At first glance, St. Erasmus of Formia is an unlikely patron saint of women in labour. He was an Italian bishop and an early Christian martyr. He may not have gone through childbirth himself, but he suffered a similar pain, which makes him able to empathize and intercede for women in labour. St. Erasmus’ Story […]
Joey Bounces In — My Biggest Baby, Shortest Labour
Sunshine looked at the calendar on Saturday, December 9th, and said, “Baby is coming today!!!” I laughed. I’d written “EDD” on the calendar and explained it to her a few times, but apparently the girls still expected their brother on his due date. Lily and Jade were equally disappointed that Baby was still keeping us […]
Rediscovering Birth by Sheila Kitzinger
Childbirth is a universal experience, shared by women around the world since the world began. At the same time, it is a vastly different experience for women in different parts of the world, from the woman who delivers in a hospital room with a doctor in North America to the woman who crouches in a […]
Prenatal Costs: What Medical Expenses to Expect During Pregnancy
If you’re pregnant for the first time, you’ll soon realize pregnancy isn’t as simple as lounging around the house waiting for baby to arrive. Unfortunately, there will be many visits to your doctor or midwife, ultrasound appointments, blood tests and so much more. Depending on where you have your baby and what insurance coverage you […]
St. Margaret of Antioch, Patron Saint of Childbirth
At times, it’s easy to see why the lives of the saints are treated with doubt by non-Catholics. Many of the early saints are shrouded in history, their lives glorified by implausible legends. We may know little about them besides their names, patronage, and perhaps where and when they lived. St. Margaret of Antioch, a […]
3 Natural Ways to Prepare Your Body for Labour
When I was pregnant with Sunshine, my husband and I read a book that compared labour to a marathon. The author asked, “If you knew you were going to run a marathon in 9 months, wouldn’t you prepare for it?” He was talking primarily about physical preparation for labour, but his advice has stuck with […]
The Mindful Mom-to-Be by Lori Bregman
When Fernanda from Raincoast Books heard a few months ago that I was expecting, she said, “I have some books to send you!” I’ve enjoyed several of Raincoast’s kids’ books but never checked out their adult selections, so I was intrigued to see what she picked. When the books arrived, Lori Bregman’s book The Mindful […]
And Pearl Makes Four: Her Birth Story
I’d been trying not to count too much on my due date with this baby, after having two babies go past their due dates. Even my midwives seemed to think I’d go “late” again, but still, I made sure everything was ready to go by that date. As my due date approached, I went to […]
New Mamas Need Meals
I was among the first of my friends to get married and have a baby. When I was expecting Sunshine, my college girlfriends threw me a lovely baby shower. I admired the adorable baby blankets, onesies, books and toys they picked, and packed them neatly away, feeling ready for baby’s arrival. After Sunshine’s birth, one […]
There’s a Saint for That: finding daily inspiration and support in the communion of saints
When my husband and I were planning our wedding, the deacon who would be presiding asked us if we had a favourite saint to include in the Litany of Saints. As a new Catholic, I was still getting used to the idea that I could ask the saints in heaven for help here on earth. […]
