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Kelly Maslen

Support. Trust. Empowerment.

Best Food to Eat After a C-section

by Filed Under: Birth, Breastfeeding, labour tools, Nutrition for you and your baby Leave a Comment

Vegan black bean brownie

Black bean brownies oh soooo good. Dairy and gluten free packed with nutrition and fibre. Food that makes you poop!

I love to cook and bake for new mothers, it’s my passion. The recipes I use are for healing and rebuilding the postpartum body. Fibre is key in keeping your colon moving and detoxifying especially after receiving medication for labour pain or surgery because often these drugs will bung you up!

Morphine or Oxycodone are given to mothers for pain relief after caesarean birth these opioids poses a few problems one being chronic constipation. It’s always a good idea to take a preventative approach and keep a stool softener or laxative in the house to ease any concerns around constipation.

Along with at least 1.5 litres of water a day post caesarean there are many foods that can help relieve constipation and why not put a few together and have it taste amazing too! Ground flax seeds, cocoa powder, and black beans together can make a healthy delicious snack.

Vegan Gluten Free Black Bean Brownie Recipe:

  • 1 can 425g  of organic black beans rinsed and drained
  • 2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal along with 90 ml of water mixed together
  • 3 tablespoons of melted coconut oil
  • 1 cup of cocoa powder (rich in magnesium)
  • 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup of coconut sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon of aluminum free baking powder
  • Vegan chocolate chips to sprinkle
  • Preheat oven to 350
  • Add everything together in a food processor you might need to add a little water to keep it from getting too thick
  • Add to muffin tin and sprinkle with chocolate chips
  • Bake for 20 minutes
  • Poop and Enjoy!

If you are looking for a birth or postpartum Doula Kelly Maslen is available for interviews.

 

 

 

Acupressure for labour

by Filed Under: Birth, labour tools Leave a Comment

Kelly Maslen has been supporting parents for 10 years as a birth and postpartum Doula servicing the Toronto area.

Acupressure point for inducing labour

As a labour tool I have been using Acupressure in birth for many years and have found that these techniques have always helped a labouring mother for relaxation.

What is Acupressure?

Acupressure has been used for over 5,000 years in  Chinese Medicine. Acupressure is based on the same principles as acupuncture but instead of needles I use my hands. It involves pressure around specific parts of the body, very different from a massage this method of relaxation is using the fingers, thumbs, knuckles and elbows applying pressure on meridians through the body. In acupressure, there are twelve invisible lines called meridians that run along each side of the body. The meridians exist in pairs, and each pair corresponds to a specific organ. Acupressure points are named for the meridians they lie on, and each is given a number according to where along the meridian it falls. These points have been tried and tested over centuries and are still used because they are so effective.

Advantages of using acupressure in labour:

Acupressure is used to induce labour if overdue, provide calm, relaxation and encourage labour if it has slowed or stopped. Applying pressure to acupoints during labour will reduce pain naturally, encourage the mother to work more consciously and confidently with her body. Stimulating points on both the lower legs regulates the labor by stimulating contractions. This point is also useful for treating insomnia and anxiety.

The sensation is strong but often relieving immediately of intense sensations. Acupressure in the low back can be a very tender point during labor and, therefore, it must be stimulated with great care although incredibly effective for relief of discomfort. Stimulating points on the low back helps to relieve back, hip pain, sciatica and pelvic tension and promotes qi flow through the pelvis.

When to start using acupressure:

If you plan on using acupressure during your labor, practice it beforehand and often.  All the points are safe from week 37 on, but you’ll want to use less pressure than you would during your labor. When you’re in labor, you want to press firmly on the point.  The sensation should be tolerable but you should definitely feel a strong pressure. Make sure you check with your midwife or doctor before trying acupressure.

Debra Betts has a FREE acupressure booklet that I highly recommend reading.

Below is a video on how to use acupressure for induction and pain relief:

Kelly Maslen is a Toronto birth doula and hypnobirthing instructor. If you would like to contact her for birth doula work please use this link.

Realistic Expectations for Your Newborn

by Filed Under: Birth, Breastfeeding, Hypnobirthing, Nutrition for you and your baby, Placenta Encapsulation Leave a Comment

 

Realistic expectations are difficult to consider when what we see in the media are hollywood actresses looking fit, well rested and in the best fashions, so how can we possibly compare ourselves and keep up? We can’t because this is not reality!

Here are 5 things that are realistic and can be done to help recover from birth whether it’s vaginal or a cesarean:

  1. Call upon your village: friends, family, neighbours. Reality is spending what time you can in and around your bed. Feeding, napping and eating when possible. If you are able to call on your village to help do the housework, dog walking, and cooking this is your best bet for survival for the first few weeks.
  2. Sleep: Ha! I know right?! everyone talks of sleepless nights however in the first 24 of your baby’s life they will sleep for at least 2-4 hours. Take that opportunity to SLEEP! Don’t invite family and friends to admire your baby it will only exhaust you further.
  3. Skin to Skin: Not only is this important within the first few seconds of of your baby’s life it’s important to stay skin to skin for days after birth on both parents. Not only will this help increase bonding, sleep, milk supply, confidence, sanity, and nurture a happy baby when people come to visit they won’t want to disturb the baby on your skin which means less people with colds holding the fresh little life.
  4. Give in to the cluster feeding: Your baby will want to feed constantly over the next week helping to create an abundant milk supply for you. Your baby is not starving but making enough milk to feel satisfied as they grow bigger and their tummies expand. Stay in bed, feed, feed, feed, and sleep in between.
  5. Hire a professional: Doulas will make your family’s life so much easier, they provide breast or bottle feeding support, meal prep, emotional support, answer your million questions about baby care and take the stress off your partner that does everything! Add a doulas support to your baby registry, or save up! Priorities right? Would you rather an expensive stroller or sanity in those first few weeks of your baby’s life?

Kelly Maslen has been supporting families through her doula work in Toronto for 10 years to learn more about her services please visit www.kellymaslen.com