Having a Baby Guide Edmonton 2020-2021

HAVING A BABY

in Edmonton

a resource guide

2020/2021 EDITION

• Adjusting to Pregnancy

• Mama’s Choice Award Winners

• Mothering Through 2020

what ’s INSIDE

PUBLISHED BY

MODERN MAMA

EDITOR

LEAH DOYLE

SALES & MARKETING

KRYSTAL BROKOP, EDMONTON

TINA EVANS, GREATER VANCOUVER

LEAH DOYLE, CALGARY

DESIGN

GUPPY DESIGN

Having a baby in Edmonton

A RESOURCE GUIDE

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS

JA SURROGACY

PACIFIC LIFE CHIROPRACTIC

EDMONTON AREA FAMILY DOULAS

KEPLER ACADEMY

PINE INTEGRATED HEALTH CENTRE

THE MOTHERHOOD PROJECT

LITTLE NURSING CO

EDITORIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Claudine Lavoie has been a professional

photographer in the Edmonton area since

2004. She specializes in newborn, maternity,

child and family photography. Claudine has won

awards for her work, and has been featured in

local and international publications. You will see

displays of her newborn photography in the labour

and delivery ward of the Sturgeon Community

Hospital in St. Albert. She takes yearly courses to

keep up her portfolio with current trends, and her

knowledge of newborn safety up to date. Her

custom built, fully equipped studio is located in her

home in the Estates of Sturgeon County, where she

lives with her husband and two children.

www.claudinelavoie.ca

Visit www.modernmama.com today!

On Instagram at @modernmama

On Twitter at @modern_mama

CONTACT US LEAH@MODERNMAMA.COM

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Your guide to having a baby

in Edmonton 2020 is here!

Be sure to check us out at www.

modernmama.com/edmonton/ for

our weekly locally-focused content.

Modern Mama has been sharing

resources and connecting moms with

local businesses for almost 13 years.

Come find us, check out the site and

follow us on social too!

Leah Doyle

Owner, modernmama.com

On Instagram at @modernmama

On Twitter at @ModernMama

Facebook at ‘Modern Mama Edmonton’

And Pinterest at

pinterest.com/modernmamateam

www.modernmama.com | EDMONTON | A RESOURCE GUIDE | 2020/2021 Edition • 3

2020|Edmonton

Mama’s Choice

Awards Winners

05 Mamas Choice Award Winners

You vote and we tell everyone about your

top picks. Local Edmonton winners for

everything mom & baby in the city.

06 Adjusting to Pregnancy

You don’t need to suffer with backpain

during your pregnancy. Find out why

adding a chiropractor to your health

team can make all the difference.

09 Childcare Checklist

Finding the right fit for you and your

family is no easy task. So, here is a

checklist of what you should look for

in your childcare facility.

10 Postpartum Pelvic Floor Health

Childbirth is an incredible physical

accomplishment for the female body!

While most the time our bodies bounce

back easily, sometimes we need the help

of a specialist to get our pelvic floor

health back to what it used to be.

12 Tips for Successful Breastfeeding

One of the biggest struggles new mothers

face is – breastfeeding. Check out our list

of tips and advice from a certified lactation

consultant.

14 Mothering Through 2020

How a global pandemic has affected the

physical, mental, emotional, and social

wellbeing of perinatal women.

18 How to Rock Your Birth and

Postpartum? Hire a Doula!

What if I told you that you could have your

very own guide and guru to support you

and your partner through all thing’s

pregnancy, labour and newborn?

20 Is Gestational Surrogacy

Right for You?

Imagine, being able to change the life

of another person by helping them become

a parent.

22 Local Resources: Bump

The very best businesses Edmonton has

to offer you throughout your pregnancy.

24 Local Resources: Nesting


to offer in preparing you for living with

your new bundle.

25 Local Resources: Baby


to offer you throughout infancy and the

first few years with baby.

We heard from you, loud and clear, the best of the best for new moms

in Edmonton! All of you had something to say, and here they are …

the winners of the first annual Mama’s Choice Awards:

Best Baby Store?

Wee Love

Best Kids Furniture Store?

West Coast Kids

Best Baby Clothing Store?

Carters

Best Childcare Facility?

Kids & Company

Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant?

Boston Pizza

Best Prenatal Class?

Fit Your Life

Best Postnatal Class?

Fit Your Life

Best Mommy & Me Class?

Fit Your Life

Best Birthday Party Venue?

My Gym

Best Kid-Friendly Café?

Sweet Pea Cafe

Best Maternity Clothing Store?

Yo Mama Maternity

Best Doula?

Edmonton Area Family Doulas

Best Local Service For Moms?

Transition Doulas

Best Maternity Photographer?

Claudine Lavoie

Best Newborn Photographer?

Claudine Lavoie

Roughley Originals

What Business Would You

Like To Tell Your New-Mom

Friends About?

Fit Your Life

4 • www.modernmama.com | EDMONTON | A RESOURCE GUIDE | 2020/2021 Edition www.modernmama.com | EDMONTON | A RESOURCE GUIDE | 2020/2021 Edition • 5

Pregnancy

ADJUSTING TO

BY DR. CAROLYNE HIEBERT

Pregnancy is one of the most exciting times

in a woman’s life. Whether her path to

conception was a surprise, planned, or

a longer journey, this is a time of flux and

change in her life.

Having a healthy body, able to function at

her best is a top priority for most women.

With the growing demands of baby growing

in-utero and a changing body, change to the

spine and biomechanics of the pelvis begin

in the first trimester.

With conception, a woman’s body begins

producing elastin and relaxin, hormones that

create ligament laxity in preparation for birth.

Even without showing, a woman’s body is

now changed as it relates to her spinal

health. With ligament laxity, the spinal

structures and vertebrae become more prone

to spinal subluxation or areas of joint fixation.

The pelvis can also be affected due to the

same hormones, creating sacro-iliac

dysfunction and increased low back pain.

Headaches can often occur due to increased

stress in the upper cervical spine (neck). This

can be exacerbated or made worse by

sitting postures at work, commuting, or even

taking care of other children at home.

What many people disregard as “normal”

pregnancy symptoms can commonly be

addressed through chiropractic care. The fact

that so many women undergo similar

physiological changes during pregnancy

perpetuates ideas that these symptoms are

part of a pregnancy and that care does not

need to be sought. More and more women

are educating themselves about their

changing bodies during pregnancy and

recognizing that care for their spinal health

can not only minimize symptoms but can help

to maximize function during a crucial time

in a woman’s life.

There is further change in the biomechanics

of the spine as the baby continues to grow in

the womb with a woman’s centre of gravity

shifting forward, increasing the low back

curvature or lumbar lordosis (sway back). This

can increase pressure in the low back during

many activities of daily life including work

and exercise. Walking or standing prolonged

periods can frequently be affected and this

is often a time when women want to stay

physically fit and active.

Sciatica can also occur as the sacral rotation

secondary to hormonal change and the

growing baby continues to increase pressure

on the woman’s spine. These are symptoms

that can be alleviated through chiropractic

care.

Proper biomechanics of the pelvis also allows

for lessening of soft tissue entrapment in the

front of the pelvis, often creating one sided

round ligament pain due to asymmetrical

loading of the soft tissues holding the uterus

within the pelvis.

Increased pressure at the pubic symphysis

can also create separation of the pubic

bones resulting in Symphysis Pubis

Dysfunction (SPD).

Having your spine and pelvis assessed by a

chiropractor early on in pregnancy allows for

the chiropractor to create a plan of care to

not only “get you through” your pregnancy

but for you to actually feel comfortable, enjoy

your pregnancy and stay as physically active

at work and at play as you wish during this

very important time.

Having a healthy spine and biomechanically

stable pregnancy, whether you are symptomatic

or not, is a great way to stay well during this

time and promotes better healing postpartum.

Post delivery, the hormones of the pregnancy

are still dissipating, and the pelvis is coming

together. Whether a woman has had a

vaginal delivery or a Caesarean birth, it is

important for the spinal structures and pelvic

bowl to be assessed for stability and function.

The demands of the baby outside the womb

are increasingly present as feeding and

cradling the newborn create postural stress

in the neck and upper back.

Having a proper functioning spine brings

comfort and healing to the woman during this

fourth trimester and allows for optimal function

of her body for new activities as a mother.

Chiropractic care is an amazing fit for this

important time of life. Adding a chiropractor

to your health team creates a great opportunity

for health and function during the prenatal

and postpartum periods.

Having a healthy body, able

to function at her

best is a top priority

for most women.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Carolyne Hiebert owns and

operates Pacific Life in Abbotsford,

British Columbia. She practices with

her husband and has a focused practice

with women and children’s care. She

has completed her 200-hour post

doctorate program with the International

Chiropractic Pediatric Association,

earning her CACCP credentials with

the Academy of Chiropractic Family

Practice, including being a Webster

Technique practitioner. Dr. Carolyne is

currently finishing her Doctoral program

with the Academy of Chiropractic

Family Practice.


Kepler Academy

CHILDCARE CHECKLIST

Greetings, Mamas! Our team at Kepler Academy knows that your decision for childcare is based

on trust, and many other important considerations unique to your family. For new mothers –

finalizing care can seem overwhelming, especially with a brand new baby or an upcoming

return back to work. Use Kepler’s checklist below to make planning for care a little bit easier.

Planning for Childcare:

A Checklist for Moms

1. Determine Your Family’s

Childcare Needs

Full-Time

Part-Time

Flexible or Evening/Weekend Care

Casual/Drop-In

2. List What’s Most Important to You

Location & Price?

Educator/Caregiver Qualifications

& Training?

Nutrition, Allergies, Dietary Restrictions

or Sensitivities?

Education & Enrichment Programming?

Environment & Physical Space?

3. Start Your Search Early

Find childcare options through friends,

neighbours, coworkers and Google

searches.

List your top 3 choices.

Book a tour of each! (For example,

Kepler Academy offers safe and

private in-person tours for families)

4. Ask Questions

Who provides care, and what are their

qualifications and special qualities?

Do Educators/Caregivers genuinely

connect and build relationships with

children?

What is the daily routine like for my

child’s age? (Independent Play +

Scheduled Activities)

5. Enroll & Get Excited

Decide which option is the best

fit for your child.

If a space is available – pay a deposit

with confidence to secure your child’s spot.

Transition slowly – talk about your new

routine, your feelings & plan lots of

one-on-one time with baby.

Best wishes in your

search for childcare!


POSTPARTUM

PELVIC FLOOR HEALTH

Childbirth is an incredible physical accomplishment for the female body! Women work hard to

grow, carry and birth their babies and approximately 1 in 4 women experience pelvic floor

symptoms because of it. In a vaginal birth, the work of pushing brings the baby down from the

uterus, through the vaginal opening in the pelvic floor muscles, and into the world. Crowning is

when the muscles and ligaments of the pelvic floor, and the surrounding skin, are stretched to

their maximum.

After the baby is born, the pelvic floor muscles have to close back up and resume their normal

duties of supporting the pelvic organs from below and controlling urine and stool. This can be

difficult if there’s been perineal tearing, or other injury, at the time of birth.

If pelvic floor recovery has gone well, by 6 weeks postpartum, a woman should no longer be

experiencing problems related to her pelvic floor and should be able to slowly resume sexual

intercourse and gradually begin to exercise again.

The following are signals from the body that pelvic floor recovery

is not complete:

Bladder Control Problems

The involuntary loss of urine is the most

common pelvic floor problem for women after

childbirth. There are two main types called

stress and urge. Stress incontinence is when

urine leaks out when the bladder is under

pressure, such as during a cough or a sneeze.

Commonly, women who return to high impact

exercises before their bodies are ready, will

experience stress incontinence during running

or jumping.

Urge incontinence is when urine leaks out on

the way to the bathroom. It is often associated

with ‘urinary frequency’, which is going to the

bathroom more than every 2-3 hours (or 6-8

times during the day).

Other bladder signs include having to sit on

the toilet and wait for urine to come, standing

up and having more urine dribble out, or the

sensation that the bladder hasn’t fully emptied

after urinating.

Bowel Control Problems

Being unable to control gas or stool could

be a flag that the pelvic floor is not working

properly. Other bowel signs that the pelvic

floor is not working optimally include chronic

constipation, a feeling of heaviness in the

rectum, and the sensation that the bowels

aren’t fully empty after a bowel movement.

Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Sometimes after pregnancy and childbirth,

the pelvic floor has a difficult time supporting a

woman’s pelvic organs from below. When this

happens, women can experience a sensation

of vaginal heaviness, especially when

standing for long periods, or carrying heavy

loads. Some women describe this sensation

as if there is a tampon in, when there isn’t.

Other signs that a woman may have prolapse

are if she notices a bulge vaginally in the

bathroom when wiping, is unable to keep

a tampon in, or finds intercourse unpleasant

due to something being in the way.

Pain

Back Pain: The pelvic floor is one of a

woman’s “core” muscles, so if pain persists

for more than a few weeks after birth, it could

mean that the abdominals and pelvic floor

are not supporting her as well as they could

be. One study found that in a group of

women with chronic low back pain, 96%

also had pelvic floor dysfunction!

C-section Scar Pain: In the case of a

Caesarean birth, the incision should be

healed by the 6 week mark. If a woman is

still experiencing pain, pulling, or sensitivity

to touch after that, the scar tissue and

surrounding structures may need some

attention.

Sexual Pain: It is never normal for sexual

intercourse to be painful for a woman.The

pelvic floor muscles surround the vagina from

its opening all the way up to the cervix. If

those muscles aren’t able to relax enough

to allow for intercourse, a woman may

experience pain externally, internally, or both.

The Pelvic Floor and Age

Contrary to popular belief, leaking urine

is not a normal part of aging. None of the

symptoms listed above are. A very common

pattern is that after pregnancy and childbirth,

women begin to experience minor pelvic

floor symptoms that rapidly worsen once they

become perimenopausal. For this reason, all

women with pelvic floor symptoms should

address them while they’re young so that the

issues don’t advance to the point of needing

surgical treatment later on.

References:

Kegels Are a Good Place to Start

A Kegel is a pelvic floor muscle contraction.

To correctly contract these muscles, try the

following cues:

• Imagine you are stopping the flow of urine

mid-stream

• Imagine you are stopping gas from coming

out

• Imagine you are picking up a small object

with your vagina and pulling it up

If connecting to the pelvic floor is easy for

you, then try these types of contractions daily:

• Contract maximally and hold for 10

seconds, relax fully, repeat 5 times

• Contract as fast as you can and fully relax

as fast as you can, repeat 10 times

Research has shown that up to 50% of

women are not able to connect with the

pelvic floor muscles properly. If that is the

case, or if you’ve been doing these exercises

for several weeks and your symptoms are

not improving, consider seeing a Pelvic

Physiotherapist to figure out why. In the same

way that someone with knee pain would see

a Physiotherapist to regain full movement,

strength and function, a woman experiencing

pelvic floor dysfunction should see a Pelvic

Physiotherapist to treat symptoms and regain

function.

Wu JM, Vaughan CP, Goode PS, Redden DT, Burgio KL, Richter HE, et al. Prevalence and

Trends of Symptomatic Pelvic Floor Disorders in U.S. Women. Obstet Gynecol. 2014 Jan;

123(1):141-8.

Dufour S, Vandyken C, Vandyken B. Mechanical Low Back Pain: An Orthopaedic Problem,

a Urogynecological Problem, or Both?


Happy Birthday Baby! Your baby

is here and in your arms, now what?!....

Tips for Successful

Breastfeeding

Before baby…..

1. While you are pregnant, find your tribe!

Surround yourself with like-minded people

who are going to support your decisions

and you along the way! Seek out local

groups and follow positive breastfeeding

support on social media.

2. Educate yourself about breastfeeding. Get

informed and arm yourself with knowledge!

Include your partner so they can provide

support to you as well. If possible, take a

“Prenatal Breastfeeding” class and/or talk

with a Lactation Consultant.

3. Breastfeeding is not complicated but it can

be difficult- learn where you can go for

help. It’s okay to ask for help. It’s something

you’ve never done before- it is necessary to

ask for help! Just like anything else in life

that is new to you. In your area, look for

peer support groups, government run breastfeeding

clinics and private businesses.

4. Practice makes perfect. Breastfeeding is

a learned skill for you and your baby.

Be kind to yourself!

1. Skin to skin! As much as possible! This can’t

be stressed enough.

2. Watch for baby feeding cues and attempt

to latch baby during the early cues

3. Feed, feed, feed! Feed at least every 2

hours or less, especially in the first few days.

Interesting fact: The more times your brand

new baby latches and sucks in the early days, the

quicker your “milk” will come in and the more

abundant it will be over the long term

4. Your baby will appear hungry on day 2 of

life (approx.) You’ll think, “I must not have

any milk...my baby is starving…” But this

is normal behaviour & your baby is not

starving! It may seem like they are

constantly feeding and hopefully they

are so your “milk” comes in!

5. Find a comfortable position to nurse in and

focus on getting a GOOD latch every time.

One bad latch can really do harm to your

nipples.

6. Know that your baby’s tummy only needs

1tsp (5mL) of colostrum per feed in the first

one to two days. It is easily digested which

is why they feed often. If you are trying to

exclusively breastfeed, try not to give

formula as a top up if your goal is to

exclusively breastfeed. Formula is less easily

digested and will delay the next breastfeed

as the baby is not hungry yet, which delays

your milk coming in and decreases your

overall milk supply.

7. Try to avoid soothers (at least until around 6

weeks) until you have learned breastfeeding

and feel confident with latching. Also

ensure baby is gaining weight and having

sufficient amounts of wet and soiled

diapers. The concern with soothers is that

feeds can be missed or delayed as the

baby is content sucking on a soother.

8. Keep record of baby’s wet & soiled

diapers. This is one way to know if he/she

is staying hydrated!

9. If breastfeeding is painful, ask for help right

away!! It may feel like a strong suction and

tugging feeling but should not be painful!

Your nipple should not be damaged -

cracked or bleeding after feeding; it

should not be oddly shaped after a feed;

you should not dread the next feed. If

these symptoms do occur, seek help.

There are ways to prevent further issues

and frustration.

10. Most baby’s lose weight after delivery.

By day 5 they should be gaining instead

of losing and by day 10-14 they should

be back at birth weight. If not this is a

sign breastfeeding needs to be evaluated.

Give yourself grace if breastfeeding

doesn’t work out- there are lots of other

options including pumping your milk,

donor milk, mixed feeds & formula.

Your LC can help you with whatever

choice you make- judgement free!

Seeking the right help can relieve a lot

of stress and make breastfeeding the

wonderful experience it can be.

You’ve got this mama!!!

Melissa & Mychelle

Little Nursing Company

www.littlenursingco.com


MOTHERING

THROUGH 2020:

How a global pandemic has affected

the physical, mental, emotional, and

social wellbeing of perinatal women

BY JENNIFER DELMAIRE, FOUNDER OF THE MOTHERHOOD PROJECT

With less than 80 days left in the year, I think

it’s safe to say, this was not what we expected.

Not what we planned and not what we

hoped for. 2020 has been, so far, a year

like no other. We are changed, like it (and

prepared for it) or not. It has changed the

landscape of our lives, for better or worse,

and on the flip side, it has also found a way

to highlight the strength, resilience, and

determination of mothers in new and

profound ways.

Through the lens of motherhood, these are

complicated times. Pregnancy, postpartum

and what comes next, redefined. We are a

community experiencing anxiety, depression,

isolation, grief, loneliness, uncertainty, anger,

fear, and lack of connection like never before.

Mothers are left wondering if they are

struggling as a result of our new “normal”?

Or could it be something more? As it stands,

pre-COVID, 10-28% of perinatal women will

experience a mood disorder. Reports of

perinatal mental health challenges have

greatly increased and it is predicted that

there will be a further increase in perinatal

mood disorders over the months and even

years ahead. What we do know, is that we

are not alone.

Pregnancy has changed. Gone are the days

of large in-person baby showers, gender

reveal parties, prenatal classes or even

celebrating with friends. Prenatal appointments

look different and our ability to

anticipate labour, delivery and life with a

new baby has been replaced by the

unknown and a greater loss of perceived

control. Women are going through

miscarriages, stillbirths and fertility struggles

in a whole new, less supported way which is

hard to fathom. Many supports have pivoted

online, which works for some, but others are

“Zoomed out” (likely a new phrase for the

Urban Dictionary) or do not have access

to this option. It’s all enough already.

Birth has changed. Choices have been

limited; women have delivered their babies

alone, without their partners or chosen

support people. There has been a back and

forth of protocol, compounding uncertainty.

As a result, how the birth experience is

perceived has, for many, been altered. There

are reports from both sides – some women’s

experiences lean closer to trauma as their

births were very far from their desired plans;

and fortunately, some report that they were

actually able to have a more peaceful, quiet

experience than they imagined possible.

Several contributing factors may lead to

these differences but a commonality lies in

anticipatory emotions. We are navigating

uncharted territory and while some excel at

rolling with it, others have expectations that

will not be met.

Postpartum has changed. It may be that

the increased boundaries are a good thing.

This allows for rest, adjustment and bonding.

However, there comes a time when you need

HELP! It truly does take a village, and we are

not meant to do everything on our own. Not

having access to a support system can be

crippling. Whether it’s family or friends being

able to meet the baby, support mom, help

around the house, keep older children busy

(the list goes on), we have been forced to

a short list. Forced to choose who can

be close. Forced to postpone visits with

grandparents, forced to literally isolate. One

thing is for sure – motherhood was already

isolating during the best of times. Further

isolation is one of the top barriers perinatal

professionals are spending our careers trying

to prevent.

Community programs have been paused

or cancelled, imperative supports such as

lactation consultation, newborn hearing

screen follow-ups, pelvic floor physiotherapy,

in-home postpartum doula care, mental health

screening and appointments have become

less accessible (if available at all), and

although some have recently begun to

resume, many have not. Our ability to

connect socially with other moms has

changed. Less baby groups, less in-person

everything, less hugs, less other people

holding the baby… less.

Some have lost their job security, some have

had to return to work early. Those with older

children are trying to keep them safe. Send

them to school and trust, or keep them at

home and then figure out how to manage

parenting, homeschooling, childcare, work,

and all the other responsibilities we face.

There are so many balls in the air. We are

rightfully stressed and overwhelmed. We are

not okay. Or we are, but we’re working hard

for it.


There are, of course, two sides to this story,

and we must acknowledge the fact that lots

of positives have come from this time of great

challenge. We have had time to evaluate our

priorities, spend time with our families that we

wouldn’t otherwise have had. We have been

forced to slow down, and unbusy ourselves.

We’ve had boundaries forced upon us that

have turned out to be healthy, we’ve found

new ways to do things, we’ve had to get

creative, we’ve learned to pivot and expand

our ideas of what is possible. We have,

in fact, survived. But we deserve to thrive!

So, what can we do?

If you are pregnant:

Get prepared! Educate and empower

yourself with information. Find your village,

and know how to reach them. Create open

dialogue with your partner or support

systems. The easier it is to talk about how you

are feeling and what you need, the better!

Heads up – this takes practice. In addition to

considering your birth plan, consider your

postpartum plan. Find the local resources you

*may* need, and include them in this plan.

If you never need to use them, great! If you

do, you won’t waste any time searching.

Build resiliency with self care. Becoming

proficient at this in pregnancy will set you up

for postpartum success. If you are struggling

with any symptoms of a Perinatal Mood

Disorder, stay connected and seek support as

soon as possible. It’s very common for a mood

disorder to present during pregnancy, less

common is the awareness around this fact.

If you are postpartum:

Stay connected to, or find, community!

It might look different, it might be online, it

might be physically distanced, but community

sustains us through the good, the bad and the

ugly. Accept help. Whether it’s a partner,

a friend or family member, who can drop

off groceries or take the baby for a walk –

say yes! Practice expressing your feelings,

thoughts and needs. Communicate, instead

of bottling it up or trying not to “burden”

anyone. If you are struggling, speak it. Seek

support that is accessible to you. These

places do exist and can support you during

this time. Take care of yourself! Eat well, rest/

sleep when you can, drink enough water,

move your body, and create some healthy

habits of self-care. Self-care is anything that

makes you feel good! This does not need to

be elaborate or complicated.

Mothers at any stage:

You are not alone. While we do not know

how long these circumstances will last, we

do know that we are in this together, and we

are getting through one day at a time. We

are doing our best each day in the face of

unprecedented adversity. Your feelings are

valid – all of them – and it may take time to

process them and heal. This is okay. You

are strong. You are resilient, and you are

mothering through a time that will long be

remembered. Be proud. Show yourself grace

and compassion. You are doing a great job,

and, worth the repeat, you are not alone.

•️ In-Studio & Online Options

•️ Limited Class Sizes

•️ Social Distancing

•️ Mandatory Face Coverings (Caregivers)

•️ Meets & Exceeds AHS Health and

Safety Guidelines

info@jadoredance.com

Explorers

WE ARE ALL BORN

(780) 701-4942

EXPLORATORY EDUCATION:

A UNIQUE CHILD CARE EXPERIENCE

Purposeful curriculum

Holistic Programming

Blossoming Babies

Dance Together

Sing Together

Play Together

jadoredance.ca

8

LOCATIONS IN

EDMONTON

& AREA!

The Motherhood Project: www.themotherhoodproject.ca

Postpartum International: www.postpartum.net

Pacific Postpartum Support Society: www.postpartum.org

Maternity Care Alberta:

www.maternitycarealberta.com/mandates/maternal-mental-health/mental-health-guide/

www.albertahealthservices.ca/services/page15072.aspx

Alberta Health Services-Perinatal Mental Health Resources: www.calgaryfamilymedicine.ca/

residency/dox/container/7a59b8664d09ce271f0d3a981868c252.pdf

Nature-inspired outdoor playspace

Nutritious Meals & Snacks (Chef on-site)

780 700 9427 | info@kepleracademy,ca


How to rock your Birth & Postpartum?

Hire a Doula!

The support you need for pregnancy, birth & babies first year

You see the positive pregnancy test and

couldn’t be more excited (and maybe

terrified) of all the new and unknown things

to come. What if I told you that you could

have your very own guide and guru to

support you and your partner through all

things pregnancy, labour and newborn?

Your doula(s) will do all of this and much

more! They are essential members to have

on your birth/postpartum team.

What exactly is a doula you ask? There are

doulas who specialize in pregnancy/labour/

birth, some specialize in postpartum/early

parenting and some do both! There are also

doulas who support families through fertility,

loss and abortion. Regardless of the area(s)

of expertise, doulas are all about YOU, and

they know that how you feel and your

experience with birth and postpartum matters!

Doulas are comfort, trust and respect no

matter how you choose to approach birth

and early parenting.

“Doulas dedicate their professional lives to

ensuring women get the best experience

possible,”...“For something as important as the

birth of your child, that is the kind of person you

want on your team.”

Labour/Birth Doulas

You have a doctor (or midwife), so why hire

a birth doula? Your medical care team is

focused on a safe and healthy delivery for

you and baby. Your doula has (almost)

everything else covered! She is your constant

and unbiased guide to help you navigate

pregnancy and the medical system.

“Perhaps most remarkable, however, is the fact

that doulas don’t simply reduce the risk of

negative outcomes. Rather, they reframe an

experience that’s widely seen as “traumatizing”

into one that’s positive, empowering, and

even spectacular…words that aren’t typically

used in the

same sentence as “giving birth.”

Your doula will bring both her heart and her

hands into your birth space and she will help

you and your partner feel confident and have

less fear when contractions intensify. She will

remind you to breath and hand your partner

cold clothes to place on your neck and chest.

“Doulas support all types of births, from the au

naturel to the au-want-an-epidural-asap — and

there’s zero judgment for those whose decision

falls in the latter category.

Your doula might help you decide when to

call your midwife or head to the hospital.

They will help you set up and tidy up for

a home birth or they will get you settled into

the hospital. She will share your emotions,

but she knows when to step back and let you

and your partner enjoy your special moments.

“It is important to remember that people have

goals other than simply emerging from

childbirth unscathed,” said Dr. Neel Shah,

M.D., an assistant professor of obstetrics,

gynecology and reproductive biology at

Harvard Medical School. “Safety during labor

is the floor of what people deserve. What we

should all really be aiming for is the ceiling:

care that is not just safe, but also supportive and

empowering.”

Postpartum Doulas:

Baby’s fourth trimester and first year

You now have a beautiful tiny human and

they let you take it home (without a manual

haha). As you embark on the wild roller

coaster ride of parenthood and caring

for your little one, your doula will handle

everything with a smile, with respect,

and without judgement.

The work of a postpartum doula can be

difficult to describe. They support and guide

families through the rough waters during

those first few hours, days, weeks, and

months at home with their new baby. She

might help disrupt the monotony and isolation

of being (sometimes alone) with your newborn

24 hours a day. She can answer newborn

care questions, laugh with you, cry with you,

and make the days and or nights feel a little

easier. They give mothers permission to share

openly how hard it is to be a new mom.

Postpartum doula care means having an

expert with you to help you decode those

mysterious baby cries, help achieve the

perfect breastfeeding latch or formula ratio,

and—your soon-to-be favourite part—take

care of baby while you catch some serious

Z’s. Her goal is to give you the physical,

emotional, and informational support that

you need to understand your own physical

and emotional recovery, and to best care

for your baby on your own terms.

“The work of providing non-medical support

during an important life transition is something

that’s gaining a lot of traction,” said Dr. Katy B.

Kozhimannil, Ph.D., an associate professor of

health policy at the University of Minnesota.

Pregnancy, birth and early parenting are all

part of one of the most significant transitions

you will ever experience. The investment of

birth and/or postpartum doula support will

undoubtedly help you feel more confident,

have less fear, and the reassurance of

knowing you have an expert in your corner!

“I didn’t think twice about hiring a wedding

planner for my big day, or

a bookkeeper for my business,”… “

As a first-time mother, you can bet

I wanted a project manager for my birth!”

April Fermaniuk is the owner of

Edmonton Area Family Doulas agency

and mother of three. A certified birth and

postpartum doula she is passionate about

empowering families through pregnancy,

birth, and postpartum. She enjoys teaching

Newborn Care & Prenatal Education classes,

drinking Chai Latte’s and listening to music.

Image by Teresa Bolinksi of T.Bolinski Creative,

yeg photographer


Is Gestational Surrogacy

Right for You?

BY MICHELLE AVERY, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AT JA SURROGACY CONSULTING

Being a gestational surrogate

is an amazing and fulfilling

adventure. Imagine, being

able to change the life of

another person by helping

them become a parent.

Current statistics show that worldwide,

1 in 6 individuals struggle with infertility.

This can be for a variety of different

reasons. These individuals may not be able

to conceive or carry their own children and

need the help of a third party to create the

family they’ve always dreamed of.

So what is gestational surrogacy? Well, it

is a type of surrogacy where the surrogate

carries an embryo that is already fertilized

at a fertility clinic. This embryo is created

by gametes from other parties (either from the

parents-to-be or an egg and/or sperm donor)

and will have no genetic or DNA link to the

surrogate. You are quite literally, just growing

a baby. The transfer process is performed

using a catheter and takes less time than

the average PAP test.

Many women choose to become surrogates

based on their own journeys with motherhood

and their compassion for those who are not

able to take this journey for themselves.

Couples and individuals from around the

world choose to pursue their surrogacy

journeys in Canada based on the safety and

legislation that our country has to offer. For

some, surrogacy is illegal in the country they

reside, or their government may not allow for

them to gain legal parentage of a child born

through surrogacy.

Each province has its own laws that relate

to how the parents of a child born through

surrogacy will not only gain legal parentage,

but have the birth certificates as well as any

passports or other legal documentation issued

in their names. The parents are also required

to purchase insurance policies for the baby

or use a cash pay system for the care that

the baby receives while in Canada.

Both the surrogate and the parents are legally

protected with a contract, and all legal fees

are covered by the parents-to-be. Each party

is represented by their own lawyer who

is a specialist in Canadian fertility law.

Let’s talk legalities. There are many

misunderstandings when it comes to “paying”

for surrogacy. In Canada, surrogacy cannot

follow a compensation model and legally,

surrogates cannot be paid. Instead, all

related expenses are reimbursed. These

reimbursements are spread out over ten

months and can be anywhere from

$1,500-$2,500 each month.

There is so much more to surrogacy in

Canada and so many amazing things that

come from choosing to give the gift of family.

Want to learn more?

We would love to hear from you! Visit our

website at www.jasurrogacyconsulting.com

or our Facebook Page, JA Surrogacy

Consulting. Messages and emails

can be sent through either platform.

To connect with a team member today,

please email michelle@jasurrogacy.com

We cannot wait for you to take this step that

will change your life and allow you to make

someone else’s dreams come true!

At JA Surrogacy Consulting, you will become

part of a community that will provide you

with support from start to finish. We are here

to answer all of your questions and concerns.

“To the world you may be one person;

but to one person you may be the world”

– DR.SUESS


(780) 960-3666

www.timeoutbeautyretreat.com

EDMONTON | resources


Bump Maternity Fashion

Bump - Wellness

Bump- Birth Doula

Meadowlark Midwifery

587-523-0099

Aloha Maternity

alohamaternity@gmail.com

Alberta Blue Cross

780-498-8000

Comforting Hands Doula

780-929-4669

Passages Midwifery

780-937-2501

Bosom Babies

780-448-1384

Brisbin Family Chiropractic

(780) 449-6636

Edmonton Area Family Doulas

(780) 966-6705

St.Albert Community Midwives

(780) 470-0707

The Fourth Maternity

info@the-fourth.ca

Yo Mama Maternity

(780) 488-0040

Bump 3D Ultrasound

Clarkes 3D Ultrasound

780-994-6626

UC Baby

780-444-1006

Peekaboo2U

587-597-1784

Bump Pre-Natal Fitness

Core Movement

780-243-6683

Fit Your Life

780-819-6489

Momentum Health & Wellness

780-265-2279

Yogalife Studios

780-328-3927

Empowerfit

780-417-5725

Core Love

780-690-1280

Integrated Therapies

780-900-4827

Love Within Pregnancy Massage

780-340-9330

Oliver Chiropractic Wellness Clinic

780-455-2112

One Village Chiropractic

780-484-2272

Park Integrative Health

(780) 570-8480

Performance Chiropractic

780-433-9920

Pine Health

587-855-5598

Pure Wellness Studio

780-970-7873

Revive Massage + Wellness

revivemassage.ca • (780) 705-7279

Ripple Effect Wellness Centre

780-569-3181

The Chiropractic Wellness Studio

(780) 477-0990

The Walnut Tree

thewalnuttree.ca • 780-802-4808

Therapeutic Body Concepts

780-456-1868

Time Out Beauty Retreat

timeoutbeautyretreat.com

780-960-3666

ime Out

TB e a u t y R e t r e a t

Full Circle Birth Collective

(587) 521-2717

Gentle Touch Doula Services

(780) 440-6105

Heritage Birth Services

(780) 782-6387

Landmark Doulas

(587) 673-0365

Life Source Doula

(780) 267-1839

Ripples and Waves Doula Services

(780) 263-5683

Tia Biggs Doula

780-862-0696

Transition Doula Collective

(587) 596-5878

Women Before Us

780-717-3717

Bump- Midwives

Aspen Community Midwives

(780)395-0040

Beginning Midwifery

(780) 490-0906

Edmonton Midwifery Corporation

(780) 540-8185

Joyspring Midwifery

(780) 464-3082

Bump Pre-Natal Classes

Community Perinatal Program

Alberta Health

780-342-4707

Lucina Centre

780-756-7226

Parent Center Prenatal Classes

(780) 465-3976

Prenatal Classes Alberta Health

780-413-7980

Transition Doula Collective

587-596-5878

Whole Family Health

780-776-7736

Yeg Prenatal

780-709-7562

Nesting- Baby Gear

& Layette

Baby & Beyond

780-416-2188

Babies R Us

780-994-9404

Bosom Babies

780-448-1384

buybuyBaby

780-391-7420

Summerside Children’s and

Sports Physio Therapy

780-466-8676

Lucina Centre

(780) 756-7226

Canada’s Baby Store

855-567-2345




Carters | Oshkosh

780-371-1283

Gymboree

587-415-1432

Head Shoulders Knees & Toes

780-455-2727

Max & Maude

780-464-5437

Princess and the Pea

780-488-7748

The Makers Keep

themakerskeep.com

Wee Love Baby Boutique

780-756-2922

West Coast Kids

780-489-0707

Nesting- Safety

Breath For Life

780-434-1368

St. Johns Ambulance

1-800-665-7114

Baby – Childcare

ABC Daycare Centre

780-434-9261

Brightpath

1-888-808-2252

Brite Beginnings

780-437-4082

Kids & Co

kidsandcompany.com

Kepler Academy

kepleracademy.ca

Learn, Play and Beyond

587-405-3822

Planet Kids Daycare

780-424-8117

Tiny Town Daycare

780-463-4611

Baby- Sleep Consultants

Easy Sleep Solutions

(780) 850-2731

Sleeping Beautiezzz

andrea@sleepingbeautiezzz.ca

Sleep Haven

(780) 975-4635

Soothing Angels

(780) 686-2753

To the Moon and Back Sleep Consulting

info@tothemoonsleep.com

Baby- Lactation Consultant

Little Nursing Co

587-200-4403

MilkBud Lactation

milkbudlactation.ca

780-266-3700

Night Owl Nursing

780-306-1830

Synergy Women’s Wellness Centre

780-467-4343

Baby-Mommy & Me

Classes

Cineplex Stars & Strollers

(780) 732-2236

Dominelli School Of Music

(780) 488-8515

Kindermusik Stepping Stones

780-695-4425

Mommy Connections

(780) 977-6348

Music Together of the Northern Lights

(780) 484-9722

Music For Young Children

1-800-561-1692

Tiny Hoppers

(780) 469-0438

Yogalife Studios

(780) 328-3927

Baby- Mom Groups

Modern Mama

Modernmama.com

Meet Up

Meetup.com

Mommy Connections

780-977-6348

Baby- Post-Natal Fitness

Core Movement

780-243-6683

Barre Body Studio

(780) 757-2773

Empower Fit

780-417-5725

Fit Your Life

(780) 819-6489

Momentum Health & Wellness

780-265-2279

Pilates EQ

(780) 461-9594

Service Credit Union Place

780-418-6088

Baby- Community

Resources

AB Health Units

1-866-408-5465

Bent Arrow Resource Centre

(780) 481-3451

Edmonton Garrison Military Family Resource

Centre

780-973-4011 ext 6300

Edmonton Family Violence Centre

780-439-4635

Family Futures Resource Network

780-413-4521

Jasper Place Family Resource Centre

587-635-1775

KARA Family Resource Centre

(780) 478-5396

Mental Help Helpline

1-877-303-2642

Norwood Child and Family Resource Centre

780-471-3737

Parkland Pregnancy Support Centre

780-962-5505

St.Albert Family Resource Centre

780-459-7377

Terra Centre

780-428-3772

The Family Centre

780-423-2831



Photographers

Blooming Bliss Photography

780-667-0978

BP Photography

bpphotography.ca

brittanypaynephotography@gmail.com

Claudine Lavoie Photography

(780) 974-1211

Hidden Jem Photography

780-887-3137

Maxine and Shellaine Photography

780-999-4317

Michelle Sadee Photography

780-690-2361

Photography By Dawn

780-458-4715

S. Clarke Photography

780-271-7790

Sincerely Tova Studio

780-224-5522


Having a Baby Guide Edmonton 2020-2021

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