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Me2You Wellness

Postpartum Doula & Certified Fitness Trainer Offering Support in the Tri-Cities

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Why Hire a Doula?

July 5, 2018 By Me2Admin

Who are we and what sets us apart from other support networks?

When I say I am a postpartum Doula, the most common question I get asked is, “What is that?”The second question is, “What do you do?” Or, “How are you different than say, a babysitter or housekeeper?”

So, what is a Doula, and what makes us different?

A postpartum Doula is there for the Mother and her family in the first few months after the birth of her child. With the mother as her priority, she is there to support her physically, emotionally, and with the newborn. The help that is offered will differ from mother to mother, depending on her needs. There is no one-size-fits-all, and every visit will be tailored to the needs of that mother, on that day. Doulas also offer evidence-based information on topics such as feeding, emotional and physical support for mom after birth, mom and baby bonding, infant soothing, and basic newborn care.

Here are a few examples of how a Doula might assist you:

  1. Helping you with basic newborn soothing techniques to help baby feel more settled, and putting mama (and her partner) more at ease.
  2. Assisting in feeding support – whether that is a breastfeeding latch, or preparing formula. No judgement zone here!
  3. Normalizing everyday physical and/or emotional concerns, and knowing when to refer out.
  4. Caring for the baby while the parent(s) rest, shower, eat, or all of the above.
  5. Caring for an older sibling, by taking to the park or out for a walk.
  6. Picking up groceries and preparing meals.
  7. Tidying up the home with no judgement or agenda.
  8. LISTENING to you, Mama. A non-judgemental, arms-length confidante for you to air out all of your concerns, thoughts, and deepest feelings.
  9. Helping you and your family during this overwhelming time to ease you into parenthood or into your growing family. A Doula assists and supports your family so your home can achieve the serenity it deserves.

Most likely, if you are like 99.9% of women postpartum, your hormones will be all over the place. You will be exhausted, irritable, and overwhelmed. Maybe you’re more often than not, half topless. Or maybe you’re in dire need of a shower, but you would rather close your eyes for five minutes. You turn away help from family members or friends because you feel like you are a bit of a mess. It is in these times that a Doula is there for you. She does not care if you have decided to completely pitch the shirt after the third time the baby has thrown up or pooped on you.  She is someone you can be completely yourself with… unfiltered. She is a vault. Your secrets are safe with her, and she will be there to support and guide you through this amazing, but overwhelming time. She will not tell you what you ”should” do, or ever push any beliefs on you. She will listen to you, she will respect your Mama instincts, and she will support you, in all of your thoughts and decisions.

Think about what you feel you may need once you bring baby home, and if you find yourself nodding your head at a few of these things listed above, then maybe a Doula is right for you. Reach out. I offer free consultations — talk to me and ask me your questions.

If you do decide to go this route, find someone that you connect with. So much of what we do is up close and personal. You need to feel safe and at ease with your Doula.

So, Mama, if you need support during this time, treat yourself. You deserve it. Your Doula will be your space holder — your cheerleader and your non-judgemental helper.

We will do this together.

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bottle feeding breastfeeding c-section cancer doula family feeding baby firsts first time mom fitlife foodlife friendship journey momlife motherhood my life parenting postpartum real life self growth survivor
We found them on a routine ultrasound – fibroids We found them on a routine ultrasound – fibroids: solid, benign tumors.

Given there was nothing we could do about them during pregnancy, I took the info with a grain of salt (and admittedly, some anxiety) and moved on. By my second pregnancy less than two years later, they had multiplied, grown, and eliminated the chance of a v-bac but baby boy was born via another c-section and I didn’t think about them again until 4 years later when they began to wreak havoc. (I’ll leave you to go ahead and google what they are capable of.) 😉 

These stubborn masses continue to grow in both size and number until menopause. At the age of 34, that was daunting to hear. Even more so, there is no medication available and only two procedures to treat them – an ablation or hysterectomy. An ablation leaves your uterus intact but offers temporary results with most fibroids returning in the years to come. Given we are done having children, it felt like a straightforward choice.

Hysterectomy it is.

Cue all the feelings, but perhaps what caught me off guard most was the attachment I felt to this organ. There is a source of femininity that derives from our womb and the thoughts of how I may feel after this is removed from my body have been interesting to sift through. 

After my c-sections, the mere act of lifting myself off the couch was difficult. The way our core supports the entirety of our body does not evade me. Will this  elective surgery have a similar recovery? 🥴

My second c-section had its trials when I didn’t respond to the medication well and I felt more than I should have. It took me almost 2 years to be able talk about the experience without having a full-on trauma response. 

But, I have healed. I have done the work to get to this balanced and strong place I find myself in now and I have to remind myself daily that I have a firmer foundation now than I did years ago. I am not the same woman who rolled into that operating room in 2015.

I can say with confidence that I will get through this and use it to do good in the world. I will dig deep and allow it to grow me in ways I haven’t yet ventured through.

So see ya later uterus, let’s see who I am without you. ✌🏻
Do you feel like some things feel harder for you t Do you feel like some things feel harder for you than for others?

It’s probably because they are! 

Oh my goodness, how often do we find ourselves comparing one another? We look at the way someone else is living and think, “they make it look so easy.” The truth is, we all have the opportunity to maximize our odds, and it doesn’t look like trying to be the best at something because it’s trendy. It is about finding the right field for YOU. 

Pick the right habits for YOU and progress is going to feel a heck of a lot easier. Pick the wrong habits and life will feel like a struggle. 

Want to be physically active? Great! Find a means that’s most enjoyable. If you hate running, don’t do it! Find habits that feel pleasurable (or at least ones you don’t hate.) 

The truth is we are all born with a makeup of genes that we cannot change. What comes easy to me, may feel hard for you and vice versa. 

Habits are so much easier when they align with our natural abilities. Find something that favours your strengths or create your own way that is specific to you. 

Genes do not diminish the need for hard work, they make it crystal clear. They are what tell us what and where to place our efforts. 

I love leading others, I’ve been this way since I came out of the womb. It feels easy and fun to me to speak to big groups or have intimate 1:1 conversations. Going deep doesn’t feel like a chore, it feels like a thrill. So I began a career where I can use and grow in those skills and it doesn’t feel like work! I love to lift weights and run in the woods but cycling feels like a chore. I’ll never enjoy it you won’t be seeing me compete in Tour De France any time soon. I love to write but reading takes more discipline. The list goes on. 

I love this example from the book Atomic Habits:

“Boiling water will soften a potato but harden an egg. You can’t control whether you’re a potato or an egg, but you can decide to play a game where it’s better to be hard or soft.”

What’s something you’re good at and feels easy/pleasurable and what’s something you don’t enjoy that feels hard? 👇🏻

📸 @jamalamyaphotography
Two years ago I was lounging in my backyard sippin Two years ago I was lounging in my backyard sipping beer while I waited for the ‘two week lockdown’ to lift. 

It didnt take long for me to understand that this foreign way of life may be here to stay longer than expected and so, I started to reevaluate things. Sitting around sipping IPA got old quick, and I decided that it was time to find some coping mechanisms that were healthier for both body and mind. 

I decided to get brutally honest with myself about the life I wanted to live vs. the life I was actually living based on the habits I was (and was not) practicing. I began to recognize that who I felt I was meant to be deep deep down in my soul, was going to take some work and I was ready to get uncomfortable. 

I started to exercise every morning, eat a little cleaner, drink a little less. These changes sparked something in me — the motivation to really shake things up. 

They were the catalysts. 

I dove all in. 

I made physical exercise a non-negotiable, ate food that nourished me, submersed myself into accountability amongst like-minded women and connected consistently with friends that lit me up. I wrote, read good books, leaned into my faith, went to therapy and finally gave myself permission to build the life I was called to live. 

As I established this foundation of a new normal, I watched my life begin to change. I watched as everything around me felt more joyful. I became a better wife, mother, friend and family member. I went back to school and grew my business which now enables me to serve other women on their own journey. The ‘snowball effect’ is the real deal. 

Looking back on these last two years and all I have accomplished (and continue to strive for), it is a reminder that sometimes all it takes is ONE moment to change the trajectory of everything. One decision that says, ‘time to shake things up.” 

Where were you two years ago? Where are you now? Maybe your moment happens today. 

Xo Kim

📸 @jamalamyaphotography
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Hi, I’m Kim!

I am a certified pre/post-natal fitness trainer, Holistic Nutrition Consultant, Doula and Wellness / Life Coach offering support in the Tri-Cities and virtually from the comfort of your home. Get in touch

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