The first choice you make when you find out you are pregnant is choosing your prenatal care provider. There are a few factors to consider to help you find the best prenatal care provider for you and your family. A great start is to decide where you’d like to deliver. Then explore the types of providers available to you based on that location. In Tucson, a hospital, birth center, or homebirth are options for where to give birth to your baby. Hospitals are staffed with obstetricians (OBs), labor and delivery nurses, anesthesiologists, and a full baby care team, including NICU personnel. Some h ..read more

  Having a baby is a major life event. But so is becoming a grandparent. This experience is often filled with joy and excitement for many families. But things start to get rough when the grandparents feel overbearing to new parents. Advice and feedback from most grandparents are typically well-intentioned.  Yet the discussions and opinions surrounding infant care often create the biggest points of tension between new parents and grandparents. To some degree, it’s understandable. Our parents are proud of the children they’ve raised. They see the bright, intelligent, and passionate peo ..read more

When it comes to infant feeding choices there is a lot of information and opinions. Most of the conversation lies with what you are feeding your baby; here’s looking at you Breastmilk VS. Formula debate rather than how you feed your baby. Today, let’s talk about the Paced Bottle Feeding method and why this is such a great option for bottle-fed babies. This method allows babies to control the feeding session just as they would if they were fed at the breast. Practicing paced bottle feeding allows you and your baby to understand their hunger cues more accurately. In addition, it allows more time ..read more

There are many ways to gather the information you seek about your pregnancy and upcoming delivery. You can take childbirth education classes, or search the internet for your specific questions. You may talk to friends and family, or read one of the million pregnancy books available online or in stores. Our clients often ask about which books we would recommend that provide the knowledge they are seeking. Part of our role as doulas is to stay current on best practices and information. As a result, we have created this reading list. *Disclaimer, the following links are not affiliated links and T ..read more

As our clients begin to prepare for birth, the desire to explore their options is a common theme as they set out on their journey into parenthood. As doulas, we help clients navigate their options around their birth preferences, infant feeding choices, and postpartum desires. No matter if this is your first or fifth baby. April is VBAC Awareness Month, so there’s no better time to highlight how to navigate a VBAC birth plan. A VBAC birth plan is similar to a traditional birth plan but there are some key points to keep in mind for a VBAC-specific client. As a client who desires a VBAC or vagina ..read more

We’ve heard the old phrase that talk is cheap but what if, talk is actually worth its weight in gold. Everyone seems to have a different relationship with using affirmations, as well as the belief in their power to work. No matter how frequently someone uses affirmations, we know the use of affirmations can be extremely helpful when someone needs a reminder of any kind. Besides, what better time to need a reminder that when someone is in labor. Using Affirmations help to verbally support, motivate, or encourage someone mentally, emotionally, or even physically. As doulas, we witness labor tak ..read more

As a postpartum doula, I have the opportunity to see what people are buying or receiving as gifts for their new babies—everything from newborn care needs, clothing, toys, convenience-based equipment, and many products in between. However, the one that never ceases to excite me is the Snoo Smart Sleeper Bassinet. The Snoo is a sleek bassinet that utilizes sound and motion to soothe babies into a peaceful slumber. The Snoo was designed by Dr. Harvey Karp, author of “The Happiest Baby on the Block.” The methods taught in his book enable parents to calm their crying and fussy babies by utilizing w ..read more

There seems to be two camps when it comes to pregnancy: those who love it and those who would prefer to leave it. As doulas, we know how people feel about pregnancy happens on a spectrum. For many, how they think about pregnancy can shift as the weeks and months pass. Some clients have uncomplicated pregnancies. Little to no morning sickness in the first trimester. Few aches and pains. They cherish the changes in their growing bodies. There is much excitement and anticipation about those first flutters and kicks. They often tell us they could do “this” again and again.  But other clients ..read more

One of the most common topics we discuss with the families who hire us is what to pack for your birth. The decision about what to pack for your birth is a common focus as your due date approaches.  Not to mention friends, family, doctors and doulas alike are all asking “Have you packed your bag yet?” To be sure, having that bag packed and ready to go is a parenting rite of passage! It is common when we meet with families who have given birth before to find that they will ask us to help narrow down what they need to pack this time.  Overpacking is common.  This is a monumental e ..read more

I once read an article that said that the average person makes almost 35,000 decisions a day. Shocking, right? What isn’t shocking is knowing that there are so many factors that influence our daily decisions. So many factors that there is a very real phenomena called decision fatigue. This can result in overwhelming feelings when a decision needs to be made. Some people find it easier when they need to make a decision for other people vs themselves. However, it is my experience that this isn’t always true when trying to make the best decision for their baby. Decisions like swaddling, pacifier ..read more