newborn

Welcoming A Baby in Spring; a Slow Unfolding

Spring is here—the days are getting longer, the flowers are blooming, and there's a gentle nudge in the air to move, do, bloom.
And yet… you're in the newborn bubble.

Tender. Tired. Raw. Deep in the sacred cocoon of postpartum.

If you're feeling pulled between the outward energy of the season and the inward need for healing and bonding, you're not alone. This season of your life doesn’t have to fight against spring's energy—it can blend with it, if you approach it with care, intention, and grace.

Let’s talk about how to honor your body and bond with your baby, while gently attuning to the light and life that spring brings.

🌱 1. Redefine What “Movement” Means

It's natural to crave movement as the sun stretches higher in the sky. But movement in postpartum doesn’t have to mean long walks, workouts, or productivity. As your body is still healing and all of your energy is going towards sustaining your newborn, you should think: gentle, nourishing and life giving.

  • Slow stretches in bed or yoga mat with baby nearby

  • A barefoot step onto the porch to feel the sun on your face and the grounding earth beneath you

  • Swaying with your baby in your arms, dancing slowly to your favorite song

  • Breathing deeply as you open the windows and invite in fresh air

Let your movement support your healing—not rush it.

🕊️ 2. Practice “Soft Productivity”

There’s a difference between getting things done and getting things right for this season. Your brain might be stirring with ideas, projects, or home organization dreams—thanks, spring energy! But postpartum is about rhythms, not checklists. It’s a sacred time that should be cherished and honored as a slow transition.

Try this:

  • Write down the ideas or tasks that are bubbling up. Give them a home on paper so you don’t feel pressure to act now.

  • Choose one soft thing to focus on each day—like learning to baby-wear, nourishing your newborn, preparing a healing tea, reading a book to your toddler or folding baby’s clothes with intention.

  • Celebrate rest as a form of productivity. You're healing, your sustaining life and your navigating a whole new relationship.

  • Outsource help from a friend, family member or postpartum doula to ease the need for productivity and checklists to be completed. 

🌸 3. Create a Seasonal Nest

Even as the earth wakes up, your space can remain womb-like. You don’t need to be out in the world to enjoy spring—you can bring the outside in.

  • Open the windows for a breeze and birdsong

  • Place fresh flowers or budding branches by your nursing station or bedside

  • Use light, floral essential oils (lavender, rose, neroli) or herbal tinctures to uplift your mood

  • Cocoon yourself with comforting belly binding using a soft, lightweight muslin fabric

It’s amazing how a few seasonal shifts can refresh your spirit without overexerting your body.

🌼 4. Make Nourishment Your Rhythm

Postpartum bodies need grounding, warm, nutrient-dense foods—but spring often makes us crave lighter meals. You can honor both!

  • Sip on seasonal broths infused with spring greens

  • Eat a nourishing, but light meal such as creamy spring salmon

  • Enjoy warm teas with hints of lemon balm, chamomile, or nettles for energy and calm

  • Have your doula batch-prep soothing snacks like oat bites, chia pudding with stewed fruit, or soft boiled eggs with herbs

Eating slowly, mindfully, and with deep gratitude is a beautiful form of springtime nourishment in itself.

🌞 5. Soak in the Sun—on Your Terms

That sun? She’s calling you. And you can answer without overextending yourself. Sunlight can support mood, hormone balance, and even milk supply—so it’s a postpartum superpower.

  • Sit in the sunshine by a window while you feed your baby

  • Lie on a blanket in the backyard for 10 minutes with your feet on the earth

  • Step outside with your baby wrapped close in a woven wrap and breathe in the spring air

You don’t have to go far to feel refreshed and renewed. Presence is everything.

🌙 6. Honor Your Inner Season

While spring is blossoming outside, postpartum is still your winter. Your body, heart, and hormones are still moving slowly. Still integrating. Still bleeding, shifting, weeping, becoming.

It’s okay to feel at odds with the world’s pace. It’s okay to go slow, even when everything is blooming fast.
Let others bloom. You? You're rooting.

Let your roots get strong and deep. The blossoming will come.

You Are Exactly Where You Need to Be

So give yourself permission to nest a little longer.
To sip your tea slowly.
To watch the cherry blossoms from the warmth of your window.
To be with your baby in all the sacred stillness this season offers.

You are not behind. You are exactly on time.

Looking for ways to design your own slow postpartum plan? Let’s chat about simple routines, rituals, or seasonal support ideas that match where you are. You're not meant to do this alone. 💛

The Magical Golden Hour

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.

Top 8 Ways for a Dad to Bond with a New Baby!

As a dad, oftentimes the reality of having a baby doesn't set in until they're born. Even then, bonding can take a while and this new role of fatherhood can feel oh, so intimidating. We get it and it's completely normal. You didn't carry, birth or nurse your baby and it all feels abstract. 

One of my favorite parts of being a Postpartum Doula is to help dads grow closer to their babies and watch their confidence soar.

Check out Doulas of OC’s top 8 tips for dads to bond with their newborn! 

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  1. Reading Aloud 

    Pick your favorite books, hold your baby in your lap and read, read, read. Not only does reading to your baby help encourage early language development, but she will love listening to the unique tone and natural rhythm of your voice. If you have a hard time with basic board books, try pulling out your favorite PG chapter book to read aloud. Baby doesn’t care too much about the content, they care about connection

  2. Bath Time Bubbles 

    Bath time is a perfect way to introduce a simple routine that can be just for you and baby. Whether it’s every night before bed or every other day, you will gain confidence as you care for your little one and ensure a special time carved out to enjoy being a dad.  

  3. Infant Massage 

    Physical touch is so very important for brain development and emotional security. By introducing a basic massage routine to your week, the bonding hormone, oxytocin will be flowing in both baby and dad. The release of this hormone creates a strong attachment and actually increases your desire to be present and close with those you love.  

  4. Singing During Diaper Changes 

    Diaper changes. It’s a mundane occurrence that happens way too often, right? A baby needs 8-12+ diaper changes a day, which leaves SO many opportunities to connect with your baby while they’re usually awake. I like to encourage fathers to utilize this time making eye contact with their baby and sing a song. Before you know it, it will be the favorite part of your day. 

  5. Tummy Time Giggles 

    Play is the foundation for early childhood. Get down on the floor and play with your baby. Make silly faces, shake a rattle, tickle their toes and imitate their sounds. You have many more years of play ahead of you, so start now by building a strong attachment rooted in joy.

  6. Shirtless Bottle Feeds 

    We promise this idea wasn’t just started by new moms waiting for their 6 week clearance. Multiple studies show that holding your baby skin-to-skin while feeding them, increases bonding, regulates baby’s temperature and encourages baby to be accustomed to your scent. Simply get your little one in a diaper only, cradle them upright in the nook of your arm, make eye contact and feed your baby.

  7. Master the Swaddle  

    There’s nothing like watching a new dad beam with pride as he calms his crying baby. From the football hold to bouncing on the yoga ball, to swaddling and shhhhhhhhing; a postpartum doula will help you practice each and every soothing technique for your fussy newborn!

  8. All the Cuddles 

    The desire to be held spans across every age and starts from the moment you’re born. Babies are often go from rocker, to swing, to crib to tummy time and crave to touch from those they love.  You don’t need to hold your baby all day long to create a strong bond. Plop your baby in your arms while catching up on the morning paper or snuggle during the basketball game. As a postpartum doula, I teach all dads how to use a baby-carrier to be able to get some baby snuggles in while still having both hands free! 

I hope this list gave you some ideas to start building connecting with your newborn baby in your every day routine! Check out our blog to read more about a typical day-in-the-life with your postpartum doula.

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Bonding with Your Baby

In a world that is constantly on the go, bonding with other humans is often the last thing our minds.  True, intimate connections have been replaced by social media and surface level relationships  It somehow seems easier and safer that way. 

But, is safe and easy best?  Should we avoid connection and bonding because it's inconvenient?  Not at all.  Humanity needs true connection now more than ever. Adults and children alike are designed to need healthy attachment - it's a part of our DNA. It begins with pregnancy and continues to birth, childhood, marriage and beyond. Simply put, bonding is essential for our survival.

Packing Your Hospital Bag

Woohoooo! You've made it to the third trimester and the reality that your baby is arriving soon has probably hit you like a ton of bricks! If you're like most of our clients, you want to be as prepared as possible for your birth and this means getting your hospital bag packed and organized by 36 or 37 weeks. If you're feeling a bit overwhelmed by this task - we’ve created an easy, but comprehensive list to make it easier on you. Having your bag packed and ready to go will help you feel more at ease as you enter these last few weeks of pregnancy and prepare to meet your sweet baby!

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Hospital Bag Must Haves:

These are the things you shouldn't skip! Even if this is the bare minimum that you pack - don't forget these items! 

  • Prescription Medications

  • Toiletry Items: Face wash, moisturizer, tooth brush, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, contact solution, etc. (They do not have most of these items at the hospital so definitely bring your own!)

  • Glasses (if you're a contact-lense wearer)

  • Slippers (we recommend throwing them away after)

  • Comfortable clothing: if you're not interested in wearing a hospital gown for birth or postpartum then make sure you have clothing that allows for easy access to your belly and your nether-regions.

  • Chapstick or lip moisturizer

  • Hair ties

  • Outfit to wear home: non-restrictive clothing is best!

  • 1 or 2 extra pillows (covered in old or dark pillow cases that can be tossed afterwards)

  • Cell phone/Tablet chargers

  • Nursing tanks & bras

  • Ear plugs & eye mask (helpful for those that need a little extra help to fall asleep!)

  • Several copies of your birth/baby care plan

  • Photo ID and insurance card

  • Snacks for you and your partner! (grab our free printable for packing labor snacks here!)

Some Convenient Extras

These are great options to have for comfort in labor.

  • Blue Tooth speaker

  • Pre-prepped play lists (we recommend creating several - some with upbeat songs to energize you, others with relaxing sounds and no lyrics to help you focus)

  • Fitness Ball (some hospitals have these, but they may not always be available or be the right size. When in doubt, it's helpful to bring your own).

  • Essential Oils for labor

  • Rebozo or a long scarf

  • Christmas lights (read more about why here)

Partner Essentials

We haven't forgotten about your awesome partner! The following is helpful to have on hand to make their experience enjoyable!

  • Snacks!! (we take eating seriously, don't forget food!)

  • Hydrating beverages

  • Personal toiletries

  • Comfy clothing

  • Breath mints or gum

  • Comfy shoes

  • Text/Call/Email list to announce the birth

  • Extra layers (hospitals get cold then hot then cold again - dress in layers!)

  • Phone/Tablet charger

  • Treats for the nurses (protein bars, cookies, chocolate, etc. are all big hits!)

Baby Needs

Your little one doesn't need much and the hospital has most of it especially diapers, wipes and swaddles! Many of these items are optional.

  • Cloth diapers/wipes (if you're choosing to use cloth, you'll need approximately 10-12 diapers per day to be safe). Don't forget your wet bag for storage!

  • Soft swaddles

  • Going home outfit

  • Socks

  • Onesies (2)

  • Infant car seat

We hope this list is helpful as you get ready for your baby's birth day! Is there a "must-have" that we missed? We'd love to hear from you! Share your ideas in the comments!