The Paraclete Doula

I have not yet had a client who was told that baby's birth weight would be less than it was in reality. It would seem that birth weights tend to be estimated up, not down, in general. If you are told your baby is likely to be on the large side, ask your doctor or midwife what you can do during your birth to facilitate your baby's delivery regardless of size. You may not be able to avoid a cesarean section, but you can plan to have the birth you dream of and if things do not go the way you hoped, you will have a plan in place that will help you accept the changes to that plan as they come along. Talk with your doctor and/or midwife and, of course, your doula. Know your options.

So ladies, you've had an episiotomy and/or tearing (or not, let's face it, things are a bit tender 'down there' regardless) and now you need to take care of that tenderness and those stitches...my clients have been very grateful for preprepared padsicles that were waiting in the freezer. Here's how you make them: Generously apply Aloe Vera gel (not liquids concentrate) to a new pad, overnight/heavy flow variety, leave it on its wrapper. Pour about a teaspoon of alcohol free ...witch hazel over the Aloe Vera. Optional: Sprinkle a few drops of lavender oil over the pad (only if you know you will not have a reaction to the lavender oil). Re wrap the pad and put it in a ziploc bag or wrap it in tinfoil and then put it in the freezer until needed.

#breastfeeding #benefitsofbf La Leche League has always said that we’re here to support you whether you give your baby human milk for 4 days, 4 weeks, four mont...hs, or four years!. No matter how long you breastfeed, you are giving your child the benefits of your stronger immune system! For more information visit - https://www.healthychildren.org//Breastfeeding-Benefits-Yo [Image description: Illustration of a truck with a medical "+" symbol. The title along the top reads, "Benefits of Breastfeeding." Text: Infants under the age of one who breastfed for at least four months were less likely to be hospitalized for a lower respiratory tract infection, such as croup, bronchiolitis, or pneumonia. Source: Breastfeeding Benefits Your Baby's Immune System. American Academy of Pediatrics. Healthychildren.org]