Who's having this baby anyway?

Playing games to prepare expectant families for the experiences of childbirth?

It's fun, funny and educational.

Another great tool for doulas.  I could see how playing this game may help open a dialog that is important to the pregnant couple in a more fun and less uncomfortable manner and discussions that might get over looked.

All players start their journey around the board in bed at the 'conception' square. Moving along by drawing cards from each 'trimesters' stack all the while learning as they go. Finally as with childbirth the couple reaches the first stage in labor. Then the first player to deliver their baby 'wins' the game and gets to turn the centre card over finding out the sex, weight and name of their 'baby(ies)'. In my case 'twin girls Trudy & Judy both over 7lbs' due to a prolapsed umbilical cord I had to deliver by cesarean section.

Get this game for your self at their website, like them on facebook.

As a member of the Lethbridge Doula Association I enjoyed playing this game at our fun social meeting this evening.

October is Car Seat Safety Awareness Month

Come have your child's car seat or booster checked.

Special Deliveries Doula Services is proudly sponsoring events coming to both Lethbridge (Oct 19) and Medicine Hat (Oct 5) in the next month. Working in conjunction with their local Police Services, St. John Ambulance and Safety City in both cities we are putting on FREE Car Seat Clinics.


Please click on the name of each city for more info.

Don't forget to 'Like' us on facebook to stay up to date.

Back in the saddle ;)

There is nothing like a little break to renew ones love for another.

Having taken some time off after the birth of my son in May of this year, I am back in a big way. Exciting new changes and a busy schedule of births, postpartum and special events. My passion for the work that I do as a Doula is greater than it has ever been. Of course like everything there are many contributing factors for the joy that I am feeling about my job. My clientele current and past, the people in my life who support me and my business partners.  

 My clients are wonderful, truly each of them are so sweet, kind hearted and have the most beautiful families. Continually pushing me in the direction I need to go and learning through each experience.  My family who has been supporting me in every way they can making it not only possible but sharing in my drive to support the families of Lethbridge through their time of pregnancy to postpartum. Of course last but not least my new doula partners. First let me just say how much I love these Doulas. Where to begin is hard to know, I have never known women so understanding, trustworthy and knowledgeable. Loree and Chantelle share the same values as I about supporting families.  Their business drive can only be admired. I am so proud to be apart of this up lifting group.

Pregnant Momma & Doula

My resolutions to learn new things, get creative, and enjoy each moment for all it's worth has been great fun and occationally busy!

Nature walks with my son riding in the wagon or on his sled when the ground is covered is snow.

Parent a Tots FREE ice skating at out local areas.

A fun family ski trip to Castle Mountain.

I won an Award for Surprise Blocker with the Deathbridge Derby Dames.

Finished the hooded baby blanket. (my first knitting project for baby #2)

I have created some amazing art pieces, enjoyed learning many new technics and refining my skills at artistic talents.

We have really enjoyed a creative family focused winter. Along with the 8 birth I attended.  

More learning... because growth is good!

My first education session of 2011! :) So glad I made the arrangements necessary for me to be there. (Child care and a schedule shift)

The Seven Deadly Sins of Business (yep that was the title) by Loree Siermachesky. I made sure to attended this because I know I have some learning to do in this area.

I won't go into all the details of each and every deadly sin, but I will share some of my own personal journey in this area. Though I'm still not sure I totally understand. Maybe I never will but this informative session shed light on what we Doulas naturally do all wrong!

When I started my career as a Birth Doula I was so excited and full of it. My excitement, that is what I was full of!

Now I just needed the clients.

SO I hung out my sign and believed they would flock to me. They didn't. I did what?

Exactly what I saw other Doulas doing in attempt to find these clients that needed a Doula but didn't know it. I handed out business card like candy thinking each would turn into a client. Applying cheap advertising magnets to my vehicle's doors which only got the attention of a few local news reports. Thankfully my parents raised me well enough to know better and I was able to see that accosting expectant mother's in public, asking if they knew what a Doula could do for them and rubbing their tummies was not only annoying but an abrasive turn off.

Clearly I understood very little of how much is involved in the business side of this work.

I left my first birth knowing I had done my job but thinking the money was terrible, the hours sucked, and the clients are too few and far between, (my next client wasn't due for over a month)

Then after attending my seventh birth I completed my Certification with DONA International. This was a start in the right direction for me to get my name out as a Birth Doula. As one of the first to become certified in the area I work, it helped a little. I remember when a change in my thinking happened. I attended a workshop by Sheri Deveney and Nicki Albrecht titled "Politics, Boundaries and Change" I took the magnets off my car, the business cards stayed in my wallet unless my contact info was wanted, and I focused on my self and becoming the best I could be, not on what all the other Doulas were doing.

By this time I now had a number of new mother's and dad's with new babies talking about their experiences with their Doula at their child's births. (Did you notice how this went for me and my, to them and their?) AND so the shift happened for me. Though I didn't notice this right away I started getting calls. Having interviews and I attended more births than was my goal.

It's not about showing off pictures of yourself holding your clients babies on your blog, facebook fan page, website or any other public forum and outlet. It is about Families receiving the support they want through their birth and postpartum experience. Doulas are to support and be paid for it.

Lesson: DON'T chase bellies it's annoying and a big turn off! DO sell yourself, your services as a SOLUTION!

Enjoyment or Fulfilment

Taking my new years plan to: have more fun, get serious about relaxation and enjoy a much needed slow down in our schedule has been more work than one might think.

As young girls my mother taught all of her daughters to knit and crochet so the reality of starting my first project of 2011 and for the new baby should be fairly easy, but seriously it took me 2days of scanning my mothers knitting books for me to find the perfect "start me off on this adventure project" I finally settled on a hooded baby blanket that can easily double as a new born's bath towel. I bought 5 balls of 100% cotton yarn (machine wash and dry). I stopped of at the Public Library picked out a few audio books and last night I began knitting my first project for our baby (who is due at the end of April)

I will be starting my art classes tomorrow evening. Then I will be writing about the beautiful things I am making and the process for learning art. Like everything I dive in with the greatest dreams of becoming the best, famous, and loving a new hobby to the fullest. This one is no different.

I will say that the lack of stress in my life feels absolutely amazing and I sure don't miss it!