The Health Nest

04/19/2026

A new midwife is joining the Vernon Midwifery team @ thehealthnest !

We are thrilled to introduce Ashley Reid, the newest midwife at Vernon Midwifery. Ashley brings a wealth of experience and heart to her work. A practising midwife since 2018, Ashley has supported countless families both in hospital and at home. She has also been an active leader in advancing the midwifery profession through her work with the Alberta Association of Midwives.

Now based in Vernon, Ashley provides personalized, evidence-based care through pregnancy, birth and the postpartum. As a parent herself, she understands how meaningful the childbirth journey is and is committed to providing respectful, informed, and collaborative care to you and your family. When she’s not catching babies, she spends time with her son, her two dogs, and loves making pottery and knitting.

Please join us in giving Ashley a warm welcome to our community!

02/03/2026

The health nest is receiving a lick of paint this week. We are using the lowering emission paint possible.

Sorry for any inconvenience caused and thank you for you’re continued support of the Health Nest 🪹

12/13/2025

Carrie and her family are very appreciative for all of the meals and the outpouring of love. If helping financially feels accessible, please see the link below. Thank you again for your kind words and support 🩷

My name is Anetha Kashuba, and I am fundraising for my midwife, baby catch… Anetha Kashuba needs your support for supporting our beloved midwife Carrie Sizer

12/10/2025

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1260135776138750&set=a.590850433067291&type=3

A Cesarean section is the only major surgery in the world where:

🔹 Five to seven layers of tissue — skin, fat, fascia, muscle, and uterus — are carefully opened.
🔹 A new life is lifted into the world — sometimes urgently, sometimes unexpectedly.
🔹 And within hours, the mother is told to stand, walk, and care for her newborn.

Six hours after surgery where stitches, staples, and deep incisions still burn — she is expected to:

🍼 Feed her baby
🚼 Change diapers
❤️ Bond through exhaustion
🛏 Sit up despite intense abdominal pain

And while healing, her body still goes through:

⚡ Contractions as the uterus shrinks back
⚡ Hormonal surges
⚡ Breast milk production
⚡ Emotional turbulence
⚡ Sleepless nights

Yet she keeps going — even when:

💔 Laughing hurts
💔 Sneezing hurts
💔 Standing hurts
💔 Sleeping hurts
💔 Breathing hurts

Still… she does it.

Not because it’s easy.
Not because she feels ready.
But because her baby needs her.

And that — is strength.

🌷 To every C-section mom reading this:
You didn’t take the “easy way.”
You took the necessary way.
You chose life, safety, and love.

Your scar is not a mark of weakness —
✨ It is a silent badge of courage. ✨

Whether planned, emergency, or after hours of labor —
you brought a life into this world with bravery few will ever understand.

So hold your head high.
Rest when you need to.
Heal at your own pace.
And never forget:

❤️ You are strong.
❤️ You are enough.
❤️ You are a warrior.

📌 Verified medical sources used:

Mayo Clinic Obstetric Surgery Guidelines

Cleveland Clinic Birth & Recovery Data

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)

11/30/2025

An update on our midwife, Carrie Sizer:
Carrie has received an outpouring of love from the community, and we are deeply grateful. She has remained in the rehabilitation unit at Vernon Hospital this week and will continue her stay there for the foreseeable future. Many have asked how they can support Carrie and her family as she continues her rehab journey. For those interested, we’ve included a link to her family’s Meal Train below. Thank you again for your kindness and thoughtful messages over the past few weeks.

Carrie and Andrew are very grateful for your support. They have said that 3-4 meals a week is plenty for their family right now. You are welcome to share the link with others that might like to support, however they have asked that we please refrain from posting it on social media. Thank you!

11/23/2025

We have some rather upsetting news to share with our Health Nest family.

Carolynn Sizer, our Midwife; is unwell at the present time, and may not be around as “normal” for the foreseeable future.

She has suffered, and continues to struggle with, the effects of an FND (Functional Neurological Disorder). It’s similar to a stroke.

Carrie will remain for the foreseeable future at the hospital, in a rehabilitation unit receiving the professional care she needs. For those that have reached out to Carrie directly, she is receiving your messages and is very grateful. Please know that she may not reply, as she is finding messaging and visiting quite tiring right now.

Thank you all for your patience and support at this difficult time. We will of course continue to update you on her condition, and again thank you for all the prayers, love and compassion for her and her family.

11/04/2025

Are you making your own baby food for the winter? Need some squash from the farm? I have some good choices left for smooth, easy eating squash.

$1/pound

Hubbard squash (my favourite), buttercup, butternut, acorn, and kabocha (sweeter than butternut). Wouldn’t suggest spaghetti squash as babies find it has too much texture. If you want any squash please let me know and I can bring it into the clinic for pick up! 😋 Tara Fulop, RMT

10/28/2025

The last of our pink and white pumpkins 🎃 are now at The Health Nest if you want some before they are all gone! Halloween 👻 is almost here. Askews also has some available too in Armstrong!

09/16/2025

Okanagan Valley College Massage Therapy OVCMT is looking for kids ages 6-18 for Pediatric Inreach starting this Wednesday Sept 17th and runs through until Oct 22nd. Appt times are every Wed from 4:45 pm - 5:45 pm. Main campus above Natures Fare. If you have a couple kids that would enjoy a massage each week after all their activities, experiencing some growing pains or maybe dealing with anxiety. Please reach out to the school asap. Okanagan Valley College of Massage Therapy

09/09/2025

👶🐤🍼 Learn how to massage your littles!
👀 Moms, Dads, Guardians - we are looking for you! 👀
🐣 This free class is designed to teach you skills that may help to promote sleep and reduce stress for your little ones, but more importantly - it's another amazing way to bond!
SIGN UP HERE, limited spots available: https://tinyurl.com/InfantMaternity
OR find Danielle here:
📞 250-558-3719
📧 clinical_admin@ovcmt.com

09/08/2025

Learn how to massage your baby from our students at Okanagan Valley College of Massage Therapy. Limited spots this year and Oct 2nd is coming fast. Get registered now!

05/22/2025

Looking for parents and babies for FREE infant massage workshop at OVCMT with our students.