Stephanie Ondrack 5/20/24 Stephanie Ondrack 5/20/24

Going Pee and Giving Birth: 4 things about emptying the bladder during labour that you probably didn’t know

You may have heard about the importance of eating, drinking, breathing, and changing positions during labour, but did you know that urinating regularly is equally important? Here are four reasons why. Some of them might surprise you.

Stephanie Ondrack 9/11/23 Stephanie Ondrack 9/11/23

Giving Birth in Vancouver BC

While birth itself could be described as universal, standard practices around birth are very local. What we can expect varies significantly from place to place. Which means that much of the information we get on the internet, or in books, might not reflect common practices in regionally. This can cause confusion around what to expect in our own area. So let’s focus on this location: Vancouver BC and the surrounding lower mainland.

Stephanie Ondrack 8/16/23 Stephanie Ondrack 8/16/23

The So-Called Due Date

If there is one date that your baby is unlikely to arrive, it is on your so-called due date. Approximately 96% of people do not give birth on that date. Odds are, neither will you.

So when do people typically give birth? Where does the putative “due date” come from, and why do we even call it that?

Stephanie Ondrack 6/17/23 Stephanie Ondrack 6/17/23

Massage for Labour: Some Rules of Thumb (& Fingers)

Massage is an excellent tool for coping with labour. It is a classic, well known comfort measure. It works in several ways.

But whatever you do, there is one thing you might want to avoid: creepy fingers.

For many people, creepy fingers during labour can turn massage into a thoroughly unpleasant experience.

Stephanie Ondrack 3/16/23 Stephanie Ondrack 3/16/23

BACK OFF: Why Lying Flat On The Back Is Bad For Birth

I thought the days of being told to lie down while birthing a baby were long over, but just recently…..

Stephanie Ondrack 2/21/23 Stephanie Ondrack 2/21/23

The Waters

A common image in futuristic movies is someone floating in a tank of water in order to heal from injuries, illness, or cryogenic stasis. This idea of submersion in an enclosed aquatic tub that is restorative and salubrious is extremely evocative of the womb. Our babies float in exactly such a substance in our bodies, fully submerged, growing and gestating, until they are ready to emerge. This is amniotic fluid, “the waters” that surround and support our baby.

Guest 1/22/23 Guest 1/22/23

The Holistic Approach Mind/Body/Soul

A holistic pregnancy and childbirth recognizes the impact of the mind, body & spirit, on the experience of pregnancy, birth and postpartum.

Guest 9/27/22 Guest 9/27/22

Location, Location, Location: Choosing Baby’s Place of Birth

“Have you considered having a home birth?” My midwife had asked me in one of our first appointments. I promptly responded no, but the question spurred a few thoughts: “I’m a nurse. How could I even consider that?” “That can’t be safe.”