Hi. It is me, your long lost doula friend over at The Maya's Nest.

It's been a good year since my last blog post. Three kids is no joke, plus I still have my doula clients! 

Today as I was looking through some photos of my third birth, it got me thinking about the main thing everybody told me about third babies -
"OH - THIRD BABIES ARE WILDCARDS!"

As in EVERYBODY said this - from Susan in the freezer aisle, to friends and family and even doulas and midwives who really should know better about how to not freak a pregnant person out! What it ended up doing is scaring me. Yes, even though I have all this birth knowledge, constantly being told that this birth was going to be a wildcard made me fearful of what was to come. 

Now, sitting on the other side of the birth and the first year as a parent of three, I want to say this -
THIRD BABIES ARE NOT WILDCARDS. THEY ARE JUST DIFFERENT. Just like my first birth was different to my second birth, my third was just different. 

It has been pretty quiet on this blog! I'll be honest - I got distracted with growing a baby, still attending births through most of my pregnancy and also building a new business supporting new doulas build their birth businesses - check it out at www.samanthagagnon.com

But now, my (not so) little man, Solomon, was born on July 5th in my dream home water birth. I am not quite ready to share my birth story yet, but for now, I did want to share this slideshow I made as we welcomed our third child Solomon. I can't wait to share with you more about my pregnancy, birth and the postpartum - but that will come in time. For now, enjoy <3

I'm going HOME to Cebu, Philippines in November!! Every time I make that big trip, it is a priority to me to host some kind of birth information session. While Cebu is a buzzing metropolis, there is a severe lack in any prenatal classes and events and in the years I have worked in birth, one big thing has always been clear - INFORMATION IS KEY! 

This time, I am keeping it nice and intimate, meeting with just a few families to make sure they have the time needed to get the information they want. The sessions will be held over 2 nights, each class lasting about 3 hours. 

We will be going over:
NIGHT ONE
- The final weeks of pregnancy
- The stages of birth - what to expect
- Informed Choice - how to ask questions so you understand your options
- Cascade of Interventions
- Birth Planning - why this step is vital
- The perfect birth environment
- Standard Birth Procedures / Interventions
- Standard Newborn Procedures
- C-section Birth Plan
NIGHT TWO
- Physiologic Birth
- Comfort Measures
- Postpartum Planning
- Breastfeeding essentials
- Postpartum Depression
- Soothing your baby
- Newborn Care

WHEN: 
November 22 and November 29, 2017 - Wednesdays
6:00pm-9:00pm
WHERE:
PDI Condominium, 3rd Floor Unit 304 B Gov. Cuenco Ave. , Banilad
(Immediately across Gaisano Country Mall, Three-Sixty Pharmacy on ground floor)
Parking is available at P20 per hour
COST:
P2,500 per pair. Due to the small size of these classes, 50% is due after registration is confirmed in order to reserve your spot. Your spot is not guaranteed with out registration fee payment. The registration fee can be paid by bank deposit - which will be sent to you after registration is received. The balance is due on the first session - Cash only please. You can also pay the full amount right away if preferred. There will be no refunds and cancellations, unless you have already given birth to your baby. 

PLEASE bring a yoga mat, pillows, or anything else you need to be comfortable. We will be spending most of our time on the floor, however, there will be chairs available if that is your preference. Please also bring a pen and paper to take any notes you need. Note- this class will be taught 100% in English. I am not great at speaking Bisaya BUT I can understand, so if you are more comfortable asking questions in Bisaya, in most cases this will be totally okay, but I will answer in English.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch at samantha@themayasnest.com 

The fall brings us so many delicious varieties of local apples. I was recently lucky to get some organic golden delicious apples right off the tree from my mother-in-law! We had more than we could possibly eat so I decided to make two of my favourite apple things:
apple butter and raw apple cider vinegar! I believe in eating in season as much as possible and try not to waste, so these recipes go perfectly hand-in-hand!

​Apple Butter
If you love apple butter and like to occasionally have a sweet treat now and then, here's an easy low-maintenance recipe that doesn't require much attention; all you need is a large crockpot that has a timer option and low-setting. 
*If you prefer a super smooth apple butter, you will want to put them through a blender before jarring.

Ingredients:
25-30 small organic apples (you can use a mix of different ones if you like)
2 cup coconut sugar
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tsp sea salt
1 tbsp ground nutmeg
1 tbsp of cinnamon

*makes about 5 cups

Peel and chop up the apples into cubes (this makes things a bit easier for the crockpot to break down) but save the peels and cores if you want to make the next recipe! If not, be sure to compost them ;)

Place all the apples and remaining ingredients into the crockpot and stir until every apple piece is coated. Then turn on low setting for about 18 hours. 

Once it become super dark and rich looking, you can mash or blend the apples for a super smooth texture before canning them. 
Your house will smell amaaaazing!

Apple butter is sort of a cross between jam and apple sauce. It's quite sweet like jam (so don't eat too much at once) and can be used the same way you would use jam. I like to top 2 teaspoons of this into some soaked oats for an apple-pie flavour! Yum!
​
You may preserve it like you would any other homemade jam. 

 Raw Apple Cider Vinegar 
Raw apple cider vinegar is incredible for your health and it's easy to incorporate into your daily diet. You've probably seen this product in stores, in the natural foods isle, and its about 3x the price of the pasteurized version. Here, you can make it at home for pennies!
Especially, if you use your scraps from the above apple butter apples!

Ingredients:
This is more of an 'guesstimate' recipe. You can taste and smell when it's ready!
I adapted my recipe from ​The Healthy Home Economist. I didn't bother with other types of apples and I made two batches from them instead of 3. 

Apples (whole or peels and cores) *organic* is best
1 cup honey or sugar 
About 1 litre of water (more or less depending on how many apples you have)

​I used all the peels and cores from the above recipe, though you can do this with as little as 5 apples. 

Cover the top with a cheesecloth, or paper to make sure no little bugs get inside (fruit flies love ACV!). It will take 2-3 weeks to fully ferment. It should taste super sour and should smell like regular vinegar. Strain the liquid and store in a cute bottle!

If you are pregnant and concerned with fermented food safety, you may boil the vinegar afterwards to pasteurize it and just enjoy it as any other shelf vinegar, or wait until you're in your postpartum period to consider using this amazing fermented food! There are a 101 ways to use ACV and it has multiple benefits for your health-- from balancing blood sugar, to promoting healthy gut flora to detoxifying your immune system! It really is one of my all time favourite nutritional tools. 

If you'd like to read more about it's benefits and or safety, Braggs carries a raw apple cider vinegar and has a good FAQ on their product. It is stated as safe for pregnancy and that the pH of ACV is too acidic for the 0-157 strain of E. Coli bacteria to survive. Keep in mind that though the fermentation process is still the same at home, you are responsible for quality control unlike a store bought product which is manufactured in a factory. 

Once your apple cider vinegar has been made, you may store it in the fridge or in a cupboard away from sunlight and heat. It should last a good 2 years if it's been done right, though you'll probably use it up well before then. 
​
Enjoy!

One of my most cherished photos is from when my babies were little and I had professional photos done to capture that really special time in our breastfeeding relationship. When I do Newborn Sessions. I always take photos of baby being fed and my clients love it! 
I am so happy to be offering a Baby Feeding Mini Session for you to be able to capture this special moment forever. This session is not JUST for breastfed babies. We support all types of feeding - so come join us, whether it is breast, bottle or even your breast pump!

SESSION INFORMATION:
November 4 2017, Sunday
20 minute session 
Pitt Lake (depending on weather), If the whether is too wet, we will move it to a Pitt Meadows Residence. 
From 9am-11:00am
Cost : $100
10 edited images. 1 sneak peak photo to be posted on our Facebook page within 48 hours.

By Samantha Garcia Gagnon, Pitt Meadows Doula + Photographer

Confession time - I am pretty sure when I walked into the hospital for my first birth, I looked like I was moving in full time. But now - with our team having supported hundreds of families, we have certainly streamlined our recommendation list on what to bring when our clients ask us! Like with most things birth and baby related, keep things simple. There is zero need to stress out over what to bring. This simple check list take the stress out of your packing!

By Samantha Garcia Gagnon, Pitt Meadows Doula, Photographer and Bebo Mia Business Mentor

When I first started my doula business, I was overwhelmed with what my first steps should be. Vancouver is filled with so many awesome doulas. How was I going to stand out? How was I going to get clients? It was really early on in my doula career that I first met Bianca and Natasha from Bebo Mia. I had already knew of the company for their Maternal Support Practitioner (doula) training so when they launched the Doula Business School, I had a strong pull that told me I needed to sign up.

Over those 6 weeks, I received step by step support and guidance on setting up my business and building my brand. I have always had a very creative side, and being able to tap into that, coming up with unique ideas and interesting, stand out branding, was so much fun for me. After the end of the course, the Don't Doula It Yourself online community was born where the support never ends. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to watch this group grow, connect with doulas all over the world and share ideas on how we can all make our businesses better and stronger. 

My favourite thing about Bebo Mia is that no matter how large their organization grows, the team is so committed to making sure you get the support you need. You are never just a number. Every single member is an essential part and will receive the support they require. They also make it really clear that you can both be client focused while still treating your business like a business!  With their guidance, our team has experienced such wonderful growth so quickly. 

When Bianca and Natasha (and Alana!) asked me to join the team as the Business Mentor for the DDIY community, I JUMPED at the opportunity. I love seeing people flourish - be it my clients through their births and parenthood, or other doulas as they discover what is possible in their business! To be able to be invited to join this team that helped me so much so that I can then help more people the way they have helped me is so wonderful! I am so looking forward to supporting the wonderful doulas in our community as they build their birth businesses!

Supporting the tone of the uterus before, during pregnancy and in postpartum is something that most moms are interested in, if they are lucky enough to know their options! 
There are many things that can be done, like specific exercises, to improve the pelvic area while your body goes through its transformation. At The Mayas Nest, we are strong supporters of seeking a pelvic floor specialist or program, like Pelvienne Wellness for all our clients because it is so important to uterine health during and after pregnancy. 

But what about herbs? If you're a new mom, you might have heard some talk about red raspberry leaf tea. It's so well known, that you can often find it in the natural tea section of your local grocery store.

​Red raspberry (Rubus Idaeus) leaves have been used for centuries in women's health as a uterine tonic. A 'tonic' in herbal medicine is generally a group of herbs that will strengthen, restore and regenerate the body and/or a specific organ. In the case of red raspberry leaf tea, it is considered mostly a uterine tonic, as it tones, strengthens and restores the uterus. Red raspberry leaf traditionally is used to reduce postpartum hemorrhage and to restore the uterus to normal size, reduce the after pains of labour and for heavy menses. It has also been used for treatment of diarrhea, bacterial infection, and for inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, though red raspberry leaf tea is considered a women's herb and is most often used for its uterine benefits. There is even some research showing that it may shorten labour for some women [1].

Did you know that the leaves are high in calcium & magnesium? These are both essential in muscle contraction and tone and nerve conduction... those things are play an important role in birth! As with all herbals, keep in mind that just because its in nature doesn't mean it isn't powerful medicine! Please take caution in your first trimester as the relaxation effects of red raspberry leaf tea may be too effective and may be unsafe to consume in early pregnancy. It is my opinion, it is best during the first trimester to avoid most medicinal herbs. However, there aren't any reported toxicity dangers [2] to drinking red raspberry leaf tea, so most mums can benefit from this amazing herb without worry once they are outside of their first trimester. 

So, what is this special red raspberry leaf?

Plain and simple, it's the same raspberry thats probably growing in your back yard or local trail. If you are lucky enough to have a raspberry bush (that is organic i.e, no pesticides and free from animal urine) you can make your own tea, very simply. 

The basic recipe is 2 tsp of dried herb for 1 cup of water. If you've never tasted natural red raspberry leaf tea, fresh, its very similar to the taste of green tea, I find. Consume 1-2 cups up to three times daily. 

It's best if you harvest the leaves in the spring or before the berry season ends. Its very easy to dry them-- just lay them on a tea towel over night and by morning you should be able to crush them in your hands. Then, steep like any loose tea. To get the maximum benefits, steep for at least 10  minutes before drinking. 

Please note - this is not medical advice. Before ingesting any herbs, you may want to confirm with your medical care provider.

Holly, Coquitlam Doula
​
​[1] Parsons, M., Simpson, M., & Ponton, T. (1999). Raspberry leaf and its effect on labour: Safety and efficacy. Australian College of Midwives Incorporated Journal, 12(3), 20–25. doi:10.1016/s1031-170x(99)80008-7
[2] Dr. Marciano, Marisa & Dr. Vizniak, Nikita. Botanical Medicine, Herbs, Nutrition, Hormones & Medications. Canada. Professional Health Systems Inc. 2016. Print. Pg. 302-303

By Samantha Garcia Gagnon, Pitt Meadows Doula and Birth Photographer

Sneak Peek First - Scroll Down for the FULL Shot.

As a doula and birth photographer. I am witness to the most amazing moments. 

And then there are these moments. These rare, hardly ever happens moments. I was so excited to be witness to this unique moment, and to get to photograph it too - AMAZING!

Babies are typically born with the cephalic vertex anterior (the crown of the head and face down) presentation. Sometimes we also see babies being born "Face Up" also known as posterior - but only about 4-10% of babies are born this way at birth, though many more start this way in labour.

And then there are the more unique and rare presentations - including this FULL FACE PRESENTATION that I got to capture. Instead of baby coming out first from the top/crown of their head, the baby is born with the face coming out first. Face presentation occur in 1 of every 600-800 births. 

I love this image so much that I entered it into the Birth Becomes Her 2017 Moment of Birth Contest. The contest is judged in 4 rounds, but there will be an extra People's Choice voting portion which I will be sure to share when voting starts!

I just want to end this saying I am so incredibly proud of my wonderful client. She did such AN AMAZING job and was so strong and focused through it all.