Reducing stress and staying as calm as possible during labor isn’t just a nice sounding idea: it is essential! Labor is a physiological process that is governed largely by hormones in your body. The special labor hormone cocktail your body needs to birth your baby functions best when we are calm, rested, fed and well-hydrated. So how you go about reducing stress during labor? Consider the Setting Make sure you are planning to give birth in a place you feel safe. For some people that will be the hospital with the highest level of NICU care, and for others that might be home! There is no one rig ..read more

Recently one of our veteran doulas and IBCLCs, Kacey Widmeyer, shared a TikTok with some of the helpful things she has learned about supporting new moms. These are great tips to share with friends and family, who may be eager to help and support you, but might not be sure how! Here are the things Kacey shared: Do not assume new families want visitors. Some may, but many may be exhausted, recovering, and figuring out feedings. If you are dropping by a meal, plan on simply saying hi for a few minutes, and then leaving, unless you are specifically invited to stay and visit longer! Resist the ..read more

If you are planning on a water birth, you might have questions about what things look like immediately after your baby is born. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind that will be a little different than they would if you were to give birth on land! You will need to keep your bottom and perineum in the water so that as your baby is born, they are fully under the water. This way they will not take their first breath until after they are fully born and brought up gently to the surface of the water! Once baby has surfaced out of the water, is important to not let their face go back in th ..read more

Most people are so focused on the birth of their baby, they forget to consider what the initial hour or two after birth might really look like beyond getting to see, hold, and snuggle your new baby! Here are a few things that will happen right after a vaginal birth: The cord is clamped and cut, and your baby goes skin-to-skin on your chest! While your baby is skin-to-skin, your provider will check you for any tears, and start to watch for signs that the placenta is ready to be delivered. They will do a fundal “massage” on your belly to make sure your uterus is clamping down to slow bleedin ..read more

Whether it’s just your partner with you at your birth, or you plan to include other close family members or friends, your support team may wonder what they can or should do during birth to help you! Here are a few things for support team members to keep in mind: Stay calm & grounded. If you are feeling anxious or stressed, make sure to step out in the hall to clear your mind, ask the nurse a question, or grab a bite to eat. Support team members nee to remember that the birthing person is the center of the day, and birth happens best when stress or distraction are kept to a minimum! If yo ..read more

Did you know that immediately after birth, most babies will go through 9 distinct stages as they transition out of the womb, onto your chest for skin-to-skin, and eventually prepare for and initiate their first feeding! Here are the 9 stages you will watch your newborn move through in that first hour of life: Crying. Immediately at birth most newborns will start crying. This helps clear their lungs, and also makes total sense considering the massive transition they have just gone through! Relaxation. Once the newborn is placed skin-to-skin (usually directly on the birth parent) and is cove ..read more

It’s no secret that one of the toughest parts of being a new parent can be the sleepless nights, and overnight feedings. One of the biggest concerns that new parents may have is about how to encourage their new baby to sleep, especially at night. Your new baby won’t develop their circadian rhythm, or the internal clock inside that causes you to feel drowsy in the evening, for a few months. Also, whether breastfeeding, chest feeding, or bottle feeding, all newborns are essentially on a very easily digested liquid diet for the first 6 months or so, which means that they do need to eat approximat ..read more

Many parents ask us about our recommendations for baby products. There are so many things out there, and it can be overwhelming to know which baby items are necessary, which are helpful, and which truly seem to benefit the lives of the families who use them! Our doulas work frequently with new families, and have seen what works for many others. From this experience, we have created an Amazon List to help you too! On the list you will find everything from birth preparation books, belly support bands, bottles and pumping great, and high chair recommendations. Of course you won’t need everything ..read more

Safe sleep is an important topic for new parents to learn about before your baby arrives. Over the years, sleep recommendations have changed, and it can be confusing to know what advice out there is safe! We like to teach the ABCs of Safe Sleep, an easy way to keep in mind the key points for any sleep environment you create for your newborn. A-Alone Baby should always sleep on their own safe sleep surface (see the C below!), not in the same bed as another adult, child, or pet. They should also not have anything extra in the crib with them: not a pillow, not stuffed animals, not even a blanket ..read more

Wondering what you might need to keep on hand or consider while caring for the personal hygiene of your newborn baby? Here are a few things that you will want to consider! Must-Haves for Bathing If you are giving birth at the hospital, the first bath will be offered typically between 12-24 hours after birth, and will be done in the room with you and your baby so you can watch, ask questions, and even participate if you would like to! If you want more assistance once you get home, or if you have a home birth, your doula can help you too by doing a bath or two with you in the early days. Babies ..read more