Meeting Everyone's Needs: The Careful Balancing act of Caring for Your Sick Children While Working From Home

Parents everywhere will attest to how crazy home life with children can be. It is normal for most children to often need attention and engagement from their caregivers, siblings, or friends. At the best of times, this constant stimulation can be exhausting for a parent. When children are sick, it is typical for them to need their loved ones more than usual... demanding snuggles, mind-numbing television, and contact naps.

To be honest, I can think of worse scenarios. My littlest one is growing up faster than I like, and the cuddles and contact naps are becoming less with each passing day... As a parent who works full time with a job that involves crisis intervention and time-sensitive tasks, I am often taking phone calls that
deal with emergency situations. Taking these calls and interrupting Cocomelon snuggle time is a recipe for disaster for everyone. Too often have I had to try to think on the spot and give directives to my staff, while having a little one scream-crying that I have broken contact with them to—Heaven forbid-- work.

Is this striking a chord for anyone else? So what can a parent do if they are working from home while also trying to manage a sick little one?

I returned from my maternity leave while many of the COVID restrictions were still in place. My daughter had just started daycare, my step boys started to attend school more regularly, and I was still working from home as my physical office building was closed. The daycare and school at that time had
very strict protocols around children showing any COVID symptoms needing to isolate for up to 10 days. Those early days after my return from work involved a lot of juggling work and taking care of sick children. Never mind that I, too, was contracting everything that was being brought home by my 3 kids.

I did a lot of learning around how to make everyone (mostly) happy through trial and error during these days. Here are some tips on how to make these days go as smoothly as possible for everyone:

Planning ahead:

- If you are a new parent or returning to work from a parental leave, see about having a return-to-work discussion with your supervisor or Human Resources department before returning to work. In this discussion, you can talk about the reality of your (new) situation and what it will mean for you as a parent and as an employee. Strategize accommodation for when you inevitably have to be home when a child becomes sick. This accommodation can include working from home, adjusting certain tasks or your role, or making up lost hours at a different time when your child isn’t home sick.

- Talk to parents, relatives, friends, and professional caregivers who are comfortable with helping your sick child even for short periods of the day. Their presence can distract them and take some of the stress off of your shoulders if you are able to work from home. Or, if you can’t work from home, you can rest assured that your child is in good hands with a trusted caregiver.

Setting expectations:

- For children: Explain to your children in age-appropriate ways that you need to continue to work when they are home sick. Explanations such as, “I need to keep working so that I can pay for toys/rent/dance lessons/etc” can be helpful for children to understand why a parent’s work day doesn’t stop when a child is sick. Set reasonable expectations for your children around time spent with you and time spent alone while you are working. Remember that older children will understand set expectations easier than younger children, and younger children may physically need you more than older children.

- For yourself: Set reasonable expectations for yourself, too! Not many parents can give 100% of their usual output with children around, let alone sick children who need their parents more often than normal. If you can, move some tasks around to allow for breaks where you can spend time with your children so that they aren’t feeling lonely. Talk about what the work day looks like, and be prepared (and patient) to give reminders (“Remember that I have to make a call for work soon, but after that I will play with you.”).

- For everyone: Remember how you feel and what you need when you are sick and empathize with your children during this time. Many people have low energy, low focus, want to graze on simple foods (if they have an appetite at all), and need comfort, fluids, and rest when feeling unwell. Remember that children likely want and need the same things as you when they’re sick. Try to loosen up on some of the typical rules and expectations; you can get back on track once everyone is feeling healthier.

Keeping children occupied:

- One way to make the situation of being home sick more fun is to have a special box of activities and toys that only come out during these days. You can include quiet activities that children can engage in that don’t require a lot of concentration such as colouring books, picture or easy-to-read books, fidget or other sensory toys, plush toys to cuddle, etc. Try involving your children in the creation of their special boxes ahead of time when they’re feeling well.

- Have a tablet or TV set up, charged, and available to watch movies or shows. This is especially helpful for when you need to make and take phone calls or meetings that you can’t reschedule. Incorporate breaks from screens by also taking breaks and being with your children.

Other considerations:

- Try to plan meetings or important phone calls around nap and quiet times. I did this a lot when my youngest was sick and it worked extremely well for both of us! I was way less stressed about needing to split my attention between her and work knowing that a good stretch of uninterrupted work time was imminent.

- Don’t be afraid to ask for help! This can be asking for someone to help occupy your child (even for a couple of hours) while you focus on work or talking to your supervisor about the situation and asking for what you need to help things go smoother.

- If you have a partner who can also work from home, split up your days and work as a team to take care of your children, your workday, and yourselves. This can be helpful and less disruptive for the sick child if one parent needs to quickly run an errand.

- Have go-to snacks readily available for your children (and you!). Snacks such as crackers, low-maintenance fruits (berries, bananas, apples, or grapes) and vegetables (bell peppers, carrot sticks), juice boxes, and yogurt tubes are easy to give to your children when you’re trying to focus on work.

- Breaks are helpful to everyone. If the weather is nice, consider going for a short walk or even sitting outside. Sunlight, fresh air, and exercise is healing in so many ways!

The early days of taking care of children when they’re sick may seem daunting and stressful if you are a parent needing to work. Planning ahead by having conversations with personal and work relations, preparing activities and schedules ahead of time, and talking about the expectations and realities of working from home with your children will help everyone to have an easier time with adjusting to the situation.

Best of luck and gentle hugs. You got this!

All the best,
Krista, KKH Postpartum Doula

Original Posted on: https://www.kkhdoula.ca/blog#/
Published by Krista Kirkpatrick-Hatch
Certifying Postpartum Doula

How to Find Your Dream Doula

5 Underasked Questions For Your Doula

Most often, the 3 questions soon-to-be-parents ask their doula are:

"How long have you been a doula?"

"Do you have any other famalies with a due date close to mine?"

"How much do your services cost?"

These questions aren’t bad…they’re just not great!

How long someone has been a doula doesn’t necessarily mean much. Each doula takes on a different number of clients, and no two births are ever the same.

Some people start labor before their due date and others a bit after. Another client having a due date close to yours, doesn’t mean you both will definitely be in labor at the exact same time.

It’s important to honour your budget, while finding the best support you can. This isn’t the time to find the less expensive option, but rather to find the most value to you. Don’t rule out a doula based on their fees. Meet with them and ask about payment plans, sliding scales, insurance coverage, ect.

Okay, so what are some GREAT ways to find the right doula for you?

1. Do you even like them?!

Any doula you partner with has to meet the vibe check! The largest way a doula makes an impact is based on how they make you feel. Birth is a cocktail of hormones that depend on your ability to feel safe, comfortable, and supported.

2. Does their support style align with your desired support?

When you close your eyes and picture your pregnancy, birth and postpartum, what do you see your dream doula doing? Be very specific. These are your subconscious expectations. It’s important that your doula’s support style aligns with that. 

"These are your subconcious expectations. It's important that your doula's support style aligns with that."

3. Do their opinions align with your plans?

Before you share your birth & postpartum plans, ask your doula…

“What’s your opinion of medicated and unmedicated pain management?”

“How do you feel about vaginal and cesarean births?”

“How about hospital and home births?”

“Body and bottle feeding? Human or formula milk?”

Hearing their opinion before sharing your plans, gives you the opportunity to suss out if they will 100% be supportive of your preferences.

4. Do they have experience supporting births similar to your ideal birth?

There are so many variables in each birth style. Having a doula who is familiar with those variables can help you to navigate them. 

5. How do they support partners?

Partner(s) are often also having a baby! Having a doula that is not only a great support to you, but also to your partner(s) and y’all’s dynamic is vital. 

Now you're ready to go find your dream doula!

Originally posted Baby Steps Canada
Published by Riley Baran
Certified Birth and Postpartum Doula

Bilingual Doulas in Calgary

Benefits of having a bilingual doula at your birth

If your first language isn’t English, hiring a bilingual doula at your birth can make all the difference!

Having a doula that speaks your language can really take the stress and the pressure off. It is often difficult to communicate in your native language while in labor, imagine trying to communicate in your second language during a contraction! Contractions take all your focus during labor, don’t waste your energy on….

Did you know that a doula can come to your prenatal appointments with your care provider? That means a bilingual doula can help ensure you get your questions answered.

I have found this to be extremely helpful when taking a family history as well as when the pregnant woman (or person) has questions or concerns or when a complication arises during labor. 

Languages spoken

Spanish

Brielle Bautista is a birth doula and childbirth educator. She has been involved in birth work since 2021. While English is her first language, she majored in Spanish at university and became a translator. She lived in Guanajuato, Mexico for half a year and loved the culture, people and food. When she gave birth to her second child she felt called to birth work and she absolutely loves it. She can be found at www.doulabrielle.ca

Portuguese

Nanda Santoro is an artist, a mother of 2 boys and a Dancing for Birth Instructor/Childbirth Mentor. She offers Birth Support and Classes in Portuguese. She is originally from São Paulo, Brazil and has been living in Calgary, Alberta, Canada since 2009. She can be found at www.passoaoparto.com

French

Natalie Anu Stebbing is originally from England, UK. She met her husband in Colombia and ended up moving to Canada. She has 3 beautiful children. She was a registered birth Midwife but unfortunately had to quit her dream career due to blindness in one eye. She is a birth doula and childbirth educator as well as a yoga instructor. She can be found at www.natalieanu.com

Ukrainian/Russian

Polina Panshina is a birth doula and childbirth educator. Originally from Ukraine, she started her prenatal journey in China in 2020 with the birth of her first baby. She is now a mother of 2 and has had clients from Ukraine, China, USA, Canada and Russia. She works both online and offline and can help you with translation as well (Ukrainian, Russian). You can contact her at www.birthmiracles.com

Nadiia Drumashko is a birth and postpartum doula in Calgary. She is originally from Ukraine, Kharkiv. She is a mom of a son born in 2009 and twin girls born in 2011. She has been attending births since 2010. She loves helping moms feel supported and able to find resources and pleasure in motherhood. She is also a counselor who helps others process fears connected with giving birth and stand with those suffering loss and grief. You can find her at doulamia.com.au

Hebrew

Lihi Edelman-Brudno is a Birth & Postpartum doula. She is a mother to Belle (3 years old) & her furry rescue babies Chino & Milky. She was born and raised in Israel & proud to call Calgary home since 2005. She felt inspired to become a doula after the birth of her daughter and experiencing first-hand the joys and difficulties of new motherhood. She can be found at www.thevillagedoulayyc.ca

Danish

Natasja Østergaard Boivin is a small town girl from Denmark. She went on a vacation to Calgary and loved it. She felt so at home here that she immigrated to Calgary. She is a mother of 2 amazing daughters. The birth of her children changed her life and her career from being in the Oil and Gas industry to a Doula. She is a birth and postpartum doula and can be found at www.genuinecomfort.ca

Originally posted from: https://www.doulabrielle.ca/blog/calgary-doula
Published by Brielle Bautista
Certified Birth Doula | DONA

Calibrating Milk Production

By: Natalie Borden IBCLC CD/PCD(DONA)
Originally Posted From: Devoted Doula Birth & Breastfeeding Services

I am a firm believer in that if you understand the why of things, you are better able to manage hurdles as they come. The calibration of milk production follows a generally predictable pattern given frequent and effective removal of milk from the breast. I will provide some insight into how milk production is calibrated under the preferred circumstances below.

Before we can talk about calibration once baby is born, we need to take a moment to acknowledge the incredible capabilities the body already has during the pregnancy period. By approximately 16 weeks gestation, the breasts are already beginning to produce milk. This is colostrum, which is milk. This milk is produced and absorbed within the body as the pregnancy continues. It is an amazing milk. What it lacks in volume (water/sugar) it makes up for in age specific components. This means if your baby is born at 35 weeks gestation, the milk is calibrated to that age of baby. That means that milk produced at 38 weeks is slightly different in composition than that of milk produced at 40 or 41 weeks.

With the delivery of your placenta begins a waterfall of hormonal changes within the body. Progesterone and estrogen within the placenta that was holding back prolactin’s ability to produce milk is no longer holding that role. As a result, prolactin begins to surge and the transition to mature milk begins. This starts right at the delivery of your placenta but normally it isn’t obviously felt by us until roughly 3-5 days postpartum. Another important factor to keep in mind in how hormones are helping to increase milk volumes is the idea of prolactin receptors. Now that prolactin is able to surge inside the body, it only means so much without prolactin receptors. A simple way to understand this is to compare it to a lock and key. Prolactin is the key and prolactin receptors are the locks. Frequent stimulation of the breast in the early days postpartum help lay down more locks for the keys to fit into. They turn and milk production continues. Without that frequent stimulation, fewer locks are set down and production calibration can falter. This is also why many individuals who are having subsequent babies report milk transitioning quicker. Those receptors haven’t totally gone away and as a result, they have the infrastructure in place and are actually adding to it. In the first few days postpartum the milk production machine is largely dictated by hormonal factors. Without frequent and effective stimulation of the breasts though the machine begins to slow down and stop.

When your baby is born, they are born full. The sensation of being hungry isn’t something they are familiar with. What they are born with is the instinctual reflex to find the breast and suckle. The advice on how frequently to feed in the first 24hours varies quite a bit from care provider to care provider. In this time period, the average babe consumes roughly 2-10mls per feed. These quantities are tiny. What these tiny quantities allow your baby to do is practice their suck/swallow/breathe coordination. A skill that they couldn’t practice yet in utero. With small volumes at this time they are able to work on this skill prior to the ramp up of milk volumes.

Between 24-48 hours old your baby will consume roughly 5-15mls per feed. The frequency should be at least 8 times but, 10 or more is not unusual. The first sleepy 24hours has passed and many babies are taking the opportunity to “Call in their orders”. They are telling the body to keep the milk production machine running on high. It does not necessarily mean that your body isn’t making enough for them. It also doesn’t look like an even and organized feeding pattern. Many feel that their baby will feed every 3 hours on the dot and if they are fussy or cuing before then that their baby either isn’t hungry or that the body is somehow not keeping up with baby’s need. Some feeds are a drink, some are a snack and some are large meals. As long as feeds aren’t extremely long or if you are feeling pain, following their cues really does eliminate the guesswork of if you should feed them or not. Where this can get confusing is the group of babes who aren’t as vocal about calling in their orders. These are the babes who sleep in long stretches and are difficult to rouse. As they consume less calories, they shut down further and cue less – not more. These are the ones we try to watch out for and why it is encouraged to ensure at least 8 feeds per 24hours and why it is discouraged to let them sleep in long stretches until they have proven their ability to gain weight in the first 2 weeks of life. After we are sure babe is able to effectively gain weight, we can be a little more relaxed but are still ensuring we are encouraging our milk production machine to run at a high level.

By 48-72 hours old your baby will be taking in 15-30ml per feed and by weeks end that quantity will be more like 30-60ml. That is a big jump from the 2-10mls from day 1. During weeks 2 and 3 the volumes per feed are more like 60-90ml per feed and by the time your baby is a month old, that volume is approximately 90-120ml per feed. This volume will stay steady until about 6 months of age when solids are introduced.

The above information is how things normally progress, stage by stage. As with anything though, there are hurdles and roadblocks that can get in the way. Some of those can be a difficult labour, separation, maternal or infant illness, infrequent/inefficient stimulation or pre-glandular concerns. There are tips and strategies for these situations though and why early support can be extremely beneficial.

Pregnant In Calgary: Now What?

By: Bethany Galster, intro by Rachel Parris 
Originally Posted From: https://fiveelementsbirth.com/blog/pregnant-in-calgary-now-what

Congratulations! You're going to have a baby. That's awesome. And probably, on some level, completely terrifying.

You're probably already thinking about the million things you need to get done in the next nine(ish) months.

Breathe. You've got this. I promise.

Our maternity care system can be convoluted. Do you see your family doctor, a midwife, an OB/GYN? And when? What tests and procedures are usually recommended? What choices are available to you?

We wanted to simplify the process for you and have created these two handouts for you to print and use as needed (and by we, I mean our very talented Bethany Galster!). Simply click on the image to open a printable/downloadable PDF.

How to Organize a Beautiful, Functional Nursery

When Storage Meets Design

Although they may be adorable and small, newborn babies come with a lot of “stuff.” Among the little clothes, diapers, and furniture, there is a lot to think about when decorating, arranging, and organizing a nursery. Naturally, you want to make sure the nursery looks just as cute as your baby. Here are a few tips for a functional, well-organized, and beautiful nursery.

Arranging the Furniture for Function

Many soon-to-be moms and dads have the walls painted and pick out bedding and mobiles and perfect outfits before they even think about buying and arranging the furniture. Cribs, changing tables, dressers, and gliders take up a lot of space. You want them to look great but it is even more important to place them in practical spots in the room.

To help create flow in the room, functionality should be considered a top priority in a nursery. The function of the room depends on the activity. In this case, think about sleeping, feeding, playing, changing diapers and clothes and so on. Ask yourself what you will be doing the most often. If you lack space, consider placing furniture not only against the walls, but in the corners as well.

Optimal spacing and safety are important considerations when locating key pieces of furniture for a comfortable and convenient nursery. One of the focal pieces (and most used pieces) of furniture is the crib. After rocking or feeding the baby, the transition to the crib should be as smooth as possible. Keep a small nightstand or side table near the rocker and place a dim lamp on it. This item can be ideal for bedtime books and empty bottles after feedings. A small drawer in the nightstand can hold easy-to-reach cold tablets or burp cloths when needed. You also want to keep the crib away from the door so that when you peek in to check on the baby, you don’t wake him or her. Lastly, the crib should be located away from a drafty window and away from curtains and draperies where the baby can easily reach, to avoid choking or other hazards. The glider can be placed near the window so mom can look out while feeding.

Another key piece of furniture is the changing table. When changing the baby, diapers, wipes, and a fresh clean outfit should be easily accessible without having to walk away and leave the baby. The changing table should be close to the dresser so you can easily and quickly grab an outfit. Keep the diaper pail and hamper near the changing table as well. This way you can discard the diaper and dirty clothes without leaving the baby’s side.

Organizing a Dresser and Changing Station

There never seems to be enough storage for all the baby’s necessities, and traditional closets with just a standard bar to hang clothes are often not cut out for efficient use. Get creative by placing a small shelf inside a closet if you lack a closet system. Place a tension rod in the middle of a bookshelf and remove lower shelves for hanging clothes. Lack closet drawers? You can use baskets or crates for accessories, extra diapers, or books and toys. You can also use a shoe organizer on the back of a closet door for hats and accessories. Chances are that you have purchased clothing that the baby doesn’t quite fit into yet. Organize these clothes by month with clothing dividers.

Do you still need more storage? Cubed shelving with bins is a great solution. A large cubed shelving unit creates extra storage and shelving, while a small unit provides a table top for baby’s things. Bins can hold everything from extra diapers to toys and keep them out of sight. They are also transitional and versatile for when the baby becomes a toddler. Bins can be removed and cubes can be used as shelves for books, piggy banks, and decorative items.

Double Duty Decorating

Now that the furniture is placed properly, it’s time to decorate. Framing favorite nursery books or pages with illustrations makes simple DIY artwork. Of course, baby’s name or monogram is a must and adds a personal touch as well. You can also add your own style with a rug and wall decals. But decorating with double duty in mind is a great way to combine fashion and function. Use picture ledges on a wall to hold and display books. A row of fabric-lined wicker or wire baskets can be hung on a wall vertically or horizontally for attractive toy storage. A vintage ladder against a wall can display baby blankets and quilts.

Don’t forget about shades and curtains. Not only should they reflect your style and color scheme, they should also be easy to draw for nap time and bedtime. Black- out shades, liners, or roman shades work well in a nursery. You can anchor them with decorative curtains, satisfying both beauty and function.

As you can see, there is a lot to think about when preparing a nursery for your little one. From proper furniture placement and drawer organization, closet set-up to double-duty decorating, the best thing to keep in mind is that if it doesn’t work, change it. After about a dozen diaper changes or so, you will be able to make slight changes to best fit the needs of both you and your baby.

Original article by PartSelect’s Blog

Written by Dinah Wolf

Finding a Calgary Doula

By: Heather Crossan CD(DONA), PCD(DONA)
Originally posted from: http://elitedoula.com/blog/20/finding-a-calgary-doula

So, you're pregnant and have decided you want some extra support before, during or after your birth, but where do you find that? Calgary is full of young families that no longer live close to friends and family, so where do you turn when you need a pregnancy support network? Utilizing a doula is one way to access that support, but where do you even begin? What do you search for? Who do you ask? How do you pick the right birth or postpartum doula for you and your family?

There are many tools out there to help you find a doula in Calgary. Reach out to your social circle, send a text to friends or write a Facebook post in a local mom’s group asking if anyone has ever used a doula. You'll be surprised how many of your friends have a referral! A personal word-of-mouth recommendation is by far the best way to start your search, and get the inside scoop on a great one and their practices. This information can prove invaluable. This doula, however, may not be the right one for you, even if your friend loved them, but it's an excellent starting point.

The next step would be checking with your health care provider. Technically physicians, midwives or nurses cannot recommend individual doula businesses, but they may be able to point you in the right direction in terms of with whom they have had good experiences. Again, who they suggest may not be the right one for you, but their thoughts can help you narrow down the field.

If you're still looking for names, you can contact local groups or associations, like the Calgary Doula Association, or Doula Essentials. Most of these local groups will have a referral list that they can share with you. One benefit of this is that generally the birth or postpartum doulas have had a certain level of training and/or certification. Another benefit is that if you have an issue or concern, you have someone to contact to get it resolved. When you know that these Calgary doulas are part of a bigger community and have a support network of their own, it can make a huge difference in how they practice. If a doula isn't connected to a local group, you may want to question why. The down side of getting such a long list is that you may have to spend a considerable amount of time researching the names.

The least effective way to find the perfect fit would be a basic google search. Most doulas have websites or at least a Facebook page. While this method seems fast and easy, you could spend endless hours sifting through websites or business pages trying to get a feel for who they are, and who to contact! Also remember, you are hearing about them from their own words, so of course they are going to sound amazing! Be sure to check for testimonials or reviews from past clients. How a doula handles a particular birth situation, or an event postpartum will usually be found in those nuggets of information.

Once you've arranged to meet with a few doulas, try not to focus too much on what questions you think you need to ask. While you should leave the meeting with a clear view of their contract and services, what you really need to do is focus on the vibe. Are you comfortable with this person? Do you enjoy their company? Do they listen and articulate responses well? Do they make you feel safe? You are going to invite them into a very important part of your life, no matter how experienced they are or how many stats they can recite the most vital part of your relationship with them will be how they make you feel. Trust that.

We know that we can help you to find the support network that will help you in this new reality. We firmly believe that there is a perfect doula out there for everyone. After all, it's never too late to add doula support to your birth, or to bring a postpartum doula into your life. 

Leave all the hard work to us!

Giving Birth At South Health Campus: An Insider's Guide

By: Rachel Parris CD(DONA)
Originally posted from: http://fiveelementsbirth.com/blog/giving-birth-at-south-health-campus-an-insiders-guide

I love finding out that a client will be birthing at South Health Campus (SHC), Calgary’s newest hospital.

BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP WITH FAMILY-CENTERED CARE AS A GUIDING PRINCIPLE, THEY ARE CHANGING THE FACE OF MATERNITY CARE IN CALGARY.

The staff is warm and friendly, with a strong emphasis on collaborative care. From a nurse bringing our client a breast pump because she saw on her birth preferences page that she wanted to try that first to increase her contractions, to geeking out about the benefits of TENS machines with one of the residents, I’ve had many lovely experiences supporting clients at SHC.

WHERE DO I GO WHEN I ARRIVE AT SOUTH HEALTH CAMPUS?

When you arrive at SHC in labor, make sure to park in B lot, also called the Forest lot (it’s the green). The entrance can be found on the south side of the hospital and is the closest to the elevators you’ll be taking up to labour and delivery (L&D). All the parking lots, except for the lot designated for the emergency department, are underground and heated.

Make sure to grab a parking pass from one of the pay stations just inside the doors to the hospital on your way up to L&D. Once inside, you are looking for the sign directing you to the Inpatient Elevators (T2).

L&D is on the 7th floor and you’ll want to turn left as you get off the elevator. You’ll need to use the intercom button just outside the unit doors on the right hand wall to enter. Once on the unit, check in at the nurse’s desk, straight ahead.

B OR FOREST LOT AT SOUTH HEALTH CAMPUS

THE T2 INPATIENT ELEVATORS SIGN AT SOUTH HEALTH CAMPUS

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I ARRIVE AT LABOUR & DELIVERY?

A nurse will guide you to a private triage room where you, baby, and your labor progress will be assessed. If you are in active labor, you will be admitted to L&D. If not, you may be sent home, or instructed to go for a long walk and return for reassessment in a couple of hours.

Once you are in active labor and admitted to L&D, you will be assigned a nurse. Like all Calgary L&D units, SHC provides one-to-one nursing. This means that there is one nurse who’s primary responsibility is you. Excluding breaks and shift changes, your nurse will be in your room with you for the duration of your labor.

WHAT ARE THE LABOUR & DELIVERY ROOMS LIKE?

Your nurse will show you to your private L&D room. Unlike the other L&D units in Calgary, SHC does not transfer you, after your baby is born, from the L&D unit to the postpartum unit. You will be in the same room throughout your stay, so feel free to make it comfy.

I love how flexible the lighting in the rooms is – you have full control over how bright or dim your birthing space is. Dim lighting is a great way to get your oxytocin (the hormone that produces contractions) flowing!

L&D rooms at SHC are large and comfortable, with a second bed available for your designated primary support person (this can be any adult family member or friend), who is welcome to stay with you 24/7. One of my absolute favorite parts of the family-centered approach at SHC is that there is no limit on the number of support people you can have with you during labor. As the person in labor, you get to choose how many (or how few) people you want there.

I WASN'T ABLE TO TAKE A PHOTO OF A LABOUR AND DELIVERY SUITE AT SOUTH HEALTH CAMPUS, SO PLEASE ENJOY THIS ADORABLE PHOTO OF KITTENS INSTEAD.

WILL I HAVE ACCESS TO WATER WHILE IN LABOUR?

Each room has its own private washroom, with unlimited hot water. Sitting on a birth ball, in the shower, is a great way to cope with contractions – especially during the intensity of transition, just before you begin pushing (Pro tip: make sure your birth ball isn't covering the shower drain - we may, or may not, have flooded a room once).

There are no tubs available on the unit, however, if you are under midwifery care and your midwife attends births at SHC, you can discuss the option of bringing your own inflatable birth pool for use during labor.

WHAT IF I NEED A CESAREAN BIRTH?

The operating rooms at SHC are on the third floor rather than being on the same floor as L&D. This means that if a caesarean birth becomes necessary, you will be transferred via direct elevator to the third floor. Unless you require general anesthesia, you are welcome to have one support person in the operating room with you, with additional support people at the discretion of the medical staff.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER MY BABY IS BORN?

Another lovely touch at SHC is getting to pick a song from a shortlist that is played throughout the entire hospital once your baby is born. I love hearing those songs come on and knowing that another baby has joined us earthside.

Postpartum stays are 24 hours for an uncomplicated vaginal birth and 48 hours for an uncomplicated ceasarean birth. If you have any questions or concerns about breastfeeding, you can request to meet with one of the lactation consultants on staff.

Meals can be ordered at your convenience anytime between 7:00am – 7:00pm. Visitors and your primary support person can access meals at one of the three restaurants in the hospital, or at the Gateway Retail District to the west. There is also a fridge, microwave, and dining area on the unit if you prefer to bring your own food and drinks from home.

THE DINING AREA ON THE LABOUR AND DELIVERY UNIT AT SOUTH HEALTH CAMPUS (I COULDN'T FIT THEM IN THE PICTURE BUT THERE ARE TABLES TO SIT AT AS WELL).

WHAT IF MY BABY IS BREECH?

Currently, South Health Campus is the only hospital in Calgary that offers vaginal breech birth.

If your baby is breech at term, your primary care provider can refer you for a breech consult with the Obstetrics/Gynecology department at SHC. To be eligible for this option, you will be referred for an ECV (external cephalic version) first, to try and turn baby head down. If the ECV fails, you will be scheduled to meet with an OB/GYN from SHC who will discuss with you your eligibility for vaginal breech birth, as well as the benefits and risks of your options.

SOUNDS LOVELY! HOW CAN I GIVE BIRTH AT SOUTH HEALTH CAMPUS?

Maternity care spaces at SHC fill quickly and are usually reserved for families living in the south east area of Calgary. If you are interested in having your baby there, make sure to discuss this option with your family doctor early in your pregnancy.

~ Rachel

Did you have a baby at South Health Campus? What did you like most about your care? Did anything surprise you?

Choosing Where to Have Your Baby in Calgary

By: Tracy Hudson CD(DONA)
Originally posted from: http://www.maternalinstincts.ca/blog/choosing-where-to-have-your-baby-in-calgary

Our last blog post talked about the options for maternity caregivers in Calgary and expressed the importance of making an early decision.  Choosing how and where you want to birth goes hand in hand with the type of caregiver you have.  As stated in that post, if you wish to have a water birth, home birth or have your baby at the birth centre, you will require a midwife to achieve this.  If none of those things are an your wish list, your options are to either chose a midwife or a doctor and birth at one of the area hospitals.  If you want to birth at a certain hospital, you will need to look for a clinic that takes self-referrals or make sure your family doctor sends you in the right direction.  Catch up on the details on our last blog here.

 

Foothills Medical Centre
(informally known as Foothills Hospital)

By User:Thivierr (Digital camera photo taken by uploader) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons

Located near 16 Ave & 29 St NW, the Foothills is Calgary's oldest hospital (of those with a maternity unit).  They have the busiest labour and delivery department and also handle the city's highest risk patients, possessing the highest level NICU unit.  The maternity ward is on the 5th floor of the main building, overlooking downtown.  There are lots of places to meander on the hospital grounds while trying to get labour into full swing.

Features:

• Most of the labour rooms are very large

• Most have comfy recliners for your support people to relax or nap in

• One room with a tub (although usually reserved for the midwives)

• 2 operating rooms very close by in case of emergency

• Doulas or other support people can view cesareans through a window if they choose

• Doulas are sometimes allowed in recovery after a cesarean

• 2 cafeterias for refuelling

• Long term care NICU

Things to consider:

• Parking is currently a nightmare with the main visitor lot being revamped into a parkade

• Only 1 support person allowed in triage at a time, which unfortunately means that sometimes you are separated from your doula for awhile

• Only 2 support people allowed in labour rooms

• Postpartum unit is mostly shared rooms

View a virtual tour of the Foothills maternity unit here

Peter Lougheed Centre

By User:Thivierr - Digital camera photo taken by uploader, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1612673

Located near the corner of 36 St & 26 Ave NE, the Peter Lougheed was our "newest" hospital before the opening of South Health.  It also has a very busy maternity department, only slightly behind the Foothills.  Labour and delivery is located on the 5th floor of the hospital which, unfortunately, does not have scenic views, nor great areas to walk around outside since it is surrounded by many retailers. However, that means there is plenty of good shopping close by in case something was forgotten!

Features:

• Ample parking in an open parkade on the west end of the hospital

• 2 operating rooms on the same floor 

• 2 cafes, plus a Second Cup

Things to consider:

• Only 1 support person in triage meaning you could be separated from your doula for some time

• Only 2 support people allowed in labour rooms

• Labour rooms are small

• Few private postpartum rooms

• [Added] Recommended you bring your own birth ball 

View a virtual tour of the Peter Lougheed maternity unit here

Rockyview General Hospital

CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1774636

Located on 14 St SW between Glenmore and Heritage, the Rockyview has the third most births in the city per year.  The birthplace is located on the 6th floor with most of the rooms having views of the Glenmore Resevoir (and sometimes the Queen Mary - the paddle-wheel boat from Heritage Park).  Walking outside is definitely scenic and relaxing here.

Features:

• Large parkade that rarely fills up

• Private triage rooms where doulas or additional support people can join you

• Support is not limited to 2 people

• Most rooms are quite large

• Comfortable recliners for your support people to rest or nap in

• One room with a tub (often reserved for midwives)

• 2 operating rooms on floor

• coffee shop & cafe, plus the main cafeteria remains open most of the time

Things to consider:

• Some of the rooms are very small

• The tub room has no windows

• Few private postpartum room

View a virtual tour of the Rockyview maternity unit here

South Health Campus

By JMacPherson - Flickr: South_Calgary_Hospital, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19226597

Calgary's newest hospital is located in the deep SE near Deerfoot and Stoney Trail.  Currently there is only capacity to handle half the amount of births annually as the other 3 hospitals.  There are scenic views from the 7th floor maternity unit. The hospital was built using all the latest technology and with a strong emphasis on wellness.  Being in a new area there is lots of undeveloped land and new construction surrounding the hospital.

Features:

• Ample parking in underground parkade and even free street parking (in short supply and only available for 2 hours)

• Private triage rooms with support people allowed

• Support people are not limited

• Labour, delivery and postpartum stay are in one room

• Large bathrooms with open showers

• Portable birth tubs are allowed

• TV's in each room

• Partners can spend the night with each room featuring a window seat type bed

• Doctors who specialize in vaginal breech birth

• 2 cafeterias with food around the clock plus a Good Earth

• Room service menu

Things to consider:

• With a cap on births, it is very difficult to get accepted for care

• The hospital utilizes a very time consuming record keeping method

• Basic chairs for support people instead of recliners

• Surgical suites are on a separate floor

• Some of the street design in the area impedes access to the hospital, so make sure to know where to park and how to get there ahead of time

View a virtual tour of the South Health maternity unit here

High River Hospital

Image courtesy of zirconicusso at FreeDigitalImages.net

Located in a quiet residential area in the SW quadrant of High River, maternity care is fairly new to this hospital (within the last 10 or so years).  Averaging about a birth per day, there is definitely a more relaxed feeling here.  The maternity unit on the main floor has a very low intervention approach to birth and offers woman centred care [Added:low risk clinic is a combination of doctors and midwives].  There are lots of quiet streets to wander and the hospital borders along a school field.

Features:

• Free parking - lot and street

• Support people not limited

• Emergency cesareans available

• Longer postpartum stay

• Partner can room in

• [Added: Inflatable tub available]

 

Things to consider:

• Rooms are small

• Only low risk patients accepted

• Care sometimes transferred to Calgary

• No NICU

• 25 minute drive from Calgary's south limits

View a virtual tour of High River's  maternity unit here

Arbour Birth Centre

Calgary's one and only birth centre is a remodeled house in the community of West Hillhurst (near 16 Ave & 19 St NW).  It has 3 private birth suites with full ensuites and large tubs, a kitchen and a living room area.  It doesn't seem like a particularly quiet area being right on 16th Ave, but you can walk south into an old, quiet residential area.

Features:

• Parking is easily available

• As many support people as desired including service practitioners (mobile massage?  chiropractor?)

• Each suite has a double or queen size bed

• Tubs are large and can easily give birth in them

• Comfortable living room space for family, etc. including toys for kids

• Can store & prepare your own food in kitchen

• Medical equipment is on-site, but kept out of sigh

Things to consider:

• Only midwives will attend births there and they are in high demand

• Cost is out of pocket unless your private insurance will cover

• Obviously not a full on hospital if problems arise, however midwives are highly trained & transfer before it becomes too serious (Foothills hospital is less than 5 minutes away).

• Can be a pain to get into coming from the east

View the Arbour Birth Center here

The Doula and Her Bump

By: Rossana Keay CD(DONA)
Originally Posted on: http://mydoulove.com/2017/01/23/the-doula-and-her-bump-2

That’s right, you read the title of this blog correctly. I am, in fact, a doula who is pregnant. Some people have asked me if it’s even possible to practice as a doula while carrying a baby of your own in your belly and I can tell you it absolutely is.

Though every doula is different, I can share that being pregnant and doulaing is a lot easier than it sounds if steps towards self-care and stress management are taken. Yes, being on-call 24/7 supporting families for an undetermined amount of time, providing physical and emotional encouragement during a birth and then coming home to take care of a 2 year old and run a household seems like a lot of work. Don’t get me wrong; it is a lot of work especially with a bump, (my daily reminder that life is growing inside of me). But because the reward is so high, and the joy I feel everyday knowing that I can help other people, I figure why not make this work. And here’s how I do it. There are a few very important things to consider when being pregnant and taking on doula work.

1. First Pregnancy vs. Subsequent Pregnancies
I like to tell my clients that every pregnancy is different. With my first, I think I could have done just about anything until the day the baby was about to pop out. Without any nausea, pain, or fatigue, it really felt like I wasn’t even pregnant. This second pregnancy is slightly different, I feel like I need more energy to get through the day. I’m often pretty tired by mid-afternoon and my body has a great memory of where to store soreness and pain from my last labour. I’m aware that every time I grow a baby, I will feel different. I just chose not to let the changes scare me away from what I’m called to do.

2. Workload
Being a full-time doula means that I can be 100% available to my clients. They know that I will not take another job to pay the bills and that I will be fully present and available to them. With this being my only source of income, it does get very tempting to fill my workload and take on every client. But I have to carefully consider what I can handle in order to keep my energy level up for every birth.

3. My doula community
Reaching out to my own doula community about doulaing while pregnant has been my saving grace. I learned that compression socks would help prevent fainting when standing for long periods of time. Drinking a lot of Emergen-C’s would help to hydrate me. Wearing a support belt would help relieve my back pain. And of course always having a fellow doula or two to chat with when I need to de-brief or release some emotions, which we all know are at an all-time high when pregnant.

4. My self-care routine
I’ve always had a routine/ritual at every birth, whether it’s listening to a song before I enter the birth room, sending out the partner for a break before taking one myself, or making sure to check in with my own needs at least every 2 hours. Those didn’t change after being pregnant. What I did do though is make sure to sit down more whenever possible. Have the partner move into the physical roles more. Take more breaks whenever possible and carry pocket-sized snacks. Taking care of myself in every way means I can fully support my clients, and that’s the goal isn’t it?

5. Getting my family on board
Knowing that my husband has a snack waiting for me when I arrive home from a birth keeps me sane and ready to conquer the next birth. My family knows that mommy might be sleeping all day and that I will need my rest and recovery. That for just one day, the household chores can just take a pause or even better, be handled while I’m off having pregnant dreams.

6. Honesty with my clients
I felt that it was very important for my clients to know that I was pregnant. That way they understand if I have to step out or sit down. Being honest with them gives them a level trust that solidifies why they hired me in the first place. Finding the right place and right moment to share my news with each client was a great learning experience. I always made sure they were well aware that my pregnancy would not take anything away from my level of support to them.

Photo by Reedan Thiessen, Mountain Mama YYC
Photo used with permission