When You Don't Feel the Love
Doulas of Raleigh
by Heather Clements
1M ago
I’ve never shared this with anyone.  When my midwife placed my baby on my chest after each of my births, I felt….nothing.  Well, I definitely felt relief that labor was over.  But that moment of instantly falling head over heels in love with my new baby.. I didn’t have that...  What was wrong with me??? The early postpartum days of taking care of and feeding my brand new baby were just out of obligation to keep this tiny human alive. Hearing their cries did not pierce my heart.. I just wanted the crying to stop.  I wasn’t excited to latch my baby to my breast-AGAIN- an ..read more
Visit website
What to Know About Pre-Eclampsia
Doulas of Raleigh
by Heather Clements
1M ago
Pre-eclampsia is diagnosed when you have high blood pressure, combined with protein in your urine, after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Your provider may also do blood work to confirm this diagnosis. Additionally, you may experience headaches and swelling. Pre-eclampsia is very serious and needs to be treated by your care provider. Here is what to expect if you are diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. The only way to get rid of the pre-eclampsia is to have your baby. Your provider will be weighing risks and benefits of an induction or scheduled C-section if you have pre-eclampsia.While they would like for yo ..read more
Visit website
Swaddling - Everything You Need to Know
Doulas of Raleigh
by Kelly Rutan
1M ago
To swaddle or Not to swaddle - that is the question. And if you are a sleep-deprived, brand new parent looking for ways to get more sleep, you’re probably asking yourself that question right now. Today on the blog we’re breaking down all things swaddling so you can decide for yourself if this tool is right for you and your baby. Why Swaddling? If you’ve seen babies wrapped up like snug little burritos, you may have wondered why. The answer lies partly in the normal newborn reflexes that are just part of the first several months of development. Babies are born with an involuntary startle reflex ..read more
Visit website
The Number 1 Way to Prepare for Labor and Birth
Doulas of Raleigh
by Heather Clements
2M ago
Pssst….we have a secret and we want to share it with you! You may have questions about how to best prepare yourself for labor and birth. While there are certainly books to read, podcasts to listen to, stretches to do, etc…we are going to tell you the top way to prepare for birth. Ready? Here it is: TAKE A GOOD CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION CLASS! Yep, that’s the number 1 way to prepare for labor and birth. After all, you don’t know what you don’t know. Your body will be going through a tremendous amount of physical and emotional changes throughout labor. Birth can be beautiful but it can also be A LOT ..read more
Visit website
The Doulas of Raleigh Postpartum Doula Difference
Doulas of Raleigh
by Kelly Rutan
2M ago
There is something that we don’t talk about when it comes to postpartum. For those parents that have experienced it, they probably know. Yet, they’re hesitant to drop this not so pleasant truth on any pregnant person they come into contact with. For those expecting parents, waiting patiently (and sometimes not so patiently) to meet their new baby, they might suspect and fear this about postpartum. But they don’t know who to ask, fearful of confirming what they already know is likely true. There is something about postpartum that we don’t talk about: Postpartum is lonely. It’s not all lonely, o ..read more
Visit website
Things to Try When Labor is Stalled
Doulas of Raleigh
by Heather Clements
2M ago
First, know that it is OK and sometimes perfectly normal for folks to hang out in the same place in labor for awhile. It’s also normal for you to want to get the show on the road. Here are a few things to try if your labor has stalled. Nourishment When was the last time you had something to eat and/or drink? Labor is a marathon and it takes a LOT of caloric energy. If you haven’t had much caloric input your body may be in a holding pattern with labor until it can get more energy. If your circumstances have you limited to clear liquids, consider drinking chicken, beef, or bone broth. A honey ..read more
Visit website
New Year's Resolutions
Doulas of Raleigh
by Kelly Rutan
3M ago
New Year, New You? If you roll your eyes every time you hear that phrase, then this blog is for you, my friend. I always cringe a bit when each year people ask me what my New Year’s Resolutions are. There’s just something about them - maybe it’s the pressure? - that just makes me sweat a little bit. I don’t need a new version of me! I like me! In fact, I have a different approach to the whole “resolution” thing. Let me explain. What Can I Leave Behind? Instead of beginning a new year trying to change myself, I like to instead reflect on what I can leave behind from the previous year. What thin ..read more
Visit website
Breastfeeding: The First Week
Doulas of Raleigh
by Kelly Rutan
3M ago
Who said breastfeeding would come naturally? I’d like to have a few words with that person. But seriously, just because breastfeeding is “natural,” doesn’t mean establishing it happens easily. In fact, the first week can be the toughest for some people. I like to remind the families I work with that breastfeeding is more like learning to walk than like learning to breathe. When we’re born, we take that first breathe intuitively and that’s it - we’re breathing. But when we learn to walk, we have to try and try again. It takes time and patience. We’ll probably stumble and fall but if we keep at ..read more
Visit website
Joy to the World (an Ode to Labor)
Doulas of Raleigh
by Heather Clements
3M ago
Joy to the world, labor has come Let the journey begin The cramping has begun-un-un Remember to breathe and relax into the wave, relax into the wave, re-laaaaaxxx, rela-a-axxxx into the wave Joy to the world, labor has come And now your water breaks Its running down your le-e-gg, it’s definitely not pee-eee-eee Time to wear your Depends, it’s time to wear your depends, it’s ti—IIME, it’s tiii-ii-ime, to wear your Depends. Joy to the world, labor has come and it’s getting really harrrrrddddd Waves are 4 min apaar—ar-art, they last a minute long-ong-ong Relax, breathe, and hip squeeze, Relax, br ..read more
Visit website
Favorite Holiday Traditions
Doulas of Raleigh
by Kelly Rutan
3M ago
This special time of year can be one of the best times to create family traditions with your little ones. But it can also feel overwhelming when it seems like this is the time of year that is so hectic. Trying to make magic on top of everything else can be too much. So we’re here with some ideas for special holiday traditions that you can incorporate into your family, without breaking the bank or stretching your sanity to the breaking point. Baking/Decorating Special Treats For many families, this time of year means special dishes or recipes. If you have a special family treat, what better way ..read more
Visit website

Follow Doulas of Raleigh on FeedSpot

Continue with Google
Continue with Apple
OR