Nesting Owl

04/11/2025

🚨 “When minutes matter, this is a lifetime.” 🚨
– Yvette Coffey, RNU President

The government’s decision to move gynecology services to the Janeway without on-site critical care puts women’s lives at risk.

RNU has confirmed plans to relocate critical care from the Health Sciences Centre to Kenmount Road—over 8 km away. In emergencies like severe hemorrhaging, this delay could be deadly.

“It’s not just dangerous—it’s unconscionable.”

We’re calling on government to pause, consult, and prioritize the safety of women and babies. The public deserves the full story.

📰 Read the full release: https://tinyurl.com/2mc9kxxj

04/06/2025

Birth rarely goes the way we want it to 100%. A deviation, whether it's minor or major, can be hard to process sometimes. Here are a couple things to keep in mind when you're in the middle of or looking back on your birth that didn't go the way you were hoping for:

- I'm sorry that you're missing something that you were really hoping for. That's not easy, and it's ok to be sad for that piece.
- no matter what, your body did and is doing amazing things.
- you and your body did not fail.
- your body can hold more than one feeling at a time. You can be happy and grateful, while also feeling sad, angry or disappointed.

Talking about what happened during your birth can be an important piece of your healing journey. Reach out if you'd like to debrief your experience, or if you'd like to talk about how I can help during your birth to avoid deviations from your plan and support you if there are some.

04/04/2025

I feel this in my core.

Women are birthing every day and have been for thousands of years. Be sure to think about that while you're labouring, or when looking back on your birth. You are not alone. People are experiencing this right along with you. You have reached this point because of generations on strong women, just like you. Feel that strength that has been passed down in you. YOU ARE STRONG!

Did you feel strong during your birth? I would love to hear about about that moment in your birth! Comment below if you're comfortable, or send me a DM.

04/02/2025

The power of a birth plan is NOT that you've decided how your birth will go. Birth never goes 100% according to plan.

The power of a birth plan is that you've educated yourself in your options. Being informed about what may or may not come your way during your birth is half the battle. Knowing what options you have, when you might want to try something new, what might be a better alternative, or when there may not be a better alternative; these are all pieces in building your birth plan. Knowledge is power, and a birth plan is the road map to being an active participant in your birth.

Want some help to write your birth plan? I can meet with you virtually or in-person to talk to you about your options, even if you don't want me as your doula during your birth! Send me a msg and lets chat!

04/01/2025

Quantifying the association between doula care and maternal and neonatal outcomes https://ow.ly/JyRk50Vqj4J

04/01/2025

Our next episode is LIVE >> Check us out on YouTube!! And don't forget to subscribe 😊😊😊.

Sam from Nesting Owl and I chat about what a doula does and how it can benefit you during labour.

Birth Doulas in Newfoundland: steering you in the right direction for your labour, birth, & postpartum. Answering your questions, sharing hot topics, and providing evidence-based information. We just LOVE chatting about birth, parenthood, and babies.

03/31/2025

Depending on when the deceleration in heart rate happens in relation to your contractions, sometimes it's just a sign that baby is descending and being squeezed along with you. What your Health Care Provider will be watching for, is if their heart rate comes back up pretty quickly after your contraction peak is over or if it takes a bit longer, or if it's happening outside of then your contraction is squeezing the tightest.

I can help you understand what is normal during your birth and to help translate some of the medical jargon you might hear.

Comment below if you remember any terms during your labour that might have sounded scary in the moment and I can explain!

03/29/2025

A cesarean birth is a lifesaving procedure that we are lucky to have available to us when necessary. But an unplanned cesarean comes with a lot of physical and emotional strain.

Here are a few things I like to remind clients of when their birth requires a surgical intervention:
- your body is amazing and has birthed your baby in the way that it needed to in order to keep you and your baby safe.
- it is okay to be sad about the birth that you wanted while feeling grateful and relieved that your baby is safe and healthy. Your body can hold more than one emotion at a time.
- recovery after surgery will be different, but you have support to help you get through this phase.
- the work that you did during your labour was not for nothing. The contractions helped prepare your baby's lungs for breathing and decrease the risk of other health complications for them. It also reduces your risk of heavy bleeding, eases your recovery and reduces the risk of complications in future pregnancies.

A doula can reduce your risk of requiring a cesarean, but they are also an incredible support if you do require one. Reach out to see how I can help you in your upcoming birth.

03/29/2025

✨ Pregnancy, Birth & Postpartum Info from The Birth Compass doulas is now on YouTube! 🎥💛
📢 Please share & subscribe! 🔔💫

Link in bio

03/27/2025

There is nothing more glorious than that first shower after your birth. It feels like the first step to getting back to a slight sense of normality...and then the nurse hands you a stack of rough hand towels to dry off after. Do yourself a favour and pack a plush, large, cozy towel from home.

Bonus hack: see if you can get them to put it in the warmer a couple hours before you think you'll be ready to jump in the shower! Thank me later!

Comment below and tell me what your first moment of self care was after your birth!

03/25/2025

Birth is anything but predictable, but having a planned cesarean birth can provide some much needed control in certain circumstances. Typically a cesarean is planned if the birthing person has had a previous cesarean birth, or if there is a medical condition that would cause a vaginal birth to be of higher risk than a surgery, such as the placenta lying over the cervix or if baby is lying sideways. Don't forget, a cesarean birth is still a birth! Your body is doing the most incredible things, working hard and bringing your baby earthside! You are amazing!!!

A doula can support you during a planned cesarean by creating a cesarean birth plan, providing information before and after your birth, helping you to process any emotions that come with the decision to plan your birth, support to you and your partner to know and understand what will happen, physical support during your recovery and so much more.

Want some help to plan a cesarean birth that you will feel empowered by? Shoot me a msg and let's talk about what that might look like!

03/25/2025

Episode 2 of The Birth Compass is hot off the press! and are chatting about what to expect in your labour.

Birth is anything but predictable, but in general a physiological labour follows a certain pattern. We're talking about what to expect, or maybe what not to expect and we touch on some of the things that you might be doing in each phase of your labour.

Be sure to leave your questions and comments below so we can talk about the things that are on your mind and are important to you for your birth!