We want to share with you the story of a recent client of ours. 

We met S and K pretty far into her pregnancy. I believe she was around 34 weeks at the time of her first consultation. She had been referred to us by her Naturopath - the wonderful Dr. Briana Peddle.

S started off her pregnancy very similarly to how many moms begin. She went to a maternity clinic for most of her pregnancy as that is where she was told she would go. She went on with her pregnancy with them but as time progressed, she felt something was just off with the care that she was receiving. Over the course of her pregnancy, she began learning about alternatives to the normal paths.

Her intuition was telling her she needed a different care provider. And that is a feeling a lot of moms experience - BUT very few actually do anything about it. S was different. At 33 weeks, she switched her care to a midwife who was more in line with what she was hoping to achieve for her birth.

Right away, the care felt different and felt right to her. She loved the long appointments and being able to really get to know her midwife. 

At 34 weeks, she met with us and decided that we would be the perfect addition to her team, not only for her, but for her husband. She understood that we were not there to take away anything from K - only to help them both have their best births possible. 

We quickly got started with the prenatal meetings. At our first prenatal - where we go over what to expect during birth and the MANY options available to her - you could see it in their eyes they were both so eager to learn and to find out about what was really possible for their birth. They took it all in. They were like sponges, ready to learn.

At our second prenatal, she gladly jumped up and down as we showed her the many different ways we can provide physical comfort.

When her midwife told her she felt baby was presenting transverse, S did everything she could to help encourage baby to get into a great position. She started going for regular chiropractic care with Dr. Emily at Optimum Family Chiropractic and went to see Dr. Eran Even for acupuncture treatments. To compliment this, she also did many of the exercises found on Spinning Babies as per our suggestion.

At 37 weeks, she found out that she had tested positive for GBS. She wanted to be fully informed about what this meant and what her options were so we provided her with lots of information to help her decide how to continue. The goal from the start was the stay home as long as possible for her birth - and this threw a wrench in the plans. Her midwife ordered the antibiotics to be able to administer them at home - but we had no idea if it would arrive in time and kept our fingers crossed. 

At just past 39 weeks, she decided to retest. The GBS strain only stays active for a few weeks so it was very possible that at 37 weeks she was positive and at 39 she was negative. Most people do not request a second test - but this was important to her so once again. she took charge and retested. Much to her glee, the test was negative. Plans were back in place.

As her due date approached she remained focused and excited for what was to come. She wasn't afraid. She was informed. She knew what her options were. She trusted that her body could do this and that it was made to do this. 

Then the days kept passing. Pretty soon she was a week past her estimated due date. At this point the word "induction" is OFTEN mentioned - by everyone! But she stayed focused and believing that her baby will come when ready.

We received almost daily emails from S as she was spending her days distracting herself with LOTS of shopping. We loved it! (P.S. She has GREAT taste in everything.) Usually by this stage we are working on reminding mamas that this is normal and encouraging them to stay in the moment and to enjoy their final days with the belly. We didn't need to do that with S. She already knew.

When her birthing time started in the evening, she followed our tips perfectly. She sent her partner to bed and she too went to rest as she knew that she would need her energy. Within a few hours her contractions picked up. By 3am she was at the hospital and at 4:59am she birthed her baby. She excitedly said that her birth went just as she had hoped. She had her unmedicated, informed, vaginal birth that she had worked so hard for. Her baby was in perfect position thanks to the good work from the chiropractic and acupuncture care she received. Her care provider listened to what she needed and when S told her she wanted to do something, her midwife respected her choice. 

During her postpartum visit, S and K both had massive smiles on their face - and it wasn't just because they now had their perfect little one. It was because they BOTH had the birth they had wanted. They totally TOOK CHARGE OF THEIR BIRTH and did everything they could to proactively help them have a positive experience.  

S said that many of her friends had no idea of all the thing she did during her pregnancy and her birth were even options. K explained that they learned more in the last 6 weeks of her pregnancy with us supporting them, then they did the first 34 weeks. 

No, not every birth goes to plan. Even with people who do everything that S did. But S truly believes that had she continued down the path she was first on, that there was no way she would have had the positive birth experience that she did have. 

We wanted to share her story because it is a perfect example of the power of being able to take charge of your pregnancy and birth.

​Inform yourself. Get help where needed. Look for alternatives. Be proactive. Birth Happy.

​

We LOVE supporting our local Work at Home Moms so we decided we will be doing a monthly spotlight on an awesome WAHM in our community!

The first spotlight shines on Gemma D. Wilson - half of the team behind Bosom Buddy Bakers. 

Bosom Buddy Bakers specializes in lactation cookies and energy bars that are packed full of goodness to help moms encourage a stronger milk supply and give them that boost of energy that all new parents need. 

The business began simply from a conversation on a terrific local moms group #TCMG. The mamas were chatting about lactation cookies and were wondering if anyone sold them and the perfect business for Gemma was born. She said she did and within the first days of business, 11 dozen cookies were sold. This then grew further when Gemma sent a late night text to her bosom buddy baker Shannon - a perinatal nurse from BC Women's Hospital - who happened to have also been present and a great support to Gemma during her own birth.  Shannon is the mixologist and develops their seasonal lines like pumpkin spice!

The most popular flavours are the signature Oatmeal Chocolate Chip, which Gemma likes to call “the OCC” , and the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip. “I want to marry it,“ says Gemma.

We asked Gemma what her favorite part about owning her business has been and she said 
“Hearing success stories from moms! I had a mom actually weaning her child but wanting to pump. She woke up engorged! She was so happy. Also, it’s great to hear they’re delicious and dangerous right out of the oven. #maternitypantsforever  one mom said!”

Wondering how you can  get your hands on some of their delicious milk making treats?
Easy, follow them on Facebook. They have a weekly delivery dates for their tri-cities clients.  Cookies come as ready to bake frozen pucks, baked or dry  mixes. They also have gift certificates that make great baby shower gifts!

The next Birth Talks Speaker Series is happening on October 2 - Friday and The Maya's Nest's Samantha is one of the industry experts who will be presenting.

Samantha is going to be talking about Building Your Perfect Birth Team. The confidence that a woman has in her birth is greatly affected by the people who are around her during this time. Picking who those people are is VITAL to a positive birth experience. During this talk she will be discussing why this affects you and will be helping you figure out who those people may be to help you have your best birth possible.

Other topics for the night include Pregnancy Nutrition by Christina Zciver, a holistic nutritionist, Understanding Informed Consent by Gina Snyder, a HypnoBabies Childbirth Educator and The Breast Start by Roxanna Farnsworth, Lactation Counsellor. 

It is set to be a terrific night of information and mingling. Doors open at 6pm where you can peruse the different vendor tables and enjoy some delicious food and refreshments. Each guest will also leave with a fantastic gift bag filled with lots of goodies!

To learn more about the event and to purchase your ticket, CLICK HERE.

We are so excited to be announcing our newest birdie in the nest - Ready, Set, Baby - The Busy Parent's Guide to Birth Planning.

We get it. LIFE IS BUSY. Especially when you are preparing for a baby!

With this condensed birth planning class, taught by two local birth doulas, you get to learn the essentials in just one afternoon.

What will be covered?
Final Weeks of Pregnancy
The Stages of Birth
Building Your Birth Plan/Preferences
Your Birth Options
Comfort Measures for Labour
PLUS
Car Seat Safety from Olena - Our Certified Car Seat Technician (and awesome doula + photographer)

ALL THIS FOR JUST $65 per pair!

When is it?
CLASS INFORMATION:
OCT 24, 2015 
SATURDAY
1:30PM-5:30PM
STRAWBERRIES AND SUNSHINE HEALING CENTRE 
PORT COQUITLAM, BC 


Learn More Here About the Doulas Behind The Maya's Nest Birth Services

To reserve your spot, please complete the form below. Then, please send payment of $65 via etransfer to themayasnest@gmail.com

Once the form has been completed and payment has been sent, you will receive an email from us with more information about the location, parking, your course documents and course outline.

For cancellations, 48 hours notice is needed for a full refund (minus transfer fees). 

Please note, space is very limited. This birth preparation class not replace the benefits of a full prenatal course. It is perfectly suited to those who are unable to take a full course but still want to be informed for their births.

If you have any questions at all about the class, please do not hesitate to contact us.

One of the great things about supporting families during their birthing time is getting to know not only them, but often, their extended families as well.

At the birth I attended this week, I had a really interesting conversation with the soon to be grandmother and I noticed something that she spoke about that every parent of the birthing couple talks about to me - she spoke about her birth with each child. Some of the stories I hear are lovely, some sound quite scary. The tone of voice of the story teller says so much about how she looks back on that day. The stories that she tells her children will also affect the way their children look and approach their own birth. I am always so amazed at the great detail mothers can go into about their birth story, even if it happened 30 years ago. 

And as I listened to hear speak, I though to myself "This. This is why I do what I do."

I hope that when our clients look back on their own births as their children prepare to become parents themselves, they tell their birth story with a smile on their face. I hope they talk about feeling confident and strong. I hope they talk about feeling powerful. I hope they say they were respected and that their choices were the right ones for them. I hope they say they were supported and treated like a birthing queen.  And of course, I hope they tell their kids to hire a doula. ;)

Our birth stories are carried forever in our hearts and in our minds. We will re-live it again and again through out our life as we think back on that day. It is not just one day. It is one of the MOST important days. Prepare for it. Educate yourself. Find a good support team. Work towards making it the best birth for you so that one day, when you get to tell your children their birth story, you get to do it with a smile.

-Samantha

P.S. That pretty lady in the photo  is my own mother on the very first day she met my second child Estelle.