Tag: breastfeeding
-
First-Time Home Birth: Ella’s Peaceful Journey into Motherhood
Client stories mini-series, Part 3 A rural, spiritually grounded first-time home birth story supported by doula and midwife care Considering a First-Time Home Birth I met Ella after church when she asked to discuss her interest in a first-time home birth. Living in a rural area, she preferred not to use the nearby hospital and…
-
How to Prepare for Breastfeeding (It’s Not What You Expect)
If you’re expecting a baby and wondering how to prepare for breastfeeding, you’re not alone. It’s a common question—and the answer might surprise you. Your Body Already Has the Blueprint If you’re wondering how to prepare your body to make milk, take a deep breath. The good news? There’s nothing special you need to do…
-
What Do You Really Need to Prepare for a Baby? (Part 2)
Previously, I posted about the top three things that a family with a newborn needs: strong support, food for the baby, and food for the grown-ups. Today, I want to complete my list of baby essentials, and you will see it is a lot simpler than many people imagine. I want to help you resist…
-
What Do You Really Need to Prepare for a Baby?
This weekend I got to participate in Birmingham’s Babypalooza Expo, including taking part in a doula panel with a wonderful team of doulas and providing some information about why and how a person might go about hiring a doula. Making the rounds at the exhibition was exhausting, with over 800 pregnant and new parents and…
-
Breastfeeding and Returning to Work
Here is a tremendous hats-off to everyone taking care of a new baby, and especially those who are also navigating additional responsibilities such as returning to work while breastfeeding! I am so proud of what you are doing, and I hope that you are able to take some time out for yourself also, maybe drinking…
-
Co-Sleeping with Baby: A Compassionate, Evidence-Based Guide for New Parents
Co-sleeping with baby is one of the most talked-about—and often misunderstood—choices new parents face. As a doula in Birmingham, I’ve seen firsthand how sleep decisions weigh heavily on families in those tender early weeks. When I asked moms in several Facebook groups about postpartum sleep challenges, I was overwhelmed by the response. It’s clear this…
-
Book Review: Tongue Tied
I’ve seen in a number of clients and friends that early breastfeeding problems can be related to the condition known as “tongue tie,” and that a simple procedure to correct the condition can make a huge difference. Diagnosing a tongue tie is outside of a doula’s scope of practice, but like so many things, we…