The Witching Hour: The Scariest Time of Day for New Parents

Nearly every parent can recall a moment during those early weeks of their baby’s life. Their sweet, innocent little bundle of joy seemed more like a terrifying little monster! Often referred to as the “Witching Hour”, this alarming time’s name is derived from folklore to mean the time of day when the ghosts, monsters, and demons were said to have appeared. 

Like the term ‘morning sickness’ (which frequently happens far more often than just the morning), the phrase ‘witching hour’ is also a misnomer. Your newborn may spend well more than 60 minutes in this seemingly inconsolable state. Particularly during the cooler months, (when the sun sets earlier) it is not uncommon for the witching hour to include the hours leading up to and immediately following sunset. 

So what IS the witching hour?  

The witching hour is a period of excessive fussiness, crying, irritability, and/or sleeplessness, sometimes spanning several hours, often occurring during the late afternoon into evening. It is extremely common for newborns, particularly in weeks 2-4 of their lives, to exhibit this behavior but can extend for weeks. 

What causes the witching hour in newborns?

Overstimulation

At the end of a long you’ve often been bombarded by noises, lights, sounds, textures, smells, and other external stimuli for hours on end. It’s enough to make adults want to retreat to their happy place! Now, consider a newborn, only weeks into this journey that is life, experiencing all of these same stimuli. The number one cause of the ‘witching hour’ can be attributed simply to overstimulation. As humans, when we are overwhelmed by external stimuli, it is difficult for our mind and body to rest. Overstimulation leads to being overtired too.

Gastrointestinal Discomforts

Your baby’s GI system is also brand new, working hard to learn how to suck, swallow, and digest milk, absorb nutrients, and pass gas and stool. It can be expected that this immaturity can contribute to increased gas (and the ensuing fussiness and discomfort), particularly after a full day of feedings. It’s also not unusual for excess gas and discomfort to compound throughout the day. 

Hunger

A baby’s nutritional needs change throughout the course of the day. It is not uncommon for babies to appear more hungry during the late afternoon and evening hours. This is partially a biological response for breastfed babies in that breastmilk production and supply tends to be at the lowest during this time of day. Babies who are bottle fed may exhibit hunger cues even after finishing their usual portion of milk. 

Tricks & Treats: What can we do to help our baby through the witching hour?

Reduce stimulus 

If you have taken DOB’s Baby 101 workshop, you have likely learned about Dr. Harvey Karp and his 5 S’s. These are: Swaddle, Sway, Side-lying, Suck, and Shhh (or Sound). Combining these five activities can help to reduce external stimuli and, hopefully, encourage baby to close their eyes. A favorite trick for our postpartum doulas is taking baby, swaddled and with a pacifier, into the bathroom, turning off the lights and turning on the exhaust fan! And baby-wearing can be a treat for the whole family. Putting baby in an inward-facing wrap or carrier is a great tool to get through this time, too.

Encourage burps and toots

Encouraging baby to burp and pass gas frequently throughout the day can help alleviate fussiness and bloating in the evenings. Whether breast or bottle feeding, burping baby mid-feeding is always a good idea. Giving baby time to lay and move their limbs can also aid in teaching them how to release gas as well. Ultimately, time and maturity are the only true ‘fix’. 

Feed frequently

While we can’t eliminate baby’s desire to feed frequently in the evenings, sometimes preemptively increasing afternoon feedings can help. This may mean waking more frequently for shorter durations between feedings (2-2.5 hours maximum would be our recommendation). Or increasing the amount or duration at the last feeding session prior to the anticipated witching hour time frame. Cluster feeding, especially in the evenings, is very normal for breastfed babies in anticipation of a growth spurt. Again, this is an instance where time may be the only solution.

Is there a way to eliminate the witching hour?

While it can be difficult to accommodate for every family, one of the benefits of this time of year is the earlier sunsets.  If their witching hour is around 5 pm, ensuring they have a quality late afternoon nap may help. Take advantage of the darkness to push baby’s bedtime back a bit. If baby seems cranky, irritable or inconsolable by 7:30 pm every night, aiming to have them settled and to sleep by 7 pm could help (and mean you might get a few minutes of peace!).

While we can not guarantee that these tips and tricks will work every time with every baby, we can assure you that you are not alone, and ultimately, this time will pass. 

Fall Family Activities in Baltimore

There are so many fall family activities in Baltimore! For many, fall is their favorite season. The morning crisp air, followed by a slow warm up throughout the day, ending with your favorite comfy sweatshirt, drinking a cup of tea while curled up on the couch….

Sounds amazing, right?

With a new baby entering the family, the curling up on the couch piece may be a long shot, but here are some suggestions to take advantage of the fall season. Wrap your baby up in your favorite baby carrier and head out to the farm.

Fall Family Activities in Baltimore

Rodgers Farm (formally North Run Farm)
1701 Greenspring Valley Road
Stevenson, MD 21153

Another advantage of fall is the fun outdoor activities. This is the perfect farm to bring the whole family focusing on an older sibling. Of course there is pumpkin picking, but a kids maze and animal petting zoo. To learn more, please visit http://www.northrunfarm.com

 

Weber’s Cider Mill Farm
2526 Proctor Lane
Baltimore, MD 21234

If Apple Cider is what you’re looking for, look no further. This is a specialty at Weber’s Cider Mill Farm. Take a look around the farm while sipping on the delicious cider. If you have small children with you, there is a petting zoo and apple picking available.

If you have Thanksgiving on your mind, Weber’s Cider Mill farm has fresh turkeys. Read more on their website: http://www.weberscidermillfarm.com/

 

Clark’s Elioak Farm
10500 Clarksville Pike
Ellicott City, MD 21042

If you’ve been here before with small children, they may be familiar with some of the favorite farm animals; Captain Jack, Arlo, Moon Pie and Mu. There are also furry friends like Alpacas.

This is a perfect spot to bring a picnic and enjoy under an old tree. (Don’t forget your blanket). On your way out, grab a cone of hand made ice cream. You will be sure to take a pint home to enjoy later.

Along with hearing some nursery rhymes in the Enchanted Forest, there are hayrides, pony rides, and a cow train to make the day of a toddler.

Clark’s Elioak Farm is the perfect spot for fresh beef and eggs. Visit them online: http://www.clarklandfarm.com/

Creating family traditions can start with a simple visit to the farm in the fall. Taking a new baby might seem daunting but offering them the chance to create core memories of crisp fall leaves, the smell of apple cider, and the chill in the air is well worth the prep. Fall family activities in Baltimore are perfect for bringing along the whole crew!

 

 

 

Postpartum Doula | What Does a Postpartum Doula Do?

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We know that bringing your newest family member home can be exciting and challenging. A trained and certified postpartum doula will help you with a smooth transition as you welcome a new member to your family. Through a combination of daytime, evening, and overnight shifts, we are here to support your family’s unique needs. Here are the ways we offer practical, informational, and emotional support at home, when you need it. 

A postpartum doula’s practical support helps you take care of baby, yourself, and your family. 

People often come to us looking for practical support when baby comes home. This can include feeding, caring for baby so you can attend to your needs, or helping prepare meals. During an overnight shift, a postpartum doula might put baby to bed, change diapers, and settle baby back to sleep. During a day shift, our support might allow you to take a shower, cook a meal, or breastfeed in peace. Pro tip: ask your doula to prep you snacks for the days they aren’t there to make even their off days a little easier! 

We provide information so you understand the 4th trimester. 

The first weeks and months after baby is born are often called the “4th trimester”. Many parents have just as many questions about what to expect as they did during pregnancy (if not more!). Postpartum doulas can do many specific tasks around the house, but clients often share that our value comes from being childbirth and newborn experts. We provide feeding guidance, answer questions, and offer information on soothing and sleep habits. 

In the morning after a recent overnight shift, our doula talked to one partner about how the night went. She offered advice on how to get baby sleeping for longer stretches. Suggestions included creating sleep associations, keeping baby awake during the day for developmentally appropriate stretches, and nursing demands during the day. We are here to provide the support you want, but your doula will also work with you and your family to create the household, feeding, and sleep routines that work for you so that we are no longer needed! 

Emotional support from a postpartum doula helps your family grow and adjust with confidence. 

In general, our postpartum doulas provide a minimum of sixty hours of in-person support during the baby’s first six weeks at home. These can be split between daytime, evening, and overnight shifts. However, our job as postpartum doulas is to create a smooth transition and give you and your family the skills and knowledge needed to manage the addition of baby.

For example, during one daytime shift, our doula spoke to one partner about returning to work. He was looking forward to it, but felt guilty about leaving his partner with the new baby at home. Our doula talked about ways to continue contributing and how he could alternate bedtime duties. We are here to provide steadfast, non-judgemental support so you can feel confident about welcoming a new child into your family.

Learn more about our postpartum doula offerings or contact DOB today!

3 Tips for a Healthy Third Trimester

The third trimester is between 28 and 42 weeks of pregnancy, and the final weeks before delivery. While it’s exciting to know that your baby is growing and getting ready for their birth day, you might be experiencing more discomforts. With difficulty sleeping, feeling full after a few bites, heartburn, and frequent urination, how do you have a healthy third trimester? We’ve rounded ups some of our best tips for keeping you and your baby healthy as delivery day approaches. 

Continue eating a healthy and balanced diet–and getting your vitamins and minerals.

During the third trimester, the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion notes that pregnant people may need to consume 450 more calories than their normal diet. They recommend that you prioritize that this comes in the form of vegetables, whole grains, and proteins. As your baby gets bigger, they may start to compress your stomach, and you can feel full after eating only a little bit. Consider high-protein snacks in between meals if you are having trouble eating what you normally might at a meal. 

You may have been taking a prenatal vitamin, and you should continue that into the third trimester. You want to keep getting proper amounts of folate, iron, and calcium. Check with your care provider about what your diet and calorie consumption should look like during a healthy third trimester. 

Stay physically active for a healthy third trimester. 

The National Institutes of Health recommend that people try to be as physically active during pregnancy as they were before. With the physical changes that your body is going through as you prepare for labor (link to blog), you may find the exercise harder or more uncomfortable. However, studies show that exercise can help reduce bloating, leg cramps, and backaches, and reduce other conditions like gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and postpartum depression. Consider moderate exercise, like a walk around the neighborhood, a water aerobics class, or a prenatal yoga class. 

Listen to your body and your body’s signals.

By the end of your pregnancy, you may feel bloated, with pains in your belly and back, among other places, and tired from a lack of sleep. You might be uncomfortable, but your body is preparing for birth. While it might be hard to imagine getting comfortable before baby is born, you can try a number of things to relieve the aches. A warm bath or shower can help you relax, and relax your muscles. Pregnancy pillows or other support pillows can make sitting or sleeping more comfortable. Wear loose fitting clothes and don’t be afraid to fan yourself if you are hot! 

Learn more about what to expect during a healthy third trimester in our four week Complete Childbirth Education class or our intensive, one-day Birth Basics.