Hi! I'm Lori, the Lo - of Hel-lo Baby! I remember the first birth I saw in nursing school. The woman I was caring for was having her first baby, and I remember so many parts of the experience vividly. I remember watching her move around the room changing positions as her birth progressed through the various stages of labour. I remember watching her work tirelessly to push that baby down the birth canal, and feeling like I was pushing right along with her as I offered her some very amateur and probably equally “cringy” labour support alongside her midwives. I remember being equal parts horrified and captivated, as I watched the baby’s head crown, but most of all, I remember being engulfed by the profound wave of emotion that consumed me and filled the entire room the moment that baby was born and placed on her mom’s chest. For a long time afterward, I wanted to talk to anyone and everyone about birth! I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen! Little did I know that years later, I would be fortunate enough to be witnessing this same miracle every day. I’m no longer horrified, and I have definitely stepped up my labour support game, but I’m still just as captivated by the miracle of birth each and every time I have the privilege of being a part of it. Six years after becoming a labour and delivery nurse and being a part of thousands of births, I gave birth to my first of three children. As the saying goes, nothing teaches us better than our own experiences. Now after giving birth myself, and experiencing three distinctly different births, I can connect with and support the women I assist in labour with a depth of empathy and understanding I hadn't known before. I have also realized that my job as a labor and delivery nurse is so much more important and influential than I ever previously considered. Often, my patients are expecting their first child, and so naturally have little to no personal experience with giving birth, and even those who are not new to childbirth, may not fully understand the remarkable events occurring within their bodies, and what they can do to support them, much less the complexities of the maternity care system they find themselves immersed in. But knowledge really is power! Even just having a basic understanding of the workings of the body's processes during pregnancy and birth can bring immense reassurance and comfort.   These realizations, coupled with my belief in the importance of accessible, quality prenatal education for all women and their families, has inspired me to want to share the knowledge I've gained as a registered nurse working in women's health and obstetrics with as many people as possible, hoping to enlighten and empower them on their journey into parenthood.

Hello expectant parents! My name is Helen, the “Hel-” of Hel-lo Baby. As a mom of two spirited little girls, I can appreciate the excitement and the apprehension that comes with new parenthood. Despite being a competent Registered Nurse, I remember the emotional discomfort of bringing my oldest daughter home from the hospital, thinking “Are they truly going to entrust ME to take care of this little baby?!”. As my husband and I figured out parenting the best way we could, I had wished that we had somehow been better at preparing ourselves for this journey. I believe that through guidance and support parents are empowered to embrace their birth experience and care for their little one with courage and confidence. As a life long learner, I continue to strive to contribute current and accurate information to you. Together with my training and experience in birth work, infant feeding, and child development my goal is to share this knowledge with you. 

My clinical experience lies in the area of Maternal and Child Health. For over a decade I have worked alongside families and babies as a Registered Nurse. I currently work at the South Health Campus on the Labor and Delivery and Postpartum unit. You may also see me at South Calgary Health Center as a Public Health Nurse visiting new babies and families once you’ve returned home! Additionally, as a Board Certified Lactation Consultant, I am passionate about helping families achieve their infant feeding goals.