A colleague and I talked about soothing babies with colic over iced coffees at Kean Coffee last week. Both of us are currently working with families who have fussy babies, her as a newborn care specialist and me as a postpartum doula. We both noted how much more difficult colic is to cope with in the midst of and in the aftermath of Covid. Parents are having a more challenging time getting support from friends and family.
Bottle-Feeding Tips: Guidance from a Doula
There is more to giving a baby a bottle than just filling the bottle and putting it into your baby’s mouth. We asked the postpartum doulas and newborn care specialists of Orange County for their best bottle feeding tips and advice!
Finding a Lactation Consultant in Orange County
Breastfeeding is a wonderful way to bond with your baby and provide optimal nutrition… it also have some amazing benefits for you! But it doesn’t always come as easy as you might think and questions or breastfeeding concerns can arise at any time during your breastfeeding relationship. and problems that Finding answers or navigating the conflicting advice from well-meaning friends and family can be overwhelming, which is why having a professional Lactation Consultant help you is crucial!
It is our job to help you find the best Lactation Consultant to support you! Whether you’re still pregnant and looking for a breastfeeding class, or you have a brand new baby and are learning the ropes or you are experiencing some hurdles with an older baby, Doulas of Orange County has a team of incredible lactation professionals to care for you and help you along the way.
5 Rules for Breastfeeding During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Have you talked with your doctor about what you can expect during and after birth if you suspect you have Coronavirus, or test positive for COVID-19?
It’s an important discussion to have regardless of the stage of pregnancy you are in. Start an ongoing dialogue with your primary maternity care provider about how Coronavirus disease may affect you and your family, throughout your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period.
Breastfeeding Basket - A Guide for New Moms
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When you’re breastfeeding during the newborn stage, the nursing sessions almost feel constant. With 8-12 feeds a day on average, you spend a lot of time feeding your sweet baby. In our work as postpartum doulas, we find it’s super helpful to create a simple basket of essentials that is portable and easy to grab with one hand. Here’s our go to guide for creating a Breastfeeding Basket!
A lightweight basket with a handle
You’ll want something like this large market basket from Plum + Sparrow that you can easily move from the sofa to the bed to the nursery chair.
Water Bottle
Breastfeeding makes you THIRSTY! Get something durable, easy to drink from and large enough that you don’t need to keep refilling it. The Yeti rambler fits the bill.
Nipple Balm & Chapstick
An organic balm that you can rub in to keep the area hydrated helps bring some relief to your nipples. Left over breastmilk and coconut oil are great options as a nipple cream too. Along the same lines of being so thirsty during nursing, we find having chapstick always on hand is great.
All the Burp Cloths
SO MUCH spit up. Squirting milk from oversupply. Milk everywhere is inevitable. Keep a good stock of these on hand. We’re loving these organic ones by Milkbarn with the loveliest whale design.
Extra Onesies
Again with the fore-mentioned spit up, along with poop explosions; we recommend having a few clean onesies within reach. The ethically made and environmentally friendly clothes at Shop Nature Supply have the cutest selection of onesies.
Rattle
There are some babies that are always waving their hands around or trying get their fist in their mouth during feeding. Having an easy to grab rattle nearby helps!
One Handed Snacks
Whether you stock up on some nutritious store bought granola bars or make your own food; always make sure to have plenty of nutrient dense snacks. Nut butter packets, bars, sunflower seeds, dried fruit and of course chocolate are all great options.
Diapers + Wipes
When you’re in the middle of catching up on episodes of your favorite TV show, the last thing you want to do is climb up the stairs for a diaper change. Always stock a few extras in your basket for convenience!
We hope this gives you something to do during the nesting weeks before you baby’s arrival and helps to make those first months of breastfeeding a little bit easier on you. Check with your favorite OC Postpartum Doula for more baby gear recommendations!
