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.
he postpartum period or what we like to call “the fourth trimester” is an incredibly sacred and special time in your life. It is a crucial time for rest, recovery, and bonding with your newborn. As you embrace those precious moments with your sweet baby, it's essential to prioritize your own well-being, and nutrition plays a key role in your postpartum recovery.
The postpartum period, often referred to as the "4th trimester," is a time of profound transformation and adjustment for both mother and baby. At Doulas of Orange County, we believe in the power of holistic care during this sacred phase, incorporating time-honored modalities that promote healing, restoration, and bonding.
Being a mom or dad is a full-time job, and so is starting your own business! We know first hand how hard it can be hard to combine the two. Starting up work again after welcoming a new baby can be challenging when your attention, time, and heart are split! Luckily, there are plenty of resources to help make it easier on you. Today we’re sharing a few of those resource— from doulas in Orange County to business formation services — that you can already start looking into even before the baby arrives to make your life easier further down the road.
With so many changes happening in your body, pregnancy can feel like a full-time job in itself. But what about your other job? You want to continue working full-time until maternity leave while feeling your best. We’re here to tell you that it’s possible! You can do this!
We talked to clients and doulas on the Doulas of Orange County team about how they’ve managed to continue working during their pregnancies and are sharing their top tips with you!
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.
