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.
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.
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.
Pregnancy is an amazingly transformative time.
It isn’t always fun… morning sickness, anyone?
Pregnancy can sometimes mean you miss out on the exciting adventures your friends are having. No rollercoasters or skydiving for you!
But there are a few things that are only fun to do if you are pregnant!
Do you need a pick-me-up or want a list of things to do to make the most of your pregnancy? We’ve got lots of great ideas to keep you entertained through each trimester.
With so many changes happening in your body, pregnancy can feel like a full-time job in itself. But what about your other job? You want to continue working full-time until maternity leave while feeling your best. We’re here to tell you that it’s possible! You can do this!
We talked to clients and doulas on the Doulas of Orange County team about how they’ve managed to continue working during their pregnancies and are sharing their top tips with you!
The joy of discovering you’re pregnant can be quickly overshadowed by a constant need to bow down before the “porcelain gods” as soon as you get out of bed or every time you smell a neighbor cooking.
Morning sickness, which is rarely confined to mornings, can become the bane of your existence during the first trimester. It might have even been a little exciting at first, but now you need some relief. We’re sharing 11 of the most common, safe, and effective morning sickness remedies so you can get some relief!
Pregnancy is anything if not a crash-course in decision making and preparing to hire a postpartum doula is no different! There are a variety of things to consider when hiring a postpartum doula - your budget, how many days or nights a week you want support, how many weeks or months you want your doula providing care or if you want to add on herbal or nutritional support, just to name a few!
Here at Doulas of Orange County it is our mission to help you find the best doula to support you as you welcome your baby home. But before we can match you with some incredible doulas, it’s important that you know what matters most to you for your postpartum journey…that’s why we’re sharing this free printable to help you create your postpartum dream team!
