The Hamilton Midwives

09/19/2020

Shannah Tova to all the THM families celebrating the Jewish New Year!

09/09/2020

Hamilton Postpartum Peer Support Group

This group is run and facilitated by me, Christine Sandor. I have been a registered midwife at @communitymidwivesofhamilton since 2010.
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In 2018 I started developing the plans for this group as part of the expanded scope midwifery care that is offered through the Crown Point Family Health Centre. We wanted to offer a drop-in group for people struggling with postpartum mental health that was free and accessible for clients.
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This group started meeting in October 2019 in the community space at Kenilworth Library and in March we moved the group online.
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Through the challenges of the pandemic, we have been able to provide a space for people struggling with mental health to connect with each other to discuss challenges, strategies, and to feel a bit less isolated.
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If you or someone you know would be interested in joining our group, email me at [email protected] for more info!
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#postpartum #postpartumdepression #ppd #ppdawareness #anxiety #postpartumanxiety #ppa #postpartummentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #peersupport #postpartumsupport #postpartumcare #speakthesecret

09/09/2020

Rebecca at Evidence Based Birth is such a source of solid information on everything related to pregnancy and birth.

What labour induction methods have you heard of? Did you try it and if so, what happened?

In EBB Podcast Episode 144, I answer several burning questions about natural labor induction:⁠

Can eating pineapple help induce labor contractions? What about having sex? Is sexual activity really effective for starting labor? ⁠

Natural induction techniques continue to be among our most searched and requested topics at Evidence Based Birth®. I'm excited to share with you the evidence on these common labor induction techniques!⁠

Every time we post the research evidence on natural induction techniques, we see heated debate in the comments section! "That worked for me!" "It didn't work for me!" Unfortunately, n of 1 anecdotes can't tell us if there is a causal relationship between two factors. Research can help us tease out the effects of different methods!⁠

Make sure you listen to EBB Podcast Episode 144 if you want to learn what researchers have found about eating pineapple and having sex to induce labor naturally!⁠

⁠Listen now to the Evidence Based Birth® Podcast:⁠ ⁠
EBB 144 – Evidence on Pineapple and Sex for Natural Labor Induction⁠
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ebbirth.com/podcast
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#evidencebasedbirth #ebbirth #evidence #podcast #pregnancy #naturalinduction #induction #pineapple #sex #inducinglabor #labor

09/09/2020

Pelvic floor Physio therapy is such an important part of women’s health but goes largely unexplored by most of us because we don’t talk about this important part of our bodies enough. Check it out! Shared courtesy of Birth Mark.

PRENATAL PELVIC FLOOR PHYSIOTHERAPY   
   
Interested in pelvic floor physiotherapy? Your common questions answered! Click on our IGTV to learn more. Check out our website for more information on how to book in for a virtual consultation with Shannon. All proceeds raised go directly towards Birth Mark’s programming.    
   
#birthmark #birthmarkdoula #doulasupport #pelvicfloor #physiotherapy #pelvicfloorrehabilitation #pelvicfloorphysiotherapy #clinic #torontodoula #hamiltondoula #hamont #postpartum #pregnancy #birth #prenatalcare #perinatalcare

09/04/2020

Tim Hortons Has A New Limited Edition Cup Look & It's A Huge Shoutout To Pandemic Workers

Have a close look and see if you can peep a name that’s familiar.......🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

The true Canadian heroes.

09/04/2020

Birth Mark

Hello September! 🍂 
 
Try out some of our classes and clinics! Virtual classes and clinics are open to all Toronto & Hamilton clients and community member. Yoga will be staying virtual, clinics will be available as virtual appointments and in person appointments.  
 
Visit our website for more information and for how to book your appointment!  
 
#doula #doulasupport #parent #parenting #birth #birthdoula #postpartum #postpartumdoula #pregnant #pregnancy #baby #birthmarkhamilton #birthmarksupport #birthmarkdoula #support #familyplanning #families #hamont #hamiltondoula #fall #fallprograms #virtual #zoomclass #virtualprograms

09/02/2020

La Leche League Canada

Why do we need Black Breastfeeding Week?

We think this is a really important question to ask ourselves, especially here in Canada, where we are not immune to the effects of racism. So,here are 5 reason why we DO need Black Breastfeeding Week, taken from the Black Breastfeeding Week website.
#lllc #lalecheleaguecanada #breastfeeding #breastfeedinghelp #blackbreastfeeding #blackbreastfeedinghelp #blackfamilies #blackleaders #blackbreastfeedingweek2020

08/29/2020

No need for scissors, the ear straps are easy to rip off...just make sure to clean hands thoroughly before and after!

⚠️ N’OUBLIEZ PAS DE COUPER VOS CORDES AVANT DE JETER VOS MASQUES À LA POUBELLE.

* Pour ceux et celles qui utilisent des masques jetables (même après les avoir jeté dans les poubelles, un coup dans les décharges il y a encore des grands risques pour les animaux.)

www.vcreation.shop

08/29/2020

Here’s a post shared from Birth Mark to celebrate Black Breastfeeding Week. We all need to shed light on the health care disparities that Black families face so that we can do the work to dismantle the systems that created and now maintain those disparities.

• Images and words Reposted from @thesugaberries •

This week is #BlackBreastfeedingWeek! Why is there a week dedicated for Black mothers breastfeeding? Why is it so important? Here are a few reasons. ⁣⁠

This week sheds light on many other disparities among Black women and babies in healthcare. ⁣⁠Representation matters. Telling our stories is vital so that other Black moms know that they are not alone.⁣⁠
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Happy Black Breastfeeding Week. 🌿⁣⁠
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Don't forget to tune in TODAY to our Milk And Suga Summit! Click the link in bio to join the conversation!

#blackbirth #blackbirthmatters #blackmamasmatter #blackmidwives #doula #blackdoulas #blackhealers #blackbabiesmatter #blackbirthworkersrock #blacklactationprofessional #blackpublichealth #blackpregnancy #blackeducators #blacksocialworkers #blackobgyn #blackmaternalhealth #blackmentalhealth #postpartum #blackmotherhood #blackbirthworkersmatter #blackchildren #midwife #centeringblackmamas #listentoblackwomen #mamasincolor #herbalmedicine #blackbirthworkers #MilkAndSuga

08/24/2020

Who's this behind the mask? It's Tiffany!

Tiffany joined THM in 2019 after starting her midwifery career in Toronto. She was so happy to move back to Hamilton and loves our community. She's very passionate about all aspects of women's health care and has a special interest in promoting accessible care and mental health. She's also an avid reader so make sure to ask her what's on her best books of 2020 list!

08/21/2020

Free safety course to for children to prepare them for being at home alone.

Is your child ready to stay home alone?

HPL has teamed up with Safety Courses for Kids. Children between the ages of 9-12 can learn about safety at home. Sign up your child for five, free one-hour online courses.

Sample topics include:
- fire and accident prevention
- basic first aid
- street smarts
- Internet safety

Register with your HPL Library card and follow the steps once you are logged in:
https://www.hpl.ca/forms/home-alone-safety-certificate

#HamOnt #families #kids #getreadyforschool #backtoschool

08/21/2020

La Leche League International

Great news! Researchers in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, have found COVID-19 antibodies in human milk.

Read more here - https://nltimes.nl/2020/08/19/amsterdam-researchers-find-covid-19-antibodies-breast-milk

08/18/2020

Dates are a wonder food! Studies confirm that eating 6-8 dates starting around 36 weeks of pregnancy led to shorter labours, less need for induction of labour and more cervical dilation. Safe? Check! Low cost? Check! Effective? Check!

Run (but safely) and get some dates at your local market!

Dates have been used around the world for centuries as a natural approach to preparation for labor. Several studies now support their effectiveness. Though we don’t know exactly why, they do have an impact on the start and progress of labor - likely due to an impact on the hormone oxytocin which helps labor start and progress effectively.⁠
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A 2011 study found that women who ate dates starting at 36 weeks were:⁠
🔸 Significantly more dilated when they got to the hospital⁠
🔸 Had a significantly higher rate of intact membranes⁠
🔸 Were significantly more likely to go into labor spontaneously (i.e. without induction)⁠
🔸 And had nearly half the length of first stage of labor⁠
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A 2014 study found that women who ate dates from 37 weeks on had:⁠
🔸 Greater cervical dilatation at admission⁠
🔸 Higher success rates of labor induction when needed⁠
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A 2017 study concluded that all the above was accurate and yet another study found that eating dates in pregnancy led to less bleeding immediately after birth.⁠
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Any type of dates work! The ‘dose’ is about 2.5 ounces of dates ( ~6 to 8 small dates or ~4 larger dates) daily, starting at 36 or 37 weeks and until labor begins. I love eating them plain, but you can include them in my “herbal bliss bites” (recipe on my IGTV), use them to sweeten cashew or almond milk, or include them chopped in yogurt or oatmeal. Amazingly, they also haven’t been shown to be a problem for blood sugar.⁠
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Did you use dates to prep for your labor? Do you know a pregnant mama who is prepping for labor? Tag her in the comments below so she can learn about the power of this ancient medicine!⁠
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#ideservebirthsupport #foodasmedicine #foodismedicine #prenatalcourse #prenatalclass #empoweredbirth #naturalbirth #naturalpregnancy #birthwithoutfear #herbalmedicine #herbalist #herbalista

08/17/2020

Labour and birth sure can work up an appetite! What was/will be your post-birth celebration meal?

p.s. there isn’t strong evidence that healthy, low risk people should be restricted from drinking and eating during labour....read more here to get the facts! https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-eating-drinking-labor/

"I dreamt about this turkey sandwich for about 9 months.⁣
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It’s all I wanted throughout my pregnancy, probably because it was one of the things I couldn’t have. I ate a ton of veggie subs over the last 9 months, but what I REALLY wanted was a turkey sandwich on wheat bread with cheese, tomato + mayo🥪.⁣
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So after 16 hours of not eating during my labor, here I am in my first moments as a mother. I’m feeding Bohdi, and Braden is feeding me my well-deserved turkey sandwich. 💙

What was your first post-labor meal (or, if you're pregnant, what is it going to be?)"
📷: courtneyburtonfitness on IG

08/17/2020

Hello to a new week and another Midwife behind the Mask! Kim joined The Hamilton Midwives in 2018. She is a passionate advocate for clients and always brings a calm, balanced approach to her midwifery care.

08/15/2020

Is your baby coming to you by adoption or a gestational carrier? Check out Jack Newman’s information on breast/chestfeeding and induction of lactation (how to get your body to make milk). Breast/chestfeeding comes in all forms! Let’s celebrate it all.

Can’t breastfeed because you will have your baby by adoption or through a gestational carrier? This post was first published on this site in August 2019, but is added because of the series this month on “Can’t breastfeed…”.

The photo below shows a mother breastfeeding her adopted baby after inducing lactation.

Here is an article that outlines our approach: http://ibconline.ca/induction/. This article is expanded in my eBook. The process involves the mother-to-be taking a combined birth control pill as well as domperidone, a drug which increases prolactin levels. Please read the article for more details as well as this article on domperidone http://ibconline.ca/domperidone/. Note that the birth control pill is taken without taking the placebo pills, so that the levels of estrogen and progesterone are maintained as they would be during a pregnancy..

Although most of the issues that come up are about how to produce more milk, if, I may say so, what is truly the issue is breastfeeding, not breastmilk. Not all those who induce lactation will produce all the milk the baby will need. But even if not, they can still breastfeed. They can supplement with a lactation aid at the breast http://ibconline.ca/lactation-aid-at-the-breast/, using donated breastmilk if available, but even using formula. Because if they are supplementing at the breast, they are still breastfeeding.

Want more information on breastfeeding and inducing lactation? See my eBook https://ibconline.ca/ebook/.

New! An audiobook of my book Dr Jack Newman’s Guide to Breastfeeding. https://www.audible.ca/pd/Dr-Jack-Newmans-Guide-to-Breastfeeding-Audiobook/1515933490?fbclid=IwAR2reYuuarScI_rgLXglwlSNDZMaSQQ_AMfmpeoRDE7jqzddE6qdIqKDPZg

08/12/2020

Why the idea of social bubbles might need to be re-evaluated | CBC News

Worth the read about social bubbles and why they might provide a false sense of security.

The idea of a social bubble or circle means that together, 10 people choose to belong to a social bubble within which you can socialize without physical distance. The group of 10 all agrees to this particular group.

It’s called a circle or bubble for a reason- the boundaries are clear and unbroken and people are inside it or outside it.

If anyone in the bubble goes outside of the bubble- say, for drinks on a patio with someone outside the bubble- the bubble is broken and now no one can assume safety in the bubble. That puts us back to square 1 where we can’t socialize outside our household at all.

We ask all of our clients, for your safety and ours, to please be aware of the guidelines and follow them as best you can.

As Ontario moves forward with its reopening plans and more people get together with friends and family, some experts say the province needs to re-evaluate how these supposedly self-contained groups of 10 work in reality.

08/12/2020

Another Midwife behind the Mask.....meet Alison! Alison trained with us at The Hamilton Midwives and then joined us as a registered midwife. She always brightens the day of clients and colleagues alike with her bright smile!

08/11/2020

Birth Mark

Birth Mark

Meet Shannon Stoby, the Physiotherapist that runs the Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Clinic at Birth Mark! Today Shannon answers some common questions about the therapy treatment such as:

- Who is pelvic floor physio for?
- What happens in an appointment?
- How will I feel after?

Interested in trying Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation? This clinic is free for Birth Mark clients and pay-what-you-can for community members. All proceeds go towards Birth Mark's programming and doula services.

Sign up here: www.birthmarksupport.com/signup

More information from Shannon coming soon!

08/09/2020

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2020

August 9th is International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.

Did you know:

* there are 476 million Indigenous People across the world, making up 6% of the total population but a disproportionate 15% of the extreme poor?
*. their territories make up 80% of the world's biodiversity?
* they hold vital ancestral knowledge on how to mitigate, adapt to and reduce climate and disaster risks.

This year's theme is COVID19 and Resilience. The United Nations is holding a virtual commemoration and panel discussion exploring the innovative ways Indigenous People are demonstrating resilience and strength in the face of the pandemic while confronting grave threats to their survival. Join the Zoom by clicking the link found here:
https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/international-day-of-the-worlds-indigenous-peoples/2020-2.html

If you want to learn about Canada's Indigenous People and Cultural Awareness, take the FREE online course offered by Bear Standing Tall & Associates: https://www.bearstandingtall.com/bear-standing-tall-and-associates-training.html

08/08/2020

These are tough times for our little ones....here's a quick little primer with lots of ideas of how to support their mental health.

Supporting #childmentalhealth #youthmentalhealth #ymhc

08/07/2020

There’s no wrong way to feed a baby. In honour of World Breastfeeding Week, we want to shed light on all the ups and downs of a breastfeeding journey.

In honour of World Breastfeeding Week, let us remember the various realities. Let's be grateful we have access to skilled breastfeeding support, pumps and other gear, refrigeration, osteopaths and dentists, and that we have access to breastmilk substitutes and clean water with which to prepare them. May all families have access to what best serves them.

08/07/2020

Did you know we have a bus ticket program? If you need help getting to appointments, ask at reception each time you come and we'll give you 2 free bus tickets, no questions asked.

08/04/2020

Meet Shannon, another midwife behind the mask. Shannon has been a midwife with The Hamilton Midwives for 10 years and loved every minute of it. She is passionate about helping clients have the best possible pregnancy and birth experience. She also gets great joy with working with students and helping shape the next generation of midwives. And she does love cats (she is a proud Cat Mom to 3 adorable rescue kitties).