Birth Plan, Doulas, Motherhood, Newborns, Postpartum
Lauren Foster, Co-Owner
The Magical Golden Hour

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.

The Magical Golden Hour
Decision Making, Pregnancy, Parenting, Newborns, Our Favorites
Lauren Foster, Co-Owner
A Doula's Eco Friendly Baby Registry

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.

A Doula's Eco Friendly Baby Registry
Community, Doulas, Doulas of Orange County, Local OC Resources, Our Team
Lauren Foster, Co-Owner
Calling all amazing Doulas & Newborn Care ...
Calling all amazing Doulas & Newborn Care Specialists!
Birth Plan, Decision Making, Newborns, Parenting, Postpartum, Pregnancy
National Baby Co
Early Signs That You are Pregnant with Twins ...
Early Signs That You are Pregnant with Twins or Multiples
Newborns, Motherhood, Parenting, Postpartum, Postpartum Doula, Baby Sleep
National Baby Co
Are My Twins Too Old For Postpartum Doula Care?

The Doulas of Orange County office phone rings.


I pick up. “Hello! Doulas of Orange County. Lauren speaking.”

A strained voice sounds relieved to hear me, and it sounds like she has been crying. She’s an exhausted new mom of 12-week old twins and a 20-month-old toddler (who won’t let her out of his sight). She’s drained from her twin pregnancy, a difficult birth, and breastfeeding challenges. She struggles to keep up with laundry and wash enough dishes to have plates for the next meal. Her partner has been trying to feed the baby at night, but she’s still waking up to pump for multiples and can’t help but feel guilty about how tired her partner will be at work the next day. She really needs a postpartum doula in Irvine, CA.

“Can you help me, even though my babies are so old?” She asks.

Are My Twins Too Old For Postpartum Doula Care?
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Lessons on Compassion from "Call the Midwife"

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There's nothing like a good Netflix binge to help calm the mind and reset the body for the week ahead. I've had a particularly rough week emotionally, so when Sunday rolled around with it's rainy OC weather and nothing on my to-do list, I figured what better time to catch up on "Call the Midwife!"

For those that are unfamiliar, "Call the Midwife" is a PBS show all about midwifery care in the 1950s and 60s. It is a beautiful show that portrays the dramatic ups and downs of midwifery, birth, life, and death in the impoverished East End of London. Each episode is guaranteed to tug at the heart strings. 

In episode two of the fifth season, there is an interesting commentary on breastfeeding vs. formula feeding with a beautiful lesson on listening to an individual mothers needs and desires.

Without going into too much detail (because really, if you aren't watching this show yet, you should!!) one of the midwives is extremely vocal of her disapproval of formula feeding. Keep in mind that formula was a new phenomenon in the 1960s and that some people could barely afford to put food on the table. Sister Evangelina, the notoriously vocal midwife touts the benefits of breast milk as being the perfect food for baby and bonus, it's free! 

As a Birth & Postpartum Doula, I of course, know her views to be valid and correct from a logical standpoint, but I cringed at the words she used and the attitude she portrayed, essentially poo-pooing anyone who dared challenge her expertise and views. 

Fast forward to a mom struggling to breastfeed and this same midwife (while encouraging her to keep trying), dismisses her fears and the pain breastfeeding was causing her. It took bleeding nipples and a full emotional breakdown for the midwife to finally admit that she was wrong and that formula was NOT, in fact, evil. 

The Top 10 Mother's Day Gifts for a New Mom

Mother’s Day is coming up on May 14th 2017. We love that there is a day set aside to celebrate and honor Motherhood! You may have a spouse, family member or friend that is celebrating their First Mother’s Day this year and you’re scrambling to find the perfect gift to show you care.  

We did a roundup of our Top 10 ideas to gift the new mom in your life. 

Image Source:: The Bee and The Fox

Image Source:: The Bee and The Fox

1) Matching Shirts for Mom and Baby

We can’t even handle the adorable matching shirts offered over at The Bee and the Fox. Don’t worry these aren’t cheesy in the least. Or maybe they are; but we love them anyhow! Their Mama Bird shirt and Baby Bird onesie is enough to make any new mom’s heart sing with joy. This local OC company is based out of San Clemente, CA. Pro tip: snap a pic to document the dynamic duo together in their new tees.

2) Breakfast in Bed

This is the perfect gift from mom’s partner. Prepare some homemade pancakes, fresh fruit, organic eggs, coffee and a few hand picked flowers to present to her in bed. Offer to hold your little one so she can eat with two hands and truly relax. Snuggle up to enjoy some quality time together and soak in the beautiful fact that you're a family.

3) The Gift of Rest

Oh sleep, the most desired and loved pastime of any new mom. The gift of rest can be provided in a myriad of ways. Pop some lavender essential oil in the diffuser, go on a walk with the baby while mom takes a long nap in silence. If you want mom to wake up feeling refreshed and renewed this Mother’s Day, gift her in home, overnight care with a Postpartum Doula.

Image Source:: Nia Tudor

Image Source:: Nia Tudor

4) Watercolor Family Illustration

This custom family portrait by artist Nia Tudor is a unique and thoughtful gift that any mom would love. It's as easy as sending in a family photograph and Nia will paint a creative representation to hang on your wall for years to come. 

5) Day out with Friends

Let’s be real. Motherhood sometimes can be very isolating as a new mom finds their rhythm and transitions into life with a baby. There is nothing more refreshing than a day out with friends. Set up a lunch at her favorite spot with all the friends that make her smile. Local to Orange County? Cafe Gratitude in newport beach is delightful restaurant that we can’t get enough of!

6) In Home Spa

While a new mom needs pampering, she also wants to be with the one that made her a mom; her child. Bring the spa to her! Think aromatherapy, music, massage, face mask and a long soak featuring an herbal bath blend for mom and baby such as this blend from Mountain Rose Herbs.

7) Mom in the Frame

Snap a candid photo of mom and baby and gift it to her in a lovely frame. Moms are often are busy documenting their baby and those around them, that they forget to step in the shot. This will show that you value their bond and it will be treasured for years to come. Bonus points; schedule a lifestyle photoshoot documenting the small, yet meaningful moments in motherhood.

8) Rose Gold Bar Necklace

We adore this sweet and minimalist hand stamped necklace from The Silver Wren. You can customize this rose gold necklace to feature get the baby’s initials, the word mama or another endearing sentiment.

9) Date Night    

A date night for mom and her partner often doesn’t get on the calendar often during the first year. This is a perfect gift for anyone in mom’s life to set up. As the friend or family member you can offer to babysit and send the lovebirds off for a dinner together. We all know she’ll be missing the baby after 30 minutes, but hey… a 30 minute date is still appreciated! If baby is quite young, set up an in home date to experience and enjoy with baby in tow. Rent a movie and order takeout of her choice while enjoying a quiet evening as a family.

10) A Craft from Baby  

A heartfelt craft “created and signed” by baby is always a sure winner. Some ideas are a mold of tiny handprints, a handmade card, finger painting or a custom coffee mug with baby's photo! I have the cheesy mug and drink from it daily, true story. 

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We hope you enjoyed our Mother's Day 2017 Gift Guide for first time moms! 

 

 

Why We Celebrate Women

Why We Celebrate Women

You’ll hear us say it a lot:

“Women are amazing.”

“Women are strong.”

“Women are warriors.”

These statements and more are proved to be true day-in and day-out in the work we do with our clients. We are constantly astonished by the incredible power and strength that the women in our lives portray.

Self-Care Made Easy

In a culture that glorifies stress it can be a challenge to slow down. Too often we equate being busy and exhausted with being productive and along the way, we’ve lost the art of taking care of ourselves. When it comes to self-care too many people see it as just another thing to cross off their ever-growing to-do list. So how can you prioritize yourself when society encourages you to glorify busy and pushes you to your limits?

New Co-Owner:: Welcome Lauren Jacobs!

Exciting changes on the horizon for OC Doula Collective LLC! Today, we are happy to announce our new co-owner, Lauren Jacobs.  

Lauren is a Birth & Postpartum Doula, Prenatal Yoga Instructor and Childbirth Educator that has been serving the greater Los Angeles & Orange County areas since 2008. She joined the team at OC Doula Collective in August 2015, and has since provided our clients with exceptional care every step of the way. She has walked alongside over 300 families through pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Her dedication to facilitating empowerment, self love and confidence is one of the many reasons we hand selected her to join our team.  

After showing an exemplary skill set on the business side of birth work, we brought Lauren on as our amazing Administrative Director in July 2016. Lauren's cheerful voice is the one our potential client's hear when inquiring and she is the first to respond to questions about our services.

I am thrilled to welcome such an incredibly smart, passionate and positive woman as the new co-owner of OC Doula Collective. Her expertise and fresh ideas will be a huge asset to the agency and I am overjoyed to work alongside of her! Lauren's style of care is refreshing to both our clients and colleagues. 

At OC Doula Collective, we are committed to providing non-judgemental and professional care to Orange County families at every stage of parenting.  We are excited for all that 2017 will bring as we continue to work hard to create an amazing community of support and resources for OC Moms and Dads.