Karen Ruby

My husband and I decided we wanted to have a home birth for our first birthing experience. After some research on the advantages of having a doula present at birth we contacted Babies Naturally and were put in contact with Karen. I can’t say enough positive things about our experience with her! Karen’s initial responsiveness and professionalism, her kind and calm care during labour and after, and continual breastfeeding support really made our first birthing and parenting experience happy, positive and empowering. Karen had great knowledge of different positions and techniques to try during labour and was there when I just needed a hand to hold. Her experience as a lactation consultant was also invaluable right after birth and continues to this day. This was especially helpful to me because it can be very confusing when you have so many opinions and schools of thought on what the right way to breastfeeding is. With Karen’s support I was able to gain confidence in my motherly intuitions and the persistence to successfully continue breastfeeding. It was a blessing to have Karen’s help and I look forward to have her attend our future births. Thanks so much Karen! I couldn’t have done it with you!!!

 

Kathy McSpadden

Joining the Mom and Baby Group with Babies Naturally was truly one of the best things I did after having my first baby. This group provided a safe, welcoming environment for me and my daughter to go every week. Not only did it help get us out of the house and give us an activity to do together but it allowed me to meet and learn from and share with some amazing Moms. The women I met in this group have laughed with me, cried with me, supported me, listened to me, comforted me, reassured me and educated me! I can honestly say we’ve formed bonds that I hope will last a life time. Over the time we spend together we got to watch our little babies become more and more aware of each other – by the end they were all crawling and playing and interacting – a total baby party! Karen is just the perfect person to run a group like this. She is honest and funny and knows just when to contribute and just when to let the group go in it’s own direction. I really can’t say enough about this group. If you’re looking for a way to reach out and meet other moms, or if you feel nervous about getting out with your new baby but are feeling kind of isolated this is the group for you!!

Heather

 

 

 

To be honest, I originally saw the post on the Babies Naturally site to join a mum and baby group and totally dismissed it. I had gone to a drop in at a local mum and baby group and left feeling inadequate and totally judged as a mother. I vowed I would never be a part of that again. However, I had been going to the breastfeeding clinic every week that Babies Naturally had been offering. To be honest, I started going more for the social and comfort and talking to the other mammas than anything else (after I got the breastfeeding thing down). So, when I got a call from Karen asking me if I would like to be a part of this group, naturally there was some hesitation from my previous experience. However, two things sold me. One, that Karen thought of me personally and called me to invite me… which really meant a lot to me. Two, that I knew some of the girls from the breastfeeding clinic that I had been talking to every week were going to be there. I was starting to know these girls and truly valued their experiences and their conversation. I was sold. This group has really shown me how important it is as a new mother to have a solid support system outside of your family. We have laughed, cried, shared and built lifelong friendships for our children and ourselves. It has far exceeded my expectations and has given me such a sense of calm and peace raising my daughter. I find I turn to these women for advice or concerns rather than my family… sometimes it is nice to get advice from family, but can also be alot when people offer advice by saying they “did it this way” or who tell you that you should be “doing this or that”. The women in this baby group are going through the same thing at the same time and can totally relate. It has been amazing getting to know them over the past 6 months. I think every first time mom would benefit from such a group.

Dana

 

 

Sleep was the most pressing issue for myself and our son. It all began when we brought him home from the hospital. We had a visit from a public health nurse who came out to weigh him and help with any concerns. His first weigh in was a little less then his birth weight. By his second and third weight, he still wasn’t gaining so she suggested we visit the family doctor and because I was breast feeding she also suggested I wake Colten every 2.5 hours to nurse. My family doctor said, supplement with formula. Sound confusing? It was! My life suddenly turned into this balancing act of giving formula at just the right time yet trying to make sure I was either nursing or pumping to keep my supply up. I was also feeding Colten every 2.5 hours around the clock! I was beyond sleep deprived. I continued this until Colten was three months and his weight was stable. I then decided to let him decide when he wanted to eat. Things went well for about three weeks. Colten was sleeping about nine hours at night which felt amazing to me! Then all of a sudden he started waking every three hours then every two hours. I naturally assumed he was hungry so I always fed him when he woke. It got to the point that he wouldn’t go to sleep at all. Every time I put him down he would instantly wake and cry. I would just bring him back to nurse because I didn’t know what else to do. My sleep deprivation got the best of me and I started co-sleeping. Whenever Colten would wake I would just nurse him back to sleep. I was half asleep most of the time anyway so I figured it was my only option. When Colten hit ten months the co-sleeping took a turn for the worst. It was difficult to get him to sleep at all when he was with me. That is when I contacted naturally babies. It was the best choice I had ever made. Karen Ruby came to visit us at home which was great. She gave me the tools and knowledge I didn’t have. It was so empowering as a mom to know I could fix this problem. It was all simple steps I needed to take to make our lives better. It took some hard work, consistency and patience but in the end it was all worth it. Today, Colten and I sleep we’ll! Colten takes regular naps at regular times and has a bedtime! These are things I would have never thought possible. Karen also helped me with some nursing issues which also helped us in so many ways. I urge any one who reads this and is in need of help to contact Babies Naturally. I truly appreciate all of the help and encouragement I received!

Karen