After opening in 2018, with only a handful of starry eyed doulas ready to make change, we grew quickly, expanding services and numbers to more than 50 staff and contractors. Now, every month our doulas attend more than 20 births and we support anywhere from 100-150 families in our postpartum and peripheral services. More than 2,000,000 baby and pregnancy items have moved through Joanna's Giving Wall (our donations centre) since opening in 2019. In 2023 alone we have already held more than 200 feeding, CST, and naturopathic doctor clinic appointments, and in March of this year our community celebrated our 1000th doula-attended birth since inception.
The Mobile Giving Wall project successfully transitioned Birth Mark's Giving Wall into a mobile unit, enabling growing families in need to access in-kind donations without having to risk exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the winter months. The contactless delivery service allowed participants to request essential items related to pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and newborn care, regardless of their transportation limitations.
With rising temperatures, staying cool in the city can be challenging. Adding pregnancy into the mix can make it feel impossible! It is important to keep your body temperature regulated as pregnancy can put you at a higher risk of developing heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, get to a cool place and call your doctor.
