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When Should I Leave For the Hospital?!

Jan 16

When Should I Leave For the Hospital?!

You've gone what feels like years being pregnant and FINALLY things start to happen. You're anxious, excited, nervous, scared....alllllll the feelings. "Should we go to the hospital now? What about now? I think we should go now." One of the top questions we get asked when we teach Childbirth Education is "When do I know to leave for the hospital?" We have some questions, tricks and things to look out for that will help you determine if now is a good time to start the car and

Creating a Postpartum Plan

Sep 26, 2021

Creating a Postpartum Plan

Preparing for birth can be all consuming. You go to your OB or midwife appointments, you do this scan and that test, you get the nursery ready, the baby shower invites out, the registry perfected. You do all the baby laundry and narrow down your long list of names. You take your Childbirth Ed course, meet with your Birth Doula, take prenatal yoga and write your Birth Plan or your Birth Preferences. But what about Postpartum? Does your provider talk to you what to expect or ho

Vacation with a Newborn? We Got You Covered!

Aug 8, 2021

Vacation with a Newborn? We Got You Covered!

Happy Summer Break! Or maybe you’re reading this over the winter as you prepare for a big trip with your newborn! Either way, we know it can feel daunting to pack for vacation with a baby in tow. The idea of bringing everything but the kitchen sink feels good in some ways, and suuuuper stressful in others! We’ve had our share of trips with baby’s and we’re happy to share some things we learned (the hard way...) Whether you’re mapping your road trip or booking your flight, the

How do I Breastfeed* with Raynauds?!

Jul 18, 2021

How do I Breastfeed* with Raynauds?!

*we prefer to use inclusive language like Body Feeding in general. In this case we chose ‘Breastfeed’ due to the specific nature of raynauds to the breast/nipple, specifically. If you have raynauds and you are chest/body feeding we see you and hope this post has helpful information Choosing to use your body to feed your baby whether it be breast / chest feeding or exclusively pumping, already comes with its challenges. But what happens when there is pain involved? Everything

Pregnancy Diaries: Due Date Date

May 24, 2021

Pregnancy Diaries: Due Date Date

"When is your due date?" "Any baby yet?" "Still pregnant?" (no I just like to leave my baby at home and walk around with a watermelon under my shirt.......) "Walking that baby out?" "Have lots of sex!" "Eat dates!" "Have a glass of wine." And the list goes on and on. Anyone else getting or have gotten the Due Date texts, phone calls, random person at the grocery store chats??? It all comes with love, I know. Every person who has checked in, asked when the due date is, given t

Cloth Diapering 101

May 24, 2021

Cloth Diapering 101

Full disclosure: I’m no expert on Cloth Diapering! Three kids and years of trial and error have led me to the point where I feel slightly comfortable doling out advice on diapering. The best tip though, is to do what feels right for your family. No one else cares what you decide to do. Want diapers from BJs? Go for it. Have an Honest subscription? That’s wonderful! Using cloth AIOs? Congrats! Let’s explore what the options are and hopefully you gain some clarity and confidenc

Baby-Led Weaning: What You Need to Know

May 17, 2021

Baby-Led Weaning: What You Need to Know

Ready to introduce your baby to food? Curious to learn about baby-led weaning but you don’t know how it works? Here are some tips to get you started. Baby-led weaning is a fun and empowering way for babies to experience the world of food. It is a process of discovery, learning and intuition for both mom and baby. As the name implies, the baby leads the way to when she or he is ready to wean off of milk as a primary source of nutrition and calories, and onto food. Baby-led

Postpartum Meal Ideas

May 10, 2021

Postpartum Meal Ideas

As both Birth and Postpartum Doulas we know the value to good preparation. During Pregnancy we spend a lot of time preparing for Baby's arrival. We get the nursery ready, make sure the little one has everything they need from burp clothes to bottles to bassinets. We take our Childbirth Education classes, our Lamaze and Hypnobirthing courses. Pump the brakes though - has anyone talked to you about the first few weeks / months of Postpartum?? (FYI Postpartum goes beyond those w

4 Ways to Kickstart Labor

May 10, 2021

4 Ways to Kickstart Labor

You’re 38, 39, 40, dare we even say 41 weeks pregnant. You feel you may as well be 52 weeks pregnant at this point... or what is 10 years in weeks...?! Regardless, we KNOW the feeling- all too well. You get to the point of desperation where you’re willing to try *almost* anything to get that baby O U T. Spicy Thai for dinner? Check. Eggplant Parm? Check. Ordered bulk pineapple and dates? Check, check. Forget our own experiences being pregnant- as doulas we really see it all.

Secret Tip for Labor!

Apr 23, 2021

Secret Tip for Labor!

Are you ready for one of our top tips for Labor?! There is so much information out there to prepare for this new little babe to come into your world. From first trimester coping techniques to sleeping positions as your belly and baby grow! There is so much to consider!!! Now you've come to the point in your pregnancy where you are starting to think about the "big day". SO EXCITING! And also maybe really scary? We understand all the feelings on the spectrum when it comes to th

How Do I Shower with a Newborn?

Apr 19, 2021

How Do I Shower with a Newborn?

First off- Congratulations! Welcome to Parenthood! Isn’t it funny that one of the most simple and rewarding acts- a shower- is now something you’re googling how to do ?! We get it. Finding a new rhythm with a newborn in tow can be challenging, daunting, and often quite comical when you keep perspective. There may be lots of new things in your future. For now, let’s figure out how you can shower with a newborn. • If you are one of those lucky parents whose newborn sleeps peace

What is the Doulas Relationship with My Hospital?

Apr 11, 2021

What is the Doulas Relationship with My Hospital?

So often we get asked if we have experience working at a specific hospital in the area. (The short answer is: heck yes we do!) And we believe our clients are asking because they feel worried, anxious, and/or concerned that they won’t be listened to or cared for the way they want in the hospital or by their provider. That is so understandable!! By asking if we have a lot of experience in the hospital they plan to use, they are asking, in a way, if we have relationships or conn

Should I Get the COVID vaccine while Pregnant or Postpartum?

Mar 22, 2021

Should I Get the COVID vaccine while Pregnant or Postpartum?

I don't know. Should you?! You could! You also could not! As more and more states are making pregnancy a part of the list of priority groups eligible for the vaccine, you may be googling this very question. Ooooooooof talk about a heavy hitter question. Or maybe it's not for you! Maybe you know exactly what side of the line you stand on. I commend you for your stability and unwavering stance. For those of us who are completely unsure, I wanted to give everyone some resources

What Should I ask a Doula?!

Mar 14, 2021

What Should I ask a Doula?!

Congratulations! You are ready to hire a Birth Doula and you’re wondering what to ask to make sure that you hire the perfect doula for you. We get it!! Birth Doulas are trained professionals. Our job is to provide you with judgement-free, compassionate support during your pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. We will guide you through your experience with the latest and most up-to-date education. We will support you physically during childbirth using our broad knowledge base

How to Unclog a Clogged Duct

Mar 14, 2021

How to Unclog a Clogged Duct

Clogged Ducts (sometimes called Plugged or Blocked Ducts) is when a milk duct experiences a blockage and in turn, inhibits drainage. When milk builds up behind the blockage, the pressure can cause discomfort, soreness, and even a lump in the breast. We know that aside from wanting to heal the discomfort, there’s often an added concern of things progressing into mastitis. Mastitis is the inflammation of the breast tissue, sometimes caused by bacteria, resulting in an infection

8 things I wish I knew before my Cesarean Birth

Mar 5, 2021

8 things I wish I knew before my Cesarean Birth

I don’t often share my birth stories because I’m a Doula. I’m a Doula down to my bones. I eat, sleep (what is sleep?), and breathe Doula. And part of that means keeping my own experiences as just that- mine. Your births will be yours and I will never allow my own personal experience to cloud, inform, or take away from yours. I hold a unique role at your birth and I take that responsibility and honor seriously. A piece of my ability to hold space for you is to keep my own “ish

Am I a Bad Mom?

Mar 5, 2021

Am I a Bad Mom?

Chances are, if you’re googling this at midnight, or sitting on a bench in 20 degree cold at the park while your kids play (IT ME) you’re probably not. But oof is it easy to go there. It is so easy to feel like a failure. To feel like every snack served, every spill cleaned, every single sock collected, is a reminder of all the ways you screwed up your kids that day. What used to be endless lists of To-Dos at the office, people/projects to follow up on, has become endless lis

3 Ways to Relieve Hemorrhoids

Feb 25, 2021

3 Ways to Relieve Hemorrhoids

There are so many parts of pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum that no one talks about. Sometimes, you’ll meet someone who tells it to you straight- but even then we tend to think, “oh, miz for them- that won’t be me...” It’s only after we experience it ourselves, and likely feel isolated, surprised, and frankly, shocked, that we WISH more people would speak honestly about their experiences so it didn’t feel like cautionary tales, but more like common knowledge. One topic,

5 Things I Can't Sleep Without While Pregnant!

Feb 21, 2021

5 Things I Can't Sleep Without While Pregnant!

Pregnancy and sleep don't seem to go hand in hand for me. Maybe it's my body and baby prepping for having a newborn? I don't know! What I do know is that getting comfortable and a good night's sleep requires a lot of prep work. I'm sharing my secrets with you today that have helped me get a decent (not great) nights sleep, and have helped me considerably in getting comfortable. From backaches, to heartburn, to anxious thoughts and pregnancy hormones keeping us up at night, a

GET THIS BABY OUT!!

Feb 21, 2021

GET THIS BABY OUT!!

Have you ever heard the phrase, “What got the baby in will help get it out!”? Aside from it being heteronormative-centric and devoid of any sensitivity or awareness to the countless methods of conception and various options in childbirth, it bears some truth. Let’s break it down: That phrase, “What got the baby in will help get it out” is referring to Intercourse. Plain and simple. Kind of... Often the popular phrase gets used as a wink, wink suggestion to get intimate with y