NatalieAnu: maternity wellness

Calgary's baby-whisperer! Natalie's baby massage course was exactly what we needed for our poor gassy, sleepless baby boy; we were so relieved after following her calm, confident instruction - not only did it help with the gas (resulting in more sleep for all!), but

I’m a yoga student at Dragonfly Maternity. I love Natalie’s classes. You can tell she knows a ton on mother and baby wellness. She inspires peace and confidence. I would definitely recommend her services.

Natalie stepped in last minute to support our birth as our backup doula. Having never met myself or my partner, Natalie did an amazing job of making us feel comfortable and supported given the circumstances. Her counterpressure and massage techniques during active labour were amazing along with her calming and supportive words. Thank you so much Natalie for being there for us and baby Lily!

We hired Natalie as our birth doula in 2022 and we are so thankful that Natalie was part of our birth story and labour experience.We were both first-time parents, so everything felt new and uncertain. In my everyday life, I don’t like going into new situations without knowing what to expect; I hate surprises. And yet, I knew that some things about the birth would be impossible to predict, let alone control.When the time finally arrived — although there were plenty of surprises from my little one — I remember SO much joy, strength, and empowerment while I laboured. The whole birth was magical and perfect in ways I didn't know were possible and Natalie was a huge part of that.She is a wealth of evidence-based knowledge and resources, all grounded in feminism. She prepared me (and my partner) in ways that helped us to be present more fully and positively during the birth. She asked the right questions to help me narrow down what I wanted (or needed) in the weeks, days, and hours leading up to birth.We were comfortable reaching out as we nervously waited to find out if baby was breech at 36 weeks. I equally trusted her to help me trust myself as I impatiently laboured through the early stages at home.I remember, during labour:- her just holding my hand and talking with me about who knows what, helping me relax after I'd been at the hospital all day.- trusting her voice as she guided me through positions and emotions during labour- her asking, so clearly, ‘what is it you need right now?’ which helped me focus on what mattered to make a the best decision for me. She helped me trust my own decisions, of which there were so many to make.I would without hesitation recommend Natalie in the strongest terms to bring about a brave, beautiful space to support you through your birth, too.

Natalie was a wonderful guiding light in our birth experience. The two prenatal visits were helpful to get to know Natalie and learn from her about what to expect and how to cope during labour. Natalie took pictures and videos that helped capture our birth story.

My baby and I attended Natalie's baby massage class and it was just the best! Natalie is extremely knowledgeable about babies, pregnancy, motherhood and massages. My baby had bad reflux and her massage techniques really helped to make him feel better. Baby is a toddler now, but he still loves whey I massage his legs!I can not recommend her class enough! If you like to find a place to connect with your baby and learn some amazing massage techniques, you cannot find a better class than Natalie's baby massage!

Natalie joined our birth journey unexpectedly as our first doula had a family emergency a few days before I delivered. Natalie immediately met with us, got to know us and our birth preferences, and came prepared with a wealth of information and questions. Baby was cozy inside and I was scheduled to be induced, which made me nervous. I wanted to try everything I could to induce labour naturally and Natalie patiently provided me with tips and tricks and calmed my nerves. My contractions ebbed and flowed for a few days before my delivery. I experienced numerous emotions (e.g., excitement, fear, frustration, anxiety), which Natalie helped me navigate. She helped me advocate for pushing back my induction date, which resulted in baby coming on her own! When baby decided it was time, things progressed very quickly. Within three hours I went from almost being sent home from the hospital to delivering a baby! When things began happening quickly, my husband contacted Natalie and she rushed to the hospital. She was beside me the entire delivery and provided words of encouragement. Following the delivery, I experienced some medical complications. We are so thankful that Natalie was with us. She was able to mentally and emotionally support my husband as he navigated being with our baby while watching the medical team work on me. She stayed with us until I was stable, asked what we needed, provided emotional support, and even massaged my back while I was recovering. Having a doula as part of our birth journey was incredibly empowering. The support that Natalie provided cannot be quantified. I know that our birth journey would have been more stressful and uncertain had we not had a doula. I will recommend Natalie to anyone I know having a baby in the future. A doula is a great option for anyone, no matter how prepared you feel, your level of social support, or if this is your first or third child. Thank you Natalie!

Thank you immensely Natalie for accompanying us into this new world of motherhood. I truly believe that our birth adventure would not have been as magical without your presence. You brought us confidence and reassurance! There is no words to thank you being our doula and friend.