Adrienne Wetherell - yoga & doula services

02/21/2026

Anyone else noticing random electrical/power events happening in the city lately?

Last weekend, my daughter and I noticed lights intermittently flickering on and off in different rooms of our place.

Then a few days later (on Feb 17th), the power went off at the hospital and surrounding buildings for several hours while I was attending a birth. 2800 people were affected. Thank goodness for hospital back up generators!

I’ve had some interesting experiences with electricity in the past…

When I was a pre-teen, our family home was hit by lightning and the power went out. The insurance company eventually paid for a new and upgraded computer for me, which I was thrilled about!

Then in my early 30s, while I was living in the west end of Toronto, the power box directly behind the house was hit by lightning and burst into flames.

Several months after that, lightning struck at the front of the house.

When that storm hit, I went into my bedroom and realized I had left the window open. I remember feeling a very urgent, visceral need to close it RIGHT NOW!

While I was about 2/3 of the way through closing the window (it was an old house), something powerful forcefully hit the glass, and I felt a spray of water come through the screen.

I don’t know how the window didn’t break.
I thought it was a giant tree branch.

My roommate and I went downstairs and opened the front door to peek outside.

“Don’t step on the grass!” A man called out from somewhere in the darkness.

“There’s a power line down on your front lawn!”

And then I saw it. Like a long black snake lying in the grass.

I’m grateful for that mystery man.

Needless to say, you won’t catch me hanging around outdoors on purpose if I can hear thunder coming from any direction 🏃🏻‍♀️

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Gorgeous strike!!⁠
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📷:

02/18/2026

Happy Lunar New Year! It’s the year of the fire horse 🐴 🔥

I really wish I was a horse (if I was born a month later I would have been!), but alas I’m a fire snake 🐍 🔥 who gave birth to a water snake 🐍 🌊

My Chinese name translates into “intelligent & elegant” which I think may be a reflection of the meaning of my zodiac sign and the qualities of the snake.

For me, this time of year is an opportunity to reflect on my roots. I do my best to share what I know with my daughter.

I’m always learning more about my mixed heritage.

I’ve recently discovered that a significant part of my Asian ancestry is Dai.

In China, Dai people are officially recognized as an ethnic minority group from southern China.

They were historically classified as Baiyue (Hundred Yue), an umbrella term to describe the southern tribes with distinct languages and customs.

They lived in river valleys and engaged in complex wet-rice agriculture. They honoured the rivers and water as sacred and life-giving.

Dai people were traditionally clan-based, governed by hereditary chiefs, and recognized as distinct in their language, culture and social organization. They existed alongside Chinese imperial rule for centuries (given semi-autonomous status).

This is a wonderfully rich thread in the fabric of my lineage.

For me, embracing ethnic diversity is important and deeply meaningful on a cellular level.

02/14/2026

These words ❤️

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02/04/2026

02/04/2026

When do the children matter? The children are watching.
m.davis

02/03/2026

Having a collaborative, team approach can make all the difference to someone’s birth experience.

Often what appears to be a misalignment or a competing interest/tension is actually a communication and teamwork opportunity.

Here’s an example:

(And please note, these situations have happened often enough that sharing does not compromise privacy)

My client’s birth was progressing smoothly, however I could see what was emotionally bubbling for her under the surface.

Someone can be triggered in birth, even if things appear to be going well.

I asked the nurse for two labour comfort tools I knew would help my client that I couldn’t get myself at the hospital.

I had discussed labour comfort measures with my client in advance and methods that would help her specifically.

But I could see the nurse was busy setting up for the delivery, and because what I asked for fell under supportive care/labour comfort, it wasn’t medically urgent.

She gave me a frustrated look. She was understandably trying to tackle the most pressing needs first.

And one of the items I asked for was a biohazard bag (empty plastic bag) so I could put ice into it.

(My doula bag now includes zip lock bags for this purpose!)

I totally get why a request for a plastic bag could fall under the “nice to have” category, especially if a baby is going to be born soon.

But if you’ve ever used ice to help someone out of a panic attack or to prevent one, you know it can be a powerful tool.

She needed insight + clarity.

When she left the room, I followed her into the hallway.

(Because I’m purposeful, I’m friendly, and I’m undeterred!)

“My client is on the verge of a panic attack”, I said. “I know you have a lot on your plate. But the items I asked for can really help with panic attacks.”

I turned and went back into the room to attend my client.

Minutes later, our nurse re-entered the room with a bag of ice, followed shortly after by another nurse who had the second item I had asked for.

Communication + clarity + teamwork makes the dream work!

02/02/2026

Working with trauma survivors over the years and witnessing their strength and resilience has been an honour.

Our birth preparation is specific and intentional, and it begins months before the due date.

We discuss my client’s needs and how this overlays with their care during the birth (in a way that feels safe for them).

I provide information on how to enroll their healthcare team and put into place structural supports.

Both life experience + doula-ing have prepared me to know how to help someone who is triggered or on the verge of a panic attack.

(Of course this can be very specific depending on the person and we discuss this beforehand if my client is comfortable)

Calm-responsiveness is important in the moment, from the doula providing care.

A birth story with trauma-informed care in action:

At every step of the way throughout my client’s labour, we made sure to prep and remind the team of the trauma-informed practices necessary for my client’s care, and we referred to the structural supports in place.

(Even if there are structural supports in place beforehand, the team still needs reminders in real time and help translating what this means in practice)

When the doctor entered the room for the birth, I could tell she was prepped.

She was also aware she was the new person in the room, and not having a prior history of contact with my client had an impact.

The doctor listened while I caught her up to speed on what was essential for my client when providing care.

She understood that as the doula, I had been with my client for many hours before she arrived and there was a rhythm of interaction that was working.

When I gave client-directed feedback, she adjusted her approach, and together we problem-solved how to provide my client with more comfort.

She was highly attuned and responsive, mirroring my tone and verbiage.

After the birth, she thanked me for working with her. Collaboration helps everyone.

I was so happy to hear my client reflecting positively on her birth experience afterwards.

Teamwork makes the dream work!n

01/28/2026

Instagram removed my pinned post with this photo of a man giving hands-on comfort support in labour because it’s apparently inappropriate.

📸.joy.az

Over the years, I have worked with many different families, in different birthing locations, and with different health care providers.

I have supported both low risk and high risk clients, who each have their own unique needs and preferences.

I’m constantly learning and it has given me an important range and depth of experience.

At a recent hospital birth, our nurse told me it was the first time she had seen someone labouring at 8-9cm of cervical dilation without an epidural.

Unmedicated births in hospital are not the norm.

She was learning too.

And what an education, seeing my client breathing in nitrous, wearing a TENS machine, receiving hands-on support, and labouring in and out of the tub.

It reminded me why showing kindness and having a team approach can go a long way.

“My client is labouring unmedicated so she can have intermittent monitoring,” I reminded her.

But how you say something, and your tone of voice can make all the difference.

Because we’re all learning from each other.

(This beautiful and powerful photo is by .joy.az )

01/26/2026

Another turn around the sun. This is 48!

Here’s what I know:

1. Some experiences in life are meant to be beyond logic.

2. Follow your creative inspo and surprise hobbies.
Midlife has revealed that I’m into horses and floral arranging, but not ready for bird watching.

3. Flying under the radar can be a super power.

4. It’s ok if you too carry around a ziploc baggie of supplements. I’ve made peace with the fact that this is now how I go through life.

5. Sometimes the wound IS the medicine.

6. You can be kind, loving and shameless about your boundaries.

7. Despite these upside-down times, it’s still not wrong to raise awareness about the suffering of children and babies in any part of the world.

8. You are intrinsically valuable. Honour your presence and depth.

9. The 3 P’s we should talk about more: postpartum, parenthood and perimenopause.

01/25/2026

No words to describe how horrifying and terrifying this is.

01/23/2026

Movement + hands-on support are powerful in birth.

I’m always so happy for my clients who experienced long, difficult births with their first babies but we are able to turn things around for baby #2

Some of these clients “bake” their babies in similar positions each pregnancy (and sometimes we know beforehand this is structural, scoliosis being one example).

When working with a client who had challenges due to baby position the first time around, I’m very proactive during their pregnancy.

And when they are in labour, I ask where they feel the contractions in their body and watch their contraction patterns.

With clients who have already had babies (but longer/more challenging births), I have seen:

The second birth can be slower to build, but active labour can progress quickly if everything aligns.

A recent client of mine (who had a posterior baby with her first) began feeling back pain during early labour with baby #2.

I also noticed she was having double-peaked contractions (which can also be a sign of a posterior baby).

I showed her how to do a standing hip-sway movement to help adjust her baby’s position.

While she was moving, I noticed a bulge over her sacrum.

I asked her to continue moving while I did some very gentle release work over her sacrum.

When she was ready for a break, I helped her sit down on the birth ball.

After a few contractions, she told me her contractions had shifted from her back to the front of her pelvis, an excellent sign!

She would show signs of transition not long after and feel an urge to push within minutes.

She made some “pushy breathing sounds” (IYKYK) and I very briefly ran out of the room to get the midwife.

She birthed her baby in 2 pushes ✨

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Shades.
Black Pregnant Woman Illustration by

Diversity in medical illustration