Does My Baby Have a Tongue Tie?
Have you found breastfeeding to be more of a challenge than you expected? Maybe you’re wondering if your baby has a tongue tie and what that means. To thoroughly evaluate for a tie, you need to have an assessment of the function and appearance of the tongue and lip done by a specially trained professional that works with babies who have tongue and lip-ties.
The Best Breast Pump
With so many new choices popping up every year, choosing the best breast pump may feel daunting. This year, we held a breast pump tournament on our Instagram to help us determine which breast pump reigned supreme in 2023!
What is Surrogacy?
In surrogacy, is the baby related to you? How much does a surrogate get paid? Is it hard to give the baby up? If surrogacy is something you are looking into, birth doula and seasoned gestational carrier surrogate Mariah answers many of the top questions to get started.
Creating Healthy Boundaries for Parents
When we take the time to set healthy boundaries with our children and teach them how to set healthy boundaries for themselves, we raise people who know how to advocate for themselves, have respect for others, and bring a sensible, collaborative, and well-balanced approach to life.
What You Can Do about the Inequitable Care for Black Birthing People in America
You may know that Black birthing people are “3 times more likely to die” from pregnancy, birth, and postpartum complications than white birthing people. We know that around 60% of pregnancy-related mortalities are preventable. Thirteen state review committees have studied the data and have found no significant differences in preventability by race/ethnicity. We’ve known that this is a problem for a long time and in recent years, knowledge of this disparity has gone mainstream bringing forth conversations and legislation designed to close the gap.
What I Unlearned about Postpartum Depression
They told me in my doula training that Postpartum Depression and Maternal Mental Health Disorders can take many different forms. I learned that it could happen to anyone. They told me that in some cases, mental health disorders took years to resolve. When I had my son in 2018, I felt prepared to become a parent. We had the support of loving doulas, wonderful midwives, and family. What could go wrong? Postpartum Depression wasn’t going to happen to me… But then it did.
The Role of Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Before and After Birth
Preparing your body for the birthing process should include a visit with a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist (PFPT). One part of pelvic floor therapy for birth is coaching people to coordinate their breath with each contraction, and learning to lengthen their pelvic floor, can help ease the baby down the birthing canal without increased tension.
One Man's View of Childbirth
I had always wanted to be a father, and we planned our pregnancy, so I thought I was ready. But what a thrill to think about having our own baby. During that first pregnancy, nothing else mattered as much as preparing for the birth.
Knowing Your Worth While Parenting
It was only a few short months since returning to work from maternity leave with my first baby when I first heard one of Brené Brown’s Ted Talks. I was struggling with my confidence as a new mom. And then, like magic, Brown’s Ted Talk “The Power of Vulnerability” popped up on YouTube. One statement still resonates with me to this day.
Infant Supplementation Options During the Formula Shortage
You may be familiar with breast milk sharing or it might be a new concept to you, but if you need to supplement, it’s important to know that you have options! Knowing the options available to you will help you make the best choice for your individual circumstances.
Heading Home with Your Newborn: New Life Birth Services Book Club
Heading Home With Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality by Dr. Laura A. Jana and Dr. Jennifer Shu is an excellent option for getting all of those little questions answered and nuanced concerns addressed. Some of the topics covered by this book include feeding (both breast and formula), bodily functions (pee, poop, spit-up…you get the gist), and day-to-day things like sleep, bathing, crying, and even clothing.
Cut, Stapled and Mended: New Life Birth Services Book Club
This book provides insight into the different ways a baby can be brought into this world. I recommend birthers read this book, especially those considering having a VBAC, or who have had a VBAC, birth partners, and anyone constantly surrounded by birth such as doulas.
Why Eat Dates in Pregnancy + 5 Delicious Date Recipes
What if I told you that you could eat a single food in the last weeks of pregnancy that may increase your likelihood of spontaneous labor, increase your cervical dilation and effacement upon admission, decrease the likelihood of Pitocin use in labor, and might cut your active labor time nearly in HALF? If you’re in your third trimester, I sense your ears perking up right about now. Maybe so! Consuming date fruit appears to help in all of these areas and more.
The Happiest Baby on the Block: New Life Birth Services Book Club
Do you know the five methods to turn on your baby’s calming reflex switch? How can you combine the 5 S’s to calm even the most unsettled baby. I like this book because it covers an area I find many parents fail to plan for: the fourth trimester.