Professionals for Your Postpartum Recovery

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You are going to have a baby, and then you are going to have to heal from having a baby. The massive unknown in that equation is all the experiences you will smooch together in your brain and label it: My Birth Story. Your postpartum recovery is a unique and important part of that story.

The birth story of your child starts when every you want it to start, and it ends when you say it ends. Most stories include the moments you thought you were labor, and have a tiny baby being held – by someone – at the end.

But regardless of the events, feelings, and choices of your birth, you will need to recover.

In our experience, the postpartum body and mind are neglected and underserved in the US. There are exceptions, and we have hopes of change. But most families are responsible for making arrangements for their mental and physical needs, all the while also learning and caring for a new person whom they just met.

The following professionals are presented for consideration with full knowledge that seeing all of these professionals may in itself become a difficult task, and therefore may also be a type of harm. So please, know that we know taking it a day at a time is a perfectly reasonable approach to your new life with your new baby. Let this short list be available to you, if and when you are at a place where you are seeking options for extended care outside of the walls of your home.  

Who to include in your postpartum recovery

1. Chiropractor, at a family-friendly office

You can start chiropractic care during pregnancy for aches and pains, and even for help if your baby is presenting breach (or head up). But chiropractic care after delivery may be viewed as a luxury. The baby is born – why keep going?

Once you spend hours and hours, sitting, swaying, rocking, feeding, and not sleeping, your body – while recovering internally from birth – is being used in many ways that are out of the ordinary. Having the care of a chiropractor can help ease your body back into the world where you aren’t carrying a small life inside you, but instead, have a car seat draped over your elbow.

And why a family-friendly office? Because you may have your child with you. And knowing you have the time to be tended to, without needing to worry if anyone has eyes on your babe can mean the world of difference. Ask them if they are prepared to help new moms make their appointments. We’ve seen strollers get pushed back and forth, pacifiers get placed back in a mouth that has just learned to pop it out, and quite a few chins dabbed when a bit of spit up slips out. Ask.

2. Massage Therapist

Your body holds onto events long after they have happened. Are your shoulders tense right now from work, or that conversation yesterday, or because you are thinking about all the things you said you would do?

Now imagine how it will remember the task of moving a child into the world? Your body will be tender, and once you feel comfortable laying on your belly, having care from a professional who can help your body to release the tension it holds will be a world of difference for your mind, as well as your muscles.

You may get weepy on the massage table and not know why. You may miss your baby while in your appointment, and both love it and hate it. Being worked on by your therapist, you might realize, will be the first time in weeks where you are being touched with restorative energy, instead of having to be the one giving stimulation, food, or peace. Massages are not just for birthdays and anniversaries. Your body deserves to have attention be paid to it after doing the critical work of birth.

3. House Cleaner

This last one might be a stretch for you, but we want you to think about hiring a cleaning service to help in your first weeks home with your baby. Your attention will be divided between learning about your new child, grieving the loss of your old life, and being wrecked with an onslaught of hormones and sleep deprivation.

A professional cleaner is not someone you will need to worry yourself over. She or he can reduce your stress if you are frustrated with keeping up with old and new responsibilities, help prevent your space from becoming an isolated cave, and offer peace of mind that you and your baby are not having your immune systems overwhelmed by housework.

If there is a time to invest in supporting your entire family, taking the cleaning stress off of everyone’s plate is a caring way to start your first weeks as new parents.

As always Doulas of Baltimore is honored so many families are choosing our in-home postpartum team to come and help in the postpartum period.  If you would like to talk with us about care options for support inside your home day or night, we want to hear from you. And if you need referrals to some of our favorite local professionals, just let us know!

 

Daylight Savings Time: Tips for “Springing Ahead”

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It’s that dreaded time of year again. Goodbye to standard time. Daylight savings time begins. Every time shift can be challenging, though “springing ahead” is thought to be the easier of the two. But that’s little consolation when the sun is still shining bright at your little one’s bedtime!

For parents of newborns and most babies under six months old – rejoice! Younger babies hardly notice the change and it has little effect on their sleep patterns. It’s not often that you get good news about newborn babies and their sleep! Of course many of you are still working on predictable and consistent sleep. And you and your partner will be affected by the time change so try to adjust your own sleep routine to minimize this impact.

For parents of older infants and toddlers (and older kids too!), your child’s circadian rhythm will be affected by this jump ahead and we know of no parents who look forward to this biannual scourge…er, um, event!

Four tips of helping your child adjust to the daylight savings time change:

1. Lots of outside time and sunshine

Good for everyone, everyday. And even more so when our circadian rhythm and sleep patterns need adjusting. Morning sunshine is especially helpful!

2. Blackout curtains and dim lights

Honestly? We recommend blackout curtains for everyone! A consistent sleep routine is easier to accomplish when you control the light. An hour ahead of bedtime, pull the blinds and dim the lights. This shift stimulates the production of melatonin and helps set your little one up for a better night’s sleep.

3. Gradual sleep schedule adjustment

You can gradually adjust the sleep schedule ahead of time or start the morning after. You can use 15- or 30-minute increments, mostly dependent on the age of temperament of your little one. Kim West, aka The Sleep Lady, has some great tips on schedule adjustment for “springing ahead” (and she is an overall fantastic resource for all things related to sleep for babies and children!). 

4. Nothing

That’s right. You can opt for doing nothing ahead of time or any specific adjustments afterwards. This works better for babies and children with “easy to adapt” temperaments. If this does not describe your child, your whole family may do better overall with some proactive strategies to work with your child’s temperament and minimize the stress.

Bonus Tip: Patience

Regardless of what approach you end up taking, the adjustment to daylight savings time takes about a week. Offering some patience to your little one, your partner, yourself, and anyone else you interact with is never a bad approach, especially the week after daylight savings time begins! In a few short weeks, you’ll be enjoying some time to yourself with the later setting sun after your little one is asleep – hopefully with some gardening, walking with a friend, reading a good book, or any other activity you enjoy! 

As we all know, sleep is a topic of interest for all parents, especially new parents. Read on to get more information on:

Understanding and shaping newborn sleep habits.

How our overnight newborn care can help you rest while setting a foundation of healthy sleep habits with your little one.

 

Fall Farm Fun: Pumpkins, Hayrides, and more!

Cozy sweaters, warm drinks in hand, fall is upon us!

Whether you’re expecting your first, have your hands full with preschoolers, or your kids can now pick (and carry!) their own pumpkins, a farm visit is a great fall activity!

Here are some local favorites for fall farm fun:

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

With a pumpkin patch, corn mazes, loads of farm animals, your family will have a great time at Clark’s Elioak Farm! You can visit the Enchanted Forest or take a cow train while you’re there. Weekends in October have live music, face painting, and food trucks. Get your tickets ahead of time or purchase when you arrive.

Hybridoma Organic Fruit Farm
13734 Baldwin Mill Road
Baldwin, MD 21013

A favorite for our clients looking for organic berry picking in the spring, Hybridoma also has lots of fall activities including live music and delicious food, pies, and lemonade!

Local Homestead Products
2425 Marston Road
New Windsor, MD 21776

DOB co-owner Debbie’s fall favorite! Local Homestead has a huge playground, great pumpkin patch, and wonderful market store, all in a beautiful setting looking out over the farmland. The pumpkin patch is open weekends through early November!

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

Hayride, a boo barn, petting zoo, and all around family fun can be found at Weber’s Cider Mill Farm! There’s apple cider donuts and slushies too! You can get tickets for your fall harvest visit by visiting this link.

And if you can’t get enough of fall farm fun, here are The 21+ Best Pumpkin Patches in Maryland according to @kidfriendlymaryland!

 

Summer in Baltimore Family Bucket List

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For many Baltimore families, the arrival of summer in Maryland means tons of sun & fun!  

However, adding a baby to your warm-weather adventures can seem overwhelming. Keeping up with naps and feeding, monitoring sun exposure, and all the extra ‘stuff’ you’re suddenly hauling everywhere can make exiting your home feel more like a chore and less like an enriching experience.

Never fear! Having a baby doesn’t mean you have to skip all the amazing things Baltimore has to offer this summer. You might even find out that watching your little one take in the world around them in new ways is the very best part of each outing. Check out our Summer in Baltimore Family Bucket List! And when you’re done then head over here for tips on how to get out of the house with a baby without hauling everything (and the kitchen sink).

Attend a Summer Festival

Various dates

Baltimore is booming with festivals this summer! Whether you’re looking to enrich yourself in heritage and culture, check out the local flavors, or get some shopping in- there’s a festival for you. Come and enjoy the sights, then leave when baby has had enough. Baltimore Pride, Cherry Hill Art & Music, Baltimore Washington One Caribbean Carnival, and AFRAM are a few of our favorites!

Relax at the Movies

Thursdays in July | 9:00 PM | Federal Hill Park

Going to see a movie is one thing new parents usually remove from their repertoire fairly quickly. Summer in Baltimore means outdoor movie nights, opening a world of possibilities to families! Flicks on the Hill is put on by the American Visionary Art Museum and is FREE to the public. Plan to arrive a little early and bring your own blanket. Movie choices range from the classics like Raiders of the Lost Ark to family favorites like The Princess and
the Frog, so there’s something for everyone! Plus visit the museum for free from 5-9pm!

Visit a Museum

Various

One of the biggest benefits of living in a city as diverse as Baltimore is the variety of museums available to us! When you’re ready to get inside out of the heat (or rain as it so often happens), visiting a museum is a great idea for all ages. Try wearing your baby in a carrier and leaving the stroller at home for this one – you’ll navigate the exhibits more easily and keep curious fingers safely away from anything not meant for exploring! Bonus: Most Baltimore area museums are free admission for the under-two crowd! Check out the Baltimore Museum of Art and grab brunch at Gertrude’s while you’re there, take a ride on a streetcar at the Baltimore Streetcar Museum, or enjoy drop-in art sessions at the Walters Art Museum.

Bask on the Beach

All summer | 8:00 AM – Sunset | Gunpowder Falls State Park: Hammerman Area

One thing Marylanders do well is the beach!  While our beloved OC is a favorite for many, the long drive and busy nature of this beach can make it a no-go for families with babies. Get your fix of sun & sand by visiting a state park this summer instead! Hammerman beach is a beautiful strip of sand on the Chesapeake.

You’ll have to leave Baltimore for this one, but the drive to this treasure off of Route 40 is under an hour. Easy parking and large bathroom/shower facilities are both located mere steps from the actual beach, making this an easy day trip even if you’re hauling a lot of beach necessities along. Grab a snowball at the snack bar or pack a picnic and eat in the (ample) shaded picnic areas. Early mornings and weekdays are often the least busiest times to visit this beach, but weekends feature a shop with paddleboards and kayaks for rent. Kids in car seats are always free admission!

No matter what you decide to do this season, get out and about in and around Baltimore and have fun! Getting into the habit of bringing baby along for activities sets you up for a lifetime of memory making. Little ones may not always remember the things we do at this age, but you’ll never regret the time spent together.