Postpartum Care in Calgary

In our new blog segment, the Alberta Association of Midwives is sitting down with midwives and other care providers throughout the province for an inside look at midwifery in Alberta and the important topics that make our profession unique, personal and compelling.

The postpartum period is often referred to as the "4th trimester," and it's easy to understand why. It's a period of significant transition, as birthing people experience many physical and emotional changes and new parents adjust to life with baby. Midwives provide care throughout pregnancy and postpartum, and more options are becoming available to support individuals and families in those critical six weeks after birth – and beyond. 

In a city like Calgary, families have a lot of options for care but never before have all the services needed by a family in the postpartum realm been in one location. For clients under the care of a midwife, they might receive a referral from their midwife for care provided outside the scope of midwifery and now there is a great option in the city where multiple services can be booked in the same visit.

Moss Postpartum House was founded by Paige Barlow, a doula with over a decade of experience. Paige recognized the significant gap that existed between birth and parenthood. She built Moss Postpartum with the mission to provide a place where postpartum families could access the physical, psychological and emotional support that they and their newborn babies deserve. Midwifery clinics in the Calgary area regularly refer clients to Moss Postpartum house for additional support and care.

Today, we're sitting down with Paige for an intimate look at the 4th trimester, what new parents can expect and how care providers like Moss Postpartum House are working with midwives to make a difference in the lives of birthing people. 

Hi Paige, thank you for chatting with us today! What are some misconceptions people have about the "4th trimester"?

The idea that you can put a timeline on postpartum creates unrealistic pressures on families. Postpartum isn't a simple six-week timeline. In reality, to some extent, you are postpartum forever, and that's why we need to have services available for anyone who needs it.   

Historically, the postpartum period was a "family" effort (especially in rural communities), as families were larger and extended family members often lived in the home or were available to help, so there was a lot more support available. Today, that's not happening as much, and it's not uncommon for new parents to be pretty isolated during this time. But we weren't meant to do it alone! 

At Moss Postpartum House, we're trying to bridge the gap and create that "it takes a village" environment. We don't want to feel like a medical clinic but more like a home where families are going to get support, feel heard and find out what they need to parent successfully and recover after pregnancy.  

What made you start a business like Moss Postpartum House?

Postpartum care was part of my work as a doula. I would attend multiple locations around the city for appointments with clients who were spending entire days driving around to get the care they needed, having to breastfeed/chestfeed in parking lots. There wasn't one location where families could get everything. That's exhausting for new parents. I felt we needed a more human approach to postpartum care, which is why I decided to launch my own business.

Our goal at Moss Postpartum House is to create a parents-first approach. Our environment is comfortable, professional – it's not a "job"; it's about serving human beings and meeting them where they're at with vulnerability.  

Also, I wanted to create a space where I could be a mother, take care of my family and still have a professional career. I want to prove we can have it all!

What services do you provide?

We have naturopathic doctors, psychologists and counsellors, we offer pelvic floor physiotherapy, chiropractor services, acupuncture, massage, osteopathy and doula postpartum support. Families can book appointments back-to-back with practitioners in one visit, in one location, in a place that feels like a home rather than a clinic.  

What is something you often hear from your clients?

That they love the energy of the space! Honestly, this is not a common business model in North America. At Moss Postpartum House, birth trauma is talked about openly, and our practitioners are trained to understand this period and the challenges new parents face – we can ensure people they are not going crazy; they are sleep-deprived! 

Our clients love that our team doesn't come from a practitioner's point of view but from a birthing person's point of view – we're supporting families and parents first.

How can family and friends support new parents in the postpartum period?

Don't ask "what can I do to help?" – just show up and do it! Deliver food, do the dishes for them, make their bed, help them clean the kitchen – simple things like that go a long way. 

I also recommend to clients that they write a list of things that they'd like help with in advance of giving birth. Having a list of things and ways people can help with very specific tasks makes it a lot easier for people to help. When you're already sleep-deprived, it's hard to come up with that list!

How should expecting parents better prepare so that the postpartum period can be as easy as possible?  

Yes, you can prepare, and you should. Often times we see people prenatally prior to the baby being born, but pelvic floor physio can actually teach you how to push in advance. Book that appointment before you give birth. 

Discuss what's important to you with your partner, your family, your midwife and other care providers. Make a plan and a schedule of things so you can maintain some routine after birth. That could be as simple as a daily shower or daily walk by yourself. It's important to have that conversation before you give birth.

What other resources do you recommend to new parents in the postpartum period? 

The Wellfed clinic provides excellent breastfeeding/chestfeeding support. Families Matter offers programs that help build parenting skills and stronger families. Adoption Options provides support for those considering adoption.

What do you wish more people understood about postpartum? 

Sleep deprivation is a real thing! People need to know how to rely on their partner. 

Care providers also need to better understand how to support specific needs and birthing people need to know who they can talk to. 

Also, how important it is to see a pelvic floor physiotherapist before and after birth.

How do midwives and postpartum providers like Moss Postpartum House effectively work together to support birthing people?  

We complete referrals both ways. For first-time parents, we'll refer clients to midwives and give them options. A lot of people don't know what midwife services are or how to access them. 

Midwives also refer their clients to us so they can seek care from practitioners outside the scope of midwifery services. 

What's next for Moss Postpartum House?

We need to expand our business. But we also need to grow our staff really intentionally. Our work is so relationship-based that we have to move slowly and thoughtfully. We're also hoping to grow our space to something larger so the future is exciting for us. Follow us for updates on Instagram @moss_postpartum_house or https://www.facebook.com/mosspostpartumhouse.

We are definitely looking to grow our team of practitioners, so I really encourage people to reach out to me if they are interested in our mission at Moss Postpartum House. 

The Alberta Association of Midwives promotes the growth and sustainability of midwives and midwifery services in Alberta. We tell the stories of midwives in our province so that the profession of midwifery is understood, respected and valued in our communities.

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