As postpartum doulas, it’s our job to know about all the best mom and baby gadgets so we can make appropriate recommendations for our clients. Baby gear is one area where inventors are constantly coming up with new ideas and improvements to try to “hack” parenting, so there’s always something new and cool coming down the line! Here are some of the new 2020 baby products we can’t wait to try this year: 9. MiaMily Carrier Baby carriers are great, but not everyone can use them due to back and neck pain. The MiaMily carrier may make babywearing more accessible to these parents, thanks ..read more

Are Postpartum Doulas and Night Nurses the Same Thing? As professional postpartum doulas, who help new parents navigate life with infants and save the day (night) with overnight shifts so they can catch up on sleep, there is just one tiny thing that gets under our skin: being referred to as night nurses or night nannies. Postpartum doulas are still not widely known in the mainstream public, but whether from TV, books, or tradition passed down through history, almost everyone is aware of the concept of the “night nurse” or “night nanny” – the person who cares for a new baby at night ..read more

Breast pumps are pretty unsexy. They’re not glamorous, and they’re not fun. But in this modern world we all need them at some point after having a baby – whether that’s to go back to work, to provide medically necessary supplementation, or even just to give a bottle to the babysitter. Breast pump usage causes lots of complaints, from pain and discomfort, to uncertainty over how much milk should come out, to the sheer tedium of doing it. Pumping may be necessary, but there are definitely a few things that can make it a little easier to be hooked up to the tubes multiple times each day! Her ..read more

You hear a lot of talk about body positive these days and I’ve been pondering what that means in relation to pregnancy and postpartum. This seems to be a time where people question their body more than ever, especially postpartum, but sometimes even during pregnancy. Your body does some amazing things but pregnacy can also do some damage to your body. So how do you love your body even though you feel it’s damaged or not like your own? That’s the real hard part. You don’t have to love everything about your body. You don’t have to love your stretch marks and your flabby skin or your separatio ..read more

As we slowly work our way into the warmer summer months, we’re spending more sunny days outdoors with our little ones. No one likes to be hot and sweaty, especially your baby. While it’s easy to reach for a water when we start to feel overheated, your baby has a difficult time letting you know that they need some help cooling down. Luckily there’s some helpful gadgets, attachments, tips and tricks to help parents keep their baby cool in the summer months ahead. We put together some of our favorite ways to enjoy the heat and keep their baby comfortably cool. Handy Cooler Stroller System This a ..read more

There’s just something about having a doula with you for your pregnancy and birthing journey. That supportive, unbiased, compassionate person is always there for you if you have a question or need to talk through some of your worries and fears, and that takes so much of the stress out of the whole experience. Maybe they’ve even been in the exact same situation as you – or maybe they haven’t, but they walk alongside you anyway. And sometimes, you get to enjoy an even more special and sacred connection. Sometimes, your doula is going through pregnancy just like you! Pregnant Doulas Are ..read more

If you’ve taken any childbirth classes, toured your local hospitals and birth centers…or talked to any doulas for any length of time, you’ve probably at least heard mention of the so-called magical properties of the peanut ball. This unassuming, smallish, peanut-shaped physical therapy ball couldn’t really be super useful during labor…or could it? So What is a Peanut Ball Anyway? A peanut ball is an exercise ball, similar to a yoga ball, but smaller – and shaped, like the name suggests, as a peanut. The peanut ball is typically used in physical therapy exercises to help with mobility, po ..read more

In many American households, it’s practically unthinkable not to have furry friends who are part of the family. However, when it comes time to add a new sibling of the human variety into the fold, parents are understandably anxious. Will the animal react strangely? Dislike the baby? Or even worse, bite or scratch? Here are some tips on how to introduce your animals to the new baby. Behavior Training Starts Nine Months Early Rather than focusing too much on baby-specific manners, it’s important to start early with behavioral training in general. If your dog knows good manners, does no ..read more

As a Hypnobirthing-friendly doula agency (featuring three Hypnobirthing instructor and several Hypnodoulas!), we have received many questions and comments from Annapolis area parents and providers regarding the practice of Hypnobirthing. “Isn’t that just a woo-woo, anti-science, birthing-in-the-woods thing?” While we can certainly see how the visual of a comedy-show hypnotist combined with a laboring woman could raise a few eyebrows, we’re always happy to set the record straight on what Hypnobirthing is – and isn’t. Hypnobirthing Helps You See Birth in a New Way Most American wome ..read more

New year, new…house? Moving is already stressful enough as it is, with closing deadlines, packing, cleaning, and all the associated costs. But throw in a new baby arriving soon, and your move can become a whole new level of tense. Here are five tips to help make moving during pregnancy a little easier. Plan Ahead of TimeWhile moving with an infant certainly isn’t impossible, it’s not ideal. With constant feedings, diapers, and sleep schedules – not to mention your physical recovery from childbirth – the rigors of packing and lifting and hauling will be a lot more difficult than if ..read more