Labour of Love Birthing

Here I am, freshly, vulnerably 1 week postpartum after the birth of my firstborn in 2020. April is c-section awareness month- even though most topics around birth are close to my heart, this one is particularly special to me. I’ve always been a huge advocate of encouraging physiological births (as long as that what the parent wants!) as soon as I became educated on childbirth and did my first set of hypnobirthing courses. My firstborn was a planned homebirth, however, as it sometimes happens, we had to navigate some changes from that plan during labour and she was eventually born via c-section.

While I had grief that I had to process because things didn’t go the way I’d hoped- experiencing a vaginal birth was something important to me- there was still so much more that came from our journey. I am so proud of navigating my way through a labour that didn’t play out as I’d expected, I showed more courage and strength having never gone through this before than I could ever have imagined, and this was the birth that made me “Mom”- no matter what way she came out, we did it together 💕 I look down at my scar, which me and my eldest affectionately call my “belly smile” and tell her how special her birth was. It changed the course of my life in more ways than I could ever imagine.

Her brother was born almost 3 and a half years later at home, and it was a quick and smooth birth overall. It was equally as intense and beautiful, and it was genuinely healing too- but there was something about going through that first labour, c-section and recovery that hit different. It made me respect how strong ALL birthing people are. It made me appreciate how necessary c-sections are in so many scenarios. It helped me delve into the wonderful world of nuance that is so prevalent when we talk about all things birth. And ultimately it made me even more passionate about providing information and support to people about ALL births, but especially the rights around c-sections and postpartum recovery. If you’re a fellow c-section mom- whether planned or unplanned- you are INCREDIBLE ✨

🤢 Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy is sometimes referred to as NVP. Unfortunately for some people they may experience this starting in the first trimester and it may last beyond the second and even third trimester. For most people, the nausea and vomiting do tend to ease off around the end of the first trimester or 16-20 weeks. Each pregnancy is different though so you may experience NVP for your first pregnancy for example, but then have no symptoms in subsequent, or vice versa. Thankfully it isn’t usually harmful to you or your baby. It affects up to 80% of pregnant people in Ontario! Not fun. But help is available! ✨

Some homeopathic options to help reduce the symptoms of NVP are:
Ginger (dried powder extract) up to
2500 mg/day
• Acupuncture/acupressure
• Dietary changes such as smaller meals,
low-fibre/ bland foods and any palatable foods.
• Rest and hydration.

If these aren’t helping ease your symptoms then talk to your midwife or OB to see if they can offer you pharmaceutical relief in the form of Diclectin, which contains doxylamine (an antihistamine) and pyridoxine (Vitamin B6). Studies have shown than no harmful effects are experienced by babies and it’s effectiveness and safety is recognised by Health Canada.

If all of the above doesn’t help then speak to your HCP to discuss other solutions that might work for you- don’t suffer in silence!

Resources:

Preeclampsia is a topic close to my heart. I gratefully have never experienced it, but my own Mum had it with both pregnancies and I am forever grateful for the care we both received so I entered the world safely, and thrived after being born prematurely at 35 weeks weighing 4lbs 2oz (thanks 🙏🩷)

In Canada 1 in 100 pregnancies will be affected and Ontario the prevalence of preeclampsia is around 3.9-4.4%. It usually affects pregnant people after 20 weeks or soon after baby is born.

Symptoms include:
- High blood-pressure
- Protein found in urine
- Swelling of face/hands/feet
- Vision problems
- Severe headache

There are things that can increase your chances of developing preeclampsia: having pre-existing high blood-pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, having an autoimmune disease, or preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy. Studies show that having a family history of preeclampsia, being over 40, having a BMI of 30> or expecting multiples can slightly increase your chances of developing it too.

The cause is still unknown but it may result from early placental development issues.

Preeclampsia can be very dangerous to both mother and baby. There’s a risk of premature birth, fluid in the lungs, bleeding problems, placental abruption (when the placenta separates from the uterus too early), liver or kidney damage, and/or the birthing parent will develop fits called “eclampsia”. These fits can be life threatening, but they’re rare and only affect 0.2% of pregnancies.

Because preeclampsia decreases blood flow to the placenta it reduces the oxygen and nutrients the baby receives, which can slow down the baby’s growth. I myself had FGR (fetal growth restriction) before I was born for this reason. While not all pregnancies with preeclampsia experience growth restriction, it is a significant, frequently observed complication.

Most people who have preeclampsia in pregnancy give birth safely to healthy babies, just like my mama did! 🥰 Taking low-dose aspirin can prevent 80%-94% of early-onset, severe preeclampsia- your healthcare provider will discuss your treatment options with you.

Resources:


foundation

There’s this common misunderstanding that once you reach 40 weeks of pregnancy your baby “should” arrive, after that and they’re “late”. Actually, the estimated due date is just that- AN ESTIMATED calculation of when a baby *might* be born, a formula devised by German obstetrician Dr Franz Naegele, born in 1778 (see the slides above for more info on that..) ⬆️

Your baby doesn’t know it’s EDD, and there’s only a 4% chance they’ll be born on their due date! All babies grow and develop at different rates so obviously there will be variation in gestation times.

Research has found that 50% of all people giving birth for the first time gave birth by 40+5, while 75% gave birth by 41+2. Meanwhile, 50% of all people who had given birth at least once before gave birth by 40+3 days, while 75% gave birth by 41 weeks.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) deems normal gestation between 37-42 weeks. That’s a whole FIVE WEEK difference! Some people will give birth to healthy babies a little before 37 weeks and some a little over 43 weeks - I sound like a broken record but I always say there is no one size fits all with pregnancy and birth. It will also vary from pregnancy to pregnancy for each individual too. My first born was born at 40+4 and my second born was born at 42 weeks exactly- both spontaneous labours starting the night before.

If you have certain risk factors you may be recommended to induce labour or have an elective c-section earlier than the EDD. This is your choice and it’s important that you fully research your options. Otherwise, it’s absolutely your baby and body that decides when you’ll go into labour… and remember, no one’s been pregnant forever!!

I really recommend reading book “In Your Own Time”, a long with checking out and . These are all amazing resources for you to do your own research and make your own informed decisions on what’s best for you. If you have anymore questions feel free to drop me a comment below or send me a DM 🫶

Doesn’t look like your typical hypnobirthing photo does it? I assure you I was using hypnobirthing every step of the way. This was what birth looked with my first baby.

I’ve seen a lot of talk about c-sections recently and wanted to share my experience with using hypnobirthing during giving birth via caesarean.

It was June 2020 and COVID was in full swing so the pregnancy had already been a little different to what we expected. We had planned for a homebirth, and things didn’t turn out that way. We ended up transferring in to hospital about 14 hours in, and eventually at around the 24 hour mark I called it- I was exhausted, I had been put on the clock, but ultimately I just so badly wanted to meet my baby. I instinctively knew that giving birth via c-section was the right thing to do for both me and my baby than continuing through with augmented contractions (pitocin/syntocinon) for who knows how much longer. I also truly didn’t enjoy not being able to feel labour like I had been previously after receiving an epidural, albeit it did help me catch some much needed rest. With all the choices I made during giving the birth I used my *BRAIN*- a technique I learnt in hypnobirthing classes- more on that to follow.

Was it what I’d envisioned birth to look and feel like? Absolutely not. But did I feel educated enough to make informed decisions? Did I feel safe? Did I feel supported? Was it beautiful? Absolutely, yes. Sometimes when life throws you curveballs it takes you down a path you didn’t expect either. I feel so passionate about birth and hypnobirthing because I know how using the techniques I learnt saved me from having what could have been a traumatic experience. But it wasn’t! Instead I was able to turn the disappointment of things not turning the way I had planned into a lesson - birth can be joyous, safe and beautiful no matter if it’s vaginally, at home, at hospital, or a via c-section.

Birth is unpredictable, but you can set up the game to win if you’re able to feel confident, educated, safe and supported. I’m always happy to chat about all things birthy 🥰🫶 DM if you ever have anything you’d like to talk about, or a topic you’d like me to cover!

Very excited and very ready to use Hypnobirthing for a third time 🥰🩷 over the moon to “officially announce” we’re expecting baby number 3 in Spring 2026 ✨

🤱🏼 It’s World Breastfeeing Week 2025 ✨and I’m approximately 1705 days into my breastfeeding journey! It’s an estimate, as I’m not certain when my eldest fully weaned but she was just a few weeks shy from turning 3. My youngest (pictured) will be 21 months soon. He still nurses in the day and at least a couple of times at night too. My eldest self night weaned at exactly 2 and a half, so sometimes it’s been exhausting but mostly it’s been wonderful. I feel incredibly grateful how smooth and easy I’ve found breastfeeding my kids, I’ve exclusively breastfed them both, simply because that’s what worked best for us, and I’m so thankful that the amazing nurses and midwives at .maternity and were there to give me support, tools and confidence as a first time mother, navigating something I’d never done before but was determined to do.
How has your breastfeeding journey been? Have you had adequate access to breastfeeding support? I’d love to know your journeys! Let me know in the comments or send me a DM. 💕

📸

Wow! It’s been a while!!! So I came across this little gem of an infographic I meant to post ages ago- but life happened and it ended up in my drafts for some time. Group B Strep and what it means for PART 2 ✌️
Highly recommend a read of ’s book mentioned in the slides.

Happy birthing everyone! Stay cool 🥤

June 6th is International Homebirth Day! ✨

If you’ve read my previous posts you’ll know for both childrens’ births I have planned a homebirth, however, my first, due to being asynclitic (head tiled to one side) ended in a c-section after 24 hours. Of that labour I still got to spend a wonderful 14 hours at home, and still got to use the birth pool for some much needed respite!
For my second born I chose homebirth again. After a c-section this is often referred to as an HBAC (Home Birth After Caesarean). He was born in just under 4 and a half hours after the first noticeably strong contraction safely at home… it was incredible 🥹💕

So why did I choose homebirth? I am *all* about informed choice, so I read many research papers, and got up-to-date stats to help me make my decision on what was best for me and my babies.

Here are some interesting statistics which may surprise you if homebirth is something you’re unsure about. According to the AOM -

🏡 There are equivalent survival rates at home vs hospital.
If you are giving birth for the first time, for every 1000 babies born, 998 are born alive and live past 28 days regardless of whether they were born at home or in hospital. And if you have given birth before, for every 1000 babies born, 999 are born alive and live past 28 days regardless of whether they were born at home or in hospital.

💛 Intervention rates are much lower at home:
For first time birthers who planned a homebirth, 13% ended in c-section, 7% in assisted vaginal birth, but 80% had spontaneous vaginal births!
Compared to a planned hospital birth where 16% ended in c-section, 11% in assisted vaginal birth, and only 73% had spontaneous vaginal birth.

Regardless of what the research says, the most important thing is that you feel safe, comfortable and supported your chosen birth place. Huge thanks as always to my birth team, my amazing husband, and Doula 🩷

📸:

🌍✨ Let’s celebrate World Doula Week!! ✨🌍

It’s been a while, but I felt compelled to make a post to celebrate the incredible work of doulas worldwide! Whether you’re planning a 🏥 hospital birth 🏡 home birth, or even 🌿free birthing, having a doula by your side can be an absolute game-changer.

A doula is there to provide emotional, physical, and informational support throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. They are not medical professionals- their role is to empower you, advocate for your choices, and help create a calm, positive birthing experience.

✨ Studies show that having a doula can lead to shorter labours, less need for interventions, and a more satisfying birth experience overall!

💖 Personally, my husband and I hired a doula for the birth of our second born, . In the more challenging moments during our HBAC, Kayla was able to provide support not only to myself but to my entire family, including my, at that time, 3 year old daughter, who was present during labour. We are forever grateful for her support and being a part of our birth team along side the amazing 🫶🏼

If you’ve had a doula at your birth, share your experience below! ⬇️ Let’s spread awareness of the beautiful work doulas do. 💫

November 6th 2023. A year ago today in the early hours of the morning this sweet soul was born in a healing and joyous HBAC. I would go through giving birth to him again and again and again if I could.

Your Dada, Sister and I love you more than words could ever say. Happy first Birthday my Lucky little love 💛✨

This is a photo of my little boy last Winter at just 6 weeks old, when we had to rush him to the ER at due to a respiratory infection. The staff there are absolutely fantastic, he was seen quickly and in the end all was well. But it was one of the scariest moments of my life, and it was a stark reminder of how vulnerable newborns are, especially during cold and flu season.

As we head into cold and flu season, it’s important to remember that newborns have incredibly delicate immune systems. Their bodies are still developing defenses, and while they receive some immunity from their mama, it’s not enough to fully protect them from viruses like colds and flu (and worse).

That’s why setting boundaries around visitors is essential when you have a newborn infant. Whether it’s asking guests to wash their hands, wear masks, or even hold off on visits if they’re feeling unwell—it all helps to keep baby safe! 🛡️

Parents, it’s okay to advocate for your little one’s health. We may not see the germs, but their impact on tiny bodies can be serious. ❤️