DoulaMamaWolf

 Hi all!! So this is just a quick update to keep you all on the same page as far as my blogs/websites/Youtube/career goes, I've been changing around a lot of things and am waaaaaaay behind on keeping you all updated, so here it all is: Consolidating Blogs I have decided that 3 separate blogs was just too hard to maintain, I'd often think of posting and then realize I should update ___ blog first, so I would just never get around to posting at all. That doesn't work for me (or you guys)! So, Blogger has this nifty feature where you can export all existing posts and upload them to a different blog, so that's what I did. All blog posts from thenovicedoula.blogspot.ca and themarrieddoula.blogspot.ca have been moved to this blog, this means some posts will have broken links or may reference this blog as something different from where it was originally posted - please feel free to ask me to edit them if it really bothers you, or just scroll on past if the info i...

Finally coming back to this!! We left off at 38 weeks, concerned about low fluid, the last ultrasound, and induction. Boy, were we in for a whirlwind of surprises that weekend! Appointment day came, Friday August 7th, and with it my last belly photo. She looks soooo low here! I remember waking up in a rush, having to get into town quickly, nursing Levi for "the last time" before having her (haha), and generally just not feeling as prepared as I needed to be. Everything - and I do mean everything - for my hospital bags packed into the car (we were half prepared/willing to beg the midwives to start us off that day if my fluid was still low - everything was in place, if it was going to happen it might as well when we're all prepared for it rather than wait until the following morning). Then there was a lot of waiting around, waiting for the call that we could come in for our ultrasound. The plan was one final ultrasound whenever they could squeeze me in, immediat...

So, it's come to my attention that I haven't updated this blog at all since 35 weeks pregnant, and my baby is now almost 6 months old. Soooo yeah, that happened. I'm so sorry!! Quite honestly I wouldn't even blame it on having two kids, because I have had a decent amount of time to work on videos, etc, I simply forgot about my blog as I've been working so hard to build up my Youtube channel. I'm so sorry about that, so here is a fast recap of everything you've missed: Ultrasounds and Low Fluid Scares So, backing way up, there had been concerns with my fundal height since around 28-30 weeks. Nothing too out of the ordinary, but enough to keep an eye on it, so at  28 weeks it was 28cm (perfect), but at 32 weeks it was 30cm (a little low), and at 34 weeks STILL 30cm so that was cause for concern (even though I was gaining weight, the fundal height seemed not be be moving up as it should along with it), so my midwives ordered an ultrasound to ...

Yet again, just another for-video post, but still useful! Here is everything I have packed just in case for my labour/hospital stay, complete with videos to see all the various items along side my big belly. Please let me know if I am missing something! I know I packed a lot, but you just never know ;) Hopefully this all just gets moved into the living room with us for our peaceful, natural homebirth though. Sibling Bag (To go with whoever is watching them) {Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zVEFapwNi8} Diapers Wipes 3 Shirts 3 Shorts 1 pair of socks 2 Books Sippy Cup Toy Blanket Sheet Pack n Play  Meeting The Baby Kit Big Brother book Babydoll Receiving blanket Colouring book & crayons (optional)   To Grab in Labour (Last Minute Packing List - Keep in your labour bag!)  {Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPZOacPgPQs} Phone/Wallet Husband's Phone & Headphones Charger and wall plug in Husban...

Hi and welcome to The Pregnant Doula blog, where I apparently only post when I need to include a document in my videos ;) I am 33 weeks and 3 days today, which means I am nearly in panic mode to get everything ready for little Evelyn's birth. I have yet to complete my hospital bag, labour classes or really emotionally prepare for labour, but I have finally pretty much completed our homebirth preparations so that's something! A video will be going up on my channel today showing all of these items and I talk about the cost, reasons and safety of homebirth, see that video here: In the mean time, here is a physical list (mostly from the handout from our midwives) of the supplies I have rounded up for our planned home water birth: {Medical Supplies} 10 blue (puppy pee) pads 5 sterile gauze sponges Depends underwear Maxi pads Always Infinity Overnights & Regular flow (will last through recovery) peri bottle 2 large garbage bags 2 plastic sheets/shower curtains h...

Of course, I have taken forever, yet again, to update!  As you can expect, lots has happened in the past several months, including.... Seeing Our Baby for the First Time... Again at 19 Weeks.... Finding Out She Is a She... Revealing Her Name... Practicing for Tandem Nursing... ... And Getting Married (at 30 Weeks Pregnant)!! I am now 31 weeks pregnant and gearing up for the birth of our little girl - a planned home water birth! I am almost prepared, supply-wise, and am getting ready to prepare emotionally for the beautiful marathon that is giving life. As I again approach this huge undertaking of love, I expect I'll have a lot of emotions that will relate to my doula journey, so I hope to update here more in the coming weeks. In the mean time, please enjoy my Youtube videos, including my Birth "Wishes": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvHeuROAta4 Also can be found on my Pregnant Doula blog: http://thepregnantdoula.blogspot.ca/2015/06/28-weeks-my-birth-plan.html And my rel...

I cannot believe the day is (almost) here - how did we get here so fast?? Dress Drama So, my beautiful dress came - and it did NOT look anything like the photo!! Well, so be fair, it actually did look very close, it just was a bit wonky proportionately (it had to be, from the measurements I gave them, so mostly my fault) and she had added these ugly fake pearls along the bust line for God knows what  reason. When I tried it on, it was a bit heartbreaking - mostly because it just didn't look or feel right, as it hadn't been altered for me yet. I basically just felt like a giant, chiffon blimp. It. Was. Awful!  Thankfully I have an amazing seamstress who got right down to work and began pinning and altering right away, so I began to feel better about it. After a few tweaks and 2 fittings, it was MUCH better, and I actually ended up adding a few details from each of the dress options I showed you earlier to create one beautiful, unique, perfect dress. We had to be a bit creative ...