Restoring Energy During Labour

Whether your labor ends up being 6 hours or 36 hours, at a certain point your energy stores will be depleted and you will feel exhausted. Your body is hard at work, and it's certainly difficult to labour effectively when you are wiped!

As a runner, I've learned overtime that I can't expect to perform well in a race environment if I sprint out of the gate, or if I don't fuel my body properly throughout the course. Hard lessons to learn, but they apply to childbirth as well.

There are a few things you can do during labour and birth to restore your energy, and they may not be things that you would originally think of.

Take a walk - a change of scenery can do wonders to restore your mental energy

Juice and water - staying hydrated is key to digging deep during the most strenuous endurance tests, so the same goes for labour!

Honey - popping a honey stick or sucking on a honey candy can provide the wonderful natural energy boost that honey provides!

Nap - if you're exhausted, your body may just need a nap to recover. If you're experiencing a long early labour, you may want to rest as much as you can to preserve your energy before active labour hits.

Talk to a friend - sounds weird, right? Have a conversation with a friend during labour? Well, sometimes a pep talk from a good friend who can help you see your strength is all you need to push through and continue!

Whatever brings you those happy, strong, confident feelings...do that. Follow your instincts and let others around you know when you need a break, a sip of juice, to go for a walk or just need some quiet time.

You're in control, mama! This is your birth - you call the shots!

xoxo
Shannon

New Classes Starting Soon!

We have three new classes coming to North Yoga & Wellness in just two weeks, and they have something for everyone.

Shannon leads our Mindful Motherhood series, a class written specifically with mama's in mind. Over the course of an hour, for four weeks, we will spend time sharing our stories of motherhood, talking about who we are now and who we aspire to be. We will celebrate the small victories, and acknowledge the moments where we feel less than.

Each class will end with a meditation, where you can indulge in some weekly self care, sink back into the yoga mats, cozy up with a warm blanket and just be.

birthPrep is our four week childbirth education and birth prepartation class. This round is being led by Birth and Postpartum Doula Lisa, who provides a safe environment for parents to get to know their options, discuss them openly and find the path that is right for them.

There is no right or wrong way to birth your baby, or raise your family. We are here to help you navigate all of the options, provide you with nonjudgmental support and the information you need to make empowered decisions.

Shannon wraps up our Sunday classes with a fantastic four week session, Meditation for Stress Relief. Open to beginners and more advanced meditation practitioners, men and women alike - there is something for everyone at this practice.

Using soft spoken words, visualizations, candlelight, warm blankets and a safe environment, we encourage you to indulge in an hour of self-care time, let go of thoughts that don't serve you in a positive way and let the stress melt away.

To register for any of these classes, email us! info@sweetstellas.com

Not Just For Your Hair

If you peek inside my doula bag, you will find a small hair comb. You know the ones...they're plastic with pointy teeth.

It may seem strange, but a hard plastic comb from the dollar store can provide wonderful relief in a few different ways when you are in labour and giving birth.

As a distraction, you can grip the comb in your hand and apply pressure with the teeth of the comb against your palm. Be careful not to grip it too hard so as to prevent piercing the skin!

As a form of massage, having your partner or doula lightly running the teeth of the comb over your arm, thighs, back...it can provide a wonderful soothing sensation. Dim the lights and it can be quite tranquil!

Combs are wonderful tools to use during labour when you are seeking comfort measures that you can control. It's in your hand, you are able to apply as much pressure as you would like and you can toss it to the side as you see fit. You're able to still walk the halls, use the tub, labour as you would like and feels right for you, with your comb in hand.

xoxo
Shannon

Things I Never Thought I'd Say in Labour

You'll be seeing this theme of Things I Never Thought I'd Say throughout blog posts in the coming year. Ashley kicked it off nicely last month in talking about all of the weird, wonderful and gross things she never thought she would say in the first year of being a parent to an adorable little boy, and now I'm going to list some of the things I never thought I would say in labour!

That's stupid! (when being told to not push so hard, there may have been an F word in there too...)

Seriously, who says that to a pregnant woman? Don't push? Really?

Do you think I could get an iced coffee after this?

I totally pooped, didn't I?

Can I get an epidural? I definitely forgot that my pelvis is about to break in two!

Did you just ask if I can feel my leg? I can't feel anything!

Do you think we can watch another episode of Sex and The City before I have to push?

You're sure it's a boy? 

What if it's a girl?

We don't have a girl name!

Whoa...what was that? Is it out?

Oh my god I'm starving.

What are some of the things that you never thought you'd say during labour? With our first, I definitely topped off my epidural at every opportunity so I really felt nothing and had no concept of time. With our second labour, it was calm and I was relaxed. I watched SATC with my doula, Jena, while my husband had a nap on the cot beside my bed.

But man did I want an iced coffee and an apple fritter!!

xoxo
Shannon

Trust Your Body, Birth Your Baby

All too often during a prenatal appointment with a client, we hear things like...

but how will I know it's actually labour?
what if I can't handle it?
will I know when to go to the hospital?
I'm not sure I can do this.

When it comes right down to it, our bodies were made for birthing babies. What we lack is a profound trust in our body's ability to perform under...stress...fear...anxiety...in hospitals...at home...with too many people in the room...in emergency situations.

We lack a trust in ourselves to trust our instincts
We lack a trust in ourselves to trust our body's natural abilities
We lack a trust in ourselves

We strongly encourage you....let go of the negative associations with birth, contractions, hospitals, home, pain, and breathe in everything that is good. Think about the life that is inside of you; you made that! (with a little help!) He or she knows you by the beat of your heart, and soon...will know you by your smell, the soft sound of your voice and the closeness of your skin.

Trust your body.
It was made to bring your baby into this world and it knows exactly what it is doing to get them here safely.

Birth your baby.
Do it your way. Take control of your situation and circumstances, but be mindful to go with the flow of things, listening to your body and trusting it throughout the process.

We promise you; you will know when it is time, when it is real.

Just trust.

xoxo
Shannon

How Doula's Can Help, Even if it Isn't Your First Baby

So often I am asked but how can you help me? This is our second/third/fourth baby, we've done the labour thing before. I know what I'm doing.
  

The answer, very simply, is that no two pregnancies, labours or births are the same. Even our bodies, after they have been pregnant once, change and adapt to what it means to be pregnant.

Life changes the moment that your first baby is born. Colors are brighten, sounds are louder. Everything is more vibrant, fresher and more amazing.

Then comes that moment when you find yourself pregnant again, and life seems to stand still.

How will I parent two?
Is there enough love? 
Patience?
How am I going to survive being pregnant and parenting a toddler at the same time?
What do I do when I go into labour and Jr. needs to get to soccer practice?
What about the after?

With the support of a doula throughout your pregnancy, labour, birth and postpartum, your transition can be made so much easier.

Labour and Birth

During labour, your doula is by your side every step of the way from the moment you call them, until an hour or so after the birth of your baby. When this is your second+ child, you may call your doula to help you labour at home, where their care can extend to other members of your family. If you are needing to rest, your doula can entertain older children to make sure you are getting the quiet time that you need.

Postpartum

Adding a new baby to your already awesome family dynamic can be a daunting thought, as can the thought of getting dinner on the table every night while tending to your baby and other children. Thankfully, a doula can swoop in with a food delivery. I often like to drop things off at a clients house, leaving a bag of goodies on their door. I text them on my way home to let them know there's a delivery, and never ever ring the bell (who knows when mama and babe might be napping!). It's like a visit from the magical food fairy! For more ideas on how a doula can help during postpartum, look here.

Ultimately, a doula is there to support you in whatever you need, be it getting you information on the newest birthing craze, or lending a supportive shoulder to cry on when you are feeling overwhelmed.

First baby or fifth baby, the support remains the same. Unconditional, unbiased and there right when you need it.