Recent Posts

Topic: Questions For the Doulas / Doula training workshop?

There will be a DONA Doula Training weekend offered in Courtenay, BC, at Birth Tides Clinic. The dates are October 14/15 and 16 (Must attend all three days). To learn more or to register, please email Linda directly at casita.linda@hotmail.com.

Topic: Questions For the Doulas / Doula training workshop?

Hi Lori The person to contact is Linda Baril. She is one of our doulas and the doula trainer for the West Coast. Her contact info is on the “About Us” page. Good luck! We are happy to have more doulas in the valley!!

Topic: Questions For the Doulas / Doula training workshop?

is there another workshop planned for the comox valley this coming year that you know of?
thanks alot
Lori

Topic: Bellies, Birth and Babies poetry & prose / Arriving out of the 4th trimester

Yes, I thought I knew what I was getting into after having my daughter. She slept well, nursed fine, and sang herself awake each morning. “This is so easy” I thought. So we had another baby. He was completely different in so many ways. It was like starting all over again. I had to “learn him” and adjust all my preconcieved notions on a daily basis. Babies come out as whole individuals – they will be who they are; my job was to learn who that was and support them in being “just that”. I am blessed with two very unique children. Wouldn’t change a thing. Thanks for sharing Morgan!

Topic: Bellies, Birth and Babies poetry & prose / Arriving out of the 4th trimester

Wow Morgan, this takes me right back to the first weeks of my sons life. I thought he would be the same as my daughter but right from the get go he was his own little person. Fortunately for me he was “easy” baby who loved to sleep and nurse like a champ, totally unlike my oldest. It does go by so fast though, I can’t believe he has just turned two.

Topic: Bellies, Birth and Babies poetry & prose / Arriving out of the 4th trimester

Ahhhh, my sweet babe and I have come to a place of understanding, he is 12 weeks old. Although he is my second son, I was taken back by how long it took to get to know him and his language of wants and needs. I thought I would be a pro, having done this all before, but of course he is a different person and therefore will do things differently. Our struggle for the first 3 months was from me relearning my old tricks and figuring out new ones, all with a toddler in tow, while enduring that difficult period of a disorganized newborn. We didn’t have a rhythm, we didn’t have a dance.
Things seem, well, almost peaceful now. My babe is a champ at breastfeeding thereby reducing our need for long feeds, which challenged his brothers patience. We all are more rested as my babe’s sleep has started to consolidate into proper bed times and predictable naps. I even seem to have a moment to myself, after lunch, as both boys naps coincide (for now anyway). There is more time for my partner as our evenings are just us again, no more endless bouncing and soothing of a newborn. All in just three months. Amazing how fast time goes, even when the days sometimes seem endless. We are learning to dance together, our new bigger family. It feels more comfortable, more at ease, more space. We are learning…

Topic: Questions For the Doulas / Baby Fair

Hi Doula ladies! I’ve been meaning to ask, how did the baby fair go? Did anyone take pictures?

Topic: Questions For the Doulas / Questions to ask a prospective doula

• Is she certified? What form of training has she had? (DONA International is only one organization that certifies its doulas, there are others)
  
• Does she provide prenatal and/or postpartum visits?
  
• What can you expect during these visits, if offered?
  
• What types of births has she witnessed (Caesarean, epidural, intervention free, VBAC, home birth, etc.)?
  
• Her fee? And does she have a sliding scale or other arrangements available?
  
• Has she ever worked with your care provider, midwife, or at your place of birth?
  
• Does she have back-up arrangements available? Who is her back up? Can we meet?
  
• What will her role be in early labour? Will she provide labour support at your home prior to going to the place of birth?
  
• Is she comfortable providing labour support during a home birth? Is she able to attend births in the hospital?
  
• How does she feel about partners participating in the birth process?
  The bottom line is: do you and your partner like her?

Topic: Bellies, Birth and Babies poetry & prose / Ripe

Love it Leah nice job

Topic: Bellies, Birth and Babies poetry & prose / Ripe

Ripe
Is not the world
Round and ripe
With promise today
Slow and soft
These bellies full of hope
Saunter through
The summer markets and streets
Swirls of lavender ether and scarlet Qi
Spiral off their hips like a mystical wake off a ship’s proud bow
Bliss forms in gossamer strings
I feel these ribbons wrap ‘round my heavy heart
And jig it upward
In a puppeteer’s dance
Oh but this weary grey world
Is so ready for these babes
Their tangerine and indigo souls
Bringing refreshing change
Orange Crush and Grape Soda on a parched pale day
Fun, sweet, effervescent souls
Enliven us
And soften our crusts
Yes the world is ripe and round
And welling with tears at the primal sound
Of first breaths, first cries,
Of first kisses, first smiles
Almond eyes searching her mother’s face
Asking…
“Are we together? Are we going to do this together?”
“Yes,… yes, oh yes, my love”
Yes.
©Leah Taylor, Doula
June 25, 2008

Topic: Birth Stories / Testimonial - every woman should have a doula!

My husband and I were extremely excited, yet equally nervous about the upcoming birth of our baby. Leah met with us several times prior to the delivery. She provided us with comforting reassurance of the nature of the labour process, as well as valuable tips on how to make our experience more “pleasurable”. My husband liked to joke that a doula was someone who stayed with your wife during labour, while you went to the pub for a drink…this was his way of saying that he felt much more confident about what we were about to go through with Leah around.
On the morning I went into labour, Leah immediately arrived at the hospital offering needed experience, advice, and support. She stayed with my labour team throughout the whole 31 hour adventure. Leah faithfully answered all of my questions about what I was experiencing, the “normalcy” of this, and what I was about to experience; this greatly helped the cerebral part of me that needed detailed information. As well, Leah provided encouraging, compassionate, and inspiring words to motivate me throughout my labour, thus fulfilling my emotional needs. Leah addressed the physical aspects of labour by reducing my pain using techniques such as counter-pressure, massage, and ball exercises.
Overall, Leah helped make my son’s birth a miraculous experience. I definitely made it through without a c-section and medication because of Leah’s ability to draw on my inner strength. Words cannot express our eternal gratitude for the wisdom, kindness, and care that Leah provided. I strongly recommend that every couple use a doula to support them through the birth of their child! ~ TJ & Nico

Topic: Moms in waiting / Father's Role at Birth

Check out this article….it has some great info about the father’s role:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/health/2009…