Bringing a new life into the world is a magical and challenging experience. Postpartum doulas can be your partner in navigating many of those magical moments and their challenges. As a doula myself, I’ve had the privilege of supporting countless families during this tender time. Today, let’s explore the diverse world of postpartum doulas, and how you can find the perfect match for your unique needs.   Understanding the Role of a Postpartum Doula Before diving into the search for your perfect doula, it is important to understand what a postpartum doula does. Postpartum doulas focus on the ..read more

As the colder months approach, we face chilly temperatures, increased risk of sickness, and less daylight hours – all of which can make the postpartum period harder than it already is for many parents. You might be unsure of how to entertain yourself and your baby in a healthy way, but there’s plenty of safe indoor activities that can make the season ahead a little easier and enjoyable. An indoor pool for example. Get in the water with your baby and enjoy some time splashing around in the warmth. A trip to a nature center, history, or art museum. Take your baby and any older kids around to se ..read more

Have you noticed how everyone talks about pregnancy and birth, but less so about what happens after you have your baby? Adjusting to the “fourth trimester” is difficult for everyone involved, and families are often encouraged to keep the messiness of their experience under lock and key. I’ve noticed that people are especially silent when you have a disability. Parents with disabilities are seemingly uninvited to any conversation around managing the postpartum period, thus excluding disabled people from joining discussions around giving birth and having children. However, whether or not you liv ..read more

  Father’s Day is just around the corner, and every year a whole new batch of guys have moved out of the Dude Zone and into the Dad Zone and are celebrating this day of recognition for the very first time. However, I think that we should also start to make some extra efforts to include expectant Dads into this tradition too. Even though most of those guys probably think that they aren’t really a Dad until Baby gets here, the fact of the matter is that parenthood starts with that positive pregnancy test. Here are 5 thoughtful gift ideas for the expectant Dad that say “Welcome To Fatherhoo ..read more

Written by Betsy Quiligan Now that 2020 is halfway gone, I can’t quite believe all that has happened. As a postpartum doula, my job is to support parents, and that has meant something different this year. Many in our community are 100 days into stay-at-home isolation, but – just like with a newborn – you may have found that after three months, you’re still struggling. The messages parents started sending me in March were the same as always. “I don’t think I can keep doing this.” “How long will it be this way?” “I’m so miserable; how do people do this?!” But these messages were not the secret f ..read more

Written by Holly Dobrynski It’s definitely an interesting time to have a baby! Things are slowly starting to open up in the United States, but many people still feel uncomfortable doing many of the things we used to do a few months ago. Add a newborn to the mix, and things can feel downright terrifying.  We often recommend that new parents utilize a cleaning service and order takeout every now and then to simplify things at home during the postpartum adjustment period.  Now, though, that may not be an option you’re comfortable with those first two weeks at home. Here are a few tips a ..read more

Written by Betsy Quiligan Self-Care with a Newborn Living with a newborn can be difficult.  That’s not news. Often when folks are trying to be helpful to new parents, they will offer advice like “Sleep when the baby sleeps” or “Take time for yourself.”  Sometimes those platitudes are helpful, but more often they leave parents at a loss on how to practically add anything to their new daily routines. So what does self-care* look like when you’re on a 24-hour cycle of feed, diaper, and sleep on repeat? The first week is unique.  You are getting to know your baby, who is likewise g ..read more

Written by Client Kate – Silver Spring It was 3 a.m. on our first night home from the hospital when I dialed Metropolitan Doulas, crying and desperate for help. Our daughter, Piper, had been inconsolable for hours. We had tried everything – the (not-yet-recalled) Rock n’ Play, swaddling, white noise, rocking, shushing, bouncing, just holding her, a pacifier even though the lactation consultants had told us not to use one yet, placing her gently in the bassinet. I had nursed her on and off for hours; she would detach from my breast, screaming, red-faced. I had been anxious before we left the h ..read more

This month, nine Metropolitan Doulas attended a gathering of professionals who work with pregnant and postpartum women – doctors, nurses, therapists, midwives, doulas, massage therapists, social workers, and beyond.  We met for four hours to talk about perinatal mental health resources in our region and how we can better work together to serve families. Since most women experience some mood changes when pregnant or after the baby is born, and one in seven have more significant symptoms of depression or anxiety, this is a topic that affects many families in our area. As postpartum doulas ..read more

During the first few weeks with a newborn, loading everything up and venturing out for a cup of coffee can seem impossible. What if the baby needs to eat? What if she poops? You’re too sleep-deprived anyway — isn’t it easier to just stay home? There are several benefits to getting out of the house, though. As soon as your physical recovery allows, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends 20-30 minutes of daily activity to rebuild muscle and combat postpartum mood disorders. It is a way of reconnecting with the “real world” and exercising your new self-identity ..read more