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.
A a veteran doula I get a lot of questions each day about hiring a birth or postpartum doula or other newborn care support. One of the most common questions is “When should I hire someone?”
I know by telling you that you should have hired someone yesterday, that it sounds like it’s too late, but really it’s likely not, so DO NOT PANIC. I simply say “yesterday” to stress the urgency of hiring someone as soon as possible.
Our unique matchmaking services seek to connect you to ideal clients in Orange County and all of Southern California! You set your own rates, create your own work schedule in conjunction with your clients, you choose your travel radius and you always have the final decision on which clients you want to work with.
We are actively seeking Orange County and Los Angeles birth workers who are able to provide non-judgment support and unbiased care. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, including but not limited to people of color and LGBTQI+ individuals to join us in serving a wonderfully diverse population of families. Fluency in languages other than English is also a welcome asset.
If you...
Are a Trained/Certified Birth Doula, Lactation Counselor or Consultant, Postpartum Doula or Newborn Care Specialist or Childbirth Educator
Are Resourceful, Self Motived, a Problem Solver
Have a Professional Work Ethic
Are able to work in a Team Model and communicate efficiently with owners and colleagues
Are Compassionate and Creative
Able to provide Non-Judgmental Support of all client's needs and birth or parenting choices
Love Families and Children
Value Professionalism and Quality of Care
Can provide patient, helpful and Sincere Support to new & expecting families
Are Computer Proficient & Social Media Savvy
We offer...
Client inquiries and matchmaking to vetted families
Mentoring, support, and team camaraderie
Expense of company website, expos, marketing materials covered
Ongoing advertising and in-person networking done by owners
A reliable team of built-in dedicated backups in case of emergency
Open invitation to our virtual member group gatherings and continuing education opportunities (based on membership tier chosen)
We seek independent business owners who are trained and certified or actively working towards certification. We are looking for birth & postpartum professionals who are motivated, have ample and regular availability and the desire to nurture modern families in Orange County, Long Beach, the Inland Empire, Los Angeles, and San Diego.
If extended an offer to become a member of our team, the following will be required before receiving client referrals:
Certificate of completion for relevant trainings/certifications
CPR and First Aid certification
Verification of LLC or DBA or Business License (where applicable)
Copy of professional liability insurance
Valid driver’s license
Permission to run a background check
Completion of our contract
Completion of your online profile
Doulas of Orange County is a subsidiary of National Baby Co, LLC
(our national brand providing doula matching throughout the US)
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.
The pandemic baby boom has hit and it’s safe to say that doulas everywhere are busier than ever! That is certainly the case here at Doulas of Orange County - so much so that we’ve added more doulas and newborn care specialists to our team and are expanding our service area!
So whether you’re looking for overnight support to help you with your new twins or you’re seeking an amazing birth doula to be your guide at your homebirth… or any other scenario in between… basically if you need support through trying to conceive and the childbearing years, we’re here to help!
We can match you with fertility, prenatal, birth or postpartum care throughout Southern California. From San Bernadino to Long Beach, from Santa Clarita to Chula Vista! Our pre-vetted, professional, compassionate team is available to all SoCal families!
Postpartum Doula & Newborn Care Specialists
And if you’re open to a Virtual Doula, we can provide support for you anywhere in the world!
We’re proud to have served Orange County families since 2014 and are even more proud to have the ability to reach more families throughout Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Inland Empire. We believe that everyone deserves the support of a doula and are excited to hear from you!
If you’ve stumbled upon us, but are outside of our immediate service area, visit our parent company National Baby Co. which serves all of the United States. if we don’t have a provider in your area, we’d be happy to help you in your search!
Babies who have become overtired can get caught up in a cycle where they sleep less and not as well. They continue to be tired and difficult to settle, even after rest.
Today, at Doulas of Orange County, we are discussing:
Why babies become overtired
How to recognize when your baby is overtired
What to do if your baby is overtired
Prevention and recognizing the signs that your baby is sleepy
Our Orange County Sleep Consultants can help you get your baby back on track and help you prevent sleep problems in the future. Work with a Sleep Coach to build healthy sleep habits for your baby.
