Started my day with my two youngest who managed their morning beautifully and beat the clock for school.  The earlier bedtimes are working very well for all 3 of us.  Had delicious espresso with my little friend Syd and her Mom and set off to home for some homework. Working on a practice guideline do-over for Midwifery 447. I think I'm getting the hang of the PG's and it turns out they are not rocket science.  I am waiting for a nice apple crisp to come out of the oven so I can test it before I feed it to the kids for dessert tonight. Now, if I only knew what to make for the actual supper?

My Soul Sister, J called to say that her Mom had a heart attack and I wish I could be there to support her in the way she has held me up so many times before. The saving grace is that she has her sibs, who as we grow older we seem to appreciate more and more.  J... if you need a little piece of my heart or just a shoulder to lean on, just say the word okay? And don't forget to give your Mom that little pep talk for me too.

My blood sister sent an email that she is doing relay for life... I thought it seemed a bit odd that she would be doing this and I read her personal page. Turns out she is doing the relay for me since I had what I like to think of as "a touch of cancer" this year. Because we have no cancer in our family to speak of, I was quite surprised to have had to deal with such a thing. I felt very private about it during the process of kicking it's butt to the curb and was careful only to share with a few people... some prayer power and karma healing, just in case. I also didn't tell facebook since I have so many people on facebook that I'm not extremely close with and I'm not great about answering personal questions about my health.  In hind site of course I can talk pretty freely and comfortably about this but still won't opt to do so publicly.  In any case, I was very moved to know that my sister thought to raise money for cancer research. Wouldn't it be cool if we could find a common cure during our lifetime?

Enough kinetic break time. Going to pour a little tea and finish the PG.

Do you care about midwifery? If so, please act on this...

Please share with your clients and colleagues; make some noise. This has been raised with the provincial Minister of Health. Form-letter and contact info below. To all who care about birth options in Saskatchewan:

There is a critical shortage of midwives in Saskatchewan. Far too many women who want midwifery services are being turned down. The Minister of Health needs to hear from stake-holders who wish to see midwifery grow in our province.

Saskatchewan currently has no midwifery education program. As a result, the only option for Saskatchewan’s women to become midwives is to pursue studies elsewhere. In order to complete a midwifery degree, student midwives need clinical experience with a licensed midwife. The Saskatchewan College of Midwives, the regulatory body, prohibits students from training with licensed midwives until they graduate, which is a “catch-22” situation, since the clinical training is a graduation requirement. This is preventing senior degree students from graduating and growing our pool of midwives.

We must affect change to the current regulations before we will see more midwives in Saskatchewan. The Minister of Health needs to hear from us, the electorate, that changes need to be made today!

Please help us share this message with the Saskatchewan Minister of Health. Here's a sample letter you can e-mail:

April 19, 2012

Honourable Don McMorris
Minister of Health
Room 302, Legislative Building
2405 Legislative Drive
Regina, SK S4S 0B3

By email: minister.he@gov.sk.ca

Dear Minister McMorris;

Thank you for caring enough about Saskatchewan’s mothers and babies to be pro-active about the current midwifery shortage we are experiencing. As you know, there are far more requests for midwives in Saskatchewan than the existing pool of midwives can accommodate.

We are asking you today to remove the barriers that prevent student midwives from completing the clinical portions of their midwifery education at home and in our communities. This would help ease the critical shortage of midwives, and create tremendous opportunities to retain a home grown pool of birth support services in our province.

Please give Saskatchewan women the birth options they deserve by committing to training and retaining as many midwives as possible so we can keep growing our wonderful, diverse birth community.

Thank you,

One year home and there is still sand between my toes

Doesn't the sand on the beach have it good? Every day it gets to start fresh

As I recount the past year I am astounded at the amount of shifting sand in my life. In some ways it feels like the sand shifting has been so needed. The ground beneath my feet is actually starting to feel solid. 

I remember my Dad telling me that I seemed like I had one foot nailed to the floor. He would say, "you are going to be finding yourself until your 40." He was almost correct as the understanding of who and what I am supposed to be came just shy of 40. I am 4 years in now and have had to go with the pace that my life would allow.  So much learning and yet so much more to learn.

The sand shifts in and out of the shore with the water but if you stand in it long enough and hold true, eventually the ground you stand on will stop shifting and solid ground will grip your feet.  I don't know this for certain but I think I can say this is my experience. I'm happy I could find a way to describe it.  There is no end to birth for as long as there is love, there will continue to be babies who need to land softly. In the year ahead, I plan to keep my feet as deeply embedded in the sand as possible and feel the waves of water crash against me.

Lamaze Classes in Saskatoon

This really is NOT your Ma’s Lamaze

 Thursday Evenings - 4 Weeks $200 

Sessions begin the first Thursday of each month

Refreshers & Keeners 1st & 3rd Sundays  $125

Please contact Diane by email at softbirth@gmail.com 
or by phone @ 229-0934 to register

Course Content

Basic Anatomy & Physiology

Nutrition, Exercise & Health

Labour/Birth Planning

Emotional & Cultural Aspects of Birth including consumerism and decision making

Family, Partner, Supporter Roles

Strengthening Family Bonds

Safety of VBAC & Healing from Traumatic Birth Experiences

Unexpected Outcomes & Complications 

Postpartum & Breastfeeding Prep

“Lightening” Learning to relax enough to “push a pumpkin out of a straw” and laugh at our own humanity"

Lady's Hands, Lion's Heart

Check out this little beauty - a midwife who isn't afraid to be herself, even in real life!

http://www.badbeaverfarm.com/book.php