulas offer a complimentary in person or phone call interview to see if there is a mutual fit. If you have a partner they should also participate in this interview. This is your opportunity to ask the questions that matter to you and get a general feel if there is a good connection. Recently I was asked during one of these interviews which qualities I thought were most important in finding the right doula. My answer was ‘CONNECTION’! Birth is such an intimate time and you want to feel comfortable and supported by your doula. Go with your intuition. You may find that even though a doula may not have a ton of years of experience, she might make you feel warm and taken care of and be the right fit for you. 

Us doulas recognize that we are not always the best fit for each person, do not feel bad if you have to keep looking. It’s best to let those that you interview know as soon as possible that you have decided not to hire them. Once you have found the doula for your unique birth team you will know! Best of luck with your search!

My visit to a pelvic floor physiotherapist

Posted by Sep 26, 2019 yoga Leave a Comment
My visit to a pelvic floor physiotherapist

As a doula and a yoga teacher, I am always touting the benefits of seeing a pelvic floor physiotherapist after birth and beyond. I, myself, have training in core training and healing after birth. However, a pelvic floor physio has specialized training and they can assess individuals holistically. That is why I always recommend people book an appointment after birth, when there is consistent pain, incontinence, or just as a check-up. Since it has been over ten years since I last gave birth, I decided it was time for my pelvic check-up. I thought it might be helpful for some if I recount what it was like and how it has helped me.

Make sure you investigate your physiotherapist beforehand. They should have specialized training beyond basic physiotherapy. You should feel comfortable around them as your treatments will involve an internal exam. Ask friends for a recommendation. You do not need a doctor referral and your treatments fall under physiotherapy if you have extended health benefits.

And, the question that is on most people’s minds….No need for a fresh wax down there. Your physiotherapist is a professional and doesn’t care if you are bare or au naturel.

Your first appointment will be an hour in length. You will start with a chat about your current health and history. This is the time to communicate anything that has been going on that is affecting you and perhaps your sexual health. Tell her everything. It’s surprising how our overall health is affected by our pelvis! She will ask you about pain during intercourse and various other questions designed to guide her exam and treatment plan. My advice, be honest. She has probably heard it all, she won’t judge, she just wants to help!

Your physiotherapist will then explain what the internal exam will be like. This is not like a pap test. There is no speculum and it should not hurt. She is gently feeling for anything that is abnormal, like tension or weakness. She will leave the room while you remove your bottoms and lay on a bed with a small sheet covering your lower half. You will bend your knees up with the sheet still on you. She is always asking for permission when her touch changes and you can refuse anything at any time. In fact, the internal exam is optional. She can treat you without it if you so wish. She will ask you to move a bit while she is examining you, a crunch, sit-up, leg lift, might be some of the movements she asks you to do. She may ask you to cough a few times to see how your inner core muscles activate when needed.

Once the exam is complete. Your physio will leave the room and give you time to dress. She will come back in and give you an idea of what is happening in your body and some exercises you can do at home. She may suggest another visit as a follow up. It doesn’t usually take more than a couple of visits before you see an improvement in your symptoms.

Robyn and Jenny at Your Ebb and Flow in Burlington are amazing and I feel privileged to know them both and to have been treated by Jenny. I do have other people I refer to in other areas if you need a recommendation. Stop putting this off and book an appointment. You will be so glad you did!

My son’s birth

Posted by Jul 12, 2019 Birth, Burlington Doula, Doula, Happiness, health, kids, motherhood, Oakville, Oakville Doula, parenthood, parenting, Pregnancy, Prenatal Yoga Leave a Comment
My son’s birth

Today is my son’s 10th birthday. It feels surreal that ten years has passed so quickly. It seems like just yesterday we welcomed him. I have decided to share his birth story to honour this day.

It was 2009 and I was due on July 9th. It was hot, I was big (baby was estimated to be a full pound bigger than my first) and my midwife kept saying she thought I would go early. So when my due date came and went I was feeling like he was never going to come. I had an active 23 month old daughter so laying around in a cool, air conditioned home wasn’t really an option. At two days overdue we decided to head to a local, outdoor pool to enjoy a sunny, summer day. I remember how wonderful it was to swim and see my child and my husband enjoying themselves. I was cool and weightless in the water and I felt my entire body relax as I surrendered to the fact that this baby was going to come when he was ready to do so. We had a lovely bbq dinner at home and we all crashed in our family bed with that summertime satisfied feeling after being outdoors.

I slept very well that night. At 6am on July 12th I woke up suddenly and noticed that I felt different. I could feel some faint contractions and I thought to myself….my baby boy is coming today. I showered and washed my hair knowing it might be the last time for a while. Then we simply went about our day. We went for a walk on the trails by our home, played in the backyard, I polished my appliances and tidied the house between surges. Then in the heat of the afternoon I closed the curtains and made the house dark. In between rushes I laid on the couch and slept. While my daughter was napping my husband asked if we should call our midwife. I (naively) said “no, I’m good. Let’s wait before we bug her.” I then got into a cool tub of water as the contractions were getting much more intense. My in-laws came to pick up my daughter and in that moment I felt so much sadness. I asked to see her before she left and I hugged her so tight and had a bit of a cry. A feeling I can only describe now as grief of the loss of our family unit as I knew it. Little did I know then how great things would become as a family of four. She was fine and just said, “bye, bye Mommy!”.

I hadn’t yet timed my contractions as I was just in the moment all day. My middle sister arrived at our house as planned because she wanted to be at my birth. She timed them for me and declared that they were less than two minutes apart! Out of the tub I went to dry off and call my midwife. During our phone chat I had a couple of surges and she thought that by the sound of my voice we had time so she would come and see me in an hour. She advised me to hop in the shower. I did, but 2 minutes in I got out and said I could feel his head pressing down on my cervix. We called her back and found out she lived on the east side of the hospital whereas we were on the west side. She gave my husband the option of calling 911 if he saw the head emerge or drive me to the hospital as fast as he could….which he did. So transition phase was in the car, which was not pleasant but only for 10 minutes. He dropped us off at the door and I waddled in holding my hands between my legs and stopping often when things got intense. I was whisked into a room, laid on the bed and was told by a nurse (my midwife hadn’t arrived yet) that I was 9 1/2 cm. Wow, I wasn’t expecting that! When my midwife arrived she told me it would be best to break my water and then baby would be born soon after. Problem was my husband wasn’t back from parking the car and checking me in. So we waited….more contractions…it seemed like forever. Then when he got back (he’s going to kill me for saying this) he needed time to answer nature’s call, so I waited some more. Then waters were ruptured, I pushed about 4-5 times and Oliver was born! He came out so quickly that he wasn’t breathing, no sound, purple baby. His cord was clamped and cut and he was taken to be suctioned. My husband felt uneasy but for some reason I was still calm. Within a few minutes he was crying softly on my chest. He was the most amazing thing to me and I felt so in love. He started to show signs he wanted to nurse, he latched right away and nursed for 30 minutes each side while I ate the most delicious toasted Tim Horton’s bagel with a tea (actually it was just the usual food from Timmie’s but after birth everything tastes amazingly good). We looked at the clock and figured that if we went home right away our daughter could meet her little brother before her 8pm bed time. Everything went well so my midwife discharged me less than an hour and a half after he was born. I was so excited to sleep in my own bed.

It was just such a peaceful and enjoyable day which ended in my little family all being together in our home. I slept with my son that night while my daughter slept with my husband. I had a beautiful breakfast in bed and my midwife was there at 8am to check on me and baby Ollie. I feel so much joy and love thinking back to those days. How is it that my little man is 10?!

May Doula Promotion

Posted by May 5, 2019 yoga , Leave a Comment

May is my birth month and this year I am the one doing the giving! If you book a birth package during the month of May (for a due date at any time) I am including 2 hours of in-home postpartum support (a $60 value). Consultations are always complimentary and a great way for us to meet and see if we are a good fit for each other. If you are the least bit curious about how a doula can support you and your partner during the birth of your baby please reach out via email: angela.marie.jackson@hotmail.com