Downeast Doula Services

05/09/2025

May is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month - you deserve support and recovery! Reach out, speak out, and know that you matter!

04/14/2025

12/04/2023

It's your right to protect your "golden hour" with your newborn!

The Golden Hour

The golden hour after birth refers to the first hour after your baby's birth. This is a crucial bonding time period between you and your baby and has significant benefits for you both. Delaying procedures and exams and having that uninterrupted time will allow your baby to adapt to being earth side at their own pace.

The skin-to-skin contact and stimulation that occurs during this time can provide benefits such as raising oxytocin levels (which can play a huge role in helping establish breastfeeding) and regulating your baby's temperature, glucose levels, heart rate, and oxygen.

During the golden hour your baby goes through 9 stages:

Birth cry: the first cry after birth when your baby's lungs will first expand.

Relaxation: when that crying has stopped and your baby has relaxed.

Awakening: usually within 3 minutes after birth where your baby will open their eyes and may begin to move their head and mouth.
Activity: increased mouth and sucking movements will occur; usually around 8 minutes after birth.

Rest: this will happen throughout the entire first hour as your baby begins adjusting to life outside the womb.

Crawling/breast crawl: when your baby begins crawling towards your breast; usually around 35 minutes after birth.

Familiarization: your baby will begin licking and touching the ni**le and breast as they become familiar with their you; usually begins around 45 minutes after birth and could last 20 minutes or more.

Suckling: your baby's first latch and breastfeeding experience.

Sleep: this can occur 1-3 hours after birth. ❄️

12/04/2023

Normalizing Breastfeeding!

09/07/2023

It's been 15 years since I nursed my baby but I can still feel this!

Niplash: When a breastfeeding baby twists their head without letting go of your ni**le... 🤱

📷 | ccto

08/04/2023

This! I am a Doula who will support you on YOUR journey not what everyone else thinks your journey should be.

43.8K likes, 737 comments. “Comparison is the thief of joy. Thanks for the reminder Bodunrin 🥹💗”

06/29/2023

Doulas don't take the place of partners. We help partners more fully participate in the experience!

06/29/2023

A newborn baby's stomach is very small, so they need to feed little and often. Your baby can have a good feed and be hungry again quite quickly. This is why "responsive feeding" – also called "baby-led" or "on-demand" feeding – is so important. 🤱

The idea is that you respond to your baby's cues. Breastfeeding is not only about your baby getting enough milk. Your baby feeds for comfort and reassurance, too. 👍

Responsive feeding also has to do with your needs. You may want to offer to breastfeed if your breasts are uncomfortably full, if you need to fit in a feed around other commitments, or if you just want to sit down and enjoy spending some time with your baby.

Share this with other moms 👇

**le

06/29/2023

You deserve to hear these affirmations

04/27/2023

Never underestimate yourself! If you're making milk, you're working hard!