A Labor Of Love Birth Services

08/24/2020

🚫 ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴡᴀsʜ ɪᴛ ᴏғғ! 🚫

Vernix caseosa, also known as vernix, is the waxy or cheese-like white substance found coating the skin of newborn human babies. It begins to form at about 27 weeks. It is produced by dedicated cells that play protective roles during fetal development and for a few hours after birth.

Don't wash it off!! Rub it in. It's the best lubricant for the baby's skin once the are 🌏 earthside🌎

𝔹𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕗𝕚𝕥𝕤 𝕀𝕟𝕔𝕝𝕦𝕕𝕖:🌻⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀
✅Germ fighting superhero - one of the primary purposes of vernix is to protect the infant from unwanted pathogens, both in the womb and out ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✅Controls temperature - with its thick, waxy coating, vernix helps to insulate the baby. infants who have it immediately washed off have a significantly higher rate of heat loss⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✅Skin cleanser and antioxidant - it offers a protective covering while going through the birth canal, allowing baby to pick up good bacteria & potentially avoid overgrowths of bad bacteria, viruses and fungi⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
What purpose does vernix serve?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🌿In the womb:
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Prevents loss of electrolytes and fluids⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Acts as a microbial barrier from unwanted pathogens⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Provides a protective layer to facilitate skin growth⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🌿Out of the womb:
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Decreases skin pH and helps form the protective acid mantle⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Protects from pathogens⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Moisturizes and keeps skin soft⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Contains that new baby smell to help mom and baby bond during the golden hour

📸: VIA

12/19/2019

Did you know Date Night Childbirth Classes are offered right here in West Tennessee?

Heard of Lamaze classes but aren't sure if they are really right for you? Here's an overview of Lamaze classes and their benefits.When you think of Lamaze classes, you might picture a bunch of pregnant women making the sound "hee-hee." That is Lamaze, but it's only one part of it. ...

12/19/2019

🚫ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴡᴀsʜ ɪᴛ ᴏғғ!🚫

Vernix caseosa, also known as vernix, is the waxy or cheese-like white substance found coating the skin of newborn human babies. It begins to form at about 27 weeks. It is produced by dedicated cells that play protective roles during fetal development and for a few hours after birth.

Don't wash it off!! Rub it in. It's the best lubricant for the baby's skin once they are 🌏 earthside🌎

𝔹𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕗𝕚𝕥𝕤 𝕀𝕟𝕔𝕝𝕦𝕕𝕖:🌻⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✅Germ fighting superhero - one of the primary purposes of vernix is to protect the infant from unwanted pathogens, both in the womb and out ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✅Controls temperature - with its thick, waxy coating, vernix helps to insulate the baby. infants who have it immediately washed off have a significantly higher rate of heat loss⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✅Skin cleanser and antioxidant - it offers a protective covering while going through the birth canal, allowing baby to pick up good bacteria & potentially avoid overgrowths of bad bacteria, viruses and fungi⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
What purpose does vernix serve?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🌿In the womb⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Prevents loss of electrolytes and fluids⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Acts as a microbial barrier from unwanted pathogens⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Provides a protective layer to facilitate skin growth⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🌿Out of the womb⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Decreases skin pH and helps form the protective acid mantle⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Protects from pathogens⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Moisturizes and keeps skin soft⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Contains that new baby smell to help mom and baby bond during the golden hour

www.lamazedoula.com

📸:

12/09/2019

With 6 weeks to go before her due date, Danielle gets the scoop on what doulas do, what doulas don’t, and the difference between a doula and midwife. The bes...

11/20/2019

"I’m four months postpartum.

Four months of breastfeeding one, sometimes two babies. Four months of feeling my core wobble and give way to backaches. Four months of watching this wrinkly pink baby fill out with rolls and soft, round cheeks. Four months of sheer exhaustion and middle of the night feedings. But I’m still so new, so raw.

My body is completely different than it was before babies, now twice over. I’m weaker in some places and stronger than I’ve ever been in others. I’ve pushed this body to the limit, to the place where it aches and screams for rest. I’ve nourished it some days and deprived it others. I’ve given it Lexapro to fight off the PPD that came for me again. I’ve heaved it heavily, sleepily out of bed for my crying babies. I’ve rocked it and bent it and contorted it to fit the shape of this new chapter of motherhood. But it’s still new. It’s postpartum. It’s healing. Slowly the pieces of me are coming back together in an entirely changed shape.

My belly button is caving in where I pierced it in youthful rebellion. The skin wrinkles like parchment paper where I try to button my mom jeans. My breasts inflate, engorge, deflate, sag, ache, spill, explode, leak, nourish, sustain life. My shoulders bend inward from the weight of love. My lips are often chapped from dehydration when I forget to pour myself water as I pour myself out to my babies. I’m not a martyr though, I’m a mother. I’m postpartum. I’m giving and giving and trying to find space for rest and self love and feeding myself and it’s impossibly hard and important and sacred work. I gave life from this scarred, ripped, creased, wrinkled, majestic and forever changed body and each day as my babies grow, so do I. Postpartum is hard and soft, painful and euphoric, lonely and full. Just like life, it’s dynamic. It’s okay to ache for your old life, former self, pre-baby body. It’s okay to feel a full spectrum of emotions about your new world. You can love your babies more than the stars in the sky and need a break.

Postpartum is such a tender time, be kind to yourself. It’s something I need to be reminded of, too."
📷: + Ariel Rose Photography

09/26/2019

💜

"it takes a village"

📷: Clare Cassidy Photography

03/21/2019

💜WE HAVE BIG NEWS!💜

A Labor of Love Birth Services is joining forces with West Tennessee Doula Services to create Willow Tree Wellness!

We’ve learned through the years that we can better serve YOU if we work in a team model.

But wait, there’s more!

We’ve added some amazing women to our team!! Now we can offer other services that you need and have requested! Postpartum services, acupuncture and chiropractic care, physical fitness classes, and nutrition services!

We have big plans to add more as time goes on, but you’ll just have to follow our story to find out 😉

03/21/2019

You always see the great side of breastfeeding promoted. It’s natural and free! No bottles! It’s so easy and convenient! You’ll love every moment of it! Beautiful photos of mothers and babies sharing this serene moment flood Instagram. But why don’t we talk more about the other side of it? Why don’t we talk about the difficult journey it truly is? The stories of raw, bleeding ni***es and mastitis? Of cluster feeding hell - being stuck to a couch or bed for hours feeling your butt go numb. Of ni**le shields, how terrible pumping can be, how there is still the chance you’ll be washing bottles and pump parts if you ever want a break from the b**b suckers. How much of your time will be spend with babies attached to your body. New mamas, mamas to be, anyone reading, listen to me - for something natural, breastfeeding is HARD. You’re not failing at being a mom because your kid has a bad latch. You’re not failing at being a mom if breastfeeding isn’t what you though it would be. It’s okay to reach out for help with it. You’re doing great, Mama. I promise.
Amazing. I love the truth of this post. THANK YOU.

03/20/2019

03/20/2019

Are y’all excited for our big announcement coming soon?!

A Labor Of Love Birth Services