Sleep COUNTS!

Sleep less is absolutely NOT the same as Sleepless! So, stop skipping on snoozing or else you will literally go crazy.

You can’t blame colic, or fussy feeding for poor self-care. Make no mistake YOU might be the cause of your insomnia not your newborn.  We MUST sleep in order to survive. This is parenthood not Guantanamo so stop trying to do EVERYTHING and GO TAKE A NAP.

As new parents our priorities must change. Let go of passed belief systems about what “matters”, tardiness, or FOMO (fear of missing out), what actually matters is the health and well-being of you and your family. That might mean being more flexible about timing, not showing up to every opening of an envelope, and abandoning the expectations of how things “should” be.

It is hard not to open your home to everyone and share the wonderful arrival of your newborn. But, often guests add undue stress. Stress is sleeps worst enemy.  It is not the time to be white glove cleaning your house from to top to bottom making sure everything is just “so”.  You need to be saving your strength and energy for literally the small things AKA your baby. Believe me, an invitation is a gift for those who are truly important. Maybe even those who will love on your infant giving you an opportunity to get some REM.  These are the people who don’t mind what your house looks like, they care what you look like. You didn’t trade in your belly for dark circles. Trust, those who mind – don’t matter, and, those who matter - don’t mind. Others can wait until you get the sleep schedule down. 

Sleep Deprivation is no joke. The lack of REM sleep can wreak havoc on your life. It will make you more exhausted (if that’s possible) cause you to constantly second guess yourself, have lapses in memory, feel disconnected, groggy, cranky, irritable and possibly even depressed.

Synchronized sleeping is golden. When their head hits the crib your head should hit the pillow. If you can’t actually sleep, just get horizontal. Laying down and taking the load off can be the reboot you need to get through. Don’t disrupt your nights every night. Sharing nighttime feedings can combat daytime drifting. If you are breastfeeding that’s ok, pumping and bottling in advance will give your birthing partner the ability to feed, also giving them time to bond and have some skin on skin.

Your Postpartum & Infant Care Doula from Maine Doulas is an incredible resource for times like these, don’t hesitate to call and seek support. If the sleeplessness is relentless you might need to seek the help of a medical professional to assure that the insomnia isn’t a side effect of physical or emotional illness.

Just remember sleepless nights will come to an end… until about your child’s teenage years… then sleepless nights are really a problem. We can, however, teach you how to swaddle a teen. No really.

PS. When you're ready to help your baby learn to sleep independently, check back with us for our exclusive in-home sleep training!

World Doula Week: What in the World is a Doula

In honor of World Doula Week March 22nd - 28th we are proud to recognize the monumental history of doulas. It is no secret that doulas have been supporting, and positively impacting birthing and postpartum families for centuries. Working diligently behind the scenes “mothering the mothers” of each new generation, ushering in new life in grass huts and Metropolitan hospitals around the globe every day. But who are we? What do we do? And, why should we be celebrated.  World Doula Week annually runs from March 22nd through March 28th. This global holiday was started in 2011 and the date of March 22nd was aptly chosen because it was the Spring Equinox, a time of year many cultures believe is synonymous with return of fertility.

Merriam Webster Definition
doula - noun dou·la  \ ˈdü-lə \
plural doulas 
A person trained to provide advice, information, emotional support, and physical comfort to a mother before, during, and just after childbirth

Research shows that childbirth does go more smoothly with a doula: labor is 25 percent shorter, the need for epidural pain relief is 60 percent less and the Caesarean section rate is reduced by half. —Susan Gilbert

The word doula is of Greek origin and translates to handmaiden or servant. But, there has been a powerful evolution over the years. Today doulas are paid professionals who are highly educated and skilled to provide unbiased, emotional, physical, and educational support. Many doulas take extensive trainings and receive certifications from organizations with high standards. No longer bound by servitude, the modern doula choses to make a difference and empower the families they support.

Historically studies have shown that the presence of doulas during labor and the postpartum period are beneficial to the entire family:

·       May shorten the length of labor     

·       Reduced use of Pitocin

·       Decreased rate of interventions during labor

·       Reduces the incidence of c-sections     

·       Reduces epidural and analgesic requests

·       Higher satisfaction with birth outcomes

• Shorter labors    

·       Increases breastfeeding initiation and continuation    

·       Increases mother’s satisfaction of birth experience     

·       Can reduce the incidence of postpartum mood disorders    

·       Increases new parents’ confidence in the care of their newborn

• Increases time for the strengthening of early family bonding

Maine Doulas are are proud to be part of a long lineage of doulas who are working to better the world one birth at a time.

The Hunt For A New Family Tradition

Spring is coming and so is Easter, whether you celebrate religiously or as a seasonal holiday, there are so many fun traditions to enjoy.

Traditions give us a sense of belonging, to our culture, our religion, and, our families. The customs, feasts, and rituals that are passed on from generation to generation often are our most treasured memories. Holidays are steeped in traditions and a great time to be creative and put a special twist on tried and true favorites.

Studies have proven that the practice of keeping traditions build family bonds between generations and provide a strong sense of dependability. As our families grow and mature we can implement these powerful values by reimagining and creating “New” traditions.

One classic tradition the Easter Egg Hunt can be amped up with some new ideas. Pinterest is a great resource for ideas. Here are 3 we think every bunny will love.

Glow Get Em: Flashlights and glow sticks make this Glow in The Dark Egg Hunt Awesome! Especially with the older kids. Fill your plastic eggs with glowing objects along with candy watch as their smiles will illuminate the night.

Colors Count: This concept is great to combat sibling rivalry. Maybe you have a super hunter in your crew who finds all the eggs leaving little to none for the others. Well, make sure you get the same amount of eggs in different colors and assign a color to each person. That way Everyone wins and has fun in the process.

House Hunt: Keep the fun indoors. Maybe you don’t have a yard? Or, the weather has decided not to cooperate. Don’t let that rain on your parade. There are plenty of creative places to stash your eggs inside. Coat pockets, cereal boxes, inside shoes, under pillows, in the toy box. The ideas are endless.

Fun for sure and the possibilities are endless. The more creative the hunt the sweeter the memories. Creating new traditions don’t need to just be for holidays. Every day is a chance for family togetherness. You don’t need eater eggs to have a family scavenger hunt at home.

Pregnant and Prepared!

And so it begins. One, two, maybe three pregnancy tests later and they all confirm your suspicions. Congratulations YOU Are Pregnant!

Now what?  Here is a simple check list of some important to-dos that may not be priorities, but, believe us, they are important.

GET EDUCATED

Knowledge is power! And an educated parent is a prepared parent. While the internet and bookstore are filled with incredible amounts of information it may all get overwhelming. Child Birth Classes are a great environment to learn and connect with peers. However, nothing is more beneficial than one on one tutoring. Schedule a birth consult with a Maternity Concierge and give yourself the gift of education and ask all the questions.  Product reviews are important when making purchases and be sure to check for product recalls regularly to assure safety.

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

As your family grows you may see the need for more space. Perhaps even a new location all together. There are many factors that go into choosing your family’s new home. There are resources available that provide lists ranking the most family friendly neighborhoods.

JOURNAL THE JOURNEY

There are many ways to document your pregnancy. Several pregnancy journals are available for a wide range of prices on Amazon and Etsy or if your Crafty you can create one. Many Apps are available to help you along the way. You can track cravings, body changes, the size of your baby, funny stories, milestones including the first kick and more. These journals and apps often give helpful hints as well. Also, pregnancy brain is not a myth so make sure to write down questions as you have them so you can ask your doctor at your next appointment. 

PICTURE PERFECT PROGRESS

From your baby announcement to Facebook belly bump posts a picture tells a thousand words.

Your phone has a camera, so it is a lot more convenient today to keep a photo log of your pregnancy and beyond. Belly portraits are a beautiful keepsake and another way to explore your creative side.

MAKE A BABY BUCKET LIST

Before you know it nine months is over. Keep organized with a before baby and after baby check lists. They get so big so fast! It is important to make the most of every moment. Often times we can get so consumed with everything that we forget to experience this time with our babies in the world. Make a fun activity list of neighborhood newborn friendly events and destinations.

Remember at Maine Doulas we are here to support you, educate you and inspire you all along the way.