Best Kept Secrets – Summer Fun in Tampa Bay – Part 2
It’s mid-July and Tampa Bay parents are hot, tired and asking in unison… “When does school start again!” While we can’t make school start any sooner, we can tell you about a sort-of secret splash pad at the Florida Aquarium! Scroll all the way to the end for the best part of this cool destination. A…
Who Hires Postpartum Doulas?
As awareness of postpartum doula support grows, many people ask us what type of family hires a postpartum doula. They often ask “Who hires postpartum doulas?” Here are just a few examples of who hires postpartum doulas: First-time parents. When bringing your first baby home, everything is new! Feeding, sleeping, diapering, washing, doctors, daycares… it’s…
All Alone With My Newborn Baby
I had planned to have a natural birth at a birth center but things didn’t turn out that way. My son was born via emergency cesarean and my world was turned upside down. My mother had a flight booked for the first week in January to be at the birth, but my son came two…
The Low-Down on Tearing ‘Down There’
You just had your baby! Yay! Congratulations! You also have a … (cue scary music) … tear. Try to relax, perineal lacerations, aka “tears,” are a common occurrence during vaginal birth. Yes, it’s common; in fact, it happens in more than two out of three vaginal deliveries. These lacerations are classified into four categories: First-degree:…
The Love Hormone: Oxytocin
Oxytocin has physical AND behavioral effects on the human body, making it one amazingly magical chemical. (Note: oxytocin and pitocin are not the same thing. Pitocin is the synthetic version of oxytocin. It can replicate the physiologic aspects of oxytocin on the body, but not the behavioral ones.) It’s called the “love hormone” because our…
Are Childbirth Classes Still a Thing?
Yes – taking a childbirth class is still a thing! Let’s breakdown the benefits of a childbirth class. I know we are now accustomed to Googling and using the Internet to find information. And while those are definitely a resource, taking a childbirth class in person is still a great option. I attended a 10-week childbirth…
When is the Best Time to Hire a Doula?
Is it ever too early or too late to hire a doula? Our answer is: if you are currently pregnant, it’s never too early or too late. If you hire a doula very early in your pregnancy, you will have more time to use her services and get to know each other. Your doula will be…
6 “Out of the Nest” Ideas for…Nesting
As your pregnancy comes to an end, you may notice an increased desire to clean, organize, cook or otherwise prepare (mentally or physically) your “nest” for your baby’s arrival. This may be in spite of your normal desire to do anything of the sort! I spent more than one hour cleaning out the microwave a week…
Why Prenatal Yoga?
During my last pregnancy, I attended prenatal yoga classes at Yoga Village in Safety Harbor and I was really happy that I did. I got more out of it than expected. Here are some reasons to consider prenatal yoga. 1. Relief from common pregnancy discomforts. As your body transforms, more weight and stress is put…
MOSI: Best Kept Secrets, Summer Fun in Tampa Bay, Part 1 (updated July 2022)
Hey Moms & Dads, One of the best things I ever did was get a MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry) membership. There are different levels but we bought a basic membership for a family of five. MOSI in Tampa has wonderful features that both of my children enjoy. There are educational exhibits to interact with, rope climbing…
Chiropractic Care for a Healthier Pregnancy: The Webster Technique [Updated 2025]
Your back aches in ways you didn’t know were possible. Your hips feel like they’re being pulled apart, and that sharp, shooting pain down your leg? Let’s not even go there. Sound familiar? If you’re pregnant and finding that simple things—like getting out of bed or putting on shoes—feel impossible, you’re not alone. Up to…
4 Easy Comfort Measures for Labor
While almost no woman would ever use the word “comfortable” to describe how they felt in labor, there are things that can be done to lessen the pain of birth. This list isn’t exhaustive but are approaches that work and that you can easily try without a lot of previous training or experience. Environment The…