Recovery Tips For the New Mother (updated July 2022)
A few recovery ideas for the new mother from Moms and doulas that have been there: 1. First, plan to rest for at least a month or more. You just had a baby. THIS is the biggest physical task you will probably ever achieve. REST! Get in bed and stay there for as long as…
Five Things My Doula Did For Me
So often we hear, “Why do I need a doula?” or “What does a doula do?” I looked back at my last birth and found five of the most important things my doula, Christie*, did for me. This list will look different for everyone, but I think it gives some more perspective to the common…
Outnumbered Parenting: More Kids than Adults
After the birth of my first child, I wondered how it would be emotionally possible to add another child to our family… where would I find the love? How could I possibly subtract anything from what I give to my darling daughter? And where would I find the time? It turns out that just like…
Leah Remini on Why She Hired a Doula
My husband, Mike Rinder, co-hosts the TV show Scientology: The Aftermath with actress, comedian and best-selling author Leah Remini. She visited the Tampa area a few months ago. At dinner one evening, I was pleased to learn that Leah Remini’s doula provided invaluable support after the birth of her daughter, Sofia, 12 years ago. She graciously agreed…
Six Naked Truths About Postpartum (updated July 2022)
You can count on the doulas of Buddha Belly to always give you the truth about pregnancy, postpartum and all things baby. Knowing what to expect will help you get prepared mentally for the changes and reality of life after giving birth. Yes, you will adore your brand new baby and want to show her…
Placenta Safety: What’s the Big Deal?
Why are we so adamant about safety when it comes to placenta encapsulation? (As a reminder, we don’t transport your placenta and we only encapsulate in your home.) There’s no doubt whose placenta it is. We provide all of our clients with a personal transportation kit, equipped with everything you need to safely move your placenta from…
Labor Pain and Nitrous Oxide
Have you heard about this new option for pain relief in labor – nitrous oxide? Well, to be fair it’s technically not new. Nitrous oxide, a tasteless, odorless gas made up of 50% nitrous and 50% oxygen, has long been used in other countries like England, Canada, Australia and more. It was used in the…
A Doula for Twins
All new mothers need information, encouragement and support. How can a doula be especially helpful when you are having twins? 1. Your doula can help you find accurate information and determine what your preferences and wishes are. Giving birth to twins presents possibilities that you may want to know more about, including: will they be…
I Trust My Doctor. Why Do I Need Childbirth Classes?
At a childbirth education class recently, a father-to-be asked a very thought-provoking question: If you have a great care provider (OB/midwife), why do I need childbirth classes? Why do we need to know any of this stuff? Why not just trust them to make the decisions for you? While not comprehensive, here are a few ideas…
Two Doulas Is Better Than One!
One of the distinctions of Buddha Belly is our commitment to offering premier, professional support to growing families in Tampa Bay. That’s why we’re pleased to announce our newest innovation: doula teams. Because two doulas is better than one! How does it work? If you hire Buddha Belly to support you at your baby’s birth, you…
Send us your Belly Casts That Need Finishing!
Did you know that we will happily work on belly casts that need repairs or finishing work? We can do this even if you are not a Tampa Bay local. Ship your cast to us and we will make it beautiful and then ship it back to you when it’s done. We’ve created a great relationship…
What’s Laboring Down?
Whew! You made it! You’re finally at 10 cm dilated, that means it’s time to start pushing, right? Well… maybe not yet. Dilation is only one small part of the coordinated efforts made by your body and your baby’s in order to be born. Other things that need to happen are effacement, tilting of the cervix AND…