Bella Vida Baby

Why Moms & Dads should know about the Baby Friendly Initiative

By Keri, RN, BScN, IBCLC

Have you heard of the Baby Friendly Initiative?  You may not have heard of it here in Ontario - since only TWO acute care hospitals in our province have earned this accreditation. The 2 acute care BFI facilities in Ontario are Toronto East General Hospital and St. Joe's in Hamilton. There are some public health units who have achieved accreditation status as well.

If you haven't heard of it or want to know more, please read on ...

The Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) was created by the World Health Organization and UNICEF in response to an overwhelming BOTTLE feeding culture that they were seeing globally. They reinstated the importance of breastfeeding back in 1990, and BFI was one of the results. It is an international program and  includes 10 steps to successful breastfeeding.  

The process to become Baby Friendly is not necessarily an easy task. It takes work, dedication, passion & support from healthcare administrators. It is such a wonderful campaign to promote, protect and support breastfeeding.

There are specific criteria that must be met in each step. Listed below are the steps and after you read through, I will explain a few of them in more detail.  

Note these are the Canadian adaptation of the 10 steps, since that's where I live, teach and work.

1) Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care providers and volunteers  (makes sense, right? Policy can support clinical practices - which is the care that your provider offers you)

 2) Ensure that all healthcare providers have the knowledge and skills necessary to implement the policy.

3) Inform pregnant women about the importance and process of breastfeeding (this is by offering prenatal education, information at prenatal appointments, linking with Public Health and so on)

4) Place babies in uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact with their mothers immediately following birth for at least an hour or until completion of the first feeding or as long as the mother wishes: encourage mothers to recognize when their babies are ready to feed, offering help as needed. (You have every right to ask your care provider to do this - for more info on why skin-to-skin is so great, check out my blog post on skin-to-skin)

 5) Assist mothers to breastfeed and maintain lactation should they face any challenges, including separation from their infant. (Makes perfect sense right?)

6) Support mothers to exclusively breastfeed for 6 months, unless supplements are MEDICALLY indicated. (The WHO has specific guidelines on when supplementation is a medical need - even then, there may be alternatives. Ask your healthcare provider if your baby reallllly needs to be supplemented & if it's medically indicated - we cover more information on supplementation in our breastfeeding class - I hope to have a post on this topic in the near future!)

7) Facilitate rooming-in for all mother-infant dyads; mothers and infants room in together (Gone are the days when all the babies are in a the nursery with a big window to look at them through. Moms and babies do best when they are together.

8) Encourage baby-led or cue-based breastfeeding. Encourage sustained breastfeeding beyond 6 months with appropriate introduction of complementary solids.  (I always teach parents about the early cues of hunger - and also teach them to let their baby take the lead. Watch the baby, not the clock!)

9) Support mothers to feed & care for their babies without the use of artificial teats or pacifiers (which are dummies or soothers - this is because these can interfere with feeding & can actually change the way a baby sucks. I've seen several occasions where a baby has a bottle in the early days & can't quite figure out how to breastfeed afterwards.  I have some tips for that, but it really can make things challenging.)

10) Provide a seamless transition between the services provided by the hospital, community health centres and peer support. Apply principles of Primary Care & Population Health to support the continuum of care & implement strategies that affect the broad determininants that will improve breastfeeding outcomes. (This means that after you leave the hospital, you should be linked with other resources in your community, at community health centres, Public Health, peer support groups, lactation consulting visits or other similar supports. The facility that is Baby Friendly has initiatives and activities within their facility & also collaborates with community partners to ensure this need is met)

Finally, to be Baby Friendly a facility, they must comply with the World Health Organization's International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (this means no free formula, no formula advertising, labelling to state the risks of formula feeding, no freebies from formula companies and so on...)  The WHO developed this Code of Marketing back in 1981.  As you have probably noticed, not all countries comply with this. Canada does not. Neither does the U.S.

I could write 10 or more posts on the Baby Friendly Initiative based...but before you leave, I just want to highlight a few little tidbits:

 Step # 2 is about staff education. Essentially, BFI says that all staff who are directly providing care to new moms & babies must have 18 hours of education related to breastfeeeding & human lactation.  That's a tough pill to swallow for maternity units who are already striving to balance budgets.  Adding 18 hours of education for an entire floor of nurses is costly.  And hospitals (similar to me) have not found that elusive money tree.

Another surprising tidbit about the WHO Code is that to be Baby Friendly you must not accept "freebies" from articial feeding (read: formula) companies.  Currently, most hospitals in Ontario are NOT paying for formula. This means easy access to formula for nurses, physicians & patients. That is precisely what the formula companies want to see.  (Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying formula is bad - but their advertising and tactics definitely are). Free lunches are rare in healthcare anymore - formula companies offer free lunches, free "education" sessions (with their logo and name all over it), and even offer disposable measuring tapes that we use to measure newborns -- and guess what? LOGOS ALL OVER THOSE TOO.  FREE! 

 This brings us back to the budget. If managers & directors, CNO's, CFO's and CEO's are already trying to balance a tight, strict budget, do you really think they want to start PAYING for formula?  For this reason, the process of accreditation may be a challenge.

On that note, there ARE reasons to put this money out, up front.  In a study by Bartick (2010), it was discovered that if the United States could comply with recommendations to breastfeed until 6 months exclusively, it would save 13 billion dollars & prevent 911 deaths per year.  We can translate that to the Canadian population & we're looking at millions dollars in savings per year.  An older study by Ball & Wright (1999) stated that formula fed babies cost the healthcare system between $331-$475 more PER year.  I'm going to guess those numbers would be higher now.  If you look at how many births are in Ontario (140,000) you're looking at MILLIONS of dollars in savings.  SO, to make a long story short - although the BFI is an investment, it's a worthwhile investment for the health of babies and their mothers.  (Stay tuned on a future post about the benefits of breastfeeding for both MOM and baby - that's another post for another day!)

The reason that I feel this is so important for families and moms to know about is this:

• You can ASK for these 10 steps to be followed. If your care provider doesn't know about them, you can tell them. The reason for this is, if you ask for these things, you will providing your baby with the best possible start and increasing your chances for successful breastfeeding. That is what the BFI is all about.
• Ask your healthcare facility if they are Baby Friendly. Ask them if they are trying to follow the steps & what they are doing to support them. 
• When you fill out your patient satisfaction form at the end of your stay, include that you believe in the BFI. 
• We can all be a voice for this process to be a standard of care.  Tell your LHIN, write to the Ministry of Health, talk to politicians...

This is GOLD standard & considered best practice ... It is ALL based on evidence information & we know that it works.   With breastfeeding getting more attention lately in healthcare systems and in the media, and with breastfeeding being such a vital public health issue - we need to keep BFI in the forefront. 

New moms & dads deserve it.

Your baby deserves it too.

Thanks for reading : )  If you have any further questions, feel free to email me.

For more information, check out www.breastfeedingcanada.ca or visit the WHO at www.who.int and search for Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative.

www.bellavidababy.ca

 

 

Guest post: Babywearing 101!

At Bella Vida we often encourage moms to do lots of skin to skin & also to babywear if that's something they wish to do.

One of our very favourite topics that we've read & learned about in our childbirth education and continuing nursing studies is the description of the first 3 months after birth as the "fourth trimester" for both moms & babies. Lots of TLC, skin to skin, and babywearing is so great for new moms, dads and their babies.

Our friend Natalie of Go Green Baby  has offered us and our readers some great tips on Babywearing for the newborn period & beyond. We really appreciate her always sharing her expertise with us, and are so excited that she's offered to answer some FAQ's for us on the BVB blog!

Why carry your baby?

Babywearing is a wonderful experience for both mom and baby. Babywearing gives moms, dads and babies the opportunity to bond, share skin to skin contact and spend time enjoying each other.

Babies love being worn! They enjoy the safety and security of being snuggle in close to mom or dad. Baby feels comfortable, will be able to hear your heart beat and will be kept warm while remaining close to mom and dad.

Wearing your baby also provides an excellent opportunity for mom and dad to be able to remain active and take part in everyday activities without having to worry about leaving baby alone. Walking the dog, clearing out the dishwasher, folding laundry can all be done while wearing your baby!

 

When do you start wearing your baby?

Babywearing from birth is the ideal time to start (but not necessary). Newborn babies come into a noisy, cold and bright world. Being able to place them in a carrier close to your warm body will ease them into their new environment. Babywearing a newborn gives them an “in womb” experience.

What options are available for babywearing?

Wraps and slings are ideal carriers for new babies. They are designed to have baby close to mom or dad and meant to keep baby warm and secure. Wraps are a long piece of fabric that is tied around the body (I promise it is easier than it looks!). Wraps are the ultimate in security, comfort and warmth for new babies. They offer excellent support for mom and baby and allow mom and dad to be 100% hands free!Wraps are usually worn up until 20lbs. Slings are a little different in wraps in that they are one shoulder and require no wrapping. Slings are easy to use and are designed for quick use. The main downside to slings is that they do not offer quite as much support as a wrap. The other drawback is that most often moms and dads do not feel as confident using their sling for hands free capabilities; therefore, getting tasks done around the home is slightly more difficult with a sling.

Mei Tais are an excellent alternative to the wrap, with a little less wrapping and a longer period of use. A mei tai is an asian inspired carrier. This is a basic two shoulder carrier. It is a square piece of fabric with straps at each corner. The two bottom straps tie around the waist, the two shoulder straps cross over for support and security. Mei Tais will work wonderfully with newborns and will remain secure and comfortable for toddler carrying (up to 35 lbs).

Soft Structured Carriers are a two shoulder carrier that also includes a waist band. These carriers offer shape and form even when the carrier is not being worn. They look similar to a back pack and offer excellent support and comfort for the wearer. These carriers work especially well with older babies due to the fact that they offer more support (most supporting babies up to 40-45 lbs!).

How do I know which carrier is for me and my baby?

It is always a great idea to come into Go Green Baby, or your local babywearing store and try out different carriers to figure out which carrier is right for you and your baby.

Ideally, we suggest using a wrap for the first 6 months and then switching to a soft structured carrier. A wrap carrier is the only one you will want to have prior to the arrival of baby. You will want to be able practice tying and you will also want a comfy carrier ready for when baby arrives. All other carriers should ideally be tried on with your baby so that you can get a true representation of how you feel in the carrier and how baby reacts. Different carriers fit everyone differently. What works for me, may not necessarily be comfortable for you or your baby.

Many families take advantage of our Babywearing Trial Program. Borrow 3 carriers of your choice from our selection for a one week period for $25. At the end of your one week trial, you will return your carriers. If you purchase a carrier from Go Green Baby within 1 month, you will be reimbursed your $25 fee on your purchase! This is a great way to test out carriers in the comfort of your home and to allow partners and spouses an opportunity to try out a carrier.
Please contact Go Green Baby for further details about this program.

Thank-you Natalie for your excellent tips & information on baby-wearing!!

 

Sibling Preparation for a new baby - is it really necessary?

 

A new baby changes family dynamics, no matter how hard we try to keep things consistent.  It’s an exciting journey for everyone in the family.

When there are older children/siblings involved, a little more preparation can really help with a smooth transition.    There have actually been many studies in the field of obstetrics, paediatrics, and psychology and child development on the importance of sibling preparation for a new baby.

Results show a difference in sibling behaviour with preparation programs & anticipatory guidance, but what’s even more interesting; some studies even demonstrate a difference in mothers’ perceptions of how well they are able to cope with her exciting new life with 2 or more children! 



We know from current and previous research, that sibling preparation is beneficial, both for parents and older children AND that it works!

Here are a few  helpful tips for you as you prepare your older child(ren) for a new family member:

• Remind him or her that they were once a baby too! Show your little one pictures of when they were a baby. Talk about what they did as a baby, how you fed them and how you will feed this baby.  If you are breastfeeding, talk about it openly, and explain how babies get milk from their mommy to help them grow, just like the sibling did.
• Buy or borrow newborn sized dolls. Talk about how to be gentle with new babies. Talk about how their heads are very sensitive, and that we need to be extra gentle with them.
• Practise changing the doll, holding the doll ( make careful note to talk about cradling the neck, and how little ones are not to pick up newborn baby without help)
• Read books about new babies/new siblings to help prepare. Visit your local library or bookstore and ask for suggestions, or browse a few options.
• Try to not rush milestones – for example, it may not be realistic to have your older child potty trained before the new baby. Another example is getting an older child out of a crib so the new baby can use their ‘old’ crib. Perhaps holding off, or ensure that the change is done well before new baby’s arrival would work for your family.
•  Set aside time after the baby is born that is special time just for you and the child. "mommy and me play dates" provide a little time for some extra love & attention
• Last, but not least, expect a little jealousy. It will come. It may not be the first week or month, but eventually it may happen. You may see this in the traditional way, or by regression (so a child who slept through the night stops, or a child who was potty trained is suddenly having accidents).  Try not to make a big deal of these things, and instead take them as signs your child needs a bit of extra attention from you.

 

Bella Vida Baby offers innovative and FUN sibling prep class.  The age range is generally for ages 2 - 9 years, however we can adjust the program for slightly younger or older children. The course is offered monthly and is 1 1/2 hours. It includes an information session for parents & children, a craft and MORE!

Visit www.bellavidababy.ca for more information or call us today: 613-484-5645

© Bella Vida Baby, Inc. (2011)

We work hard at innovative class concepts and blog posts.
Please don't use our pictures or information without our permission.
Thanks for your cooperation. For more, see Canada's latest copyright laws August 2011

Bella Vida Baby Photo Contest - Enter to win!

 
Great news everyone!

We are so excited to have a PHOTO contest for our Bella Vida Baby facebook community members!

It's going to be a fun way to get to know each other, share favourite photos AND your entry can help you win a class of your choice at Bella Vida Baby!

Here's what to do:

Send your photo entries to contact@bellavidababy.ca Send any belly shots, breastfeeding pics, cute kid pics, or anything else that might pertain to Bella Vida Baby - prenatal, postpartum, breastfeeding and beyond.  (One entry per person please)

 Be sure to include your name, a little about the photos and why you like it!

To help your photo win, have your friends:
1)  "Like" Bella Vida Baby on facebook
2) Then "Like" their favourite pictures
3) "Comment" on the photos they like best

Here's what you can win:

1) First prize will be for the most COMMENTS on a photo - ANY Bella Vida Baby Class
(You can choose from the following classes: prenatal class, dad's class, sibling prep class, or breastfeeding class or drop-in)
2) Second prize will be for the most LIKES - $25 gift certificate towards a Bella Vida Baby service of your choice.

Have fun & we look forward to your entries! Feel free to pass this along to your friends. Anything family and child-related goes!
Here's a few photo samples to get you started

 
Thanks and HAVE fun!

Keri & Karin
(Directors & Owners, Bella Vida Baby, Inc.)

Prenatal Classes: how to choose the right class for you!

Today's pregnant woman needs a place where connecting with her baby, other families, her partner & herself is supported.  She needs access to experts who can answer questions.  Most importantly, she needs support & encouragement to acknowledge the inner wisdom her body provides to birth her baby in the way that's best for HER - based on HER decisions, thoughts and feelings about birth.

 


The journey to parenthood is a time filled with excitement and wonder. Choosing a childbirth class is an important decision so that moms and dads-to-be can make decisions that are informed, and based on evidence.

It's important for families and mother-to-be to know what to expect, but more more importantly, they need to know how to advocate for themselves as a family.

Here are some great tips adapted from a recent Science & Sensibility Blog post:

 1) Research the curriculum: Be sure that you are not only being educated on hospital procedures, but about labour support, how your partner or support person can help you, the options available to you during your labour & delivery and postpartum. 
The following topics should be covered:

• normal labour, birth and early postpartum
• positioning for labour and birth
• pain management techniques - both natural and pharmaceutical methods
• labour support
• communication techniques
• comfort measures such as breathing relaxation and massage
• risks AND benefits of medical procedures
• breastfeeding
• healthy lifestyles

Education should always focus on autonomy and choice based on what works for YOU.

2) Consider the instructor's training and experience. Both Lamaze and CAPPA are very well known organizations that provides a comprehensive certification process. You may want to consider if your instructor has had education in teaching & principles of adult education.

Does your instructor have hands-on experience?  Are they biased toward one type of pain relief in labour over another? Your instructor should give you all the information required to make a truly informed decision on your care...based on current evidence and best practices.
You may also want to consider this: Does the breastfeeding class instructor have certification as an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant)?

3) Invest some time: Childbirth classes and education do take time.  Typical prenatal classes include a committment of 10-12 hours over several weeks. Some classes are offered in a weekend format. Find one that works for your schedule and try to stick with it. It's a lot of information to absorb, give yourself enough time to take it all in. Do your "homework" each week, and continue to read your own materials as well as the ones given to you in the course.

4) Plan ahead - classes fill up quickly! Sign up ahead of time. You may want to start classes between 20-24 weeks.

5) Check the class size - it's best to have classes that are 12 people (6 couples) or less. This allows for open communication and more interaction with the educator and your peers.
(Bella Vida Baby prenatal classes have 2 instructors for every 12 participants)

Feel free to ask questions. Talk to other people in your community for references. Ask your family physician, obstetrician or midwife what options are available in your community. 

Finally, as your learn and grow, enjoy and have fun with it!

It's an exciting journey - we believe being informed will truly help you to make important decisions along the way.

Other available classes in Kingston:
KFL&A Public Health
Childbirth Kingston

 

Benefits of skin-to-skin

Written by: Keri-Ann Berga, RN, BScN, IBCLC

Have you thought about whether you will put your baby skin-to-skin immediately after birth? It may be something you want to talk to your healthcare provider about...

Part of our mission at Bella Vida Baby is to provide evidence-based information so women and their families can make informed choices during their pregnancy, birth and beyond.

As a lactation consultant, I've seen the benefits of skin-to-skin, or Kangaroo care in my own clinical nursing practice.  As an educator, I do my very best to communicate these benefits to both nurses & new families. It really is amazing what one small intervention can do to help facilitate bonding & breastfeeding!

 
Photo credit: Stanford Newborn Nursery

I figured that a blog post on the benefits might be helpful - as you read this post, you'll find there are SO many of them!

Skin to skin with a newborn & his or her mother helps maintain the baby’s temperature. Moms and babies are still physiologically connected long after birth. Maintaining skin-to-skin contact will keep baby at the perfect temperature. If a baby is "cold" after birth and we put a baby on mom's chest, there will be an increase mom’s temp for babe’s temp to increase. I have seen mothers become quickly FLUSHED when they are holding their babies - you can actually see her temperature increasing to warm up her baby. Aren't our bodies amazing?

Early skin to skin increases successful breastfeeding rates and current research show us that it increases milk supply (by day 4).   Babies are kept close to the breast, have more access to the breast for feeding AND moms are better able to read the early cues of hunger (rather than waiting 'til baby is full-out crying).  This of course promotes early suckling behaviour and we know that babies who do are skin to skin get MORE breast milk!

 

 Breastfeeding is a learning experience for both mom & baby - if we can provide early learning opportunities, breastfeeding comes more easily to everyone!  In keeping with the learning curve that comes with breastfeeding, current research also demonstrates that moms who do skin to skin are more confident in their ability to breastfeed.

There's more! Babies who do skin to skin return to birth weight more quickly than those who are swaddled (Makes sense doesn't it? These newborns have more contact, more learning and more access to milk!)



Skin to skin isn't just an art - as you probably already know, there's lots of science involved too:  A baby who does skin-to-skin will be further colonized with mom’s normal flora (aka good bacteria).  Did you know babies are born with a "sterile" gastrointestinal tract? Being colonized with familiar bacteria from mom allows for increased maturation of the newborn’s sterile gut which in simple terms = immune protection. (Baby should be colonized with mom’s normal flora  if possible – not everyone else’s!)

 

The first few hours after birth, babies go through a "transitional" period.  There is a major change in how blood circulates through a baby's body after the umbilical cord is cut and the baby takes its first breath.  Skin to skin aids in this transition by stabilizing the baby's heart rate, respiration rate and temperature. It also helps to stabilize glucose (blood sugar levels) after birth.

 

Moms-to be?

Here's another benefit for you!
Suckling causes the release of a special hormone called oxytocin. Oxytocin naturally causes the uterus to contract - so that once very large uterus can start to shrink down to its normal size.  This can actually help decrease postpartum hemorrhages as well. Suckling & skin to skin also helps to lay down "prolactin receptors". Prolactin is the hormone that helps with your milk supply.  Because of the hormones released, there is also a pain relieving effect for both infant and mom. 

 

Want to know more?

It's not just in North America that skin-to-skin is promoted.

•The World Health Organization (WHO) Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative states in Step 4: Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within ½ hour of birth.

 

•The Canadian Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) has their own interpretation of the WHO BFHI and states to “provide immediate and uninterrupted skin-to-skin care following birth for at least ONE hour or until completion of the first feeding or as long as the mother wishes. Encourage mothers to recognize when their babies are ready to breastfeed and offer to help if needed” 

•This is for babies born vaginally and by cesarean section without general anesthesia.

 

At Toronto East General, an accredited Baby Friendly hospital, they have dads do skin-to-skin following C-sections, and then when moms are ready in the recovery room, baby is put skin-to-skin for breastfeeding. My friend Janet Zablocki is an amazing IBCLC there, and has inspired me to really promote the BFI.

The goal is to do skin-to skin immediately postpartum. If baby is physiologically stable and at an appropriate gestational age, I.D Bracelets and physical exams can be done when baby is skin to skin, vitamin K can be given after an 1 hour of skin-to-skin and the newborn can be kept on mom during room transfers etc. For those having a hospital birth, ask your healthcare provider if they can facilitate skin-to-skin in the following areas:

•In a birthing room

•Recovery Room

•Following C-section

•High Risk or Intensive Care Nursery (for preterm and/or term infants)

 

For more information, visit these Canadian Websites:

•www.breastfeedingontario.org

•www.breastfeedingcanada.ca

 

Give us feedback or tell us your skin-to-skin stories by commenting below!

 

You can also book a lactation consultation or come to a breastfeeding drop-in with an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant: Email us 

 

 

The birth of Bella Vida

Welcome to the Bella Vida Blog. Since this is our first blog, we thought it would be appropriate to talk about WHY we’re doing what we’re doing and also talk about our own ‘births’ which includes the birth of our newest “baby” Bella Vida. We’ll start with Karin’s story, then Keri’s.

Feel free to leave a comment, or drop us a line at contact@bellavidababy.ca to tell us what you think!

KARIN:

Ever since I was a little girl, I was fascinated by birth. While other kids were watching cartoons, I was watching birth stories, and reading them online. While other kids played dolls, I played "pregnancy". This all lead me down the career path I am living today, however personally it was the ultimate irony.

It is amazing how before we are married, we spend so much time trying to NOT get pregnant, that when we want to we feel it should be as easy as they say in gym class.

However, for this type A overachiever, getting pregnant and having a family was a rocky road... with a happy ending. It took three years to get pregnant with my first daughter, Ava.

Although Kingston has an extensive infertility program, there is little….or dare I say NO emotional support for those going through the program. When my husband and I finally became pregnant with Ava, I was a midwifery student at Mac, and naturally chose a midwife for my care.

My goal was a birth that was as free from intervention as possible. When my water broke, I was exactly 40 weeks, and excited to experience this beautiful event I had read about and studied all my life. However, my birth with Ava was difficult, and ended up taking me far away from my goal. I developed a fever, and Ava was compressing on her cord with every contraction as there was no amniotic fluid left. This left us with an unhappy baby, and a spiral of interventions. It was scary, and I felt unprepared because I focused my whole pregnancy on my perfect, "beautiful, calm" birth. In the end, I got my gorgeous miracle baby, but vowed to prepare differently next time. My postpartum period was very difficult. Breastfeeding was something I taught, and thought I was well prepared for. However, my daughter was tongue tied, and I ended up with a deep thrush that required 12 weeks of antibiotics to cure. In that time I realized that there was very little breastfeeding support in Kingston (I ended up driving to Toronto) and even less postpartum support.

Despite it all, one year later we tried to have another. And tried, and tried. I went through 12 rounds of intrauterine insemination, and IVF over three years. All failed. It was devastating, and we turned to adoption. Initially, we went through a private adoption with a couple from Ottawa. We grew very close to them, and our son Noah was born early in December 2009. He was born with Down Syndrome, and I was determined to breastfeed him despite his challenges. I wanted desperately for someone to help guide me, but there was no one in Kingston who would help me learn how to prepare to breastfeed an adopted baby- let alone one with special needs. I self taught, and went on the required meds with the help of some MDs I work with. I had to pump every 3 hrs around the clock for 2 mos leading up to Noah's arrival, but it was all worth it as I breastfed our beautiful son for the first time right after his birth. Noah was with us until Christmas Eve, when sadly, we lost him. It was the darkest time in my life, and a time when I felt lost, and angry at the world for my infertility, the loss of our son, and the lack of support services.

The local CAS contacted us shortly after and said they had a little boy who would be a perfect fit for our family. Although our hearts were still heavy over the loss of our son, we agreed that our second son, Gavin would be the light that would start to heal our hearts, and that of our daughter. By some miracle, in January 2010 three weeks after we adopted our son Gavin, I became pregnant with our second miracle baby, Isla. I strongly feel that breastfeeding Noah was the reason I was able to get pregnant with Isla, and it is a gift he gave me that I feel honoured by. This time, I prepared myself for any outcome with the birth- and it was a good thing as my pregnancy was rittled with problems. The final straw was Cholestasis, which I acquired at 35 weeks. With a heavy heart I knew that meant transfer of my care from my wonderful midwives to an OB, and induction of labor at 37 weeks to prevent stillbirth.

Although the induction was nothing like what I wanted, it gave me some insight into the other side of birth, and at the end of it my beautiful daughter. I had a rocky road to motherhood, and although I now have three wonderful children, I realized that there was a severe gap in Kingston for the kind of services new families needed. There were very little breastfeeding supports for what I needed as a difficult case, there were no classes to prepare my children for the arrival of new babies, there was no support for infertile patients, and lastly there is no support for adoptive families, both those who have successful and unsuccessful adoptions.

Although I felt always that birth was my calling, I now also feel it was the arrival, and loss, of each of my children that opened my eyes to my new calling of helping young families in Kingston and putting in place education and supports that do not exist. This is how I came to realize that I could help other moms, and Bella Vida was born.

Karin's photo!

 

KERI -

I had my first baby when I was 21. It seems so young now! I went to local public health prenatal classes. I didn’t want to feel pressured to go ‘natural’ as it to me it was scary, daunting and seemed very overwhelming. I knew a little bit about birth, but probably not enough.

I had an epidural after a long labour that ended up requiring augmentation with oxytocin. My son Jackson was born just over 41 weeks, and just over 9 pounds. Knowing what I now know, I wish I’d used more comfort measures, walking, and positioning for labour.

Breastfeeding went pretty well, but I still remember crying every night because I was so tired and sore. Every night I vowed the next day I’d go get formula. The sun would come up, and after a few hours of sleep I remembered thinking I could get through another day.

A public health nurse, who was actually my friend’s mother, came over to provide me a home visit. I remember asking “how long do I need to breastfeed for him to get all the benefits he needs?” I was so frustrated in the early stages! I was so glad to have support & someone to answer my questions. After a few weeks, it became easier & I breastfed him for 9 months!

 

When he was 6 months old I went back to school to become an RN. I took my knowledge and passion for learning about perinatal nursing and breastfeeding throughout my schooling. But that’s another story…

When I became pregnant with my 2nd son, Owen & I didn’t attend prenatal classes. At that time, I was a nurse and working on my BScN degree. I knew about the the pros and cons of natural versus medicated birth, but I was “medicalized” and probably knew a little too much about the complications of birth, and not enough about normal birth.

I went as long as I could without pain medication. Owen was occiput posterior (meaning his head was facing the wrong way and caused back pains). I felt very uncomfortable and I didn’t really want an epidural so early on…but at the same time I don’t regret my decision because it was right for me in that moment.

I do, however wish I knew about alternate positions that could have helped him turn the right way. I wish I had a little more empowerment. Even as a nurse, I didn’t know it all and didn’t know what would happen during this unique birth. I was able to push him (with work!) into the correct position, with some great techniques that my RN taught me, and delivered a very happy healthy 9lb 5oz baby boy!! I breastfed him for 11 months.

Fast forward 17 months, and I was in labour with my 3rd baby. He was 10 days late. I was ready & willing to be induced with Cervidil. I knew he was big & we knew it was time. I went into the hospital for my induction. I was able to sleep through the night after I had Cervidil & the next day I had a very exciting & enjoyable labour & delivery! I knew about comfort measures, breathing, and relaxation techniques. It was wonderful.

Samuel Foster was born, 10 lbs, 9 oz happy and healthy. It was such a wonderful delivery – even though there was a little medical intervention in the beginning to help get things started, it was a natural and beautiful birth….I knew more about birth at this time & knew I could trust my body to birth this beautiful *and big* baby boy. I went on to breastfed Sam for 18 months (almost 19).

There were challenges in the first few days home (engorgement, edema etc) but as a nurse who studied breastfeeding I knew what to do. It could have been a major challenge if I didn’t have my professional breastfeeding experience to help me.

Throughout my journey, I had inspirational people to help me. From the family doctors who delivered my babies, to the nurses who helped me with different labouring positions and pushing techniques, to the amazing public health nurses who visited me at home (by the time I had Samuel, services had been cut - universal visits are no longer offered ☹)…I was always impressed by, and thankful for, any help they offered.

I want to be able to help mothers, babies and their families. Looking back, I don’t regret any of the journeys that brought me to motherhood. I do wish I’d had a little more education and empowerment before I had my babies. Every person & every birth is unique. There is not just ONE way to do things.

The journey to labour, delivery, breastfeeding and parenting may be a little different for each individual, and Bella Vida was born to help women and families make choices – based on THEIR unique needs and their own informed choices. Thanks for reading and we hope that you enjoyed reading about how Bella Vida came to be…. Stay tuned for future blog posts about prenatal care, labour & delivery, breastfeeding, parenting, and other interesting topics in the world of prenatal & postpartum care!

 Here is a pic of me, my hubby & my 3 boys...most days I'm not so dressed up so I hope you still recognize me when we run into each other at the grocery store! ; )