As Dr. John Kennell, a pioneer in the field of perinatal health care said, “If a doula were a drug, it would be malpractice not to use it.” I have personally used one and that experience inspired me to become a birth and postpartum doula myself.

When I say the word doula to most people, all I get back is a blank stare. I then have to explain what exactly I do. Are you one of those? Here is a great explanation I have created.

BIRTH DOULA
The professional birth assistant is a woman who tends to the birthing family from early labor until a little after the baby is born. She is trained to deliver continuity of care from home to hospital, be there through changing hospital shifts and alternating physician schedules; serve as advocate, labor coach, and support partner, and above all, help manage the fears of both parents. If it is a home birth, she is trained to take over tasks so the partner can be 100% present. A doula’s presence does not make a birth partner’s presence unnecessary. To the contrary, her presence frees the partner from certain aspects of concern and allows the partner to interact more closely with the birthing woman. The goal is to give the parents-to-be the freedom to focus inward and increase the intimacy of the experience for both the mother and her partner as they meet the challenges and rewards of their unique birthing experience, thereby leaving her with a sense of empowerment and a beautiful and positive birth memory.

POSTPARTUM DOULA
A postpartum doula is a non-judgmental woman with a quiet presence in the home. Most postpartum doulas are mothers themselves who have their own children and enjoy motherhood. By giving emotional and breastfeeding support along with practical newborn care tips and taking care of necessary household tasks such as: grocery shopping; meal preparation; doing the dishes, laundry or tending to the older children, postpartum Doulas help ease the transition into motherhood.

Unlike a baby nurse who focuses her care solely on the newborn, a postpartum doula encourages and teaches parents how to care for their newborn, to interpret their baby’s cues, and to trust their instincts in responding to their baby’s needs, infusing the parents with the confidence and support they need to develop their own parenting style.

After the baby is born you feel sleep deprived, scatter brained, and very forgetful.  I guess for some of us, this continues throughout their childhood.  The joke in my house, “Is it a cheese in the freezer kind of day?”.  I have been known to put food items in weird places.  An old friend used to say, “a few more brain cells are lost after each child so you can handle all the kids” (she had 5 by the age of 27).

Breastfeeding is one of those things that can feel like taking the SAT test all over again.  When was the last time the baby ate?  Is that why the baby is crying?  What side am I supposed to start on this time?  At 2am it’s even worse!  Imagine taking the SAT without any sleep the night before.  If you are pregnant with your first, please don’t be too scared.  Somehow you make it through.  Then, you think about having another one.

I found this product that is a DOH! moment.  It is so simple and yet so practical.  It is a nursing bracelet.  There is a detachable charm which you move to keep track of the time of feedings.  Also, if you are like me and can’t ever remember which side to start on, you can switch wrists to remind you.

Click on any picture.  It will take you to the different sites where you can purchase these smart beauties.

We all strive to be yummy mummies right?  What mommy doesn’t want good lookin’ burp clothes instead of cloth diapers?  Check out the giveway for Swaddle Design’s Baby Burpee.  Even if you aren’t a mommy to be, wouldn’t these make a great gift?  For free too?

When it comes to breastfeeding, I’m a modest gal.  I never fed my kids in public.  I was always worried they would pull the blanket down and I would make those around me blush.  I would sit in the car, or plan my schedule around feeding times.  This time around, I am getting a nursing cover.  Pho for Five is having a giveaway for a nursing cover from Bebe au Lait.  I put in my comment for a chance to get one of these chic covers, have you?

Trust me, I know how much work it is to have a new baby.  One of those times I wish there was a camera in my house.  When my third was born, my first was potty training (potty training and teething, my dreaded enemies!).  I remember one time, I was breastfeeding the baby.  Chandlur says he has to go potty.  I can’t unlatch because it was an effort to get him latched on correctly.  I also nursed my kids using the football positioning.  I got up, ran to the bathroom with Vahn still latched.  I helped him on the potty, sat and waited, did the happy potty dance, and helped put his undies and pants back on.  All this while Vahn was eating away.  I was chuckling at that moment and will probably laugh about it the rest of my life.

Even though, your house may be crazy, you still need to take care of yourself.  What good would you be if you died from something that may have been prevented, if only you took action for yourself?  It isn’t selfish by any means!  As mommies, we have to take care of ourselves first or we won’t be able to care properly for our families.

Our boobies (yes, i said boobies), should be at the top of that list.  We have come to learn much more about breast cancer in recent years.  It is growing at an amazing rate, and did you know a majority of women who get breast cancer are the first in the family (this has rung true for my family)?

Here’s some facts:

-Estrogen fuels breast tumors.  Fat cells produce estrogen.  This means, take care of your body and take steps to get rid of your fat.  Also, you will have more energy to play and care for your kiddos.

-This leads me to exercise, which is really just movement.  Don’t think you have to go to the gym.  Lace up your shoes, pull out the stroller, and go for a walk (just work up a sweat, no lolly-gaggin’).  You can even dance with your toddler for a little while.  We know how much sweat we can work up entertaining a little one! This exercise kills off that estrogen producing fat.

-Don’t worry about your birth control raising your risk.  A Danish study of more than 54,000 women found, they don’t increase the likelihood of breast cancer.

-Lastly, the breast is best.  This isn’t just for your baby, but you too.  Breastfeeding lowers hormone levels, however, you have to keep it up for several months for the full benefit.

Now, lace up your shoes, and go for a walk.  If a walk would be a hassle with the number or age of kids, just play with them and work up a sweat.

We all know “the breast is best”.  Has PETA taken it a wee to far?  A Swiss restaurant owner will begin purchasing breast milk from nursing mothers and substituting breast milk for 75 percent of the cow’s milk in the food he serves.  This prompted PETA to write to Ben and Jerry’s ice cream and propose they do the same.  I love Ben and Jerry’s!  If I knew I was drinking some woman’s breast milk, I think I would have to switch companies.  In a statement Ben and Jerry’s said, “We applaud PETA’s novel approach to bringing attention to an issue, but we believe a mother’s milk is best used for her child.”  Could you imagine, much like there is the organic seal on food, you now have a ‘made with breast milk’ seal?  I’m sure for those breastfeeding it would be a great way to make some extra bucks, right?  I am all for breastfeeding, I do think for a baby it IS best.  However, an adult, hhmmm.  All this talk about ice cream makes me want some!!

Go and read the letter PETA sent to the good ol’ boys.

When shopping for breastfeeding wear, I am usually pretty disappointed by the options. Why can’t there be pretty bras?  Womama has the cutest and sexiest nursing bras. They also carry the only organic birthing wrap in the world. It is incredible! You can wear it during pregnancy as a wrap, then wear it while giving birth. You can even wear it after as a nightie or a wrap after the baby is born. This would be such a great gift for the pregnant mama who isn’t all that excited about wearing the very chic hospital gowns.  I might have to get one for my next baby so i can be the chicest mama in the maternity ward.  Womama also has nursing singlets.  These are tank tops which unhook at the strap.  You can still be modestly covered while the baby is feeding.  No one has to see that post baby belly we are usually really concious of.  It is certainly for that mama who wants some ingenious, fun, and funky maternity/breastfeeding wear. Womama has so many really cool products, you really need to just go to their site and check it out!