Featured Post! 13,000 + Mamas Took The Quiz!

Let's Dish Series No. 1: Take Mama's Sex Quiz

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I'm Joanne Ilaqua.

a.k.a MamaSoup

I’ve spent about 20 years serving women as a nurse, doula and Lamaze educator. I also have 4 kids so I know first-hand how lonely and isolating it can be to be a mama. That’s why I created Mamasoup.

Most days you can find me working away in my home office (without a bra on), bopping out to Hip Hop (which I’m WAY to old to listen to, btw- but I just can’t quit it!) and searching my teenagers’ rooms for all the plates and bowls.

Featured Posts...

labour and delivery

Take Mama's Sex Quiz

As part of a new series, “Let’s Dish,” we’ll be sharing interactive quizzes related to a number of mom topics that will give you a bit of ‘virtual girl talk’ by revealing answers of other moms once you've completed the quiz yourself.

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labour and delivery

5 Commonly Missed Signs of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Don't miss out on this incredible information on pelvic floor health from Jessica Dalliday of Pilates on Demand (POD), along with FREE video access, a printable to help fix the dysfunction and a fabulous deal to get you started on POD!

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labour and delivery

5 Things First Time Moms Wished They'd Known Before Giving Birth

If you’re pregnant with your first baby, this information is for you, Mama! This post is full of information and helpful (& FREE!) printables to help prepare you for the incredible birth of your baby!

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breastfeeding newborns

How to Succeed at Breastfeeding in the First 48 Hours

Breastfeeding is something every mom should have the best chance at - and the foundation of a great breastfeeding journey stars in the first 48 hours of baby's life. This post has incredibly detailed instructional printables that will help you succeed at breastfeeding!

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All of Mama's Posts:

How a Cesarean is Performed

Everyone who's ever learned they need a planned csection has wondered how a cesarean is performed. Inside, you'll also learn how you can prepare for yours.

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What's a C Section?

What's a C Section and what should you expect immediately before and after?

Birth and operating room nurse, doula and Lamaze teacher who's had two babies by cesarean explains it in here!

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What Every Pregnant Person Needs to Know About Caesarean Section

One of the things I hear most from postpartum patients is, "I wish I'd learned more about having a caesarean section."

In this blog you'll learn the difference between a C-section and vaginal birth, the history of caesarean, rates and reasons more people are having them, how to avoid a caesarean and risks and benefits of both vaginal birth and C-section.

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I Need to Have a C-Section: What do I Need to Know?

As a labour and delivery nurse and doula, I'm here to tell you that it's not only birth, but it's the hardest way to have a baby.

As a woman who's had two cesearean, I can confirm that I understand the anxiety and worry you're feeling about your planned c-section.

So, I created a completely free info-series to help you feel more in control of your birth experience.

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Everything You Need to Know About Recovering From Your Cesarean

Having a c-section isn’t the easy way out of birth. In fact, it’s the harder way to have a baby. I have about 22 years serving women as they become moms and I’ve never yet seen a woman breeze through a caesarean.

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C-Section Recovery Support Tips for Partners

You don't have to make major moves to be a supportive partner after a cesarean.

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The 3 Stages of Postpartum Bleeding

It’s not that normal for us to chat with our friends about what to expect when you’re bleeding after you have your baby. Afterall, it’s not a sexy topic. In fact, feminine bleeding when it comes to menstruation and the postnatal period is a little bit taboo in many social circles. But here at MamaSoup, we bust through all of the barriers so YOU can have an informed birth experience.

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3 Reasons to Hire a Virtual Postpartum Doula

Any doula worth their fee will tell you that the whole point of hiring a doula is to make sure you have the birth or postpartum support you need. It’s not up to us to decide what’s best for you, but it’s on us to help you figure it out and support the hell out of you.

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Vaginal vs C-Section: How your Recovery is Different

The way you give birth affects the way you recover. And while the one thing having a baby does is unite us in the Mom Club, every person experiences their postpartum differently.

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Your Birth is THAT Important

Childbirth is a story that a mama will recall over and over again for her entire life. And it's not a story that can be rewritten.

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