On today’s episode of Birthing In Finland I will be chatting with Laura Merivirta about breastfeeding, baby massage, and reflexology. Laura owns a private neuvola practice where she helps with breastfeeding challenges, gives baby massages, and treats with reflexology. Laura is a qualified IBCLC which stands for International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. This means that she is well able to support unique and more challenging breastfeeding complications, and she has the most up to date information about breastfeeding research. In this episode, Laura and I talk about her journey to starting a private neuvola practice and how baby massage can help our little ones become more relaxed and feed more easily if their bodies are tense after the labor. Laura shares so many gems with us on this episode and she is such a great person to know!  Show notes: Neuvola Nuppu website https://www.neuvolanuppu.fi/ Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/neuvolanuppu/ Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/neuvolanuppu/ Sign up here for The Nest's webinar on April 28th 2022 about packing your birth bag 

On today’s episode I’m sharing with you my really amazing conversation with Carmen Lorenzana, a menstrual educator and coach working on fertility awareness, menstrual tracking, and more! Carmen goes into the basics of fertility, when are we fertile, how can we notice it in our body, how can we use this knowledge as natural contraception, how can the knowledge of your body change your conception and birthing journey, as well as your connection with your body after birth. We also touch on the way our cycle can be mirrored by the seasons of nature and why this can be your very own superpower! We go into the shame that is often attached to our menstrual cycle and how shedding that shame could be one of the most empowering things you can do for yourself. Show notes: Carmen's website: https://www.carmenlorenzana.com/ Carmen's Instagram: @carlorenzana or https://www.instagram.com/carlorenzana/?hl=en My Period book by Milli Hill: https://www.millihill.co.uk/books/my-period/ Alexandra Pope and Red School: https://www.redschool.net/

On today’s episode of Birthing In Finland I will be chatting with Nicola Moberg! Nicola is a yoga teacher teaching Purna Yoga, prenatal and postnatal yoga in Helsinki at her English speaking yoga studio - Purna Yoga Helsinki. In this episode, Nicola and I talk about the beautiful benefits of yoga in pregnancy and postpartum, the power it has in building self confidence, and the lifestyle it invites to those who practice. Nicola shares so many gems with us on this episode that I’m sure you will love her! Go ahead and get comfy as we’re about to start! Relevant links: www.purnayoga.fi 

Today I’m talking with Anna Suarez, one of the Nest Doulas! Anna is a psychologist, psychotherapist and researcher specializing in maternal mental health. Join us as we talk about the importance of prioritizing parent’s well being and mental health for the benefit of the entire family unit! You’ll hear Anna’s tips on how to take care of yourself even in those moments when you cannot get away from your kids as well as how you can prepare for your postpartum already during pregnancy. Relevant links: Register for Positive Birth Helsinki on Apr 9th, 2022: https://mailchi.mp/648e302327d5/positivebirth Anna's IG and FB pages: @dearmamapostpartum Find Anna on The Nest website: https://www.doulacollective.fi/anna-dearmama/  Read more about acceptance and commitment therapy: https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/therapy-types/acceptance-and-commitment-therapy 

On today’s episode of Birthing In Finland I will be chatting with Annabel Battersby, a clinical psychologist and founder of Compass Psychology here in Helsinki. In 2017, Annabel opened the New Mothers Group together with her colleague, Jane, based on the mothers group concept that exists in Australia where Annabel comes from. The New Mothers Group allows first time non-Finnish moms to meet, spend time sharing birth stories and supporting one another. Annabel shares how the group started and what makes them so amazing for the moms who join. Relevant links: Compass Psychology: https://compasspsychology.fi/ New Mothers Group: https://compasspsychology.fi/new-mothers-group-helsinki/ Annabel's email address: [email protected] New Mothers Group FB page: https://www.facebook.com/newmothersgrouphelsinki Compass Psychology FB page: https://www.facebook.com/compasspsychologyfinland The Continuum Concept by Jean Liedloff: https://continuumconcept.org/ The Circle of Security: https://www.circleofsecurityinternational.com/

On today’s episode of Birthing In Finland I will be chatting with Sona Jany Louhivuori about pregnancy and postpartum massage. Sona is a birth doula, a masseur, a hypnobirthing practitioner, and so much more! Sona explains the beautiful advantages of the massage, why she loves it so much, and the effect she has seen it have on her clients. We’ll talk about the difference between the pregnancy and postpartum massage as well as why this postpartum treatment can really make a huge difference in your physical and emotional recovery. I also remind you about our Nest webinar on Mar 24th, 2022 which will be about birth stories in Finland. You can sign up with the link below. Also, if you want to have your voice heard about your birth experience as a minority person in Finland, you can now take part in a survey exactly about this topic. See the link below. Relevant links: Respond to the survey: https://link.webropolsurveys.com/s/mom Register for The Nest webinar on birth stories: https://mailchi.mp/0c193baea468/monthlywebinar Sona's website: https://feelyourbirth.com Instagram and Facebook @feelyourbirth 

Today I have Rosalia Pihlajasaari with me. Rosalia is one of the Nest doulas, working as a birth doula since 2003. She has attended over 1,000 births and has supported many women in prenatal education, breastfeeding, pregnancy loss, and much more! She is an incredible asset for birthing people in Finland and is a wealth of knowledge and experience. Rosalia and I get into the physiological course of birth, the hormones at play, the unfolding of the body and birth when it has the chance to go undisturbed. You’re going to want to hear this one, so come in close.  Relevant links:  Rosalia's website: www.birth.fi Register for the upcoming webinar about birth stories in Finland (Mar 24th, 2022): https://mailchi.mp/0c193baea468/monthlywebinar

In this episode I share with you why and how this podcast was created, taking you back in time with me to when I was pregnant and listening to podcasts biking through the city of Amsterdam. I will also introduce you to The Nest - Helsinki International Doulas+, our doula collective that creates the foundation of this podcast.  Relevant links: The Nest: https://www.doulacollective.fi/ Upcoming Nest webinar: https://mailchi.mp/0c193baea468/monthlywebinar Upcoming Positive Birth Helsinki meetup: https://mailchi.mp/648e302327d5/positivebirth

Birthing in Finland is a podcast created by 6 international doulas who specialize in helping foreigners on their parenting journey in Finland - we are The Nest Doulas. I am Danielle Bensky; a mother and postpartum doula specializing in maternal well-being and psychology. This podcast was created to be your guide in finding amazing people that can support you through birthing and parenting right here in Finland. In these weekly episodes, released every Monday, you’ll find interviews that will enrich you with information and knowledge as well as introduce you to new people specializing in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. I will also be hosting other foreign parents, just like you, who can share their first hand experience of the beauties and challenges that come with becoming parents in Finland. To get started, listen to episode 1 which will introduce you to the podcast and to The Nest. Thank you for being here and welcome to the podcast. Visit https://www.doulacollective.fi/birthinginfinland/ for our podcast website.