Dear Mama Doulas

01/05/2024

Dear Mamas, Dads, grandparents, siblings, friends, and everyone else who has trusted us with some of their most special moments this past year... As some of you may know, 2023 was one of the hardest years personally for both Kendall & Kalyn. Both, unexpectedly, went through the major life change that comes with divorce. They have spent the last 6 months navigating coparenting, single mothering, and owning a business. As time goes on we have tried so hard to keep up with our passion of helping families while trying to keep our own afloat. We are so sad to say that due to these changes we are going to be taking a step back from Dear Mama Doulas. We are absolutely heartbroken, and have truly pushed it off as long as we can, but they both have needed to get full time jobs with this life change which makes on call life hard to navigate. We refuse to give anything but the best to our families which is why we know this is the best decision in the long run. We can not thank you all enough for truly making this one of the best years of our lives! All of the friends and family we have made along the way makes this heartbreak a little easier. We hope this isn't goodbye, but simply a see you later for when life gets a little simpler 🤍

All current clients that are booked for 2024 do not worry! We still plan on providing you with the amazing care Dear Mama Doulas is known for.

12/25/2023

To all our friends and families,
We can not thank you enough for the support this past year. We look forward to supporting you in 2024! 🤍

12/11/2023

We have several mamas offering breastmilk for anyone who lost power and lost their stash. Please message us if you are interested and we will get you connected 🧡

12/10/2023

Clarksville and surrounding areas got hit with a terrible tragedy yesterday. Our hearts go out to all who suffered loss.

Our team has opened their homes to anyone in need of a hot shower, hot meal and reset. Please message our page if you are needing assistance.

We are forever grateful for our first responders, electricians, and volunteers. We got this 🧡

12/05/2023

💜Constant nursing can feel like a sign of low milk supply or that baby isn’t transferring milk. However, remember that babies nurse for many reasons other than food. Breastfeeding is also a source of closeness and comfort.

🧡If your baby is cluster feeding, they may also be going through a growth spurt. Typical ages for infant growth spurts are around 2-3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months old. During these times, your baby will want to eat more often than usual. This tells your body to produce more milk for their increased need.

💛Regular poops & pees, appropriate weight gain, and relaxed behavior/falling asleep after feeds are good indicators that your baby is getting enough breast milk.

💚If you have questions about your baby’s weight gain or your milk supply, talk to an IBCLC.






graphic:

12/05/2023

We are booking clients into Aug 2024 already, and we just can't be more thankful!

This year has brought major life changes to most of our team, but our love for this "job" has not stopped 🤍

11/27/2023

It can be SO hard not to compare, but milestones happen at all different ages.

*if you are concerned about certain milestones let your pediatrician know. That's just not what this post means 🤍*

Earlier doesn’t always mean better.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Her kid walked at one year, yours walked at eighteen months, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 it doesn’t matter.⁣⁣
Her kid potty-trained at two years old, yours didn't potty-train until four years old, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 it doesn’t matter.⁣⁣
Her kid recognized all his letters and numbers before pre-school, yours had no interest until almost four, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 it doesn’t matter.⁣⁣
Her kid was sleeping through the night by three months, yours wasn’t sleeping through the night until two years old, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 it doesn’t matter.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Because reaching developmental milestones early means 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 in the long run.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Because a college professor won’t wonder how old her students were when they could count to one hundred or spell their names.⁣⁣
And no one will know or care if the Harvard graduate or the CEO had a pacifier or didn't potty-train until five years old.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
What matters most is the whole child,⁣⁣
who 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 are,⁣⁣
and how kind 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 are⁣⁣
⁣⁣
So let the pressure go,⁣⁣
and let your kids be kids.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Don’t rush them through their childhoods,⁣⁣
and make them miss out⁣⁣
because they’re too busy meeting milestone after milestone.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Besides, earlier doesn’t always mean better.
𝘐𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘳.

✍️:

11/25/2023

MATHS TIME

Research shows
the average breastfed baby takes approx
750ml milk in 24 hours between 1-6 mths

Research shows
the average breastfed baby feeds 11 times in 24 hours

750 ÷ 11 = 68.18ml per feed

Then remember many babies have both breasts per feed, so perhaps 40-50ml from the first
20-30 from the second

It's time to normalise small volume feeds more frequently. This is how hunan babies are supposed to feed.

Some babies may feed less frequently naturally, but may take more milk in one feed if mum has a larger storage capacity. Some may feed more frequently. Many love to cluster feed.

And it's also time to normalise pumping volumes! 60ml/2oz is totally normal. And if you've breastfed first, it is likely to be less!

11/11/2023

What a healing birth 🤍

Also, my first time working with Haven Birth and Wellness and it was an honor!

📷 Kalyn

11/07/2023

What's something you want everyone to know during their pregnancy? Perhaps something you didn't know that you know NOW.