Helping Hands and Heart Birth Services

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...