“Water Keepers”: A Guest Post by Meg Heather Ford, ICEA Doula

Water Keepers Exploring the roles of doula, midwife and obstetrician in childbirth I recently supported one of my doula clients through her second birth, and was reminded of the overlapping yet very distinct roles of doula, midwife and obstetrician. The overlap, of course, lies in our shared outcome, which is a healthy mother and baby. The exact definition of ā€˜healthyā€™ however, I think differs depending on your role. An OB might define healthy as alive and able to bear children …

Why Does My Back Ache in Pregnancy?

So, todayā€™s topic is all about the postural changes that occur in a pregnant personā€™s body.Ā  Iā€™ve listed some of the main anatomical changes that occur below to help you understand why you may be suffering with stiff shoulders, neck strain and constant back pain. Welcome to pregnancyā€¦or not! Thereā€™s so much that can be done to minimize or eliminate these aches and pains. Ā The answer may not be exercise, but it may be a combination of complimentary therapies. Itā€™s …

Tara J’s Birth Story: Welcome, Conrad!

Tara J’s Birth Story: Again, my due date came and went.Ā  I was eight days late with my daughter, so tried to keep up my normal routine.Ā  I had finished my last day of work, so “normal” was entertaining my ever growing toddler and trying to get some exercise each day. Three days past my due date I began bleeding.Ā  I had planned to go to yoga that morning so I called my doula to make sure she thought it …

Why Parenting is Yoga for the Soul (and the Title I Didnā€™t Choose)

I had initially entitled this article ā€œWhy Parenting is the Ultimate…Mind-F#@!ā€ Ā but it felt too harsh. Ā It felt angry and maybe even a little sad. Ā  Iā€™m neither of those things, but I am changed from and changing through parenthood. Ā And, this article is an attempt to capture the always present dichotomies of life as a parent, which in the happiest way, can feel like a ā€œMind-F#@!ā€ sometimes. Or at least it does for me. Ā  As a parent, you …