Helping Hands and Heart Birth Services

I think, really, they are linked. Linked through the brain, a long journey, but linked. Hands carry out that work of heart. And the heart hears, listens to find out which tasks the hands need to accomplish. So, six years ago I began a journey of gratitude. I didn't know it at the time. In fact, it really started out as a journey of difficulty, of unknowing, of disbelief. The news was earth shattering, all shades of sad and anger. All shades of regret and shame and guilt and wishing I had done better. But over this lifetime, I have learned, there is always something...to learn! So, as I embarked on the very darkest journey, I became aware of the light. The light of belief. The light of trust. The light of joy! And I have to tell you, that joy-light, it shines brightest of all, next to hope! When you can believe and trust, you have hope, which in turn leads to joy. Joy permeates the darkest spaces and places and tidies up messes as it washes through. And I learned that gratitude al...

I often find this title in my head- while on call for a birth, I am in a space, a holding pattern. I am not at all still, or simply quiet, but I am preparing my heart and hands for the work ahead. On call is usually a set time, from 37 to 42 weeks, marked off on my calendar. During this time, I am doing all the usual things, but have everything loosely planned in case I need to get up and go. I have bags packed and notes taken, my gas tank sits at full. I remember a day in particular, 7 years ago. I got the call, that things had progressed from watch and wait to needing assurance. A quick visit with ideas for comfort and then off I went to take care of outstanding needs before the imminent birth. We took some time, went to the weekly doctors' appointment, wandered the snow-laden streets of town, mama riding her waves gracefully and with purpose. She was mentally and physically prepared for the work ahead of her. Visits with friends helped fill her love tank, family gave her a warm...

I just went for a walk. A long walk! The snow is piling up, about 8 inches or so (is that 20 cm?) and it covers this town! Maybe I will change my background for this blog!! I have given myself a new goal, at least 30 minutes outside for at least 5 days per week.  In my coursework, we had a great exercise, Making Shift Happen. It challenges our reasons for making things work--or not! The questions are: What improvement goal would you like to work toward?  What are the obstacle behaviours?  What are competing demands?  What are your hidden life-beliefs (those words inside your head, like " I will never lose weight, it never works")  What alternatives can you come up with to overcome these so they are not excuses? So, I have decided the goal will be a small one. Fresh air for 30 minutes a day, 5 times a week. I think it should be an attainable goal. I really didn't want to begin weight loss or exercise that would get messed up with the holidays coming up-...

I have been thinking about flexibility. In fact, this may be a year where flexibility is a word I about which have learned a tremendous amount! Let's explore. Physically- I struggle with very tight hips and quads. Walking doesn't help much, biking makes them tighter and, frankly, I am kind of sedentary! I am not active like I was 20 years ago. My bike does provide gentle exercise that doesn't hurt my feet. Walking is easy here where I live, since this whole town is in a 20 block grid (give or take). But I was born with twisted feet and, consequently, my hips and lower back have always had issues! I am so grateful for my mother's faithful exercising of my feet and legs- and yes, I was one of those kids in special boots and sleeping apparatus to straighten things out. I usually am mostly unaware of this in my very distant past, but my over 50 year old self is beginning to pay for that birth difficulty! Yoga stretching, stretching as I stand and being aware of not sitting...

When I posted two days ago, the print just would NOT line up--so, I didn't hone my thoughts  or do much editing! Sorry about that! Today is a new day! I will be seeing some of my lovelies while out on my trip, my five days away. My car is all packed: dehydrator and tools, big yellow carry bag and tools, backpack and tools and a swimsuit. I have added cinnamon buns to use as thank you notes! So, where will those travels take me? I will see a lovely well-practiced mama that I have had the joy of watching develop into a wonderful wife, super mama and fantastic cook! From young girl, not so sure of herself, to the confident woman with a woman child of her own that she is preparing well, I have been blessed to watch her develop her family that she is adding to once again! Tonight, I will have a sleepover with my favourite six year old. My daughter has blown me away, raising this man child to be clever and sweet, thoughtful and creative, giving him room to be just who he is. And h...

It has, once again, been some time since I collected my thoughts and placed them here. But today, I had a sweet note from a one time doula trainee--and she gave me permission to share her thoughts here! Hi Judi, I wanted to thank you so much for your influence on my little one's birth. Attending your training gave me a new perspective on childbirth and totally changed my choices by educating me about my options. Largely through your influence I had a midwife & doula as my support, gave birth in a birth centre without medication and most importantly I believed absolutely that I could and would birth my son without anxiety. You turned me on to a whole new world of information about delayed clamping, immediate skin to skin and breastfeeding, water birth (yes he was born in the water) and trusting my body. I was able to have all of these because I knew to ask for them. Thank you Judi! I have begun a course called Herbal Medicine for Women. It has provided me w...

Breastfeeding. Since the beginning of people, breasts are the biological norm. Not best. Normal! Over the past decade and a half, I have been teaching mamas-to-be about this miracle. I have also on occasion been given the opportunity to teach others how to determine what is going well and what isn't--and even, teaching nurses simple ways to empower brand new moms in their innate ability! But one thing I have been aware of over and over is this: I am very uncomfortable with teaching moms "The Right Way" to breastfeed! DVD's and visuals, videos and posters all claim to teach "The Right Way" to breastfeed. Myself, I am a firm believer in not fixing something that ain't broke! So. How do we counteract this? Like so many things with birth, we figure there is a better way developed over time. We believe that we can create a better posture, a better pillow, a better hold. Many years ago, I had the privilege of attending a workshop taught by Dr. Jack Newman. H...

Ever notice, you get a group of women together, they share their birth stories? Ever notice, many of those stories have little or no positive aspects? Having worked with birthing women for the last decade or two, I have a few thoughts. The chat goes something like this: "My labour was awful! It started in the middle of the night, then I got absolutely no sleep for the next 46 hours while I laboured!" Or "It was awful, I laboured for 25 hours, then I pushed forEVer, then I didn't sleep for hours after, even though I was EXHAUSTED" You can fill in more blanks, I am sure! But I wonder, where does this need to compete for the worst birthing experience come from?  The competition thing. It doesn't begin with birth! It doesn't end there, either- women are competitive in so many areas! But for sake of discussion, today let's look at birth itself! I have noticed that women have very little or no experience in birth prior to their own first birthing experi...

For some time, I have been ignoring the pressing need to write- but today is a new day and today, I write!  I have been wanting to create a new blog just for birthing and birthing business. for those who follow my Facebook pages, you will know that I love evidence based practice, research and the wisdom that comes from research becoming best practices, based on the knowledge of women and how their bodies are designed well to give birth. I will be writing on different issues, similar themes. These may become intentional, such as Mondays devoted to labour, Tuesdays breastfeeding, Wednesdays current research--we shall see! But in the meantime, let me introduce me! Beginning with my own birth stories, my own history is nearly 31 years old. I was intrigues by the female body's capacity for birth and sought to understand all I could. I had all my children as naturally as possible in hospital settings. My intention was to seek out medical support from as natural a perspective as possible...