Blog & Updates on Vancouver Prenatal Classes
14 Things About Colic You Might Not Know
When we hear that a baby has colic, most people picture an upset tummy, a fussy baby that is suffering from abdominal pain and gas. But even if your colicky baby does have these symptoms, this is not what ‘colic’ means. Here are fourteen things you might not know about colic.
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.
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?
My Adventures in Lazy Diapering
When weighing diaper options, few parents are aware that one of the choices is to use no diapers at all. Commonly referred to as “Elimination Communication” or “E.C.”, this approach to baby’s bodily waste involves skipping the diaper stage altogether.
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.
Mother-Making
There is no question that becoming a mother changes us. Whether our children came to us biologically, through blending families, with the help of science, or paperwork, or some other way, no matter how we became a mother, motherhood is a fundamental shift in identity that alters our former perception of self. Whether we welcome this or resist it, there is no escaping it: we are no longer the same person we were before having kids.
OEDEMA
Oedema (or edema) is swelling that can occur in your extremities during pregnancy, most often in the ankles. Some people just get mildly swollen ankles, and some people get extremely puffy ankles and feet, sometimes even calves and knees, so that shoes, or even socks or pants, don’t fit. Oedema can also occur in the fingers, hands, wrists, and face. Often it gets worse towards the end of pregnancy, and some people experience it in all these places at once.
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…..
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.
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.
Neuroception
Babies are born with the superpower to detect danger in their surroundings, and this same superpower helps with long-term brain development. What is it? Neuroception.
Life with Baby: Getting Out of the House
Many people feel stir crazy in the early weeks or months at home with a new baby. You might find yourself pacing in front of the window for an hour waiting for your partner to get home from work. Is there anything that can be done to alleviate the terrible monotony?