Not getting what you really need from your usual prenatal (s)care? Do you need more than a requisition for another test, a quick frisking of your belly, and another mention of how risky or dangerous something is?
Would you rather spend some quality time with other women, share some food, have some laughs, learn what the science actually says, and dip into some actual prenatal care?
We have a community just for you!
Hosted in Kitchener, Ontario we provide a monthly in-person gathering for women in their childbearing journey.
By coming together in the PRIVATE realm, we agree to protect each other’s health information and sovereign choices. Each month we’ll share a pot luck lunch, Q&A through an educational discussion, and engage in some actual care.
On the last Saturday of each month (except December), we’ll meet in a cozy home environment from noon to 2pm.
Beginning at noon, we'll share our pot luck lunch, introduce ourselves, and get to know each other.
Then we'll move into an educational discussion on topics that are relevant to you, focusing on what the science says about pregnancy wellness, safer birth, and calmer postpartum. There will be lots of time for questions.
We'll finish up with some gentle prenatal and postpartum care. You can learn how to listen to your own baby with a fetoscope, track your own health information with self testing of bp or blood glucose, find out what the numbers mean and what you can do to optimise your health. You can bring your baby and get support for breastfeeding and your postpartum recovery.
We'll then say goodbye with some answers to questions, a full tummy, and new friends.
Each session will be facilitated by elders Billie Harrigan and Jen Thrall.
This is for women who are looking for meaningful connection, holistic information, and gentle guidance for their childbearing years. Pre-pregnant, pregnant, and postpartum women (with their babies please!) are invited. We have raw and honest conversations that are not for older children.
The Village Prenatal Community is a private social group of The Hive Collective – a Private Member Association. Private Member Associations bring together like-minded people who would like to keep their private affairs private, without the involvement of regulatory agencies or government overreach.
We offer this community as part of our commitment to creating safer and healthier options for pregnancy and birth care. We believe in the power of connection and the healing benefits of coming together as a community.
Rather than just having a few minutes with a licensed practitioner, the Village Prenatal Community connects women in a hospitable and private space to share with each other, laugh, eat, ask and answer, and create lasting friendships as they grow in holistic wellness.
If you’re not already a member of The Hive Collective PMA, in order to attend these village prenatal gatherings, you’ll need to agree to our community guidelines and make a one-time donation of $10 to The Hive Collective. Our guidelines ensure we’re protecting each other’s health information, acknowledge we’re all responsible for our own choices, and understand that this isn’t that. We’re not engaging in medical, midwifery, or nursing care under the Health Disciplines Act. Your one-time donation helps to keep our lights on at the Collective. Existing members of the Collective can skip this part.
As a member of the Village Prenatal Community, you may attend as many or as few sessions that work for you. Each session you attend will require a donation that compensates your elders. The minimum donation is $40 paid in cash or e-transfer before the session begins. Donation requirements are subject to change.
Each month we’ll have a different topic to discuss. We will focus on your needs for education and ensure we have time to answer questions and concerns specific to your journey.
Here are some topics that we’ve found are often appreciated:
1. Fertility awareness and tracking your cycle
2. Prenatal nutrition & supplements
3. Is birth safe? The colonisation of our lady-bits
4. Using a rebozo and other techniques for labour
5. Caesarean prevention
6. Prenatal testing – what’s helpful & what’s not
7. Unpacking inductions
8. The real stages of labour
9. How to rock a VBAC
10. Preventing & stopping a haemorrhage
11. Early days postpartum
12. Breastfeeding essentials
13. The baby wants to breathe
14. Postpartum moods and their disorders
15. Recovering from birth trauma
16. Creating a birth plan that works
17. Unassisted / family birth
The Village Prenatal Community is our answer to this culture of isolation, incessant fear messaging, and escalating medical interventions without benefit. It’s our time to come together and forge strong and healthy relationships with each other while sharing our hearts and our knowledge to create what we’ve always deserved ~ dignity, wellness, and safer birth experiences.
If this is for you, let us know and we’ll send you our community agreement.
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