Is Having a Doula Important?
Is having a doula important? Imagine you are planning to compete in an Olympic sport. Would you prepare, train, practice, compete and execute the sporting event all on your own? Or would you have a coach, trainer, nutritionist, medical staff and your family nearby to guide, encourage and take care of you as needed? Of…
How Will I Cope with Labor?
How will I cope with labor? What are the options? Some mothers know exactly what they want and others would like to research and learn about their options. Here is a brief summary of some pain relief and coping strategies used in labor. 1. Unmedicated/Comfort Measures Laboring mothers that plan to go without medicine often…
Childbirth: There Is No Right Way (updated 2022)
Is there a right way to do childbirth? My mother was a hippie who was very naturally-minded. I was the first of her three children, all of which were born at home with a home-visiting doctor. At five years old I got to be present in the room when my little sister was born in…
An Oversupply of Breastmilk?
Breastmilk oversupply? Before it happened to me, I really didn’t realize it could be a problem. How could any mother have an oversupply of breastmilk and how could that possibly be a problem? I’d heard about mothers who struggled to keep their milk supply abundant enough for their baby, but oversupply? It sounded like a…
Ack! Why Does My Belly Hurt So Much?
Many pregnant women suffer from a specific discomfort during pregnancy caused by the round ligament. This pain is usually felt low on the front of their abdomen, near the pubic bone, and may continue towards their groin. It may be felt on one side or both. The round ligament connects the uterus to the groin,…
When Is the “Right” Time to Wean?
In America, most babies (approximately 77%) wean – that is, stop breastfeeding – by one year of age, according to the CDC. However, that doesn’t mean YOUR baby will or has to follow this same timeline. The book Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives surmised that the human biological age for weaning from breastfeeding is between two and…
Aromatherapy in Labor
Recall a time in your past that you felt relaxed and comfortable. Was there a nice smell associated with this time? Maybe the smell of a particular flower that you enjoy? Aromatherapy is one tool that can be used for comfort in labor. Essential oils are extracted from plants, flowers and fruit and distilled. They…
I Wish I Had a Postpartum Doula When…
Postpartum doulas can help new parents in a number of ways. Their job includes being an assistant, a friend, a consultant, a confidante and so much more. Parents need support during this major transition in their life when a new little human is relying on them for everything day and night. We asked a few…
Holiday Traditions in Tampa Bay
I love Christmas and I love traditions. My Dad used to take us out to a Christmas tree farm in California and we would chop down the biggest, fullest, nicest tree we could find every year. One year it was so big he had to tie it to the ceiling. I’m not joking. I was…
What’s a Lip/Tongue Tie? A Dentist’s Personal Story
Last week we visited with Dr. Maggie Davis, a pediatric dentist in Palm Harbor. She has a fantastic practice tailored to the needs of families with infants and small children all the way through adolescence. We are happy to have her as a guest blogger providing this helpful information. – Christie & Amy The topic…
There Isn’t An App For That
Smartphones have brought a great deal of convenience and access to information into our lives. Who doesn’t always have theirs with them, in very close proximity? It’s so handy to look up random bits of info, like how many cups are in a pint, Google the name of that actor or settle a bet with…
The Birth Center of St. Pete
Last week I visited with the midwives at The Birth Center of St. Pete, a great birth location option for families who are interested in having a low-intervention, unmedicated labor and birth. They provide prenatal care, childbirth education, and midwifery care at the birth center or in a homebirth setting and lactation support. The midwives…