I just had yet another family–they only hired me for postpartum support, so didn’t get my normal spiel about postpartum care while we had prenatals together–tell me “we just don’t talk about what postpartum is actually like nearly enough in our society!” I KNOW. Believe me, I’m trying. Hence, this series of posts about some … More Precious Postpartum, Pt. 2: Essential Rest
Whenever my father used to get emphatic about something (and when I was a kid, he would get emphatic about things like learning how to change a tire or how to type well…I’ve learned to type, but I still can’t change a tire), one of his eyebrows would go up, his eyes became quite intense, … More Precious Postpartum, Pt.1
My goal for this series (see my top three recommendations for Pregnancy and Labor & Birth) has been to have concise lists of resources that are easy to add to your life. The thing is, pregnancy is a long, slow process with plenty of time to learn and adjust, and labor only lasts about a … More My Top Three–err—Four for Postpartum
Can you guess what the most common complication is when having a child? Hemorrhoids? Nope. Elevated Blood Pressure? Not it, either. Blood loss? Could be likely, but no. When having a baby, the most common complication is a PMAD. If that’s a new acronym for you, it stands for Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder. Google … More The #1 Pregnancy and Birth Complication
Years ago, I realized that I was spending nearly one-quarter to one-third of my time in prenatals discussing postpartum plans. I had families–in plural–tell me of the pressure they felt after their firstborn to “bounce back” and “have it all together” within a week of giving birth. I would say things like “if the body … More I’m ready!
In celebration of having now attended forty births, I am developing a series of blog posts on just a few of the myriad reasons that make hiring a doula an awesome choice. The first ten reasons focused on studies and statistics, while the next ten elaborated on the kinds of practical help a doula brings … More Forty Reasons to Hire a Doula, Part Four: Emotional and Relational Support
Pretend with me for a moment? Let’s say that you were suddenly given an opportunity to go live in a country that you’ve always wanted to visit. You’ve got some advance notice, but it’s a totally different culture over there. So, for the months ahead of moving, you look at the climate, make sure you … More Moving to a New Country…
In celebration of having now attended forty births, I am developing a series of blog posts on just a few of the myriad reasons that make hiring a doula an awesome choice. This portion looks at some of the studies and statistics regarding doula care. (Note: there has been a HUGE amount of studying on … More Forty Reasons to Hire a Doula, Part One: Studies and Statistics
As a follow-up to my earlier Three Birthing Must-Haves, I thought I’d write about the other side; once you’ve done the work of getting the baby OUT, what are the absolutely most vital things that families need the most? … More Top Three Postpartum Must-Haves
I’ve been meaning to drop in to one of the local La Leche League meetings for some time, and last Wednesday, my schedule finally opened up to go to the Snohomish library and meet a few of these amazing women. I’m so glad I did; I’ve known about La Leche for nearly twenty years, but that … More Local Spotlight: La Leche League
Snohomish County Doula 