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Welcome to
the Blog
Welcome to the blog. I’m really glad you’re here.
This space is where I share thoughts, research, stories, and honest conversations about pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and everything that comes with becoming and being a parent. You’ll find posts about the science behind our bodies, the emotional parts of the journey that don’t get talked about enough, and practical support for navigating pregnancy, birth, and life with a new baby.
Some posts will be educational, some will be personal, and some will simply be things I wish more families were told. My hope is that when you leave here, you feel a little more informed, a little more supported, and a little less alone in whatever season you’re in.
Take a look around, read what resonates with you, and come back anytime. đ¤
How to Become a Doula in Ontario: What You Actually Need to Know
If you have ever found yourself Googling âhow do I become a Doula in Ontario?â you are definitely not alone. I get why this question comes up so often because becoming a doula is not quite as straightforward as becoming a nurse, midwife, or other regulated healthcare professional. There is no Ontario doula college that you apply to, no government issued doula licence you need to obtain, and no single certification program that every doula in the province has to complete befor
Maighen
14 hours ago9 min read
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Pregnancy After Loss: When Every Appointment Feels Scary
There is something about being pregnant after a loss that can be really difficult to explain to someone who has never experienced it. From the outside, it is another pregnancy. There is a positive test, appointments, ultrasounds, a growing belly, and eventually the hope of bringing a baby home. There can absolutely be excitement and happiness, but there can also be this constant little voice in the back of your mind reminding you that you have been here before, and you know h
Maighen
3 days ago10 min read
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How I Combine Birth Doula Support and Birth Photography
If you have looked through my services before, you may have noticed that I do something a little different. I am a birth doula. I am also a photographer. And yes, I offer packages that combine both. Which usually leads to one very fair question: âHow the hell do you do both at the same time?â Honestly, it is a question I get and I completely understand why. Birth photography and doula support are two very different jobs. One involves being completely present with someone phys
Maighen
Sep 308 min read
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Why I Bring a Snackle Box to Every Birth
There are a few things I have learned after being around enough births to know that sometimes the most useful thing you can bring into a birth space is not some fancy piece of equipment. Sometimes it is a snack. Actually, sometimes it is an entire box of snacks. Enter the snackle box. Yes, I call it that. Yes, I bring one to basically every birth. And yes, the midwives have absolutely started to appreciate it đ Because birth can be long. Really long. And somewhere between co
Maighen
Sep 288 min read
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When a Planned Homebirth Becomes a Hospital Transfer
You can spend months imagining your homebirth. You picture the lighting. You think about where you want to labour. You plan your birth pool, your music, your snacks, your comfort measures, and who you want around you. You imagine staying in your own space, surrounded by familiar things, with your midwife and support team beside you. And then labour happens. Sometimes everything goes exactly how you hoped. Sometimes things take a different turn. Maybe labour is not progressing
Maighen
Sep 2510 min read
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The Bittersweet Goodbye When Postpartum Clients Turn One
There is something a little strange about watching a baby turn one when you have been part of their first year. You are excited. You are proud. You are probably a little emotional. And then, somewhere between looking at their birthday photos and realizing how much they have grown, it hits you that your regular postpartum care is coming to an end. And honestly? It is bittersweet as hell. I currently have two sets of clients whose babies are turning one, which feels completely
Maighen
Sep 237 min read
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Single Parenting and the Isolation Nobody Talks About
There is a very specific kind of loneliness that can come with single parenting. It is not always being physically alone. Sometimes it is sitting in a room full of people and still feeling like you are the only one carrying everything. Sometimes it is having a hundred thoughts running through your head and nobody to turn to when you need to say, âWhat the hell am I supposed to do right now?â Sometimes it is being the only person who knows that the baby is almost out of diaper
Maighen
Sep 219 min read
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Pregnancy Symptoms Nobody Talks About
You know what is funny about pregnancy? Everyone talks about the morning sickness, the cravings, the tiredness, and the growing belly. We get told about the cute little kicks and how magical it is to feel baby moving for the first time. But nobody really talks about the other stuff. The stuff that has you sitting on the toilet Googling at 2 a.m. wondering if your body has completely lost the plot. âWhat are the pregnancy symptoms nobody talks about?â Honestly, there are so ma
Maighen
Sep 188 min read
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What Does a Postpartum Doula Do? Understanding Postpartum Support After Birth
One of the biggest questions I hear when people start learning about postpartum support is usually something like this. What does a postpartum doula actually do? And honestly, I get why people ask. Most people have heard of birth doulas, but postpartum doulas are still something that many families are not familiar with. A lot of people know they might want support during pregnancy and birth, but then baby arrives and suddenly they are left wondering⌠âOkay, now what?â The pos
Maighen
Aug 34 min read
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How Does a Doula Fit Into Your Birth Team?
When people first hear the word doula, one of the first questions they usually have is something like this. What does a doula actually do during birth? Or sometimes: Does a doula replace my partner, midwife, or doctor? And honestly, these are really common questions. There is still a lot of confusion about where doulas fit into the birth space because we are not medical providers, but we are also not just there to âhelp out.â A doula has a very specific role on the birth team
Maighen
Jul 314 min read
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Round Ligament Pain During Pregnancy: What It Feels Like and How to Find Relief
At some point during pregnancy, usually when your belly starts growing and your body begins changing faster than you can keep up with, you might suddenly feel something that makes you stop and wonder⌠What was that sharp pain? A lot of pregnant people end up searching: Is round ligament pain normal during pregnancy? And honestly, it can be a little alarming the first time it happens. Youâre growing a whole human, your body is changing constantly, and then out of nowhere you g
Maighen
Jul 283 min read
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Preparing for Birth When You Live in Strathroy, Ontario
A question that comes up for many expecting parents in this area is something like this. How do you prepare for birth when you live in Strathroy but your hospital is in another city? Since Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital no longer provides birthing services, most families plan to travel into London or Sarnia when labour begins. For some parents, that can feel a little nerve-racking at first. The idea of timing contractions and making the drive can bring up a lot of quest
Maighen
Apr 292 min read
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Birth Photography in Strathroy-Caradoc
A lot of people hire photographers for weddings, family photos, or newborn sessions. But something many families are starting to explore more in recent years is birth photography. Which leads to a question that comes up fairly often. Is birth photography available for families in Strathroy-Caradoc? The answer is yes, and many families choose it because birth is one of the most powerful and emotional experiences they will ever have. It is also an experience that often becomes
Maighen
Apr 271 min read
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What Birth Support Options Are Available for Families in Strathroy-Caradoc?
One thing many expecting parents in Strathroy-Caradoc eventually start wondering is this. What birth support options are actually available around here? Living in a smaller community can sometimes make it feel like there are fewer resources compared to larger cities, but families in Strathroy and the surrounding areas still have several options when it comes to planning their birth experience. Most families in this area give birth in nearby hospitals, often traveling into Lon
Maighen
Apr 242 min read
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Is Hiring a Doula Worth It in Canada?
When people first start hearing about doulas, one of the questions that naturally comes up is this. Is hiring a doula actually worth it? For many families in Canada, this question comes up during pregnancy as they begin exploring what kind of support they want during birth and the postpartum period. Some parents already know they want additional guidance. Others are simply curious about what doulas do and whether that kind of support would be helpful for them. The answer can
Maighen
Apr 222 min read
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How Much Does a Doula Cost in Ontario?
A question that comes up pretty often when people start researching birth support is this one. How much does a doula cost in Ontario? And it makes sense to ask. Planning for a baby comes with a lot of financial considerations, and families want to understand what different types of support might look like. The cost of doula services can vary depending on the type of support being offered and the experience level of the doula. Birth doulas usually offer packages that include p
Maighen
Apr 202 min read
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How Do You Find a Doula in Strathroy Cardoc?
One of the things people often start wondering during pregnancy is something like this. How do you actually find a doula in Strathroy-Caradoc? In larger cities people may hear about doulas more often, but in smaller communities the idea of hiring one can feel a little unfamiliar at first. Once families start learning what doulas do though, the next question usually becomes how to find someone local who offers that kind of support. Because the truth is that having someone in y
Maighen
Apr 172 min read
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When Do Babies Start Sleeping Through the Night?
One of the questions parents ask more than almost anything else once baby arrives is this one. When do babies start sleeping through the night? And if you are currently waking up multiple times a night with a newborn, you are probably very curious about the answer. The honest truth is that baby sleep develops gradually over time. Many newborns wake every two to three hours because their stomachs are small and they need to eat frequently. This is biologically normal and helps
Maighen
Apr 152 min read
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Why Am I So Hungry During Pregnancy?
At some point during pregnancy, a lot of people notice something that catches them a little off guard. They feel hungry. Like⌠really hungry. Which usually leads to a pretty common Google search. Why am I so hungry during pregnancy? It might seem surprising at first, especially in early pregnancy when baby is still very tiny. But your body is actually doing a huge amount of work behind the scenes, and that work requires energy. During pregnancy your body is growing the placen
Maighen
Apr 132 min read
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How Do I Prepare My Home for a New Baby?
As pregnancy progresses, many families start looking around their home and wondering something like this. How do I prepare my home for a new baby? And while social media can make it feel like you need a perfectly organized nursery and every baby product imaginable, the truth is that newborns actually need very little. What matters most is creating a space that supports the parents just as much as the baby. Because the postpartum period is a time of recovery and adjustment. Th
Maighen
Apr 102 min read
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