***Just UPDATED this post!!-Check out Shanti's new website!
The Shanti Uganda Society is looking or a place to call home in Vancouver and would love any contacts or suggestions you might have. They hope to find a small space within an existing business that has a little extra to spare. Enough room to fit 2 desks, a tall storage unit, a filing cabinet and 5-6 large rubbermaid bins. Desk rental, or small cubicle unfortunately won't for them.
Preferably in East Van, but able to go as far west as kits and as far east as boundary.
They hope to be able to find donated space and could support the business in writing it off, or giving a tax receipt for the rental. They say they are happy to discuss a partnership that benefits them with regards to promotion on our website etc.
It is an amazing opportunity for a local business to have a substantial impact on a Canadian Charity and mothers in Uganda without making a financial contribution. If you know of anything please contact them at natalie@shantiuganda.org And don't forget theirFacebook Page andTwitter Page
My yoga classes (pre and post natal in particular) are very much about community building and thats what makes my life and my profession so very
rich and rewarding. I get to witness first hand, new friendships among moms be formed in every single class. And many of these connections will be lifelong. Some of my sweet moms have a great meet up group
going on and they all seem to be enjoying it greatly.
If it interests you go to www.meetup.com and search "Vancouver moms to be".
Click on the b&w pregnant belly (if its your first time you may have to make a free profile -only takes a sec). Some examples of meet up's are: Saturday morning social
breakfast, Sunday a seawall walk and Monday a Thai lunch downtown. One mom told me "I have found this group
has answered a lot of questions for me and given me the added confidence to
accept that my changes are normal and average …nothing to worry about."
Shanti Uganda Society (www.shantiuganda.org) will be hosting a special screening of Yogawoman (www.yogawoman.tv) and holding a silent auction at Denman Cinema's on February 28th from 6pm - 9:30pm in order to raise funds towards improving infant and maternal health, providing safe women-centered care and supporting the well-being of birthing mothers and women living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda. Featured in the film, Shanti Uganda uses yoga to improve the spiritual, physical and emotional well-being of communities impacted by HIV/AIDS, poverty and war in Uganda.
YOGAWOMAN is a groundbreaking feature film about the powerful impact of yoga on women's health, fitness, emotional well-being, and personal growth. In record numbers, women are finding strength, vitality, peace and power through yoga. Reclaiming this ancient spiritual path from its traditionally male form, the result is a radical transformation of modern yoga as we know it.
YOGAWOMAN gathers 50 of the world’s leading yoga experts in an exploration of this global phenomenon that has changed the face of yoga forever.This screening will benefit Shanti Uganda (www.shantiuganda.org) and tickets can be purchased through Event Brite or at the Cinema on the day of the event.
“All mothers and newborns should receive a visit from a public health nurse, if they want or need one." These visits are a godsend to new moms when they are at their most vulnerable. They help detect post-partum depression, jaundice, breast feeding issues and much more. These problems ...cut across socio-economic lines. Funding for this decades old program should not be cut!
On Friday November 25 at 11:30am, Parents for BC Babies will gather outside Premier Christy Clark's Vancouver office at 3615 W. 4th Ave to protest her government's decision to cut public health nurse visits to women who have just given birth.
Hope to see you there! Bring your stories of why/how much a nurses home visit mattered to you and your newborn and new family.
Here is the BC Nurses Union petition for you to share and sign.
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night And I think to myself what a wonderful world.
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky Are also on the faces of people going by I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do They're really saying I love you.
I hear babies cry, I watch them grow They'll learn much more than I'll never know And I think to myself what a wonderful world Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world.
Its a great way for those who might not be able to afford the regular $260 to pay what they can. Suggested donation is
$100 - $500 (but whatever amount you are able to donate is fine!) They recognize that each of you is making a real and important contribution to global maternal-child health. All contributions of $280 or more will receive a tax receipt from Shanti Uganda.
This is just such an amazing thing.
if you haven't been on Shanti's site lately I really can't encourage you enough to go and read up on the latest happenings. Get ready to be really, REALLY inspired. Click here for more info on Shanti Uganda and here for Dancing Star Birth and all they do! Namaste xo
Love everything this woman has to say! Its very important what she says about the pain/fear cycle, stress hormones AND working through issues before you arrive in the delivery room.Prenatal Yoga is without a doubt the ultimate in birth preparation. From keeping physical discomforts at bay and building the physical strength and endurance to birth a baby... to learning and practicing the breathwork (pranayama) to bring in energy, ease pain and maintain focus... the mental training is invaluable. And we practice it over and over (hence it being called a "yoga practice".) Learning to let go and relax "on purpose and at will" and the mindfulness training are tools that are absolutely priceless. Believe in yourself, find a Doula that you resonate with, and find a GOOD prenatal yoga class, and you too can have an empowering birth experience regardless of how things unfold. Find support and know that you really are supported in every single way. Because you really are. Namaste.
Let's face it, we've all been bummed about all insanity thats gone down. Sit back and let this little guy tell you the story of Jack and the beanstalk. The two's aren't all terrible. Enjoy and be happy. Life is so beautiful♥
Babyvibe is your trusted voice for new and expecting parents in Canada, delivering pint-sized news, product reviews, tips and family friendly event listings.
If you don't already receive their newsletter make sure you sign up!
It is truly a wealth of information.Their website is here and you can find them on twitter here and faceboook here :)
You don't want to miss BirthFest! I missed it last year for the first time, but will be stopping by for sure on Saturday. Its super fun, FREE (and not cold and cheesy like many tradeshows are). Meet local Midwives and Doulas and browse loads of family focused vendors, services and local non profits. (Including The Shanti uganda Society!!) Feel a real sense of community.
When I go, I tend to walk two steps and run into someone, another two steps, and so on haha.. its super fun!
I highly recommend going if you are expecting, know anyone who is expecting, have recently had a baby and are looking for resources, or just plain for the heck of it! There is something for everyone. And again, it's FREE and always fun to hang out on the Drive.
Maybe I'll see ya there? I sure hope so.
What: Birth Fest: Celebrating Bellies, Birth & Babies When: Saturday, February 26, 2011, 11am – 4pm Where: Britannia Community Centre, Gym D, 1661 Napier St, Vancouver, BC
LOL! This so funny. A friend on Facebook posted this and it's too cute not to share. Very important to remember..."Lift with your thyroid". Also some important tips for what to do if your weight is complaining or giggling. hahaha...(p.s. picking up baby by the onesie is not a good idea in real life whether they're giggling or not)
A doula is an assistant who provides non-medical and non-midwifery support (physical and emotional) in childbirth. Depending on training and experience she may offer prenatal support, childbirth (birth doula) and/or postpartum. A labor doula may attend a home birth or during labor at home and in transport to a hospital or a birth center. A postpartum doula provides home care for the first six weeks (or longer in cases of postpartum depression) including cooking, breastfeeding support, newborn care assistance, errands and light housekeeping.
The Wikipedia definition sort of implies that a Doula only attends home births which is completely untrue. (at least here in Canada) Thank goodness! I have attended a great many wonderful hospital births as a Doula in the past right along with every other Birth Doula in this city. Doulas are welcome with open arms in hospitals (at least I always was).
Most people do deliver in hospital in fact. Sadly some people have a great fear about delivering in hospital, but I can assure you that you have a great many birth choices in hospital (it's your birth after all, and you aren't ill you're having a baby)! And in hospital you can do a lot to set the mood for your birth as well ♥.
*You really can. It is your birth experience and nobody elses.
This isn't a commercial for hospital births but you may wind up birthing in a hospital whether you plan to or not.
When I speak like this in a room full of pregnant women there is the occasional look of terror. But everything is ok. It really is. Remember what Buddha said. Non attachment. Non attachment is the best thing to practice when making a birth plan/thinking about your birth plan etc. (I highly recommend making a birth-plan even if it is only for yourself)
Because it requires you to research and think about decisions that may come up.
Hospitals aren't the bad and nasty places they have sometimes been made out to be. In my opinion anyways. I'm sure glad they are there! (I've been in the trauma unit fighting for my life before so maybe I am biased) Know your choices. Be informed. Take the tour. Ask questions. How your birth is going to unfold may not be up to you, but so many other things are. It is up to you who you have there with you supporting you. In Canada we can choose our own caregiver...we are so lucky. But the big thing is being informed.
There truly is no such thing a a dumb question when you are expecting.
I have been to some very magical births in hospital (all births are). Beautiful wonderful empowering births, difficult and challenging and complicated births...what can you say about childbirth really? Each one is different. Different and unpredictable. Every single one. But one thing is certain... every single one is just such a honour to be at. Such a magical incredible otherworldly, highest energy experience imaginable. On the one hand biological and on the other it's...well there just aren't even words really.
But home births, hospital births, water births, even c-section "births" (they are still births)! are just truly so miraculous, I will never get over it. I was seriously choked up yesterday at my first Roundhouse Baby & Me yoga class of the summer as the room was packed full of mom's who previously were in my prenatal class. Meeting their babies for the first time, and looking at them and watching them, witnessing their mothering... Just watching their whole transition to motherhood really (gulp) gets me every time, and for as long as I do this I know it will. They are soooo beautiful.
Anyways, I could go on about this forever!! (but I won't! I've gotta fly!)
I just wanted to a pass this clip along that a girlfriend Tara sent me yesterday. It's short, but it took me on a trip down memory lane remembering my days as a Doula, and I wanted to put the Doula bug in your ear!
If you are expecting, do yourself (and your partner) a HUGE favour and have a Doula. People who have had Doulas would not again give birth without one. This city is crawling with them. Ask for recommendations from your friends, your Midwife/Caregiver and meet a few of them. You WILL find the right Doula for you.
And remember that a Doula supports "you" and "your birth experience." You and your partner. Totally.
It is all about you baby! And you have lot's of choices! *remember that*!
Oh, and many Doulas's are very affordable. As well, there are many Doulas who are just starting out looking for births to attend. And they're free!! (I attended lot's of free births and so does everybody else)
Get informed, practice yoga and have a Doula at your birth and you'll be laughing!
Well, I'm outta here for now!
It's another scorcher, enjoy, keep cool & hydrated and have fun!
