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Doulas in Baltimore | The DOB Difference

When it comes to choosing support for your family, the differences matter. Doulas in Baltimore offer a variety of options. For over a decade now we’ve worked to become a trusted choice for Baltimore’s Families. We focus on education at every point and continuously break down biases within ourselves. We’re consistent in our mission to help growing families thrive.

Education-First

Our support extends far beyond hip squeezes (even though those are truly amazing). Our doulas train to answer questions with the latest and most up-to-date information available. We offer continuing education opportunities and encourage our team to continue to learn every day. We team up to boost your confidence in making the decisions that support your goals from the first contact.

Inclusive

We believe all types of families deserve support that considers the unique challenges they may face. We do see color, gender, and sexuality and we celebrate what makes your family yours. As a group we know that there are breaks in the system that allow for and accept the mistreatment of different demographics of people. Black maternal and fetal mortality rates are higher than those of their white peers. Trans individuals face difficulties and biases that aren’t even well-studied at this point. Each and every day we are advocating, educating ourselves on how to best support your families, lobby in Annapolis, and are more than willing to refer you to someone who may be a better fit if we don’t have a fit on our team. Your care and comfort are far more important to us than anything else.

Agency Model

Unique to us, DOB is an agency model. While the term “agency” can feel loaded, we like to think of it like this:

Imagine being matched with the perfect doula to support your family while also knowing that doula had the support of a dozen other well-educated doulas and automatic backup for your family that is vetted and trusted. Your doula is sick? You’ll never be without support. When we entered the birth scene over a decade ago we sought to offer continuous care that met the highest standards and created opportunities for doulas to do the work they loved. The truth that many ignore? The turnover rate for doulas is very high. The job is demanding and often comes with responsibilities that doulas hadn’t considered. We’re proud to be an agency that offers doulas who are trained, certified, educated, background-checked, and insured. Growing families can rest assured that their doula has all the qualifications and the personal support needed to show up every time for your family.

Doulas in Baltimore are all unique.

Each of us offers a different perspective, expertise, and benefits. Are we the best doulas in the area? Depends on who you ask! Families who value up-to-date information from global leaders in evidence-based care, support that has lasted decades, and consistent doulas who are vetted and trusted. We know that what we do is offer a high level of collaborative care that fosters confidence in each and every client we serve.

Celebrating and Supporting LGBTQIA+ Families in Baltimore

Serving growing families in Baltimore for over 20 years will offer quite a bit of perspective. As we enter Pride month, we want to share what we’ve learned as we’ve walked alongside clients from all sides of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Inclusive support matters.

We know all families deserve support that reflects their family’s needs. However, when we make a vague statement like, “all are welcome,” we do a poor job of being truly inclusive. The support families recieve must be bold, truthful, and unapologetic. The truth of the matter is that LGBTQIA+ families face different challenges when growing their families than other families. In addition to differing methods, they often face discrimination from many sides. Even all the way to the highest courts in the country. We believe that it’s important not only to say that we’re “inclusive” but to truly be inclusive by honoring the unique struggles our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and beyond clients may face. We know that by honoring the unique struggles they face we’re able to offer more complete support with more positive birth and parenting experiences. Inclusive support matters a lot.

There are resources for LGBTQIA+ families in Baltimore.

Resources do exist in the Baltimore area to offer growing families the support, community, and medical care that they deserve. Here are just a few:

Rainbow Families – DC-based organization that offers resources to prospective parents, new parents, and growing families. They offer in person meetings and resources as well as great information on their website such as diverse reading lists and recomendations.

The Pride Center of Maryland – a longstanding nonprofit offering programs, services, meetings, and other resources to support the health, connection, and community across Maryland. While they have limited offerings that are family-specific, they’re a great resource for parents (who are still people!).

Baltimore Community Midwives – a queer-owned midwifery practice that offers support for births, gender-affirming care, preventative care, and birth control. LGBTQAI+ families deserve care that celebrates who they are with no reservations!

We’re so grateful to have inclusive and incredible spaces, providers, and people that we can offer to our families.

We can all strive to be better allies each and every day.

No matter who you are, we can all make efforts every day to become stronger and better allies for our LGBTQIA+ friends and neighbors. Little efforts, like sharing your pronouns when meeting someone, can create safety within ourselves. Larger efforts, like speaking up when we hear bigotry and hatred or educating ourselves on the issues facing these communities today, add up to a more beautiful and bright future.

Baltimore is and will always be stronger when all families feel seen and supported. Today and every day, we stand with our LGBTQIA+ community members in solidarity and love.

Happy Pride!

New Parent Habits: 5 Routines to Ease the Transition

New parents often get swept up in the chaos that can be having a new baby. You’re learning, they’re learning…you’re meeting for the first time! All changes in life come with a measure of zapping your brain space but a new baby? That’s a whole other level. We’ve developed a few helpful daily “new parent” habits that can offer you a little peace as you navigate your new normal.

Daily Habit 1: Fill your reusable water bottle (and drink it!)

Ok, this one seems elementary but we put a lot of stock in it. Our bodies are made up of a large percentage of water! When we are low on hydration it affects how our brains work, our emotional state, and all of our body systems. Have you ever tried to comfort a crying baby with a raging headache? Not pretty. This very basic step helps you ensure your baseline is covered and you can push through things more easily. Trust us, drink up!

Daily Habit 2: Kick the phone out of your room.

We all know the jokes of the iPad babies who can’t do anything without a screen in front of them. What if we told you that we are often the iPad babies? It’s been proven that starting your day with doomscrolling can negatively affect the rest of your day. There has even been a small study that showed starting your day with your phone can increase stress levels. Some have also said that because your brain receives Dopamine hits while scrolling social media that it can shift the rest of your day towards wanting to be on your phone more.

By plugging your phone in outside your bedroom you can avoid being on it just before bed and at the beginning of your day. When you avoid your phone for the first 30 minutes to and hour, you’re likely to be in a more grounded headspace. Especially during sleep regressions – you’re going to need that grounded start! Create new parent habits: snag yourself a traditional alarm clock and keep those devices out of your bedroom or at least plugged in out of reach!

Daily Habit 3: Develop a morning ritual that feels good to you

Ritual carries a connotation of spirituality with it but, at its core, a ritual is just a routine that you carry out with regularity and intention. Now that baby has arrived, your morning ritual is probably thrown off. Redeveloping one that supports your day is important and worth the effort. Often we hear advice of “wake up before the baby does” but anyone who has ever given birth to an early riser knows that a 4AM wake up is simply out of the question.

We’re not going to give you a rigid suggestion. Rather, we invite you to create a morning routine that supports your family’s unique needs. For some this may be setting a kettle to boil for tea while you brush your teeth. For others this may include setting baby back down for an early nap and taking a shower. Whatever it looks like for you, we encourage you to put in the time to develop it.

Daily Habit 4: Movement

Movement is important for every living being. Our body systems need the support of movement to build and maintain muscle, for bone health, and even just for general mental wellbeing. Building in movement throughout your day could feel daunting when you have a new baby needing you seemingly their every waking moment. A great thing to introduce? Babywearing! Not just a trend for “crunchy” parents, this technique has been around for ages to simplify parents’ lives and soothe sleepy babies effortlessly. Incredible new parent habits: schedule in a morning walk, attend a baby and me Yoga class, or find another way that feels good to get your bodies in motion.

Daily Habit 5: Closing Shifts

If you’ve ever worked in a service industry job you know all about the closing shift. If you haven’t, here’s the main goal: to make the opening shift’s job easier. At home both of these shifts just happen to be yours. A closing shift could be as simple as this: tidy up after dinner, start the dishwasher and washing machine, wipe down countertops, and do a quick spot sweep of the main areas. If baby is waking overnight, it’s also a great idea to prep bottles, pump parts, and a snack for yourself/your partner and have them ready and waiting. The closing shift is one habit we think is definitely worth your time to implement!

Let’s be honest, a baby changes everything. New parents don’t need to get swept up in the chaos. With a lot of intention and a little structure, you can help train yourself alongside your baby. Setting these helpful routines can be the difference between stressed and smooth sailing.

Pro tip: if you find yourself struggling with motivation or commitment to new parent habits, try setting a timer. Knowing the amount of time a task may take can help you reason your way through starting it. If you can say, “I give myself 15 minutes to reset the kitchen,” it may seem like a more attainable goal. The key? Stick to that time. Anything not done is for the morning shift. 😉

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.

Nanit Pro Baby Monitor: Essential or Overhyped?

With a sea of baby monitor options, it’s easy to feel like you’re drowning. The Nanit Pro Camera was named NYT’s Wirecutter Best wifi video monitor so it’s not surprising the name surfaces at the top! With promises of advanced tracking, lowered anxiety, and crystal clear images, parents often wonder, “Is the Nanit Pro Camera the best baby monitor?”. Let’s break down what it is, the pros and cons, and our final opinion.

What Exactly is the Nanit Pro Baby Monitor?

The Nanit Pro is far more than just a camera you point at the crib. It positions itself as a “do-it-all”, high tech nursery hub that includes an app connected to your phone that is analyzed by AI to offer you insignts into your baby’s growth, sleep, and development. Here’s the core idea:

With a high definition camera it streams crystal-clear 1080p HD video and audio to your smartphone (iOS/Android) or tablet, day or night (thanks to excellent night vision with illuminating LEDs). Unlike tabletop monitors, the Nanit is designed to be securely mounted above the crib (or on a floor stand), giving a top-down, unobstructed view of the entire sleep space. This perspective is key to its advanced features.

The big selling point for Nanit is its AI-powered analytics. Using sophisticated computer vision (no wearable sensors needed!), it analyzes your baby’s movements and sleep patterns. This data is then added to the Nanit app where you can also watch the live stream and receive alerts. The camera comes with a 6 month free trial to Insights which is important in unlocking the full power of the analytics (sleep tracking, trends, personalized tips). After that, it is a paid subscription with mixed reviews.

In short: The Nanit Pro is a premium, wall/ceiling-mounted smart baby monitor that uses AI to not just show you your baby, but to help you understand their sleep patterns and development.

Is the Nanit Pro Baby Monitor Safe?

We’ve all heard the stories of baby monitors being hacked on the internet. Safety has to be a top priority when it comes to baby monitors, especially internet-connected ones.

Online Safety

According to Nanit, all video streams and data transmitted between the camera, Nanit’s servers, and your app are encrypted using industry-standard protocols (TLS/SSL). This makes it extremely difficult for unauthorized parties to intercept. Additionally, access to your camera feed requires logging into your Nanit account with your credentials. Two-factor authentication is highly recommended and adds a significant extra layer of security. Unlike some older monitors, the Nanit stream isn’t discoverable on the open internet. You must be logged into your specific account.

Nanit Pro Camera Safety

Physical safety is also important, nobody wants a camera falling into the crib! The provided mounting system is excellent when installed correctly according to instructions. Like all items, ensure it’s securely attached well out of baby’s reach.

When it comes to privacy, there are also many features. The Nanit Pro has a physical, sliding shutter you can close when the camera isn’t in use, physically blocking the lens if you choose. There is also an audio-only mode where you can choose to stream only audio for times when video isn’t necessary. Privacy zones are able to blur chosen areas within the camera’s view in the app.

Data Safety

When it comes to your private data, Nanit states they prioritize user privacy. While sleep data is processed to provide insights, they claim not to sell personal user data to third parties. We suggest you review their Privacy Policy for full details.

The Verdict on Safety and Privacy: Nanit takes security and privacy seriously, employing strong industry-standard measures. No system is 100% unhackable, but Nanit is considered one of the more secure options. Practicing good security practices that you’d use for any online data (strong, unique password, enabling 2 factor authentication, closing the shutter when not in use) further minimizes risks. To date there haven’t been major, widespread security breaches reported for Nanit.

What Are the Benefits of Using the Nanit Pro?

This isn’t an inexpensive device and there are many options out there that offer video directly to your phone. What sets Nanit apart?

Nanit App

Personalized insights do require a premium subscription (a new device comes with a 6 month free trial) and reviews overall are mixed on whether it’s worth if or not. Some parents say these premium features helped their peace of mind while others say there’s no point. Nanit accurately and automatically tracks when your baby falls asleep, wakes up, and duration of sleep sessions/naps. For data nerds and new parents alike, these are excellent details and can also work well for those who are sharing night duties with their co-parent, family, or Postpartum Doula.

Data collected can create charts and graphs over time (nights, weeks, months) identifying patterns, regressions, and improvements. These can help you understand total sleep, night wakings, nap consistency, and sleep efficiency. Nanit also offers data-driven suggestions tailored to your baby’s age and sleep patterns to help improve their sleep (and yours!).

Using a special patterned band worn on baby’s pajamas or sleep sack Nanit can monitor breathing motion and alert you if no motion is detected for a set period (e.g., 20 seconds). Some parents find this helped their peace of mind.

Nanit Pro Baby Monitor Camera Features

The top-down, wall-mounted view eliminates blind spots and gives a perfect view of the entire crib. 1080p HD video is sharp, and the night vision (with its own LEDs) is among the best.

The camera also features two-way audio that allows you to talk and soothe your baby clearly through the app. The audio stream can continue playing on your phone even when the app is minimized or your screen is off. You can also choose to be notified on your phone if your baby is crying or there’s significant movement.

With other features like temperature & humidity sensor, nighlight & white noise, and multi-user access, Nanit Pro offers a host of features that many parents will find useful.

The Bottom Line: The Nanit Pro Camera is an exceptional, feature-rich smart baby monitor for parents who value deep sleep insights, top-notch video quality, and high-tech peace of mind. The AI-powered sleep analytics (via the Insights subscription) are a great feature if you’re data-driven and want to analyze your baby’s sleep without manual recording.

What Should I Consider Before I Purchase?

Before making a purchase, it’s important to consider how it might impact your family! We think you should consider the following items before diving in:

The first is the price. This camera is a significant investment, both for the hardware and the required Insights subscription for full functionality. On the topic of Insights, the best features (sleep tracking, breathing monitoring alerts, personalized tips) live behind a paywall. This increases the overall cost of the device as you’ll need to factor in the ongoing fees.

The camera also requires installation (drilling for wall/ceiling mount). This is not ideal for renters or those who want portability as the primary setup. While travel mode does exist, it adds limits to the function of the camera and may impact the data collected.

The final thing to consider in our opinion is the limitations of generalized sleep suggestions. While an app may be able to use an algorithm to deliver you a set of suggestions, there truly isn’t anyhing that can replace an expert’s touch when it comes to addressing sleep or safety concerns.

Let’s put a bow on this! If you want the most advanced insights into your baby’s sleep and well-being and prioritize crystal-clear monitoring with strong security, the Nanit Pro Camera is a great option. For simpler, audio-only monitoring or basic video, it’s overkill. It also lacks the personalized touch of a sleep expert and the promise of “eliminating sleep training” seems a little far-fetched. If you want a high-tech partner in navigating baby monitoring, the Nanit delivers impressively.

Ways to Help Your Older Child Adjust to the New Baby

Welcoming a baby into your family is a joy, but it’s natural to have concerns too. If you’re expecting baby number two, you might be worried about how your older child will adjust to a new sibling. Jealousy is a natural emotion for kids, especially during the ages when they are particularly attached to their parents. They’ll notice you are taking time to care for baby and that people are excited about baby. Are there ways to ease this transition?

How can I help my older child adjust to a new baby?

One of the ways that parents can help older children adjust to a new baby is by involving siblings in newborn care, to the extent that they want to be involved. If they are a little older, they might want to help with feeding or bathing. If they’re younger, you can have them get a pacifier or a diaper.

Especially for toddlers, it can be helpful for parents to acknowledge the difference between them and the baby. You might find yourself telling the older child to wait while you feed baby or change a diaper. On occasion, you can tell baby that they have to wait while you do something with your older child. You can also remind your older child that they are a big kid and doing something or have something that baby can’t. Emphasizing that they are special can help with feelings of jealousy.

How do I keep my older child from feeling overwhelmed by the new baby?

Having a baby can throw everyone’s schedules off, from sleep to meals. One tip to help your older child adjust to a new baby is by keeping their schedule as consistent as possible. If they go to daycare three days a week, keep them at daycare even if you or your partner are home with baby.

Babies do need a lot of attention! This can create feelings of jealousy in your older child or a certain level of unpredictability. When you feed your baby it can help to find something calm and special that the older child can do. While you are trying to have a calm moment for feeding, you can let your older child watch a special show or read a book.

How can friends and relatives help with the adjustment?

One of the easiest things friends and relatives can do to help your older child or children adjust to baby is acknowledge the sibling first. When they come over to meet baby, have visitors prioritize the sibling. It is so easy for everyone to get excited about the new baby, and your other child can notice this excitement. Have friends and family ask the older sibling if they want to introduce baby or share something special about their new sibling.

If you have someone who can help you during the postpartum period–whether it is a doula, a family member or friend–you have a great opportunity to prioritize each child on their own. They can take care of baby so that you have quality time with the older sibling. Or, they can take care of the older sibling so you can either rest or take care of baby.

Carrot Fertility: A Guide to Flexible Coverage

In recent years, fertility benefits have become an important and sought-after part of employee benefits packages. Carrot Fertility is a global fertility benefits provider that helps employers support their employees with reproductive health services. Whether you’re considering fertility treatments, egg or sperm freezing, adoption, or surrogacy, they offer financial and educational support to make these journeys more accessible.

What is Carrot Fertility?

Carrot Fertility is an employer-sponsored benefit program that provides financial assistance and expert guidance for reproductive health and family journeys. Unlike traditional health insurance plans, Carrot offers more flexible coverage tailored to a wide range of fertility and reproductive needs, including:

Fertility treatments (IVF, IUI, egg freezing, etc.)
Adoption and surrogacy support
Pregnancy and postpartum care (hint: that means us!)
Menopause and hormonal health support
LGBTQ+ family assistance

Who Can Benefit from Coverage?

Carrot Fertility is designed for individuals and families at various stages of their reproductive health journey. The program is particularly beneficial for:

Employees seeking treatments like IVF or egg freezing
LGBTQ+ individuals or couples looking to expand their families through surrogacy or adoption
Individuals with medical conditions that could affect reproductive health
Those who want to preserve their eggs or sperm for future family planning
Employees experiencing menopause or hormonal changes and seeking specialized care

By offering this type of coverage, companies can show a commitment to employee well-being, inclusivity, and work-life balance. Many businesses are adding these benefits to attract and retain top talent.

How to Apply for Carrot Fertility Benefits

If your employer provides Carrot Fertility as part of its benefits package, applying is simple:

Check Your Eligibility – Log into your company’s benefits portal or contact HR to confirm benefits are available to you.
Sign Up – If eligible, you’ll receive access to the Carrot platform, where you can explore your available benefits.
Consult with the Experts – Connect with fertility specialists, adoption advisors, or hormonal health consultants for guidance on your next steps.
Use Carrot Benefits – Depending on your employer’s plan, you’ll receive financial assistance, reimbursements, or direct payments for eligible services.

For those whose employers do not yet offer these benefits, consider advocating for it in your company’s benefits package by discussing it with your HR department. You could also request it directly from their website!

Does Doulas of Baltimore work with Carrot?

Yes! We have had the pleasure of caring for many families whose employers provide coverage for families. If you’d like more information, please reach out to us and we’ll discuss your options!

Conclusion

Carrot Fertility has created a simple solution for companies to support reproductive health and family planning. By offering financial assistance, expert guidance, and a broad range of services, Carrot makes care more accessible to employees of participating companies worldwide. If you’re considering fertility treatments, family planning, or reproductive health support, ask if your employer provides Carrot Fertility and take advantage of the benefits available to you!

Top Positions to Try During Labor

Our top positions to try during labor? Childbirth is a process that can last a varied amount of time based on many factors. During labor, the birthing person might need to try a variety of different comfort measures. Even moving between each of these positions can help ease discomfort and be a welcome distraction. We’ve put together a guide on some of our top recommendations complete with variations and things for a support person to consider.

Positions for laboring in bed

This photo is property of Lamaze International.

Throne

Description: Throne position is a secret weapon of doulas everywhere! This position utilizes the movement of hospital beds to get the laboring person into a comfortable position for resting or waiting. This one is easy to remember, since the very idea of the position is in the name. We’ll be putting our birthing individual on a “throne”.

How to Get There (hospital bed): Have the birthing person sit in the bed. Using the controls on the hospital bed, raise the back up between 45 and 90 degrees. Have the birthing person lean forward for the initial adjustment and lean back to raise or lower the back to a comfortable position. Drop the lower part of the bed all the way to create a “throne”. The goal is a seated position.

Especially Helpful for: After an epidural or medication! This position is perfect for when you’re waiting for dilation but are comfortable enough with medication on board to rest. This is also helpful for getting baby to descend by letting gravity work its magic.

Variations: While this can be great for medicated births, this seated position is also excellent for non-medicated births in other spaces. One notable variation is sitting backwards on the toilet! Since our pelvic floors are trained to relax on the toilet to allow us to use the bathroom, often we’ll use this position to move dilation along. Note: this position can get intense very quickly as baby descends, make sure someone is nearby to help the birthing person off the toilet quickly if needed.

Side Lying

Description: As the name suggests, this position is very simply lying to the side for the birthing person. Another resting position, this helps take the pressure off of the pelvis and back for the birthing individual. We highly recommend a pillow or two between the legs. This one doubles as an excellent pushing position! The top leg can be held by the individual, their birthing partner, a nurse, or a doula to allow the pelvis to open in a more comfortable position.

How to Get There: Simply turn gently to one side or the other! To keep labor moving, a great idea is to move from one side to the other periodically.

Especially Helpful for: This is a great position for early labor, resting after an epidural, or while waiting for pushing urges to emerge.

Variations: Adding a peanut ball or a stack of pillows that brings the upper knee facing upwards is a surefire way to help with dilation and progression of labor. This position is well-loved by our clients who choose medication as it allows them to rest well while laboring down. This can also be used for an unmedicated birth but, just as with the throne position on the toilet, it can get intense very quickly. Ensure someone is nearby in case a shift needs to happen quickly.

Hands and Knees

Description: Put those arms and legs to work! Laboring on all fours is an excellent way to open the pelvis. This position also could be great for getting baby oxygen and some physicians recommend it for easier positioning of monitors.

How to Get There: Very simply put, this position is fairly simple to get into! In the bed, rotate a little bit at a time with some support on one or both sides. Have someone nearby to move pillows or blankets as needed until the birthing person is in position.

Especially Helpful for: Active laboring! This position is a very active one and gives the birthing person the sensation of doing something instead of being swept away by laboring. Note: this one can get tiring! This is a great position to prepare or “train” ahead of time by lifting light weights or doing movements that strengthen the arms.

Variations: Lean over something to give your arms a rest! Our best suggestions are a stack of pillows, a birthing ball, or the back of the hospital bed. This position could also translate well to water if choosing hydrotherapy with the birthing person leaning over the side of the pool or bath.

Positions for out of the bed

Partner Supported

Description: Lean on me! Standing can get tiring but letting gravity do its job can be very helpful. Enter: partner support! Whether you lean on someone standing in front of you, behind you, or use a bedsheet or rebozo, getting support from someone else can make standing or squatting much easier.

How to Get There: For partner-supported sitting, simply have the partner stand in front of or behind the birthing person to support. It may be helpful for the partner to have their back supported against the wall.

Especially Helpful for: Taking a break from walking or while a contraction is happening.

Variations: Use a bedsheet or rebozo under the birthing person’s arms to offer extra support that is easier to manage for the partner.

Hands and Knees Redux

Description: This position is a great one to do outside of the bed as well! Enjoy all the same benefits of hands and knees in the bed but with more freedom of movement.

How to Get There: Simply sit on the floor swinging legs around and using support to evenly distribute weight onto both hands and knees. Consider putting down a yoga mat or folded up blanket to support the knees and soften the surface.

Especially Helpful for: Active laboring and hip squeezes!

Variations: Lean over a birthing ball or chair to ease the strain on wrists.

Birth is not a one-size-fits-all and your comfort is a top priority. When practicing these positions, take note of what feels comfortable and what feels like too big of a stretch. Remind yourself and your birthing partner that what feels good outside of labor may change very quickly and vice versa. Stay in tune with your body as labor progresses and move naturally. Your body is wise!

New Parents | Planning for Your New Normal

New Parents, your life will never be normal again.

Ok, that’s not entirely true. You will settle into a new normal but when a baby is born, life as you know it comes to an end. That can sound daunting! How will you make sure your new baby is cared for, your home is tended to, your work keeps going? When new parents are settling into a new normal it will take work. With some skilled planning and a willingness to shift when needed, you’ll find yourself in a groove before too long.

End of New Parents Leave

Usually once a baby has arrived one or both parents will get some amount of leave from their job. Circumstances look different for each employer. Explore what options you and/or your partner have for parental leave once your baby has arrived. How long can you take? When preparing to return to work, consider what will make it easiest including a hybrid or virtual work schedule for a period of time or even permanently. Explore these options and what they will look like with your employer.

New Caregiver

New parents transitioning to a new caregiver will take some effort but with planning it can be as smooth as possible. Ensure your new caregiver has adequate bottles and pumped milk or formula available to feed the baby. Pack their bag well with extra diapers, wipes, outfits, and anything else they may need. Discuss any circumstances unique to your family that your new caregiver may need to understand (is your baby on medication? Do they need to be fed a certain way? etc.) Communication is key to make transitioning to a new caregiver as easy as possible.

Balancing Home/Work

A new baby will always change the dynamics in a house. Consider how to make the transition easier for yourself as new parents, your pets, big siblings, and extended family members. Identify how your household tasks are currently split. Who takes out the trash? What about cooking meals? Who does the dishes? Consider a chart or writing out a schedule for when these things occur and think about planning to prepare food ahead of time while you ease into your new routine.

Babies change your life in the blink of an eye and it can feel overwhelming going through all the changes that you will face. With an open mind, lots of communication, and a plan ready, going back to work will feel challenging but not impossible.

Need some extra help? Check out our Free Ultimate Postpartum Planning Guide!

Mother’s Day Gift Guide | What Moms Really Want

Mother’s Day is almost here and every year we get to decide what to get the mothers in our lives. Something that complicates the decision? New moms might not know what they need! Flowers, candy, and cards are all lovely but sometimes you want to be the rockstar gift giver. If you have an expectant mother you love, we’ve compiled a list of perfect gift ideas in this Mother’s Day Gift Guide that they really want.

First Time Moms want:

Mockingbird stroller with bassinet – This ingenious combo is a stroller that doubles as a safe sleep surface on the main level. Perfect for smaller living spaces, using this as a bassinet while in your living room allows you to go from working from home to out the door without delay.

Hatch Grow Smart changing pad and scale– Another brilliant two-in-one, this changing pad offers a safe, elevated space to change a baby’s diaper and a scale all in one. Offering new moms peace of mind, tracking baby’s weight can ensure that they’re getting enough to eat and growing right on schedule.

Overnight newborn care – the Ideal gift for any new parent, help support them during this season of tired! Giving new moms the gift of sleep is invaluable for more than just making them comfortable. Quality sleep is linked to mental and physical health and the value of it cannot be overstated.

Experienced Moms want:

Nanit Pro multi pack– Keep eyes on ALL the babies with this beloved monitor in a multi-pack. Connect it to your phone and watch your new baby and their new sibling as they sleep peacefully. Monitor temperature, humidity, receive cry alerts, and enjoy a bird’s eye view in crisp 1080p. Nanit is a wildly popular monitor for a reason!

Chicco Fit 360 revolving car seat– Keep your little ones rear facing longer and cut down on the struggle of getting into the car with more than one! The innovative Chicco Fit 360 rotates to allow babies to be buckled into their seat. Simply rotate back and lock into place and you’re all ready to roll.

Daytime doula support– Gift an extra set of hands who knows exactly what needs to be done. When parents have daytime support, they can focus on resting, healing, and nourishing themselves while easing into their new normal.

Loving the beautiful moms in our lives doesn’t have to be challenging! Getting gifts for new moms is a beautiful thing. You’re sure to “win” Mother’s Day with any of these ideas.