By Randi van Wiltenburg, Owner of Butterfly Baby Doula Services Just because you’ve had a baby before does not mean you are an expert on pregnancy, labour and birth. Every single pregnancy, labour and birth is different because you’re working with a different human. Shocking, right? There are a lot of people who have experienced…
I didn’t really know where my perineum was before I had my first baby. Heck, I still have trouble spelling it! But after my son was born, I became painfully aware of the skin and muscle in between my vagina and anus. Painfully aware. Well you know how they say “forewarned is forearmed” and “knowledge…
Winter is coming. Or, if you’re in Calgary, winter came a few days ago! The right gear can really help you survive the cold months, even if you’re more a friend of fair weather. Snow and freezing temperatures make getting out of the house a challenge, so hopefully these products will help your kids stay…
Before I knew I was expecting twins I was surprised to notice my clothes getting tight much earlier than with my previous two pregnancies. I chalked it up to it being my third pregnancy. It did not (for even a millisecond) occur to me that this fast-growing baby bump was housing twins. My first two…
Melanie Gallant, the seamstress behind Layer Your Love (LYL), is among the many Canadian momtrepreneurs I count as friends in my online social network. We’ve never met and may never meet, but we’re still connected by our mutual devotion to the #momhustle. When my daughter was a baby, she made me the mother of all…
So I know the song “Cake by the Ocean” isn’t actually about eating delicious baked goods on a beautiful beach … but honestly, when I’m singing along to it I’m imagining cheesecake in my mouth and soft sand beneath my toes. Sadly, the closest I’m going to get to literal or figurative cake by the…
Want to know something weird? I was looking forward to postpartum bleeding. Why was I such an eager beaver for the dam to break and the blood to gush forth? Because I had a fluffy, colourful stash of postpartum cloth pads to try out! All told, I used a total of one pair of mesh…
By Heather Marr, Birth Doula at Montreal’s Rio Doula A frequently asked question about doulas is: “I’m having a planned C-section. Can I still hire a doula?” And the answer? Yes, indeed! And here’s how she (or can help you have a positive, empowering belly birth experience. Here are 8 ways we birth doulas can…
I really had no idea what to expect when the Cub Twins were admitted to the NICU. Initially I was told their stay would be blissfully short—up to five days. I guess therein lies my first practical tip: don’t psych yourself up for a discharge date until you’re signing the final paperwork and loading baby…
If you’ve been following along on Facebook and Instagram, you’ll know that the Cub Twins made their appearance in the early morning hours of March 14th. They were born at a gestational age of 36 weeks and 3 days. As I write, they are being cared for by the amazing NICU staff at our local…
Last Friday, at 34 weeks and 5 days pregnant, I had a false alarm. After spending the whole day cramping, I called my midwife, and we decided it would be wise to go into the hospital to get assessed. I’m under shared care by a midwife and an OB, and it happened that my midwife…
I want these babies out! Everything is exhausting. Stairs are my nemesis. Getting the kids into and out of the car is my least favourite activity, and I avoid it at all costs. The good news is that we finally have our minivan! My dream of owning a Honda Odyssey has come true, my friends.…
The worst part of being very pregnant in the summer is feeling constantly sweaty. Like, my thighs are stuck together. My belly feels stuck to my pelvis. There’s a pool of sweat under my boobs. I just want to take a shower now! And then again in one hour. But otherwise, life’s pretty good: maxi…
By Heather Marr, Birth Doula I probably don’t need to tell you that the baby-product industry is staggeringly huge. And growing. When my oldest kid was a newborn, nine years ago, there were only a few brands of baby carrier available, including the revolutionary-at-the-time Ergo … which came in only one style, one or two…
I know that with my second pregnancy I posted blog updates almost every month. My last update this time around was at 12 weeks, so I am slightly behind! Honestly, it’s because I’ve been taking a chunk of my two weekly workdays (when Miss Cub goes to daycare) for napping. With her big brother in…
My name is Lindsay and I am a 40-year-old mama of four trying to live an eco-friendly, budget-friendly life! I am a substitute teacher and Child Passenger Safety technician in Calgary, Alberta. Join me on my adventures!
