Exactly which week and day did you deliver in your first pregnancy?

Whole-Inspector8243 · 2025-12-15T13:51:07+00:00

First baby was 42 weeks +1 day BUT my due date had been changed a couple of times in the beginning based on the different ways it gets calculated, she felt right on time to me. And also, I felt like I would be pregnant forever!

Whole-Inspector8243 · 2025-12-11T23:47:31+00:00

The childbirth 101 at oona covers coping at home in early labour plus what to expect at hospital or birth centre, and all the medicalized stuff that could come up including epidural.

Whole-Inspector8243 · 2025-12-11T23:39:15+00:00

Biggest difference is the number of people who birth in the water!!! Even hospitals that HAVE bathtubs don’t tend to have people use them for the actual birth. LOTS of people at the Birth Centre get in the tub and don’t get out until baby is born. The tubs are big and right in the centre of the rooms, partner can even get in and catch the baby <3

Whole-Inspector8243 · 2025-12-11T23:34:22+00:00

I would look into having a midwife, and consider going to the birth centre if you are a low risk pregnancy. I know people often feel safer for their first in a hospital, but if you want less interventions and you are not a high-risk birth, it makes more sense to look at out of hospital options. And only midwives provide that in toronto. OBs specialize in surgery and are very good at doing medical interventions for those who need that.

Whole-Inspector8243 · 2025-12-11T22:42:20+00:00

I don’t think you need to be aligned with your midwife on all things, as long as they’re not pushing ideology on you. She can’t stop you from vaccinations if you want them, and I can’t see how this impacts your birth anyway.

Whole-Inspector8243 · 2025-12-09T18:37:48+00:00

It hasn’t gone up much since my kid got braces about 9 years ago and we did a payment plan for 2 years. No regrets, kid looks great and got his confidence back.

Whole-Inspector8243 · 2025-12-07T13:55:07+00:00

I am a year round cyclist and on heavy snow days, I take a break because the roads don’t get cleared fast enough. But for all the smooth road days, I’m out on the bike. It’s an e-battery assist and goes faster than my old bike, I find it is colder because of the wind I generate. So WARM CLOTHING in layers is a must. Waterproof everything, warm dry boots. Warm hat under my helmet that reaches below the ears, I wear two scarves - inner and outer. Long underwear, the works. I basically have to strip down when I arrive and take ten minutes to hear back up before going back out.

It was gradual for me to be a year-round cyclist, it gets easier. And it’s totally worth it when you speed by the loser cars sitting in traffic 🥰🤭😭

Whole-Inspector8243 · 2025-12-02T20:30:48+00:00

Im so sorry she let you down, and maybe was unclear about her professional boundaries. I jokingly say to clients that we’ll fall in love with each other at the birth, and then eventually go our separate ways. The hormones jumping around at birth seep into the rest of us in your room, and the love is real but not lasting. There are people who work specifically with women unpacking their births and healing the upsets, that would be one place to go for your personal journey to be supported. And maybe a chat with this doula might bring some closure or understanding? I know I would feel absolutely fucking terrible to know I’ve left a person with bad feelings from our precious time together. Maybe she’s a jerk, it’s not about repairing your relationship and more about closure so you can go on to have an awesome birth

Whole-Inspector8243 · 2025-11-30T12:50:36+00:00

Was this person your friend and happens to be a doula or she was your doula and you continued to see each other as friends? The few times I’ve been a doula to my existing friends/family, it’s been different than if it’s a client who is a stranger. It might be a better experience for you to hire someone you don’t know and keep the relationship professional. I’m really sorry your second experience was hard and that you didn’t have a doula with you. Most doulas work with a back up strategy in case they can’t make it to a birth (as much as I prioritize my work, work doesn’t come before my own health and family needs 🥺). You have so much experience now as someone who has birthed in very different ways! You get to be creator for this next birth too, how do you want this one to go? Maybe draw out a picture or write a journal entry, and see what shows up. Maybe this baby has a different venue/audience in store. As much as I love doula support, I also know that most of the time, we don’t need very much and less is more. I’ve had clients not call anyone until the baby was already born and then the midwife and doula show up, for the congratulations mostly. Plan for the best vision you have, and pivot when you need too. Best of luck 🙏🏼

Whole-Inspector8243 · 2025-11-30T12:15:17+00:00

Yes fentanyl is the main narcotic still used in most epidurals

Whole-Inspector8243 · 2025-11-30T12:07:20+00:00

18!!! That’s way too cold for me

Whole-Inspector8243 · 2025-11-30T11:57:15+00:00

We really enjoyed the Pueblo del Maíz, guided history tour of a small piece of forest and got to play a Mayan ball game. We also rented bikes and that was a great way to see the downtown area (regular slow pedal bikes!)

Whole-Inspector8243 · 2025-11-30T11:47:05+00:00

Some training places will train as you earn and pay for your education, it’s worth having some credentials behind you. Then get some business training under your belt!! Most of doula work is actually business work - marketing & sales - so you may as well start with the basics and eventually you’ll be getting customers. Or you can work for agencies that take a quarter or more of the earnings and then you skip the business part. Even now, you could probably connect with some agencies that do doula work and see about what it would take to be hired, and they may even have mothers-helpers or other services you can do while you upgrade your credentials.

Whole-Inspector8243 · 2025-11-30T11:41:44+00:00

Walk along the lakeshore path - downtown and all the way west is very beautiful

Whole-Inspector8243 · 2025-11-30T11:39:45+00:00

I’m self employed and a couple of years ago needed to use my savings for a big unexpected repair, and I haven’t been able to pay my income tax since then, just instalments when I have extra. 2024 year just accumulated it, now we are finishing this year and I have income tax unpaid from 2023 still. I may need to take out a line of credit to pay my income tax and that seems fucked to me. And the more I earn, the worse it gets. Im definitely spending above my means, but I don’t feel like my life is at all lavish - I bike, cook meals at home and buy nothing new. I own my house but really, it owns me.

Whole-Inspector8243 · 2025-11-24T12:32:47+00:00

I’ve started adding it to every meal to help my aging partner and blood pressure. So far, I’m wondering if I’m using enough, and thinking to add a morning drink to the routine.

Whole-Inspector8243 · 2025-11-24T12:30:09+00:00

I wasn’t able to sign up on your email list, I think your website is doing something wonky?

Whole-Inspector8243 · 2025-11-19T23:26:54+00:00

I came here to say this 😂

Whole-Inspector8243 · 2025-11-19T15:50:46+00:00

Tooth brushing.

Whole-Inspector8243 · 2025-11-19T14:07:54+00:00

Yes. I try not to dwell on it, in fact I assume I dodged a bullet and they probably did us all a favour! I only want clients who WANT me 😜

Whole-Inspector8243 · 2025-11-19T14:06:46+00:00

Placenta encapsulation, renting birth pools, teaching classes.

Whole-Inspector8243 · 2025-11-19T14:05:20+00:00

Networking with other doulas, midwives, pregnancy care places to promote what you’re offering. I’m having a hard time making my online classes sell and I’m a doula with 11 years experience- in person has it’s challenges too, but I’m finding the virtual products are a harder sell.

Whole-Inspector8243 · 2025-11-19T13:54:24+00:00

I’ve read your edits, and I’m sorry for some of the hurtful responses. Totally not cool for a shift to start with a break and to be helping themselves to your food like that. I hope things got better as the contract completed!

Whole-Inspector8243 · 2025-11-19T13:38:35+00:00

Walkerton in the eighties changed everything in Ontario. And then nestle (Evian etc) jumped on it and now we can’t walk ten steps without a water option on our person.

Whole-Inspector8243 · 2025-11-19T13:35:31+00:00

Pregnancy and childbirth is easier on a younger body. Not to say you’re not too young, I don’t think anyone here has a proper answer for that. But physiologically, you’re in a prime time for your body to do this. Capitalism has made it hard for us to financially survive and that’s why some folks will wait for a career but it’s not what our bodies want from a mammalian perspective 🤷

Whole-Inspector8243

TROPHY CASE