After struggling with postpartum bipolar disorder twice and navigating the health care system to no avail, I decided to stand up and advocate for change. And so can you. Here is the story of how the Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative (CPMHC) came to be and how I...
FirstyPlus What a time it is to have a baby, especially during a worldwide pandemic. The most important thing to know is that support is not cancelled! There are options to implement safe care for you during these unprecedented times. Having a Baby is Essential! New families are advised to...
May is International Doula Month, and if you ended up here, you likely already know that doulas offer a punch full of benefits. The evidence backing doula care ranges from: reducing the incidence of c-sections shortening the length of labour more positive birth & postpartum experiences What we...
We are so happy our Meet the Team Mondays are back because now we get to introduce you to our amazing Postpartum Doula, Amanda. Amanda is a “girl mom” having 3 daughter ( one of which wins all of our team game nights!) After having her first daughter she...
5 Financial Considerations When You Welcome a Baby to the Family 1. Re-visit your budget Whether you already have a well-established budget or not, the arrival of a new member is going to change all that, substantially. You will receive financial support from the government that increases your...
Welcome back to our Meet the Team Mondays. We don’t know about you but days seem to be slowing down and speeding up at the same time! We are sorry to have kept you waiting for so long to meet more of our amazing team. You can also get...
There are plenty of reasons why a Cesarean Section might be the best way for you to meet your baby. Some are needed after labouring & pushing. Sometimes they are needed due to a medical complication that would make a vaginal birth not possible. Some are planned as a...
When we realized that the clocks will be changed this weekend, we wanted to make sure to give you some tools so you will be prepared. Our Gentle Sleep Consultant, Petra, has created the tips below and we hope you will find them helpful and hopefully leave you well...
Sleep and being pregnant do not usually go hand in hand. Especially during the third trimester of your pregnancy. That’s when most pregnant people crave sleep the most. Let’s see what you can do to optimize your sleep! Outdoor Time & Exercise Make sure you are getting fresh air...
Every year, the Scarborough Mirror hosts the Reader’s Choice Awards. The community has the opportunity to nominate their favourite businesses and professionals and then vote the Top 10 listings of each category. Helping Hands Doula was nominated for the Best Health Service category, and then chosen for the most...
How is anyone supposed to know the ins and outs of car seats? From the very first day, parents are faced with countless decisions about how to keep your baby safe. There are so many questions that can come with the decision on car seats. Where do I buy...
We find that many people focus just on the birthing process of preparing them for this life transition. However, the majority of the decision making parents make happen moments after the baby is born, and that continues the rest of your parenting journey. So why not prepare yourself with...
There ARE SO MANY CHOICES for baby! That phrase has probably gone through your head many times. Well, today we are going to make it easier on you parents, families, and caregivers. STROLLERS, STROLLERS, STROLLERS. There is so many different options out there, how the heck are you to...
As you prepare to welcome your bundle of joy you have a nursery to decorate, baby gear to get, and likely a million other to-dos running through your head. We know that preparing your finances for your new family is probably somewhere on your list and that thinking about...
You are sitting in front of your computer trying to put your baby registry together. You don’t even know where to start. There are so many baby products but what do you really need? Let us help you. Here is a list of some things we think...
Coming home with a new baby is nerve-wracking for parents at the best of times and now with the extra stress of COVID-19 it seems almost too overwhelming. During this time it is important for partners to help out as much as possible but it is sometimes hard to...
All too often parents forget the importance of date nights and fall into what feels like a stagnant routine. Planning small dates, outside of the house, can seem like more work to schedule and more money to spend. If you finally find the time and hire a babysitter to...
Many couples experience a dip in their relationship satisfaction in the period after childbirth. This is due to many reasons; most often lack of physical and emotional intimacy. Intimacy is that feeling of closeness that is sometimes lost when life demands take over our time and energy. Sometimes what...
Congratulations on welcoming home baby! Are you ready for your human baby and fur baby to meet for the first time? You love them both and want them to love each other! The initial greeting sets the foundation for their relationship moving forward. It might not go as smoothly...
Babies can be a little misleading when you meet them that very first day (or night depending on their birth time). They cry a little at first, feed and then sleep and sleep and sleep. You are a little surprised by how quickly they eat and how much work...