Embracing Parenthood

On this episode of Embracing Parenthood, Laura is getting ready to welcome her 3rd baby. She chats with us about the differences in her two previous postpartum experiences, including what made her want to be a copywriter for pregnancy, postpartum and parenthood experts. She shares her breastfeeding experience, and how that shaped her first postpartum. Laura and I also chat about the importance of having support, especially when you are the only one of your group with children, the importance of food and we share the purchases that are actually worth it. Finally Laura shares her advice for those expecting their first baby: lower your expectations & you need less things! We share why Meal Trains are amazing for new parents. Learn more about Meal Trains here. We hope you enjoy this episode. If you'd like to share your story on Embracing Parenthood, please email us at amy@embracedoula.ca You can find us on Instagram @embrace_doula Find more information on Postpartum Doulas on our website www.embracedoula.ca Learn all about newborns in our online self-paced class Bringing Home Baby

On this episode of Embracing Parenthood, Mom of 5 Vanessa shares her postpartum experiences with her newest little one, aged 1.5. We discuss asking for help, what postpartum supports she has in place, and how support changes over time and over different postpartum periods. She also chats about having a large family, how they divide up family tasks and why communication with her partner is so important. Besides being a Mom, Vanessa holds a black belt in Judo, and she was featured in Lyndsay Doyle’s Book Strong & Free. We share why Meal Trains are amazing for new parents. Learn more about Meal Trains here. We hope you enjoy this episode. If you'd like to share your story on Embracing Parenthood, please email us at amy@embracedoula.ca You can find us on Instagram @embrace_doula Find more information on Postpartum Doulas on our website www.embracedoula.ca Learn all about newborns in our online self-paced class Bringing Home Baby

On this episode of Embracing Parenthood, Jenn shares her experience becoming a second time Mom. We chat about how to adjust to having 2 little ones at home, how to plan prenatally for postpartum and the importance of postpartum boundaries. Jenn is also a sleep consultant and we chat about newborn sleep and why you should never ask a new parent if their baby is a “good sleeper”. One of the best pieces of advice Jenn shares is about advocating for yourself around your birth and postpartum, to make sure you and your baby get what you need. Pelvic floor physiotherapy was key to her recovery, if you’d like more information about Stephanie Brown, you can check her out here: momsquadphysio.ca Lastly we chat about the things that parents don’t talk about, and why we should all be a lot more open about how hard parenting can be. If you’d like to connect more with Jenn, you can check her out here: Jenn MacLean Sleep Consultant We hope you enjoy this episode. If you'd like to share your story on Embracing Parenthood, please email us at amy@embracedoula.ca You can find us on Instagram @embrace_doula Find more information on Postpartum Doulas on our website www.embracedoula.ca Learn all about newborns in our online self-paced class Bringing Home Baby

On this episode of Embracing Parenthood, Hailey, a mother of an 11 month old daughter shares reflections on how parenthood is constantly changing and evolving. We chat about the role of grandparents and helpers during postpartum time, and what she might do differently with future children. She also shares how her Mom instinct led her to seek a lactation consultant, because she knew something was not quite right with her baby’s ability to latch. Hailey shares her birth story, and why not having a birth plan was the right decision for her and her partner, and how it gave her the ability to process her birth. If you’d like more information on Kylie Field, you can find her here: The Nurturing Touch Lactation Consultant We hope you enjoy this episode. If you'd like to share your story on Embracing Parenthood, please email us at amy@embracedoula.ca You can find us on Instagram @embrace_doula Find more information on Postpartum Doulas on our website www.embracedoula.ca Learn all about newborns in our online self-paced class Bringing Home Baby

On this episode of Embracing Parenthood, fellow Postpartum Doula Jaclyn comes on to reflect on her experiences during her postpartum time. She is the mother of two kids, ages 6 and 2.5. We chat about how to prepare for adding a second child into your family, the importance of food support, and how you can help your new parent friends. She also shares breastfeeding challenges and how a pediatric chiropractor helped her newborn with feeding challenges. We hope you enjoy this episode. If you'd like to share your story on Embracing Parenthood, please email us at amy@embracedoula.ca You can find us on Instagram @embrace_doula Find more information on Postpartum Doulas on our website www.embracedoula.ca Learn all about newborns in our online self-paced class Bringing Home Baby

Kaitlyn is a mom of 2 wonderful kids ages 9 and 3. Now that she is out of the immediate postpartum time, she is able to look back and tell her story, what she would have done differently, and shares some advice for new moms to be. Just a warning, Kaitlyn shares her experience of hemorrhaging, so if you aren’t ready or able to listen to that story, you may want to skip this episode for now. Kailtyn also shares with us her experience around mental health. She speaks about her challenging times with postpartum OCD, how this impacted her postpartum and how deciding to do therapy was able to help her heal. Based on her own postpartum experience, Kaitlyn shares useful tips for new parents, and their support people, so that you can be set up to have the best postpartum experience possible. We hope you enjoy this episode. If you'd like to share your story on Embracing Parenthood, please email us at amy@embracedoula.ca You can find us on Instagram @embrace_doula Find more information on Postpartum Doulas on our website www.embracedoula.ca Learn all about newborns in our online self-paced class Bringing Home Baby

Jodie is a parent to a 6 month old. She shares her experience with her first birth and recovery including what they did well and some of the things that she would do differently next time. We chat about the difference between visitors vs helpers, and how to set those expectations prenatally. Jodie shares her feelings about becoming a mom during COVID, and how she is finding her parenting style in a world that gives you so many mixed messages. We hope you enjoy this episode. If you'd like to share your story on Embracing Parenthood, please email us at amy@embracedoula.ca You can find us on Instagram @embrace_doula Find more information on Postpartum Doulas on our website www.embracedoula.ca Learn all about newborns in our online self-paced class Bringing Home Baby

Jessie is the parent of 2 little girls born 17 months apart. After a traumatic experience after birth with her first baby, she certainly wasn’t expecting to go through all of that again so soon. She also struggled with breastfeeding, and the mom guilt of realizing that formula feeding was best for her and her baby. Through all of her experiences of PTSD, postpartum depression and PCOS, she has become a postpartum doula helping other parents through this life changing period in their lives. Just a warning, Jessie shares her experience of hemorrhaging after birth, so if you aren’t ready or able to listen to that story, you may want to skip this episode for now. We hope you enjoy this episode. If you'd like to share your story on Embracing Parenthood, please email us at amy@embracedoula.ca You can find us on Instagram @embrace_doula Find more information on Postpartum Doulas on our website www.embracedoula.ca Learn all about newborns in our online self-paced class Bringing Home Baby

Ashley is a parent to a 4 month old, and on this episode she chats about her experience becoming a mother for the first time at 38, why she didn’t always identify with the role of motherhood and how she set boundaries around her postpartum time. She also shares valuable insight into how she set up her plan for postpartum depression prenatally. If you need more resources for maternal mental health, check here: Call the Mental Health Crisis Line 1-888-429-8167 (toll free) Telephone crisis support and mobile response support are offered for work, home, school, and community agencies. Service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. IWK Maternal Mental Health https://www.iwk.nshealth.ca/mmh Postpartum International: Online support groups & resources https://www.postpartum.net/ We hope you enjoy this episode. If you'd like to share your story on Embracing Parenthood, please email us at amy@embracedoula.ca You can find us on Instagram @embrace_doula Find more information on Postpartum Doulas on our website www.embracedoula.ca Learn all about newborns in our online self-paced class Bringing Home Baby

Christina became a first time parent 8 months ago, on this episode she shares her experience with us. We chat about the challenges around having a C-section, bonding with your baby, and the importance of having collaborative care. She also shares how she planned for postpartum and what she would do differently next time. We hope you enjoy this episode. If you'd like to share your story on Embracing Parenthood, please email us at amy@embracedoula.ca You can find us on Instagram @embrace_doula Find more information on Postpartum Doulas on our website www.embracedoula.ca Learn all about newborns in our online self-paced class Bringing Home Baby

Introducing Embracing Parenthood hosted by Amy MacAulay - Certified Postpartum Doula (DONA), Multiple Specialist, Certified Birth Doula (DONA), Childbirth Educator LAMAZE, Infant Massage Facilitator Every episode we’ll hear from new parents who share stories to give a voice to the postpartum experience. Whether you found postpartum rewarding or missed the freedoms you once had, or a combination of both, this podcast is for you. Since 2008 I've been supporting my clients through the trenches of sleep deprivation, feeding challenges, postpartum recovery, having multiples, and the navigation of new parenthood. As a mom of 2, I know it's not something you want to do alone! Parenthood is wonderful, but it can certainly be an adjustment. After running a breastfeeding support group for seven years and being a birth doula for nine years, I've seen it all, and I'm experienced in working with singletons, multiples, breastfeeding, babywearing, infant massage and can offer insight when debriefing your birth story.