Car Seat Safety, Ages and Stages
We all want to keep our children safe, yet some discussions about car seats are touchy. The subject of rear facing vs. forward facing car seats can raise some serious debate. In honor of National Child Passenger Safety Month, let’s discuss car seat safety for different ages and stages. How do I choose the right…
Returning to Work After Maternity Leave
My sweet baby boy was only a few days old, and I was already dreading the thought of going back to work. I tried to make the most of every moment we had together. I probably changed his clothes 5 times a day. Not because he needed me to, but because I feared he would…
Black Breastfeeding Week, An Interview with Deidra Washington, IBCLC
For Black Breastfeeding Week, we are highlighting one of our favorite lactation counselors, Deidra Washington. You can learn more about her services and find her here: https://loveontopbirth.com. 1. Tell us about your personal breastfeeding story. My breastfeeding journey started on January 2, 2018 late at night, around 10:00 pm. I gave birth at the Labor of…
Is My Baby Cross-Eyed? When To Be Concerned
Sometimes parents notice their newborn’s eyes look a little cross-eyed in the beginning. Yes, it is normal for a newborn’s eyes to wander or cross occasionally during the first few months of life. Their muscles are strengthening and their eyes are learning to focus. By the time a baby is 4–6 months old, their eyes…
Cradle Cap: What It Is & What To Do
Does my baby have cradle cap? If you have seen flaking and crusting with yellow or white scales on your baby’s scalp, you are probably noticing cradle cap. Don’t be concerned. There is no evidence that it causes any discomfort to your baby at all. If you are not certain whether your child has cradle…
5 Postpartum Nutrition Tips from a Certified Nutrition Coach
One of the biggest concerns with many new mums postpartum is to “get their body back.” In this article we will talk about that and nutrition during your postpartum recovery. While “getting your body back” is an understandable goal, too many women lose precious time with their baby by worrying about losing weight. Weight loss goals can…
Taking a Vacation with Your Baby
Now that summer is in full swing, and traveling is pretty much back to normal, taking a vacation seems more needed than ever! It’s important to keep in mind that for your baby, almost everything is new and stimulating. And if you think adjusting to a new space and unfamiliar things is a tough transition…
Exercise During Pregnancy
One of the most exciting chapters of your life has begun. You’re pregnant! Life is about to change, and so is your body. Exercise can not only help you stay in shape, but also help prepare you for labor and delivery. Did you know that exercising is safe and healthy for most pregnant women, even…
Food Allergies and Your Child
Did you know that about 6 million children have food allergies? That is a staggering number in my opinion. I never experienced a food allergy, so I was not very concerned about introducing my son to new foods when he was a baby. I followed our pediatrician’s recommendations until he was a certain age, but…
All About Bathing Your Baby
You and your sweet new bundle are home from the hospital and finally figuring things out together. Each new day brings its own set of firsts for both of you. You may be nervous about some of the tasks you are facing, and that is completely normal. Every mother on the planet has been a…
Dental Health and Your Pregnancy
Noticing sensitivity with your teeth or a little pink on your toothbrush now that you’re pregnant? In my experience as a certified dental assistant, and a mother, I was often asked, “Why are my gums bleeding now that I am pregnant?” “Why are my teeth more sensitive during my pregnancy?” Or “Is it safe to…
Constipation During Pregnancy
Picture this. I was pregnant with my third child and having a hell of a time during the first 15 weeks. I was working full time, exhausted, eating poorly, vomiting often and to top it off I hadn’t pooped for 5 days. Pregnancy constipation is defined as having fewer than three bowel movements a week.…
Should I Get an Epidural?
Epidurals. They can be a touchy subject. Let’s discuss what may, or may not, occur if you choose to get one. And, yes, Buddha Belly Doulas support your choice for an epidural. “We were made to give birth”. We have all heard that before, right? It is true, we were made to do this. We…
Breastfeeding and Birth Control
We believe it’s just as important to understand your options and feel empowered in your decisions about birth control as it is for giving birth. In this post we share insight into breastfeeding as a form of birth control, called the lactational amenorrhea method (LAM). Is breastfeeding my baby an effective form of birth control?…
Breastfeeding Support Options
Just like there is no such thing as “one size fits all” bras, breastfeeding help is no different. The best person that you can reach out to for breastfeeding support is a breastfeeding professional. Makes sense, right? In this article we will discuss the different types of breastfeeding support options that are available. As a…
Second Trimester Checklist: What To Do in the Second Trimester of Pregnancy
Congratulations, you’ve made it to the second trimester! Hopefully you are settling into this new life of being pregnant and the exhaustion and nausea has decreased. Maybe you’re even starting to feel that second trimester boost of energy. We’ve put together a helpful checklist for you to use as you navigate the next several weeks…
Help, My Baby is Teething!
Out of nowhere, your five month-old baby is fussy, irritated, chewing on everything (maybe your nipple or her bottle nipple), drooling a lot, has a slightly elevated body temperature and not sleeping well. Sound familiar? She’s probably teething! (Side note here: lots of babies start drooling around three months old, this doesn’t necessarily mean she’s…
Breast Milk Storage Guidelines and Formula Storage Guidelines
Did you know the American Academy of Pediatrics recently updated its guidelines for storage of breast milk? You can count on your team of postpartum doulas and lactation counselors here at Buddha Belly to always keep you up to date with the latest breast milk and formula storage guidelines. We love that the guidance starts…
First Trimester Checklist: What To Do in the First Trimester of Pregnancy
The first trimester is exciting! Congratulations, you’re pregnant! And now your mind is probably swirling as you think of all the things you need to do. For this reason, we’ve prepared a first trimester checklist to help you get through your first twelve weeks of pregnancy. 1. Remove stress from your life. Yes, this is…
Which Tampa Bay Hospitals Permit Doulas? (updated January 2022)
As we know, COVID is currently surging throughout the greater Tampa Bay area. As such, visitor policies at local hospitals are frequently changing. So, which local hospitals are permitting doulas to support labor and delivery patients right now? First, we should note that professional doulas are not the same as “visitors.” Doulas are essential members…
Infant Feeding Schedule ~ How Often My Baby Needs to Eat & How Much
If you are the parent of a newborn, you’ve likely heard this question from the pediatrician or others: how many times a day is your baby feeding? I remember when I had my first baby, I answered, “A million?” It certainly felt like my newborn didn’t do anything other than eat, sleep and fill her…
What Baby Gear Do I Really Need?
As a first time parent it can be very hard to determine what baby gear you really need. When I was expecting my first baby, I had to have ALL. THE. THINGS. Clothes in all sizes. Different baby carriers. Different brands and sizes of both cloth and disposable diapers. One of those travel systems with…
Baby Blues or Postpartum Depression?
You waited 9 long months, with friends and loved ones around you. As your belly grew, and clothes needed to be replaced, your joy and anticipation climbed each day. You allowed yourself an extra treat once in a while (the cravings hit often) and the nursery purchases were so much fun. How could this get…
How Not To Make Mom Friends
This story goes out to any new parents struggling to make connections and feel like themselves again. Lonely and isolated at home with an eight week old baby, I desperately longed for companionship with people in the same season of life. Instead of continuing to perfect my cyberstalker skills on Facebook, I convinced myself I…
Postpartum Sleep Deprivation
Four days and one unexpected c-section later we were discharged and on our way home at last. I could no longer lean on the quiet protection of the hospital. Nurses would not be checking on me periodically. Meals would not be brought to me on a schedule. Ready or not I was now a Mom…
My Surprise Breech Baby and Tips
My first baby was breech and was born via an emergency c-section. We only discovered he was breech when I was well into labor, which is pretty unusual. “I think we need to head to the birth center,” I told my husband. At 37 ½ weeks pregnant, I had gotten up in the middle of…
Helping Baby Accept a Bottle
It’s a bit of a terrifying scenario for breastfeeding parents who are returning to paid work: your baby refuses to feed from a bottle. Everyone panics. Your caregiver is nervous about how they will take care of your baby while you’re away. You are scared about your baby getting the nutrition and hydration that she…
Six Tips for a Natural Birth at the Hospital
So you want to have a natural birth at the hospital!? Navigating our current maternity health care system can be a little tricky. However, a natural birth in the hospital is possible. Lots of families before you have done it. It is a feasible and realistic goal. So we say – you can do it!…
Tongue Ties and Breastfeeding
Many families seek out the help of a lactation professional like me because they are struggling with breastfeeding. As a certified lactation counselor, one issue that I see frequently affecting breastfeeding is tongue ties. I’ve sent dozens of families for assessment and evaluation of suspected tethered oral tissue (TOTs.) Only a handful of times has…
Let Children Think For Themselves
What Growing Up in a Cult Taught Me About Parenting “College is overrated. You don’t have to go” my dad said to me. “L. Ron Hubbard, (founder of Scientology) says that in ancient Rome, by the age of 15, men were married, starting families and already working a trade. This modern system with so many…