As much as I like hammering out new blog posts on my laptop, I will always have a special love for pen-to-paper journalling. I was going through some of my birth-journal entries earlier this evening, and thought I would start a segment here on the Birth Takes a Village Blog with occasional glimpses of the […]
A nice graphic from Sam Talbot, designer, activist & former doula. Do you think it makes sense that only 60% of Canadian babies are born vaginally without surgical or instrumental assistance? Read more → Women birthing with medical care providers such as doctors and registered midwives often have vaginal exams performed every 2-4 hours during a woman’s […]
One of my past doula students had an unassisted home water birth earlier this year. Here’s a Q&A with her about her experience: Can you explain the term freebirth / unassisted birth for our readers? Freebirth-ers believe that it’s a woman’s right to choose where, how and with whom she gives birth. A freebirth is […]
[nggallery id=3] Check out these photographs from births I have attended in the past. Featuring images from professional birth photographer Morag Hastings, who I love working with. If you want a birth photographer to join me with you at your birth, let me know. I love working with birth photographers! Gallery also includes images from Megan […]
Offered every 6-7 weeks, Meet-The-Back-Up Night is a unique opportunity for you to meet the doulas who would be called upon if I was unable to attend your birth. In order to have a reassuring back-up system in place, I have teamed up with carefully selected doulas based on our similar birth philosophies and approaches to […]
Photo from spinningbabies.com I spent some time yesterday practising a Spinning Babies technique with a current client preparing for a VBAC here in Vancouver. During the birth process, babies slowly shift and adjust, making small movements assisted by mom’s uterus to find just the right position for fitting through the pelvis. Some babies find this […]
When planning a vaginal birth after cesarean, one of the most important things you can do is surround yourself with a birthing team that is supportive of VBACs. It is completely normal for a VBAC woman / couple to experience moments of doubt or uncertainty as they birth. Having a birth team who can hold […]
by Jessica Austin September 9, 2012 Being present for the birth of one new person is magical enough, never mind two! Photography by Morag Hastings from Apple Blossom Families in Vancouver View more Birth Takes a Village Photos, or read my client testimonials Go to Birth Takes a Village Home Page Read the full article […]
by Jessica Austin November 22, 2011 Congratulations, you’re pregnant! Although dealing with nausea, upset stomach, dizziness and those constant sprints to the porcelain thrown are not things you ever feel like celebrating, it is the sure sign that you have a beautiful little peanut sprouting in your belly! If you are experiencing “morning sickness” during your […]
by Jessica Austin February 8, 2012 Guest post from: Krisitin Richards, Vancouver RMT A recent study suggests 73% pregnancies will begin and end with a debilitating pregnancy back pain and pelvic pain. This pain can even continue post pregnancy. As a Registered Massage Therapist in Vancouver, I have seen my share (and experienced my own) pregnancy […]
by Jessica Austin February 3, 2013 So, I caught a baby for the first time last week. On my birthday… a day where I attended not one, but TWO Hypnobabies home births back-to-back. Pretty awesome birthday gift. Two births, one catch and one pair of amniotic fluid-soaked jeans later, I got into my beloved bath […]
by Jessica Austin December 10, 2012 If you follow my blog or facebook page regularly, I think it is obvious that I think normal, natural childbirth is beautiful, amazing, and powerful. But the most important thing to me is that women have access to honest, accurate information so they are able to make informed decisions […]
by Jessica Austin July 26, 2012 Last night in our Free Monthly Prenatal Group, we got to talking about HypnoBirthing and Hypnobabies. These are the two most common “brands” of childbirth hypnosis, and they are getting increasingly popular as a method of preparing for birth. I’m a trained “hypno-doula”, meaning I’ve taken continuing education for […]
by Jessica Austin January 10, 2013 Many people choose hospital birth because there is a perception that it is safer for mother and baby. However, scientific research shows otherwise. I often hear people say something along the lines of, “I considered home birth, but I (and /or my partner) am very scientific minded so am […]
