Time to Plan Your Winterbelly Fun with Birth Rhythms!

Whether you need a refresher or an immersion into your choices around birth, we have a class for you.


Our Professional and Certified Doulas, Childbirth Educators & Massage Therapists provide:

Current, evidence–based childbirth information.
Useful coping skills & support techniques for all types of birth.
Private Birth Plan Consultations
Breastfeeding Success Strategies!
Compassionate Support Groups for PDD, VBAC and C-section Recovery
Complete doula Services
Fitness classes and more!

Winterbelly 2011 Schedule

Naturally Yours

Comprehensive  Childbirth Education Series

Tuesdays 7:00-9:00, 8 weeks $240/couple

January 18th – March 8th or March 29th – May 17th

Labour Intensive

Birth Support Skills Workshop for Couples

Wednesday 6 -10 pm - One Night Only $130/couple

January 12th, February 9th, March 9th, or April 13th

The BIG Stretch!

Birth focused strengthening, breathing and deep relaxation techniques.

Thursdays 5:45-6:45, $99

January 13th— February 24th or March 10th – April 21st

Passages

An electric movement and birth success class rolled into one!

Sundays 7— 8:30pm , $125 (women only)

January 16th– February 27th or March 13th - May 1st

Infant Massage

Mother baby bonding time and massage skills to last a lifetime.

Mondays 6-7pm, $125

January 10-February 7th or February 28th—March 28th

Birth Talk!

Pre & Post Natal Drop-In Night

Mondays 7-8:30pm,$5

January 10th– May 2nd

Prenatal and Postpartum Fitness and Exercise

Benefits of Exercise During Pregnancy and After Pregnancy


Scientific studies consistently confirm the numerous and outstanding benefits of exercise during pregnancy both for the mother and her developing baby. These benefits are now widely recognized throughout the medical, birthing, and fitness communities.
The majority of studies on exercise during pregnancy collected data from previously fit and healthy women who continued their already active and healthy lifestyles during their pregnancies.




Pregnancy Presents a Unique Motivation to Begin or Continue an Exercise Program

Pregnancy affords a unique window of opportunity for women to actively engage in health-enhancing activities. Maternal concern for her baby increases the mother’s motivation to form better health habits during pregnancy. Physically active women are more likely to adopt other healthy lifestyle choices. Good habits established at this time can last a lifetime and provide profound benefits for the mother, baby, and other family members.

During Labour and Delivery, Fit Women Experience:
•
Easier adaptation to the lower-intensity endurance activity of early labor.
•
Shorter first and second stages of labour.
•
Enhanced pain tolerance.
•
Increased stamina for labour and delivery, with less perceived exertion during labour.
•
Lower incidences of intervention during labour.
•
Substantially fewer caesarian births.
•
Good pelvic muscle tone—resulting in fewer episiotomies/tearing.

Adherence to Strength, Cardiovascular and Flexibility Programs during Pregnancy also:
•
Boosts maternal immune-system function which continues to benefit her baby after birth through breastfeeding.
•
More efficiently delivers blood and oxygen to the heart and brain, enhancing concentration and energy-levels.
•
Helps manage or prevent gestational diabetes.
•
More effectively controls weight gain, which – in addition to physical benefits – enhances body image, confidence, and self-awareness.
•
Improves posture and results in fewer aches and pains.
•
Aids in quicker postpartum recovery.
•
Decreases incidence of falls.
•
Reduces stress, anxiety, and insomnia, imparting an overall improvement in sleeping patterns, possibly lowering risk for depression.
•
A larger placenta develops, which increases the capacity to exchange oxygen and CO2, and nutrients and waste products.
•
Increases the cardiovascular capacity of the baby.


Healthy Moms Raise Healthy Children

Healthy, active women are positive role-models and are more likely to pass on healthy lifestyles to their children. They also give birth to leaner, stronger, healthier babies, who may even have better motor-functioning and cardiovascular capacity as adults.


MEDICAL DISCLAIMER - All of the above information assumes that the mother-to-be is in good physical and mental health, and that her pregnancy is without risk factors or complications. Web site content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to offer medical advice, or replace the recommendations of your doctor, midwife, or physical therapist. Always consult your doctor before beginning any exercise program.

Pregnant women dance way to smooth delivery



Sarah MacDonald, The StarPhoenixPublished: Monday, June 12, 2006



Six women in varying stages of pregnancy move across a dance floor, their bodies swaying and arms floating in time with the music.
Their movements, which include elements of belly dance, African dance and yoga, are designed to strengthen their bodies for delivery of their babies. The exercise also helps position the babies for birth and increases the flow of oxygen to the womb.
Once a week, these women dance together and prepare for their deliveries. They are led by two Saskatoon doulas, Kari Hollingsworth and Lisa Wass.
"We teach an eclectic mix of exercises to prepare women physically for birth," Wass said.
The classes have themes such as trust and fear, Hollingsworth said.
"We also work on emotional things," she added.
As well as teaching prenatal dance, the doulas discuss specific elements of birth and teach the women how to ease labour with the help of massage, exercises, and mental focus.
The word "doula" is Greek and means "women helping women." Now it's used to refer to women who help women or couples with birth, primarily with physical and emotional support, Hollingsworth said.
Hollingsworth and Wass each assist with two births a month, and the demand for their services is rising.
"We are there representing (the women's) interests. The health-care system is there to provide care but they have to be careful of their own policies and litigation possibilities," Wass said.
They massage the women, keep them comfortable, calm them down or encourage them, let them scream or provide them with silence.
Hollingsworth was motivated to become a doula because her own birthing experiences weren't all she'd hoped they would be.
"It's one of the most intimidating, vulnerable things you can ever do. People will either come out of childbirth feeling empowered and strong and good about themselves, or they'll come out feeling . . . quite taken advantage of, saying 'I didn't know that's what it was going to be like' and afraid to have another baby," Hollingsworth said. "We're there to hold hands with you."
Doulas provide one-on-one service for women. Hollingsworth and Wass are by the women's sides for the entire labour, sometimes for as long as 40 hours. They said it's important for women to own their births and feel good about them from the first stages of pregnancy to after the delivery. They want to ensure that each birth is a positive experience.
Hollingsworth and Wass also help the women's support people.
For men, the thought of having a doula may be intimidating, but doulas don't replace the role of the fathers during birth. Rather, they provide them with support, too, and help them assist their partners.
"The first thing we tell the dads is . . . we're going to teach you how to coach a sport you've never seen and you will never play. And then they laugh and the wall comes down," Wass explained.
Carmen Hesje searched for a doula and found Hollingsworth as well as the dance class.
"I'm really focused on having a good positive birth experience with less pressure on my husband," said Hesje, her hand resting on her swollen belly.
"It's kind of a different mindset. You're the mom and you're in control."
At the end of the class, a former student, Kathy Donnelly, came in with her new twin girls. Wass was Donnelly's doula.
"I highly recommend it. You have someone that is solely there for you, focused only on you. You've got somebody who knows what birth is all about," Donnelly said.
samacdonald@sp.canwest.com

© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2006