The First 6 Weeks Postpartum: A Week-by-Week Emotional & Physical Overview
Postpartum recovery can be… a lot. And most of the time, it’s different for everyone. Your body is healing from pregnancy and birth while your hormones do wild things. Emotions are high. And you’re keeping a tiny human alive — all at once. Remember: postpartum recovery isn’t linear. You may experience unpredictable moments and unique…
Understanding Diastasis Recti: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
If you’ve had a baby recently… You might be looking at your reflection, thinking: “I don’t look like I used to.” You’ve probably noticed quite a few changes. And when you think about it, it’s a bit overwhelming. But what if, instead of getting caught up in those thoughts, you focused on something else entirely—being…
3 Steps to Safeguard Your Postpartum Boundaries
You’ve heard the stories, right? People who are unwelcome in the delivery room somehow find themselves there. Even though you asked. Even though you just wanted your partner and the baby there for those first precious moments. But no. Your mother-in-law, your grandmother, your sister… Whoever it is decided they were going to join in…
Your 4th Trimester Checklist: 10 Must-Haves
Congratulations, your little one is finally here (or almost)! Welcome to the 4th trimester, the crucial period after birth where you and your baby will undergo many changes. You spent many months preparing for this moment… You endured pregnancy and birth, and now postpartum is at your doorstep. Typically, the 4th trimester doesn’t politely knock on…
What No One Ever Talks About: Hormone Imbalance After IVF
You know that infertility is… Hard. You know that single parenthood is… Hard. IVF is hard too. We get it. However you arrived at undergoing IVF treatment… It isn’t for the faint of heart… and truly for people who want nothing more than to be a parent! We see you. So, if you’re reading this……
Helpful Recovery Steps For C-Section Healing Week by Week
What is a c-section? A c-section (cesarean delivery) is major abdominal surgery where your baby is delivered through an incision made in your abdomen and uterus. This happens when a vaginal delivery seems to be unsafe or risky. A few possible reasons a c-section might be needed include: You might be wondering… What happens if…
What’s Best For My Body? Your Personal Postpartum Birth Control Guide
You’ve made it! You’re finally no longer pregnant. I know at one point you convinced yourself you’d be pregnant forever. Your baby is here, and now you can breathe a sigh of relief. But, not so fast… You’ve recently survived labor and navigated a roller coaster of emotions. Now you’re in the newborn stage…neck-deep in…
Gender Disappointment: You’re Not The Only One
For some this may be a taboo or controversial topic, but let’s go there together. We are all having a human experience and it’s okay to be authentic about our feelings. As a Mom of two amazing boys, who are now 17 and 11, these young men mean more to me than anything in the…
Is “Mommy Brain” Actually Real? New Moms Need Real Answers
You woke up today with a lot of things to do. You have housework, a doctor’s appointment, and a million other things. Then this happened: You made coffee but you can’t remember where you left it. It’s in the microwave. Your husband called and you told him you lost your phone. You’re talking on it. …
Recovering from a Traumatic Birth
Childbirth is a powerful and transformative event, but sometimes the experience can be traumatic. Things don’t always go as planned and the feelings you have during and after the birth can be emotionally challenging. On a personal level my first baby’s birth was very difficult and I experienced a degree of PTSD afterwards. I worked…
Do You Have a Postpartum Plan?
You’ve got your birth class done, your hospital bag packed and your car-seat safely installed! Have you considered what happens once you are home with your baby in your arms? Do you have a postpartum plan in place? You may have heard a lot of talk about birth plans and much less discussion about a…
Postpartum Sweating & Body Odor: Smells Like Motherhood
Along with the countless joys of parenthood, there are also a few unexpected challenges that come with the territory. We’re diving right into a topic that might not get as much airtime as baby names and nursery decorations, but it’s just as real: postpartum sweating and body odor. Yep, we’re getting up close and personal…
Postpartum Hair Loss: Beyond the Baby Glow
During each of my pregnancies my hair was so shiny, long and healthy I felt like I was living in a Pantene commercial every day. Fast forward a few months with a newborn in my arms, and those commercials had officially been axed. Along with the joys of welcoming your new baby come a host…
Postpartum Perineal Care
During pregnancy we do a lot of preparation for birth and baby. One part of the experience to add to your postpartum planning is healing your bottom. Postpartum perineal care will be a daily part of your recovery for the first couple weeks. How sore your bottom is after birth often depends on how your…
Postpartum Bleeding: From Padzilla to Panytliners
Yes, unfortunately after giving birth you will have to endure several weeks of postpartum bleeding. The more informed you are, the better prepared you will be for your postpartum journey so here we go. What is Lochia? Lochia is the term used to describe the vaginal bleeding that occurs after childbirth. It is a natural…
All About Childbirth Afterpains
Childbirth afterpains are one of those things that: “nobody tells you about!” So let me be the one to rectify that. When I first heard about childbirth afterpains, my mind went to the perhaps grim analogy of an earthquake. Forgive me. I grew up in Los Angeles, California where we did earthquake drills regularly in…
When Should I Hire My Postpartum Doula?
It’s no secret that finding a spot at the best local daycare or preschool requires booking months in advance. Sometimes it even means putting your name on a wait list. You’ve heard about this before, right? “Infant care tends to book up fairly fast and several months in advance. In order to find one that…
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…
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…
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?…
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…
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…
Caring for Baby After a C-Section
Healing from a c-section can sometimes be overwhelming. You, a warrior, just had major surgery. Now you not only have to care for yourself, you have to care for your baby! This is a challenge that is sometimes forgotten. Once you’ve left the hospital, how can you easily care for your newborn? First of all,…
Why Is Postpartum Support Important?
Photo: My mom, Liz, with my newborn baby, Shane, in January 2007 “All you need is one person, just one person who trusts and believes in you, and then you feel you can do anything.” Esther Wojcicki Here is a little story about how postpartum support was important for me. My first son was born…
When Will My Period Return after Pregnancy?
Lovely bonus of pregnancy? No periods! Unfortunately, at some point postpartum, your period will return. But when? Breastfeeding suppresses menstruation at least for a while. For some mothers, there may be an absence of menstruation for weeks, months, and even years while still breastfeeding. Some mothers will even need to completely wean before they see…
5 Things a Women’s Health Physical Therapist Can Help With
We recently met with Christina Noonan, a local Tampa Physical Therapist who focuses on women’s health. We learned all about the services she provides and are happy to share more information here in our latest guest blog post: As we all know, having a baby is not an easy task. It is also not easy…
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…
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.…
Comfort Measures for Varicose Veins
About 28% of women will develop varicose veins in pregnancy. While they are mostly harmless in the short term they can cause pain and discomfort. Here are my recommendations and best comfort measures to try if you are dealing with varicose veins in pregnancy. If you’re like me, before I had varicose veins I had…
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…
Interview With a Postpartum Doula
Rebecca Towner and her two children, Photo courtesy of Pure Bloom Photography. Buddha Belly postpartum doula, Rebecca Towner, answers questions about her role in supporting families: What does a postpartum doula do? A postpartum doula wears a lot of hats. She is there to provide emotional, practical and educational support for your family during this…
Sex After Childbirth
Intimacy and sex after childbirth can be a source of concern or relationship tension for new parents. While this topic may seem taboo to some, it’s helpful to keep some factors in mind. Your midwife or doctor will likely recommend refraining from sex until at least six weeks postpartum whether you had a vaginal birth…
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:…
A Postpartum Doula Is…..What? (updated in 2022)
Many people are just learning what a doula is. Some people are familiar with the idea of what a birth doula is. (A birth doula is professional, trained and experienced in childbirth, and offers physical, emotional and educational support to women in pregnancy and during labor and delivery.) But did you know there are also…