Photo provided by The Good Mother Project
By Tayvie Van Eeuwen
@tayvieeee
Motherhood is many things: beautiful, joyful, exciting, and exhilarating, but also scary, intimidating, exhausting, and full of shame-anxiety. We’re here to celebrate all the kickass mom’s out there; we know you’re doing the most magical things for your little ones in the best way that you can. Here are five helpful resources for Vancouver mamas, whether your thinking of this new journey, are expecting, or already have multiple tiny humans running around.
Feeding Mama:
Feeding Mama is the ultimate meal delivery service for new parents. Designed after ancient Chinese wisdom, local and organic ingredients, and sustainability, this new program is launching at an undetermined date, check their website for updates! The 30-day delivery service promises ready-to-eat products meant to help birthing parents recover from pregnancy, childbirth and the early postpartum phase. Their range of products focuses on inclusivity with all types of parents in mind and serves to provide a supportive pathway into parenthood. Prior their launch, you can order their delicious vegan lactation cookies on their website. In addition to their food initiatives, Feeding Mama supports the Aboriginal Mother Centre Society through financial contributions.
About the Meals:
Every meal is ready to eat and made to create long term health benefits for both the mother and child. The food is all dairy-free, gluten-free, and made with no refined sugar. Three meals a day are delivered, along with daily teas, bone broths, and snacks. These extras rebuild lost calcium, collagen, and improve gut health. All meals are approved and monitored by dieticians and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners for optimum nutrition. Each section of the meal plan is produced with a focus on what the body needs most postpartum. Week one is created for the most vulnerable time after birth, and includes iron-based foods and vegetables. Following this, weeks two to four develops the menu into a wider variety of foods that replace essential nutrients, increase energy, and supplement breastfeeding. Even better! Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks arrive warm inside insulated reusable containers and bags. Feeding Mama picks up the previous day containers and even does the dishes for you!
Reproductive Mental Health Program:
The BC Reproductive Mental Health Program is a segment of BC Children’s Hospital. They include a team of specialized and multidisciplinary professionals that provide clinical and research services for postpartum women and their families in BC. This program is trained to equip women who are dealing with mental health challenges, disorders or emotional difficulties related to the productive life cycle with treatment and support. Their full list of resources and staff can be found here.
About Their Resources:
Specifically, BC Reproductive Mental Health Program assesses and treats women who are pregnant, postpartum, dealing with pregnancy loss, infertility and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). They offer multiple services including: individual, couples, and group psychotherapy, resources for women, their partners and families, resources for professionals, training opportunities for professionals, education events, and specialized professional help. They work to work with women, along with their families, to recognize mental health challenges and disorders early and provide necessary treatment. Prior to going to the facility, struggling women can find guides, factsheets, and associated resources here. If you are in crisis, please call 604-310-6789.
Aboriginal Mother Centre Society:
The Aboriginal Mother Centre Society is dedicated to moving at risk mothers and children off the streets and under one roof to provide support, tools, and resources for their health. During their stay, AMCS serves to help a mother rebuild her health, self-esteem, and skills to regain and retain her children. Through the centre, a healing community is created to nurture children and families to becoming important members of their communities. Located in the east end of Vancouver, the Aboriginal Mother Centre Society is centered in a culturally sensitive environment and works to address the real needs of Aboriginal women. Find out more about their initiatives here.
About Their Programs:
The AMCS’ main programs include the following: transformational housing, licensed daycare, family wellness, homelessness outreach, and community kitchen. Each of the above will be detailed below.
Transformational Housing: The transformational housing program provides 16 beautiful suites for mothers and up to three children under the age of nine, of which are at risk of homelessness or child welfare intervention. Here, children remain with their mother in a safe and secure environment.
Licensed Daycare: In AMCS’ daycare they have created an integrated, high-quality, and culturally enriched childcare service. In this nurturing, safe, and fun learning environment children are taught the values, interests, and needs of both children and their families and the community. This service is available and now accepting applications for children ages three to five years.
Family Wellness: Family wellness programs are implemented for the residence of Transformational Housing. In these programs, mothers enhance their parenting skills and abilities to aid them in their future endeavours. Furthermore, family wellness often includes parenting, housing and resources, life skills, and self-care workshops. The goal is to give women the skills and abilities they require to transition on their own through a holistic and cultural approach.
Homelessness Outreach: The AMCS Homelessness Outreach Program is intended for Aboriginal individuals in the Metro Vancouver area in any of the following situations: at risk of homelessness; or, homeless for six months or more; or, have had three episodes of homelessness in the last year. Through this program individuals are aided in the search for housing, given subsidies, and offered counselling and addiction help.
Community Kitchen: The community kitchen is known to provide a safe, warm space for community members to gather and form a sense of belonging. Here, nutritious meals are offered for $4.50 alongside job training opportunities.
The Good Mother Project:
The Good Mother Project is a community based on being real and honest about the realities of motherhood. They were inspired to demonstrate that everyone is in motherhood together through conversation, community, and awareness. According to their website, “You see other moms around you, kicking butt and taking names, and it feels like the struggles you are encountering aren’t normal. You wonder why other women seem to have their shit together, while you can barely take a shower. You feel like you are failing left, right and centre.”
About Their Initiatives:
The Good Mother Project gained attention in the media following their “We’re In This Together” photography series highlighting messages of encouragement, hope, support, and love to new mothers. This project was coordinated in partnership with the Pacific Postpartum Support Society and was posted on their various social media channels. To see the series of photos, visit their Instagram page.
Occasionally, they feature events and community spaces for mothers to gather. To keep up to date on if they have any upcoming events, follow up with their events page.
Most importantly, the Good Mother Project has a Facebook group that is a place for all questions, concerns, and conversation surrounding motherhood. See other women’s stories, answers, and experiences and also have the opportunity to reach out for your own help or advice. Their mandate surrounds lifting each other up and building a judgement-free and authentic community of moms. This is the perfect space if you have been searching for a safe place to ask questions in your motherhood journey. In addition, for more stories check out this page on their website to read about other mom’s testimonies.
Strathcona Midwifery Collective:
Strathcona Midwifery Collective is a group of registered midwives who provide family centred care for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Through cooperation, knowledge sharing, and collaboration in all aspects of their work, Strathcona offers unparalleled care. They work and honour all forms of families in Vancouver and are a queer friendly and trans inclusive space. Here, all people are welcomed and cared for in a community-centered and community-controlled practice.
About their Practice:
Strathcona is the perfect accompaniment to all areas of pregnancy related care. They lead new mothers through each stage of reproduction. To become a new patient, you can find the patient intake form here.
As a patient, they offer their expertise, evidence-based health information, community standards of, and medical, holistic, and traditional alternatives. They build trusting relationships with families to foster supportive and positive birth experiences. Through their blending of midwifery practice and family-centered care, their services are accessible and dynamic.
With their help, pregnant individuals are able to make informed decisions about their birth and pregnancy journey. Clients have a choice of home or hospital birth, both of which are facilitated by Strathcona midwives.
To find out more about anything to do with pregnancy, birth, or postpartum, follow the next couple links!
For pregnancy, look here. Including: general information, genetic screening, nutrition and exercise, mental health, community resources, and safety from abuse.
For birth preparation, look here. Including: hospital birth, home birth, childbirth education classes, doulas, VBAC, and 3rd stage management.
For breastfeeding and postpartum, look here. Including: breastfeeding info and resources, milk banks, breastfeeding videos, postpartum depression, and support for post birth trauma.
For caring for newborns, look here. Including: erythromycin eye ointment, vitamin K, newborn metabolic screening, circumcision, and other newborn resources.
For queer and trans community resources, look here. Including various groups and pages.
A self-declared witch, Tayvie spends her time with all things magic. She loves a good sunset, iced coffee, and every known essential oil. Catch her chilling with her black-cat sidekick, Shadow, and hiding by the ocean. Look for her bold eyebrows and vintage style, and you’re bound to find her.
