Tag Archives: childbirth

Online Virtual Prenatal Classes

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Are you looking for an Online Prenatal Childbirth Class that you can participate in from the comfort of your own home? There have been many changes over the past few months due to COVID-19. One of those changes has been the increased use of technology. We are fortunate to be living in a time when staying connected is a bit easier, even if it from a distance and over a screen.

Following the announcement of the pandemic, Bean Family Wellness quickly adapted to fully digitize Prenatal Classes, Specialty Classes, and meetings with families. As of June 25th, 2020, Bean Family Wellness was able to re-open the option for in-person group prenatal and specialty classes for families who prefer in-person education. However, virtual participation continues to be available to all families who prefer online.

Virtual Prenatal Childbirth Classes and Virtual Specialty Prenatal Classes like the Newborn & Baby Care 101 Classes or Breastfeeding 101 Class (plus others) are LIVE, instructor-led, and available online to families in Winnipeg, Rural Manitoba, and Canada-wide. You can choose to participate in a Mixed Virtual class (some participants online, some in-person), or a Purely Virtual class (all participants online).

For group classes, families can participate LIVE from the comfort of their own home or cottage. Families receive a digital resource folder, supplementary class materials, and instruction to prepare them for participating online. Couples are able to ask questions LIVE, participate in group/couple/independent activities with the rest of class, and view the instructor, powerpoint slides, and videos LIVE.

For private classes, families receive the same options but with 1:1 instructor privately with their instructor.

In these unprecedented times, it is understandable that every family has a different comfort level and preference. Not 100% sure about virtual classes but curious about participating in an in-person prenatal class in Winnipeg? In-person group classes have been adapted to ensure physical distancing requirements are maintained, COVID-19 screening is completed for all participants and there are no shared materials during class. Private in-person classes are also available within Winnipeg, Manitoba and 20-minutes from the Winnipeg city perimeter highway. Bean Family Wellness also offers a 2-part private prenatal childbirth class (part 1 online and part 2 in-person).

Visit Bean Family Wellness’ Website to learn more and register for a class!

Visit Pregnancy Winnipeg’s Prenatal Class Page for additional options for classes. Note: some classes are being offered virtually, others have been suspended until further notice.

Essential Oils for Childbirth Book – Review & Giveaway

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I rEssential Oils for Childbirth Book Coverecently I had a chance to review the book Essential Oils for Childbirth: Using Aromatherapy to Reduce Stress, Alleviate Anxiety, and Lessen Pain with any Birth Plan by Michaela Boldy, RN.

This book is a user-friendly reference guide to educate expectant mothers about the various the health benefits of essential oils, which can be used to improve their childbirth experience. This book has easy-to-understand information on how to safely use essential oils during pregnancy, afterbirth for recovery, as well as extra information for using aromotherapy to benefit your baby and your whole family.

About the Author
Michaela Boldy is a Registered Nurse, a Certified Aromatherpy Practioner, a Certified Infant Massage Instructor, and a Mother to 4. After the author successfully incorporated aromatherapy into her own childbirth, she founded Michaela Boldy Aromotherpy – specifically selling the two labour blends that she had created and used for her own labours.  She was successfully able to introduce the use of aromatherapy by midwives and doulas in the San Franscisco Bay Area. As a result of a small trial, aromotherapy was found to be very effective promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety during childbirth, both of which are very important for labour and childbirth.

Essential Oils for Childbirth has 8 Chapters to help you feel confident to use essential oils to ease your pregnancy and childbirth.  The information that it provides is research-based and includes information about various studies and personal experiences throughout. Don’t have any knowledge about essential oils or aromatherpy? No problem! This book is perfect for people with no background or some existing knowledge. It is also great for mothers, partners, childbirth professionals, or health care professinos.

You will learn about what aromotherapy is, how essential oils work, how to choose quality oils, different ways to use them, along with safety precaustions. Essential Oils for Childbirth also has bonus information about baby massage, little extras to make your baby happier, and even a chapter with research data on how aromatherapy may help to lower the number of c-sections. Essential Oils for Childbirth teaches mothers and partners to use different essential oils to enhance the birth experience, while offering a variety of easy to create recipes you can make yourself for labour and beyond.

Through my experience, I know that many expectant mothers report some level of anxietty and fear during their pregnancy and during childbirth itself. I’ve seem that aromatherapy can be an easy to implement comfort measure for mothers, regardless of their birth plan or birth circumstances. As a birth doula, I have my own list of favourite essential oils that I pack in my on-call bag, most of which are included in this book! I love that this book covers questions that parents often ask about what essential oils are safe / not safe, as well as how to use essential oils safely, which makes it easy even if they don’t have a doula.

Overall, I found this book an easy and quick read. This is a book that I will be proudly adding to the Bean Family Wellness Library.

Do you want to own a copy of this book? Visit your local bookstore or purchase your copy online on Amazon, or enter the giveaway below!

*GIVEAWAY*

Essential Oils for Childbirth Pregnancy Winnipeg Review & Giveaway

What can you win?
One winner will receive a paperback copy of Essential Oils for Childbirth by Mechaela Boldy, RN

This giveaway will end June 16, 2020 at 12:00 a.m. CST.  Open to residents of Winnipeg only.

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Good Luck!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for review. Receiving this item did not in anyway affect the information that I shared in this article. All the opinions in this article are my own.

Interview with Certified Reproductive Reflexologist – Gloria Laing

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Today I’m very excited to introduce you to a local Manitoba Registered Reflexologist who is also a Certified Reproductive Reflexologist and the owner of Gloria’s Reflexology.

I have been following Gloria Laing for quite awhile now on social media and I love hearing all of the ways that she is helping families, and also helping to make families a reality for those who are having a difficult time in their reproductive journey. I’m happy to have the opportunity to share her business and her knowledge with you.

  1. A lot of readers are probably wondering…What is reflexology and how does it work with the body?

Reflexology is an ancient holistic therapy that, by applying strategic pressure to reflexes, removes communication barriers between your brain and organs/systems/cells in your body so that your body can regain it’s ability to heal itself and ward off disease and dysfunction. While there any many different types of Reflexology (reflexes are found on every inch of the body, much like fascia), some of the more common types are Foot Reflexology, Hand Reflexology, Ear Reflexology, Face Reflexology and Indian Head Massage.  I have certification in Foot, Hand, and Indian Head Massage Reflexology. Most commonly I work on the feet, and while the treatment feels like a delicious foot massage, its really so so much more.

 

  1. How did you become interested in helping families with their fertility journey, as well as through pregnancy, birth, and afterwards? 

In my previous life (as I jokingly call it), I was administration mixed with a bit of sales andmarketing. My last position in that career was in administration to a team of Midwives in

my region. As a late 30’s woman, I was suddenly exposed to things that I never knew existed! As far as I knew, if you got sick you went to the doctor, got a prescription and the sick went away. I didn’t know there was a whole preventative side and a wholistic treatment world and a natural approach to birth that didn’t immediately deem it a medical emergency. I was excited and inspired and I knew my next career would be in somehow helping women become the best versions of themselves naturally! Reflexology seemed to be that “way” for me and serendipity just led me down the golden brick road to Fertility Maternity and Birth Support Reflexology.

 

  1. I also read that you offer reflexology for babies! How does reflexology help babies? 

It’s true! Along with my Maternity and Birth Support Reflexology training, I learned special protocols that help babies with issues such as colic, constipation, shoulder dystocia at birth, precipitous birth consequences (i.e.: musculoskeletal trauma due to very fast birth), sleep issues etc.. the treatments for babies are significantly less time than for an adult, but no less effective. And I always show the parent how to perform the treatment at home to their baby so the healing can progress more rapidly and with less trips to my studio. Afterall, who LOVES taking baby to appointments.
😉

 

  1. What is your favourite aspect of your job as a reflexologist?

I love the challenges that present themselves each and every day. While my specialties and passion are Women’s Health Issues, I see clients with stroke consequences, Repetitive Head Injury Syndrome, Anxiety and Stress Disorders.. I just love working with each client to help solve their puzzle and watch their symptoms reduce or resolve completely.

 

  1. How can families find you?

On the web I can be found at www.glorialaing.com. I’m also on Facebook and Instagram.

Physically my private home studio (yes it’s absolutely private to the rest of the house) is located just South of Landmark MB. An easy 20 minute drive south east of Winnipeg.

 

Learn more by visiting Gloria’s Reflexology website today!

A big thank you to Gloria for participating in this interview. Thank you for sharing more information on what reflexology is all about and how it can help families through conception, birth, the baby years, and beyond!  I look forward to having a chance to talk with Gloria more in the future and share her knowledge with families in Manitoba. Have a question about reflexology and how it relates to some of these topics? Email pregnancywinnipeg@gmail.com and I will try to include it in a future post!

Have you tried reflexology before? How did it help you or your family?