Pregnancy Google searches are honestly a whole experience. At some point we all end up deep-diving into the most random, oddly specific questions at ridiculous hours of the night. Sometimes reassuring. Sometimes mildly terrifying. Sometimes absolutely unhinged. So now I need to know… What’s the weirdest thing you’ve Googled this week? No judgement here. In fact, the stranger the better 🫣

We talk so much about babies during pregnancy, but not nearly enough about the organ that is literally keeping them alive the entire time. Your placenta starts developing very early in pregnancy and works constantly behind the scenes to support your growing baby. It: • delivers oxygen and nutrients • removes waste products • produces important hormones • supports growth and development • acts as a protective filter • connects to your baby through the umbilical cord It’s basically functioning as your baby’s lungs, kidneys, digestive support system, and hormone factory all at once. And the wild part? Your body grows it from scratch. Many parents are surprised to learn the placenta is also responsible for a lot of pregnancy symptoms and changes because of the hormones it produces. After birth, the placenta is still an important part of the story too. Some families choose to: • see it after birth • learn more about it • take photos • bury it beneath a tree • honour it in cultural or personal ways • simply appreciate the incredible job it did Others prefer not to think about it again at all, and that’s completely okay too. But understanding what the placenta actually does can give you a whole new appreciation for what your body is doing during pregnancy. Did you know much about the placenta before pregnancy? Or was it one of those things nobody really explained? For families interested in returning their placenta to the earth, I also create handcrafted biodegradable placenta burial cocoons through Earth Friendly Cocoons. Many families choose to plant a tree or create a small ceremony as a way of honouring this part of their pregnancy and birth journey. You can have a look here if you’d like to learn more: Earth Friendly Cocoons

What have you been thinking about for your birth lately? One of the biggest things I want parents to know is this: You do not need to have everything perfectly figured out right now. Some people feel really clear on what they want. Some have absolutely no idea. Some start pregnancy wanting one thing and completely change their mind later. All of that is normal. Birth preparation is not about locking yourself into one “perfect” path. It's about understanding your options, learning what feels important to you, and building confidence in making decisions along the way. You might be: • researching epidurals at 2am • wondering if water birth is for you • preparing for a planned c-section • hoping for an unmedicated birth • wanting “all the drugs” • trying not to think about birth at all yet • sitting somewhere in the middle thinking “I’ll just see how it goes” There’s no gold star for birthing one particular way. A calm, supported, informed birth experience can happen in many different ways. Sometimes the most empowering thing is not having a rigid plan, but understanding: • your options • your preferences • your support people • your decision-making tools • what helps you feel safe and supported So tell me…What have you been thinking about lately when it comes to birth? No judgement. No pressure. No “right or wrong” answers here.