The responsibility of a father extends deep and far into a child’s life. This is why being a parent is a demanding job and it requires a profound and relentless supply of energy and love. For single parents that responsibility is greater because there is no one to share the work with. Single fathers face their fair share of challenges, but remaining conscious of a few important tips can help in alleviating them.
Looking After Yourself While Looking After A Newborn: A Guide for Single Fathers (Guest Blog)
You’ve never felt anything else like it: the overwhelming love that engulfs your entire being for this tiny little person. But there’s a secret you probably haven’t told anyone, not even yourself: this wonderful new baby that you love with all of your heart is just exhausting.
Blog courtesy of Josh Moore of Diaper Dads, a site specifically for Soon to be Dads and Dads navigating the world of parenthood!
Guest Blog: How to Plan for a Stress-Free Maternity or Paternity Leave
Becoming a parent is more than rewarding, especially if you’re awaiting your baby to arrive. You may be counting down the days, hours, and minutes until you’re able to meet the new member of your family. While stocking up on newborn baby clothes and celebrating with your loved ones can be thrilling, planning for your time to rest may be a stressor. Thinking about getting back to work and actually taking the maternity leave that you need may be too much to handle.
Sperm Testing and Improving Sperm Health for Male Factory Infertility
Often times, infertility is a silent stressor that couples face alone. On top of that, the majority of the focus is placed on the woman to improve her health, to receive the bulk of the testing, and to undergo all of the treatments. Yet, one-third of infertile female/male couples face male factor infertility. So testing sperm is an early and important test that should be done!
50 Best Books For Newborns
Reading to babies starting from an early age has many positive effects on not only their development, it is a great bonding experience for caregiver and baby!
Daytime Activities To Do With A Newborn
During the early weeks of having your baby home, you may find it can be hard to find age appropriate activities for a newborn. Plus, it may not be appealing for you to leave the house, so finding home-bound activities is a must. Our postpartum doulas love teaching these simple and easy newborn-specific activities!
Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) in Men
Being a new Dad is life changing. There are amazing highs, and for about 1 in 10 men, there are some pretty low lows.
Monthly New Parents Meet Ups
We have learned from our clients one of their biggest wishes for our support is to have more of a sense of community. We began building our virtual community with our very active Facebook group in 2018, and 2019 is the year of face to face community building!
Virtual Doula Support
And while some clients love to have that face to face support that they receive through our traditional Birth Doula Support, or our Postpartum Doula Support some have more specific needs. Those needs may not require that same physical presence at their birth. Because of that, we are officially launching our Virtual Doula Support.
Self Massage Techniques To Do At Your Desk
Topical Nipple Care
Last week we talked about typical nipple issues that many of our breastfeeding clients face, from compression lines on nipples due to shallow latch to infections, and everything in between. The most important part of nipple care though is always figuring out the problem prior to caring for your nipple. Our postpartum doulas can help you figure out the problem, but once you have done that, you are left wondering how do you actually care for your damaged nipples?
Mantras for Parenthood
We often talk with our birth doula clients about using affirmations and mantras to help with the birth process as they can be extremely helpful to cope. And in the same light, using affirmations as a new parent can be encouraging. Here are a few of our favorites:
Protective Factors to Help Strengthen Your Growing Family
These five protective factors can help protect, build, strengthen and promote healthy parent and child development.
Doula Support During Birth
But what exactly do we do in the birth room while you are laboring and pushing? The short answer is: whatever you need!
Infant Behavioral States
Just like you, infants sometimes are not in the mood for certain activities. While they cannot verbalize that, parents, babysitters, and other guardians begin to notice signs of what the baby is feeling.
First Rule of Parenting: Never Say Never
While you are pregnant, every new parent starts to think about how they will parent, and make a lot of statements about how they will never let their future children do certain things. We are all guilty of it.
What’s Your Goal For Today?
We approach each client at each postpartum doula shift with a clean slate. We do not have any opinions about what should, or what should not be done, by the parent, or what should or should not be expected from the baby. We do, however, always start the shift with the same simple question: What is your goal for today?
Two Prenatal Appointments with Your Birth Doulas
For each birth doula client, we offer two prenatal appointments. This gives us a great time to learn about you, and for you to learn about us.
Understanding the Bonding Process
The bonding process between parents/caregivers and babies is a very special, but sometimes a confusing process. Learn more about it now!
9 Tips For Help With Gassy Babies
Having a gassy newborn or a gassy baby is very common, but that doesn’t make it any easier when it’s your uncomfortable baby! Here are our 9 tips from our postpartum doulas to help!
