The Doula Difference

In the beginning of a pregnancy, it's all so new and exciting. There are all of those 'firsts', hearing the baby's heartbeat, getting that much anticipated sonogram, even those early midwife/OB visits seem to bring on their own special brand of anticipatory excitement. Then that last trimester sneaks right up on us. With the frequent bathroom breaks, seemingly endless cups of water, and aches and pains that go along with growing a human being start to catch up and take a small toll. Many of us 'mothers to be' in that space have a universal feeling of the never ending pregnancy. So, how exactly does one cope with the anxious waiting game associated with the last few weeks, and sometimes, those extra days beyond the prescribed 'due date'? Having patience in pregnancy can be a tall order in the end...take it from me, I was beyond 42 weeks when my little one decided it was time. The first and best way to handle all that antsy pantsy-ness is pure distracti

After the birth, usually the baby is kind of messy. While bringing baby into the world is neither easy or clean work, a lot of the 'messy' stuff remaining on the baby is quite useful for the early moments in life and bonding. Typically once baby is delivered, and placed on mama's chest, a gentle wipe down or towel off is sufficient for a while. Delaying the bath can increase the start of breastfeeding. The vernix and amniotic fluid left on baby provides cues to the mother's brain to begin producing milk/colostrum. Additionally the immediate placement of baby onto moms chest can promote early breast feeding cues, again due to the powerful scents of birth and our olfactory recognition.  Aside from a beautiful beginning to breast feeding, bathing too soon may lower the infants temperature. Even when warm water is used, studies have show. The temperature can decrease up to 3 degrees. Infants are not fully able to regulate their own temperature until about 72 hours of life

During the childbearing year, so many of us prepare for the birth experience. We take childbirth preparation classes, such as Lamaze, Hypnobabies, or even Birthing from Within. While these are all gloriously wonderful techniques to use in preparation for and during childbirth, those first few 'baby moon' months are of great importance as well. The idea of the 'fourth trimester', or the first three months post birth, creates a soft landing space for your new baby to cope with the whole concept of being 'land side', and all the exciting experiences that come with it. The newborns' experiences in the womb are often recreated post birth in order to calm/soothe baby. Such techniques include swaddling, which recreates the tight, enclosed womb like feeling they had while in utero, and swinging/swaying, again baby was constantly swayed while in the womb. Shushing, or humming are also quite soothing to baby since they have been hearing mom's heartbeat, and ot