Breastfeeding Support in Tampa Bay
Let’s just start this conversation by saying if you don’t want to breastfeed, that is OKAY. It is your body and you get to make the choice about everything that happens to it. If you want to breastfeed and then change your mind, that is OKAY too. You don’t need to defend that choice to…
My Cheesy Baby: What Is Vernix?
No, your newborn isn’t dirty! That’s vernix caseosa, a powerfully protective, “water proof” coating that covers baby’s skin in utero and prevents heat loss after birth. Vernix can aid in the passage through the birth canal and act as a physical barrier against bacteria. It’s also theorized that vernix helps in the development of healthy…
Birth Plans Can Change
“When our birth plan changed and I needed a surgical birth, my doula held my hand in the operating room and helped us to stay calm.” – Haley, St. Pete Beach Birth plans can change, like Haley describes. Many people (mistakenly) think birth doula support is only for a “natural” birth or vaginal birth. What role does the doula play…
Breastmilk: Is My Baby Getting Enough?
Is my baby getting enough breastmilk? This is the number one question we get from new parents. This is a totally normal question to have – after all, most of us have seen bottle-feeding and it is very easy to measure baby’s intake from a bottle! Your newborn should be drinking breastmilk at the breast…
Induce Labor Naturally?
Looking to get labor started? Are there any natural ways to induce labor? There is a LOT of misinformation out there (thanks a lot, Dr. Google!) about DIY ways to kick start childbirth. But do they actually work? Acupuncture? Little evidence that it induces labor, little evidence that it can cause harm. So, maybe? Red…
Food and Drink in Labor?
Food and drink in labor? Many people are surprised to find out that their birth facility or care provider restricts “oral intake” in labor after admission to the hospital. ACOG (the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) says: “There is insufficient evidence to draw conclusions about the relationship between fasting times for clear liquids and…
Fort DeSoto Camping with Kids
Looking for tips on camping at Fort DeSoto with kids? Recently I took my kids on their very first camping trip ever to Fort DeSoto. It was also my first time camping as a parent! My 11 year-old son’s reaction when he heard we might be going camping was priceless and is what really made…
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…
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…
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…
Chiropractic Care Postpartum
Our guest blogger for today’s post is Dr. Shannon Whitlock of Happy Healthy Spine in St. Petersburg. In addition to receiving chiropractic care during pregnancy, many families continue with chiropractic care even after birth. Dr. Whitlock provides great insight into the benefits below. Let us know if you are looking for a recommendation for a…
Early Labor vs Active Labor – When to Go to the Hospital? (updated 2022)
Understanding the differences between these two phases of labor will help you to make a better decision about when to head to the hospital, birth location or call the midwife! What does early labor look like? Early labor is usually the longest part of labor and can last from a few hours to a few…
Birth Doula or Postpartum Doula: Which One Do I Need Most?
This might be a bit shocking to hear from the owner of a doula agency. After all, we hope you’ll hire us to help you prepare for birth with one of our childbirth classes, support you prenatally and at your baby’s birth as birth doulas, help you recover quickly with placenta encapsulation, AND help you…
What is a Postpartum Doula?
The idea of having a labor doula support you during labor and birth is growing in popularity. But what is a postpartum doula? What does a postpartum doula do? A postpartum doula is a trained professional support person that can assist you after your baby is born. Her duties may include: providing newborn care expertise,…
Understanding Plugged Ducts: Causes, Symptoms & Relief (updated 2025)
Who knew there was so much to learn about breastfeeding?! Breastfeeding mothers experience a variety of challenges, and it’s so helpful to talk about them openly. Doing so can make all the difference in having a successful breastfeeding experience — and in preventing more serious complications from developing. What Is a Plugged Duct? Sometimes, milk…
My Newborn Wouldn’t Latch
Nursing, although natural, can be nothing short of a beautiful struggle. It is a delicate dance between mother and baby at first breath earthside, and quite frankly an acrobatic adventure as time moves forward. It moves through its phases but you’ll always remember those eyes staring up at you, the mumbling as they feed, dropping…
Finding a Pediatrician (updated June 2022)
When should I begin finding a pediatrician? If you don’t already have a pediatrician for your baby, it’s a good idea to start looking for a pediatrician during pregnancy. Give yourself a few weeks to a few months. This allows you sufficient time to make a well informed decision. What is the difference between a…
Will My Baby Ever Sleep through the Night?
There is a lot to be said about babies sleeping through the night, various styles of parenting, sleep coaching and everybody has an opinion. It’s a good idea to learn about the science of sleep and what is developmentally normal for babies. Author Elizabeth Pantley has this to say on the subject here: “The medical definition…
Cloth Diapers or Disposables?
Cloth diapers are back in style! And they are not your grandmother’s diapers. There are lots of different styles, sizes, brands, cute patterns and accessories to explore. Some families are totally dedicated to cloth diapering and others do a combination of both cloth and disposables. There are special wet bags to put your wet cloth…
What is the Difference Between a Nanny, Baby Nurse, Babysitter, Postpartum Doula?
What is the difference between a nanny, baby nurse, babysitter and a postpartum doula? Nanny: Usually hired to stay or live with a family for a long-term period of time to take care of babies or small children. Occasionally, a nanny will also help with household duties. Nannies work daytime and overnight shifts and stay…
The Best Baby Registry – Advice from a Postpartum Doula (updated Jan 2023)
As postpartum doulas, we work with a LOT of new families… first time moms, first time dads and newborns. So it’s only natural that we get asked, a LOT, what our “must-haves” are for baby registries. Here it is! Yes, it’s a long list. Please note, that this does not mean you need all of…
Recovering after a Cesarean (updated July 2022)
Cesareans are so common these days that we sometimes forget they are major abdominal surgeries. In addition to recovering from this surgery, the mother is also taking care of a brand new baby. It’s a lot to cope with at the same time. Here are some c-section recovery tips from the doulas on our team.…
Ugh, Why Am I Not in Labor Yet? (updated June 2022)
As I got to the end of my first pregnancy, I was so ready to meet my baby. I’m not quite sure that I was ready to be in labor – that sounded hard – but I really, really wanted to find out what he or she looked like. Technically we didn’t know the sex,…
Six Steps to Prepare Older Siblings for New Baby
Are you adding a new baby to your sweet little family? Preparing older siblings for the arrival of the new baby can be fun and joyful but it does require some preparation. Here are our tips to prepare your older siblings to life with a newborn. 1. Give older siblings some time and grace. Change is…
“My Water Just Broke!” says Every TV Birth
If we trusted modern film and TV portrayals of labor and birth, we would all believe that the first sign of labor is that your water will break unexpectedly. A huge gush will splash all over you and the grocery store floor where you were peacefully doing your shopping, all over your friend’s new car,…
Yes, Doulas Are for Cesareans Too (updated 2022)
Should I hire a doula for a c-section? Some people have the idea that doulas are only helpful for women that want to have a natural, unmedicated or vaginal birth. Well, that just is not true! Doulas benefit everyone, including mothers that are having a cesarean – whether it is planned or not. “I had…
Labor and Birth in the Water
We recently attended a Waterbirth Education and Certification Course taught by Barbara Harper, RN, Midwife, author and educator. We are happy to share some of the highlights and things we learned. Many birth locations now offer the use of warm water immersion in birth tubs as a comfort measure during labor, and some locations support…