Lyndsay Hardy, Doula, Childbirth Educator, Prenatal Yoga Instructor
One of the foundations of building a better future for Hamilton and making it, as the city's slogan boasts, “the best place to raise a child,” is to start by strengthening the families who live here. As Hamilton has proved so far, the future of the city is being built from the ground up by communities working together and supporting one another.
There are many ways to do this and one profoundly beneficial way is to begin during pregnancy.
Social support for women during pregnancy can have major positive impacts on their families and the future of our communities. And there are lots of options and services in the area. The shift toward natural parenting, holistic health and the rise of doulas is in response to the wants and needs of the growing number of young families.
On Ottawa Street North, Barefoot Babies natural parenting store and The Maternity House consignment clothing store cater to families in the east end. These booming shops are an indication of the shift towards self-care, health and wellness in pregnancy and parenting, and give some insight into what's popular with young families in the Hub. Wooden toys, cloth diapers, prenatal fitness and health are all part of the trend that is growing. Along with all of the access to information influencing more mindful choices, come the challenges of navigating through an overwhelming amount of information.
During pregnancy, there's so much information to sort through, so many friends and family members offering advice, and often searching Google only adds to the confusion. With all of the different opinions and choices, it's hard to know what's best. What books are best, where can you find the most current information, and what about breastfeeding? An old idea that has in recent years made a resurgence is hiring the support of a doula. A doula is someone who provides non-medical emotional and physical support during pregnancy, labour and the early postpartum period. As trained professionals, they offer their educated support without bias, judgment or intent to guide your parenting in any one direction. Not all doulas have the same philosophy of practice, but the above description is of the ideal doula (and probably the type anyone would most want to find).
Naturopathic Doctor, Renata Taravski, who works in Hamilton and Stoney Creek, is passionate about prenatal health and promotes the support of a doula. “Prenatal health and community support is essential to a positive experience. Feeling supported can significantly reduce stress levels and improve overall health. Hiring a doula is one way to make sure you're getting the information you need to make informed choices and to have a personal support person every step of the way,” says Dr. Taravski.
The number of families in the area is continuing to grow, and more are desiring healthy options. As this demand grows, so do the businesses that offer what people are calling for and the existing ones are seeming to thrive.
Lyndsay is a Journalist, Doula, Childbirth Educator, Prenatal Yoga Instructor, and is passionate about the Sherman Hub community and family health and wellness.
