Resources
Articles -
Acupuncturists and Wellness Clinics -
Babysitters & Nannies - Community Classes -
Feeding Baby - Photoghraphers - Postpartum Adjustment
In our day and age, parents have more resources and information to draw on than ever before! While this is a benefit in many aspects, it also means that it's easy for you to be overwhelmed with choice when researching services and pracititoners. But don't worry, we've done some of the grunt work for you!
We've hit the streets and have read the articles, met with the pracititoners, teachers, massage therapists, photographers and lactation consultants. We've tried their services and have narrowed down a short list of resources that we feel reflect a service that cultivates a sense of peace and confidence in their clientelle. We have confidence in these services and hope you'll love them as much as we do. Enjoy!
Information Verus AwarenessBecoming a Father
Birth Plans: Are they worth it?
Five Common Myths About Doulas
Sibling Preparation
Pushing for First Time Moms
The Great Letting Go: Supporting Labouring Women in their Most Intense Moments
Massage Therapy for Healing After Cesarean Birth
Having a Cesarean in Awareness
Acupuncturists and Wellness Clinics:
The Nesting Place's doula clients will enjoy a relaxing session of acupuncture with our partners at Mahaya Health! Mahaya Health is a Natural Health Clinic offering a range of services including Naturopathic Medicine, Chinese medicine & Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Dietary & Lifestyle Counseling, Homeopathy and Mind-Body Medicine.
For pregnancy, visit Mahaya to consult practitioners about nutrition, preventing Group B Strep (GBS), maximizing comfort and sleep, ideal positioning of baby for labour, non-medical induction, lactation and more.
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Many of us are self-sacrificing when it comes to caring for those around us. As expecting and new parents, YOUR self care is essential to being the parent you want to be - and it doesn't go without saying that you can't take care of someone else if you're not taking care of yourself.
At Sunny Mummy, they make it easier for you to experience a little rejuvination so that you can feel rested, patient and present for yourself and your family. They do this by offering child care to any parent during their treatment. This means no more excuses about not having the time or babysitting available for you to take a little time alone! Couple that with drop off child care during the week while you cruise Queen West for coffee and a new outfit and you've got a recipe for a happy parent!
For those of you with few babysitting options in your life, Sunny Mummy now offers child care on Friday nights for a reasonable fee to allow you more frequent and accessible date nights. And, (lucky you) we'll throw in a free manicure from Sunny Mummy as a 'thank you' for inviting us to be your birth doula ;)
Nannies on Call is one of our favourite Toronto family businesses! Their nannies are thoroughly trained and experienced and are available on an on call, temporary or permenant and over-night basis. As a Nesting Place Client, you'll also receive a coupon code to try out their service while you make your decision.
Community Classes
Belly Bootcamp is Toronto's hottest prenatal & postnatal fitness for modern mommies. Under the guidance of founder Dara
Duff-Bergeron, our experienced Belly Bootcamp trainers and prenatal/postnatal fitness specialists get results with the most modern
methods of training and a mom-to-mom approach. No fads, no gadgets, no intimidation.
Belly Bootcamp training, whether one-on-one in the comfort of your home or in our dynamic group classes, combines all of the components of fitness -
strength, endurance, flexibility and core strength - into one efficient, challenging workout. Our training is suitable for women at any stage of life
and any level of fitness.
Belly Bootcamp prenatal & postnatal fitness classes were named one of the top Toronto boot camps by BlogTO, and have been featured online, in print
and on TV. Visit the Belly Bootcamp blog for no-nonsense fitness advice and news you can trust, from a mom's point of view.
Nesting Place clients enjoy 10% off your first enrolment in the Belly Bootcamp class of your choice, or 10% off your first month of completely
customized personal training. Or join us for a free trial class to see for yourself why Belly Bootcamp is so special - simply email
contact@bellybootcamp.ca.
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The mission of Playful Grounds is to provide delicious and nutritious food and superior coffee to customers while they relax knowing that their children are playing safely nearby. Committed to using organic and local ingredients wherever possible, Playful Grounds is dedicated to creating a warm, inclusive and community driven environment because it takes a village to raise a child.
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The Mommy Connections crew are commited to making continued learning and connection between parents in your community easy and accessible to you whether this is your first or fifteenth child. Their incredible variety of speakers offer you insight into everything from planning your labour support team, to sibling preparation to toddler music lessons. If you're looking to connect with like-minded parents in your community, you won't be sorry when you do it through Mommy Connections.
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Mommies with Cameras offers interactive, fun and educational classes, courses and seminars for moms. The company is the brainchild of professional portrait photographer Negin Sairafi and has been a growing photography community for almost 3 years. In 2010, Mommies with Cameras was featured on Sweetmama.ca and since then has received much praise from numerous blogs and magazines
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Of all the Yoga classes and studios I've been to, this one is by far my favourite. When you walk up to Shakti Sisters Yoga studio you'll saunter down a loose rock path, past a docile coy pond and manicured garden, through a wooden arbour to the studio itself, decorated with beautiful images of the female form and scattered with comfy pillows and billowing fabrics. Sound good? Get a sense from the pictures on her website :)
Shakti Sistera Yoga founder and instructor Serena Oakley has integrated the meaningful aspects of childbirth preparation into her prenatal yoga classes through affirmations, sharing birth stories and building a positive relationship with the body. In this class, you'll leave with more than a healthy body, you'll leave with a deeper relationship to yourself as a mother.
Her Prenatal Yoga Belly classes incorporate the traditional movements of Bellydance with classic yoga postures to get your body moving and make a good time of lubricating your joints and strengthening your body for birth!
I met Wendy, the Owner and Founder of Pump Ease Hands Free Pump Supports at a Trade show in 2008. I was immediately drawn to the mannequiin she had on her display table sporting a double breast pump held up by her product the Pump Ease! Like a lot you, I had a hard time stiffling my giggles but was drawn to her booth like a magnet. Mothers who pump their breastmilk are faced with a challenge: How I can I sit here long enough to pump enough milk while I still have to hold and sooth my baby, feed myself, answer emails, etc!
The Pump Ease goes on like a bra that clips in the front and takes on the task of keeping your pump in place so you can feel free to have your hands for any number of other things you'd rather be doing. If you have a battery operated pump then pop it in your pocket or sling it over your shoulder and you're mobile! A godsend to mothers once they're at home by themselves trying to multitask. And the pretty patterns certainly don't hurt ;)
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Jessica Cherniak of 4th Trimester is one of the most experienced and competent lactation experts I've met. Many a parent struggling with breastfeeding, feeling as if "nothing could possibly help!" have left their appointment with Jessica in tears of joy. Her approach is one that exhibits a profound respect for the breastfeeding process while at the same time, accepting that at times parents need to or choose to supplement or bottle feed. Should parents do anything other than exclusive breastfeeding, Jessica helps them to find their balance with pumping, finding the best formula for their baby and proper maintenance and use of pumping/bottle feeding equipment.
If you're having trouble with breastfeeding, look no further - you've come to the right spot.
If you've been enjoying the photos on our site then you're already a fan of our favourite maternity and baby photographer, Negin Sairafi. Her portraits capture the natural beauty and love that radiates from families welcoming a new baby. As a photographer, Negin creates a comfortable and casual feel in her studio so that your unique character and connection with each other shines through in your photos. And through her tricky lighting and angle work, even the most sleep - deprived of parents look refreshed and stunning in their shots!
We're happy to share a complimentary photo shoot with Negin with all of our birth doula clients!
Maya Hammer, M.A., Counselling Psychology
Maya is a psychotherapist working with an experienced team of
Psychologists and master's level clinicians at the Health Psychology
Clinic at Bay and Gerrard. Maya specializes in pre and postnatal mental
health, which encompasses preparation for conception, pregnancy, and the
postpartum period. Maya provides support for women and their families
struggling with issues related to prenatal depression or anxiety,
postpartum depression, anxiety, or obsessions, traumatic birth experience,
adjustment to being a new mom or to being a mother of two or three,
relationship or marital stress, infertility support, and miscarriage or
late loss bereavement.
For more information or to book an appointment please contact Maya at
416.597.0015 ext. 152
maya@healthpsychologyclinic.ca
www.mayahammer.ca
All birth doula clients will receive a complimentary consult with Maya Hammer to improve your support as you adjust to parenting.
