Birth is a unique experience, each time. The first time our only point of reference is whatever we have been told, heard or seen through family, friends and the world at large. After that first time, our birth experiences are woven together with threads from the previous birth(s). An influence that has to be factored
Sometimes a style or pattern emerges once a person has birthed a couple of times. That is certainly the case in this story. For each of her three births the lead up period was 3 to 4 weeks of prodromal labour! Three to Four Weeks! Let that sink in. By this third birth, when the
Their first birth experience was 40 hours of labour and then a belly birth. Even though they had done all the things and knew from a practical place that the path could not have gone another way, it took some time to process and work through. Like most first time birthers, they were not
Just as is so often the case with sibling births, this story started long before the big day. Their first birth experience had left them feeling overwhelmed and with some questions about how it might have been different. Because she is a knowledge seeker, because he wants the best for his family, they decided to
This birthing duo had some unusual decisions to make long before we got to the birth. Living in a rural city that doesn’t have a birthing facility meant they had to choose between a highway drive to a neighbouring city while in labour or relocating to a bigger centre to wait for the baby to
It was their third time walking the birth path. The first two births were so different from each other that they were ready for anything, or they thought they were! She had a restless night with the same kind of feelings she had before her second son was born. The discomfort was manageable but not
“Sorry for the early text! I believe things are happening!” It was 4:12 am, and it had begun. This is so often the way it starts for those first labours. A slow build up of something that might be contractions, and then is definitely contractions. She was feeling ‘something’ the night before, and by this
It was only four days past her ‘due date’, but it had been a long pregnancy and she was ready. She woke up sad that she wasn’t in labour and then as soon as she got up and walked to the kitchen, her waters broke! All dramatic Hollywood style. We were excited and ready, time
Everyone tells us that the first birth will be the long one, with loads of early labour. This is usually true, but sometimes even that first labour can seem to start out with an advanced labour feel. When it is your first and you have nothing to compare it to, it can feel a bit
Birth is a journey. Always. Sometimes in more ways than one. This birth journey took many twists and turns. We got there in the end. Manitoba is a rural province, with so many communities close, but not close to the ‘big city’. This can be complicated for times when you need medical support, like
We believe the value of supportive care extends beyond the moments of birth. Everything we have learned and observed so far tells us that it really does take a village to raise a human, to be a parent, to fully embrace the human experience. Here you will find a listing of local businesses that offer services or products that might help round out your village. Read More about “Resources”…