Milk & Birth Doula and Lactation Support

06/28/2023

does your estimated due date fall in the two weeks before or after the holiday? it’s possible your provider has already started the induction conversation.

if it’s something you’re not interested REMEMBER YOU HAVE TIME. there is no rush to you any choice you make.

✨ speaking from professional and personal experience(my EDD was July 3rd)

i have listed below questions you can ask yourself or your provider!

❔ask yourself… am I healthy? normal blood pressure reading(BP regulating itself), stable lab work, and as comfortable as you can me in the 3rd trimester

👶🏽 how is baby? normal heart rate during appointments. did the OBGYN run a non-stress test(NST) or biophysical profile(BPP)? what were the results?

🧐 if good, fine or normal is the answer to any of those questions… an induction isn’t necessary. asking these questions to your provider, asking for non-invasive tests such as the non-stress tests or biophysical profile gives you factual information to work off of.

it’s worth mentioning…

🚩 you find yourself in a conversation with provider where it is mentioned that they won’t be on call and they could miss the birth of your baby.

HOWEVER,

🏥 if you find yourself in labor and your doctor isn’t on call? the hospital if fully staffed to care for you and the birth of your baby

✨babies are born on their birthdays.

03/14/2023

nursing has been one of my favorite journeys 🤍

02/08/2023

💫2023 availability 💫

02/02/2023

⁉️ our bodies are so cool ⁉️

01/24/2023

💫labor tip 💫

01/20/2023

did you know on day 3 your baby's life earthside their tummy only holds approx 1oz of milk?

〰that’s smaller than the ready made formula bottles that they hand out in the hospital

🤱in those first few days baby’s tummy holds only 1 oz of milk! with the stomach starting to expand more easily to hold more as supply increases(around day 5)

👶🏼 In the first 24 hours(and really whenever you get a chance) you should be skin to skin with baby.

⁉️ human milk fed infants who receive formula supplements experience a change to their gut flora & it can take a couple weeks for the gut to re-adjust if infant is back to EBF)

💫on day 2 your baby should be feeding 10-12 times over a 24-hour period and cluster feeding should be expected and normal!

01/18/2023

🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍

01/18/2023

if you’re currently physically active in your every day life pre-pregnancy -you can remain physically active & there are benefits during pregnancy and birth!

🏃🏻‍♀️physical activity while pregnant can reduce backaches constipation, swelling & bloating

🧘🏽studies have shown that pregnant persons who were active

*if you aren’t physically active pre-pregnancy you can always work up gradually to a routine*

*yes that is is me on my estimated due date working out in 90 degree weather in .caso_ ‘s garage.*

01/17/2023

If you are having a hospital birth it's
more than likely you'll have your blood taken and have IV fluids offered. BUT DID YOU KNOW you can drink your fluids by mouth? wild concept. 😂 You can advocate to have a saline lock - often called a "hep lock". *an intravenous (IV) catheter that is threaded into a peripheral vein, flushed with saline, and then capped
off for later use*

💫 Higher amounts of IV fluids can lead to an artificial drop in the newborns weight

💫 IV fluids can lead to painful breast/chest swelling, both of which can harm the initial breast/chestfeeding

By choosing the hep lock you stay mobile without being tied a bag of fluids while keeping "providers
happy" knowing they have access to veins in the VERY VERY rare event during labor your veins become flaccid
and gives you freedom and mobility.
Staying hydrated can shorten labor and it's very important for life in general! Having a drinking vessel
with a straw makes it easier to drink when it's offered by a partner or your support person.

01/17/2023

01/16/2023

If you are having a hospital birth it’s more than likely you’ll have your blood taken and have IV fluids offered. BUT DID YOU KNOW you can drink your fluids by mouth? 😂 wild concept. You can opt to have a saline lock - often called a “hep lock”.

💫 Higher amounts of IV fluids can lead to an artificial drop in the newborns weight

💫 IV fluids can lead to painful breast/chest swelling, both of which can harm the initial breast/chestfeeding

By choosing the hep lock you stay mobile without being tied a bag of fluids while keeping “providers happy” knowing they have access to veins in the VERY VERY rare event during labor your veins become flaccid and gives you freedom and mobility.

Staying hydrated can shorten labor and it’s very important for life in general! Having a drinking vessel with a straw makes it easier to drink when it’s offered by a partner or your support person.

12/12/2022

🎄baby’s first holiday season 🕎

how exciting! congratulations on your first holiday season with your newborn. everyone must be so excited to meet the little one.

🎄remember to be honest with yourself. feel free to say no if you just gave birth two weeks ago or two months ago. you are well within your scope as a growing family to set your own traditions and boundaries that make you feel comfortable.

🕎 know you can nurse wherever you feel comfortable. in front of your family covered or uncovered.

❄️you make your families rules no one else

🎅🏼 plan out ahead what obligations you want to stick to

⛄️your child needs help voicing boundaries. baby does not need to sit in a strangers lap for *memories* and does not need to hug or kiss a family member in fear of seeming rude.

🧤feel confident to respond to unsolicited opinions with a simple “I’m not in need of any feedback right now - but when I’m open I’ll let you know”