It’s no secret that life as a new parent can be hectic. Thankfully, app developers have created some great solutions to help parents with a variety of tasks, from tracking developmental milestones to organizing meal plans. Gone are the days of rummaging through piles of notes and parenting books to keep track of your parenting responsibilities. Take advantage of these practical apps and make your life a little bit easier.
A Morning with Your Postpartum Doula
This is the week you became parents, that you became a family. After welcoming your little one, you and your baby had two days of round the clock care from your loving nurses. The food may have been sub par, but the sleep… oh the sleep was wonderful.
Then comes the day… the day you are discharged. The joy surges through you. You’re going home with your newborn! In the car ride home you ask each other “Did they really just let us leave?” The drive is surreal as you look back at your baby, asleep in the car seat.
“I got this!”, you say to yourself. You know you will be incredible parents. You bought the best gear, signed up for the baby care basics class and mastered the diaper change. Yes, you got this.
That night was simultaneously the best and most challenging night you can recall. The love for your baby was overflowing, yet you felt like you were up all - night - long. Between nursing, countless diapers, burping, rocking and holding this tiny new creature; you wake up utterly exhausted.
You sit up in bed to nurse for what feels like the 100th time. Your postpartum haze subsides for a moment as you remember: the Postpartum Doula is coming today!!! You relax as you realize that support and reassurance is on the way.
Our Favorite Pregnancy Friendly Smoothies
Pregnancy is such an important time to eat healthy, balanced meals. But what happens if your appetite is non-existent or you have food aversions from here to Texas? Getting nutrients in when you’re nauseated or when nothing sounds appetizing can be tough. Enter smoothies!
While we are typically proponents of eating whole foods to get the adequate nutrients in pregnancy, we know that it’s not always easy or even possible, especially if you’re a mom on the go. Smoothies are a great way to bridge the gap, to get your body the calories and nourishment it needs for a healthy pregnancy. You can also easily blend one of these up in early labor and sip on it for a constant energy source while you birth your baby.
Below are some of our favorite pregnancy friendly smoothie recipes! These are easy to make at home and if you’re crunched for time we recommend prepping the ingredients on the weekend and freezing them in individual servings so you can pop them in the blender each morning and be on your way.
Summertime Mama Mocktails
It may not feel like it due all this rain we’ve been having, but Summer is fast approaching and along with it comes backyard barbecues, pool parties, and fun OC outings. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, it’s easy to feel left out when the rest of the crowd is drinking a refreshing cocktails. Which is why we’re sharing a few of our favorite mocktail recipes that will keep you in the celebratory, breezy mood that Summer evokes. These are perfect for a Summer baby shower by the beach or as a simple way to beat the heat. Whichever way you choose to enjoy these fresh, alcohol-free libations; we cheers to you!
Breastfeeding Basket - A Guide for New Moms
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When you’re breastfeeding during the newborn stage, the nursing sessions almost feel constant. With 8-12 feeds a day on average, you spend a lot of time feeding your sweet baby. In our work as postpartum doulas, we find it’s super helpful to create a simple basket of essentials that is portable and easy to grab with one hand. Here’s our go to guide for creating a Breastfeeding Basket!
A lightweight basket with a handle
You’ll want something like this large market basket from Plum + Sparrow that you can easily move from the sofa to the bed to the nursery chair.
Water Bottle
Breastfeeding makes you THIRSTY! Get something durable, easy to drink from and large enough that you don’t need to keep refilling it. The Yeti rambler fits the bill.
Nipple Balm & Chapstick
An organic balm that you can rub in to keep the area hydrated helps bring some relief to your nipples. Left over breastmilk and coconut oil are great options as a nipple cream too. Along the same lines of being so thirsty during nursing, we find having chapstick always on hand is great.
All the Burp Cloths
SO MUCH spit up. Squirting milk from oversupply. Milk everywhere is inevitable. Keep a good stock of these on hand. We’re loving these organic ones by Milkbarn with the loveliest whale design.
Extra Onesies
Again with the fore-mentioned spit up, along with poop explosions; we recommend having a few clean onesies within reach. The ethically made and environmentally friendly clothes at Shop Nature Supply have the cutest selection of onesies.
Rattle
There are some babies that are always waving their hands around or trying get their fist in their mouth during feeding. Having an easy to grab rattle nearby helps!
One Handed Snacks
Whether you stock up on some nutritious store bought granola bars or make your own food; always make sure to have plenty of nutrient dense snacks. Nut butter packets, bars, sunflower seeds, dried fruit and of course chocolate are all great options.
Diapers + Wipes
When you’re in the middle of catching up on episodes of your favorite TV show, the last thing you want to do is climb up the stairs for a diaper change. Always stock a few extras in your basket for convenience!
We hope this gives you something to do during the nesting weeks before you baby’s arrival and helps to make those first months of breastfeeding a little bit easier on you. Check with your favorite OC Postpartum Doula for more baby gear recommendations!
