The two-week wait is the worst!
When trying to conceive, many people spend the second half of their monthly cycle symptom spotting and hoping that this month will be the one!
Nope! It’s not just you!
As your due date nears, the reality of impending parenthood can be both exciting and overwhelming. You may be getting nervous or have anxiety around when you’ll go into labor. You may be stressing about getting the nursery ready or finalizing details for your maternity leave. That’s why planning and enjoying a big night out can provide a special opportunity to unwind, connect, and relish your partner’s company before your baby’s arrival takes center stage. I always encourage clients to schedule a “no holds barred” date night around 37 or 38 weeks - it’s a chance to take a deep breath, enjoy some quality time together, and remind yourselves why you’re a great team. Orange County offers an array of high-end, memorable spots to make this final pre-baby date night one for the books.
In the quiet hush of the labor & delivery room, where the air is charged with anticipation and the scent of earthiness and birthyness, a new chapter in your life unfolds. The rhythmic cadence of your breath is mirrored by the gentle whispers of your doula, a reassuring presence in this oh so sacred moment. The culmination of nine months… maybe more, leads to this: the first hour with your newborn.
When I was selecting items for my baby registry, it was really important to me to not go overboard. As a doula of 14 years, I’ve seen families get overwhelmed with the amount of stuff in their homes and nurseries and I knew I wanted to keep things on the simpler side. I also wanted to be mindful of the impact on not only the environment, but also my baby’s microbiome - which meant finding a lot of eco-friendly products to keep waste down and keep our home as “low tox” as possible. Here you’ll find some of my favorite sustainable and most useful items that I registered for.
Looking fabulous is important.
You still want to be your flawless self throughout pregnancy, but it seems like every time you hit the salon, someone is asking you whether or not it’s safe. You find yourself lost on Google, looking up ingredients and second-guessing everything you picked up on that Sephora shopping spree.
So, are your beauty treatments pregnancy safe?
That pregnancy glow sure looks good on you! But what can you do to help with the aches and pains that come with pregnancy? One of the best ways you can keep your body feeling good is by having good posture throughout the day. Good posture allows your spine, muscles, and ligaments to work the way they were designed to and reduces muscle strain and tension, including tension headaches, and improves circulation, digestion, and lung capacity. But keeping good posture during pregnancy may sound much easier than it is.
It may not feel like it due all this rain we’ve been having, but Summer is fast approaching and along with it comes backyard barbecues, pool parties, and fun OC outings. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, it’s easy to feel left out when the rest of the crowd is drinking a refreshing cocktails. Which is why we’re sharing a few of our favorite mocktail recipes that will keep you in the celebratory, breezy mood that Summer evokes. These are perfect for a Summer baby shower by the beach or as a simple way to beat the heat. Whichever way you choose to enjoy these fresh, alcohol-free libations; we cheers to you!
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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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!