The Switch from Liquid to Solid Food

The Switch from Liquid to Solid Food

When and how is it appropriate to start serving solid foods to a baby? Us doulas here in Philadelphia love talking about this fun time! There is a ton of different advice out there which can become foggy and discouraging but your postpartum doula is there to provide helpful information. Not all babies are the same so introducing new foods is not entirely about age. It is more important how each individual baby develops and responds to food. 
                So what factors show that it is time to switch to solid foods? In the American Academy of Pediatrics (APP) book, Nutrition: What Every Parent Needs to Know, there are some very finite guidelines that should be helpful. 



First ask, can the baby hold his or her head up? If the baby does not show good head control in a high chair, infant seat, and feeding seat, he or she is not yet ready for solid food. 
Next, does the baby open his or her mouth when being fed? Some things to look for are when the baby begins to start watching adults eat, becomes eager for food, or begins to reach for food. The final question is can the baby swallow food? It is not uncommon for the baby to push food out of his or her mouth when fed for the first time. If this happens either dilute the texture and gradually make it thicker or, wait for a couple weeks to try again. Most recommend using solely liquid foods for the first six months. When converting to solids, it is ideal to still continue with liquids. This combination should last twelve months or longer depending on the baby’s preference.

Baby led weaning vs. Pureed baby food

The most common method of introducing solid foods to baby is by introducing pureed or mashed, soft foods. The less popular method is known as "Baby Led Weaning" referring to allowing baby to feed him or her self with small finger foods that they can mash with their teeth or gums and swallow.   
Pureed foods will be the focus of this article.
                Now that it is more clear as to when to begin to feed solids, the question of how to go about feeding remains. Most mothers begin by feeding only half a spoonful of food at a time and by talking their baby through the process. Say things like, “Yum, open wide” or, “Mmmm, eat up” because encouraging the baby can make a huge difference. Another idea is to give the baby some milk or formula before feeding solids for the first time. This is helpful because it decreases the chances of irritability. Don’t be surprised if the baby wrinkles his or her nose, roles the food around in its mouth, makes a huge mess, or even rejects the food all together. This is very new to him or her so it is important to be patient and to not force it.
                When it comes time to feed solids, what should the first foods be? If the baby is mostly breastfed, it would be best to begin with meat because, from ages four to six months more easily absorbed iron and zinc is required. Likewise, talking to a doctor about vitamin D and iron supplements for the first year is not a bad idea. Contrary to popular beliefs, there is no medical evidence that feeding single grain cereals first and vegetables before fruit is beneficial. When feeding cereal for the first time, do not put it in a bottle because that can lead to unnecessary weight gain and choking. Also, all cereal should be made for babies and be iron-fortified. 
Some popular starting foods include  cereal, vegetables and fruits. When making homemade baby foods steer clear of spinach, beets, green beans, squash, and carrots. These ingredients have a lot of nitrates which can cause anemia (low iron count). On the other hand, sweet potatoes, corn, and peas are suggested for homemade baby foods. 
How should a mother go about adding new foods to a baby’s palette? Well, this should be a gradual process. Only one new food should be introduced at a time with two to three days in between each food. If the baby experiences rash, vomiting, or diarrhea after trying a new food, check with a doctor to make sure that it is not an allergic reaction. 
After baby food is successfully added to the baby’s diet, it is time to add finger foods. The best way to determine when to add finger foods is to wait to give them until the baby begins to sit up and bring hands to his or her mouth. New finger foods should be cut into small pieces, be soft in texture, and be easy to swallow. Keep in mind that baby foods made for adults are high in sodium and preservatives and should be avoided. Also, all fresh foods, except bananas, need to be cooked and mashed before serving. Some starter finger foods include small pieces of banana, scrambled eggs, well-cooked pasta, well-cooked and cut up squash, peas, and potatoes. The rule of thumb is if the food requires chewing, then the baby is not yet ready. As for how much a baby is being fed, four ounces per meal should be good. If the baby shows signs of fullness do not force him or her to continue eating because that can lead to overfeeding.
 So what changes should be expected when switching from liquids to solids? Stools are noted to become more solid, vary in color, have visible undigested food, and to develop a stronger odor. Another common change is that urine may become red when the baby is fed beets. If the stools become watery, full of mucus, or loose, slow down on feeding solid foods and call a doctor.
The switch from liquid to solid foods is one of the first steps from infant to toddler. It can be a very difficult and stressful decision to make. For those that are still unsure, asking a postpartum doula can be the best course of action. This will ensure that the time is right on a case by case basis. Remember, it is a mother’s job to provide the nutrients that her baby needs. Beginning on solid foods incorrectly can be hurtful to the baby so it is important to do the research. 
Works Cited
                "Switching To Solid Foods." HealthyChildren.org. N.p., 1 Jan. 2014. Web. 5 July 2014. <http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/Switching-To-Solid-Foods.aspx>
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Philadelphia Area Doulas Recognizing Birth Order When Starting a Family

Philadelphia Area Doulas Recognizing Birth Order When Starting a Family

Birth Order

Birth order is one of the main factors that influence a baby’s personality and behavior. Philadelphia area postpartum doulas often are on the front lines, as toddlers and older siblings adjust to the new baby. Children have different views of themselves depending on birth order and, believe it or not, parents subconsciously have different expectations for each child based on birth order. It is important to understand family structure before having children as to cater to each child’s personality. Having a doula knowledgeable about the differences in birth order can be very helpful in setting up the foundation for sibling adjustments.

First Born

A first born child is typically described as cautious, controlling, conscientious, reliable, and achievers. It is not uncommon for the oldest child to act like a mini adult and strive to impress. As the head of the pack, they feel responsible for their other siblings and thus assert themselves as leader.

 

Middle Child

Middle children are usually less concerned about impressing adults but more so about impressing their peers. They often feel like they don’t have a place in the family because they do not have the power of the oldest sibling or the attention of the youngest. Consequently, they work for outside relationships. Middle children often have large social circles, thrive on friendship, are people-pleasers, are a little rebellious, and make great peacemakers.

 Last Child

The last born child is typically a little bit more fun-loving than the rest. By the time parents have their last child they are usually a lot less strict which allows these children to be free spirited. They are described as, attention-seekers, self-centered, uncomplicated, manipulative, outgoing, and fun-loving.
 As for only children, they will monopolize their parent’s resources and attention and are typically perfectionist, conscientious, leaders, diligent, and mature for their age.
In some cases, children are not first born, middle children, last children, nor only children.
 In blended families, if the child is five or older it usually means that his or her personality will not change. Otherwise, this child will conform to the new position in the family.

Twins

 As for twins, they don’t have the individualistic treatment like the youngest nor do they feel out of place within the family like a middle child. Therefore, most twins, regardless of birth order, will take the personality of a firstborn child.

Gap Child

 Another special case is gap children. When there is at least five years between sets of children, a gap child is born. This causes the birth order to restart. The first gap child takes on the personality traits of the first born and so on.

Adopted Child

 Finally, for adopted children it really depends on the age that the child was adopted. Like blended families, if the child is older he or she will keep the personality of his or her original birth order, while babies and toddlers are more likely change to fit the new structure.

 When it comes time to plan a family, it is beneficial to look at every detail that goes into birth and raising children. Although hiring the perfect doula, decorating the baby room, and creating a birth plan are all very important things, looking at the long term aspects to raising children is also important. Your doula can help you create that foundation for a lifetime.  After all, starting a family is a lifetime commitment.




Works Cited
Bartell, Dr. Susan S.. "HavingAnotherBaby.com." HavingAnotherBaby.com. havinganotherbaby.com, 5 July 2014. Web. 6 July 2014. <http://havinganotherbaby.com/articles/birthorder.html>.

Voo, Jocelyn. "Birth Order and Personality." Parents Magazine. American Baby, n.d. Web. 6 July 2014. <http://www.parents.com/baby/development/social/birth-order-and-personality/>.

What Your Friends Might Not Tell you About the Beginning of Labor

What Your Friends Might Not Tell you About the Beginning of Labor

 
 
As this classic scene from Friends demonstrates, this is exactly what happens when you go into labor: You feel a twinge of what may be a contraction and that means labor has begun. It’s time to panic! Your baby is coming. NOW! There will probably not be any time to get out the door to a hospital or birth center, and that means anyone near you must become an instant expert on delivering babies. Oh, and, let’s not even mention the mess! You can always trust your Friends, right?

Well… maybe not in this instance. 

Let’s talk about what the beginning stages of labor really look like.


In many cases, it may not be so easy to decipher when labor has officially started. Especially if you’re a first time mom that has never experienced a contraction, it can be difficult to know when your Braxton Hicks contractions, which can become more frequent near the end of pregnancy, stop and when real contractions begin. You may also experience Prodromal labor for several days before active labor starts.

Prodormal Labor, which is also called false labor, produces contractions that feel like stronger Braxton Hicks. However, unlike true labor, these contractions are irregular. They may show up at the same time each day, and last only for a few hours disappearing as quickly as they arrived. The length of each contraction will also vary. When true labor begins, your contractions will not go away. You will know the difference between false labor and true labor when your contractions become stronger, longer, and closertogether.

If you experience false labor, it can be confusing and emotionally draining. But, take heart! The work of Prodromal labor is not in vain. It can help to begin the process of dilating and softening the cervix, which may cause you to lose part of your mucous plug – this is a good sign that true labor is coming! There’scertainly nothing false about the bloody show.

So, what can you do if you’re experiencing false labor? Take a hint from your body: it’s practicing for the rigors of labor, which can be a cue for you to take some time to practice your coping mechanisms,relaxation techniques, and breathing. This is also be a good time to double check that you have everythingpacked and ready to go, or to simply to take some time to relax and enjoy some time to yourself before you begin your transition into motherhood.

When true labor begins it’s also not usually an emergency situation, which is how it’s often depicted on TV or in the movies. During the early stages of labor, you will likely have time to labor at home, take a shower, or even get some time to rest before heading out the door to the hospital or birth center. It’s true that there can be a lot of variability, but an average length of labor for first time moms is between 10 to 20 hours. Additionally, it generally progresses more quickly if you have already given birth vaginally. So, there’s no need to start cutting sheets and boiling water at the first sign of a contraction. If you are at all confused about whether or not you are in labor, you can always give your doctor or midwife a call; they will be able to answer any questions you have and help you assess if it’s time to come pay them a visit.

And of course, one thing you can always be sure of when it comes to your labor, just like your Friends,your doula will be there for you.

Doulas- The Expert Family Assistance And Post Birth Guidance Professionals

 Doulas- The Expert Family Assistance And Post Birth Guidance Professionals

The most important day for a family with a newborn is when the little angel opens its eyes and is welcomed by a crowd of happy relatives into this world! However, the blissful feelings of an ecstatic mother and a proud father suffer a reality check when they realize that they have no idea whatsoever of how to take care of the little tyke and have limited knowledge of its various important needs.

Moreover, the little baby and the mother need expert support especially for the first few days after birth, to ensure that there are no breastfeeding complications which could affect the wellbeing of either of them.

With the addition of such an important new member into the family, the hassle of trying to adapt successfully into the changed daily routine, adds to the stress and workload of new parents. With the baby to take care of, household chores to complete, along with the important need to ensure the health and safety of the little angel and the mother, it becomes nothing less than a challenge for the family to deal with such a big change in their life! But doulas are the experts they need to take care of all their worries and help them acquire a sense of routine organized family lifestyle, which suits the baby while being conveniently acceptable to the parents too!


Doulas- The Answer To The Worries Of New Parents!

If you are lucky enough to celebrate the addition of a new member to your family, then enjoy the happy moment without any dread of how to handle the little cherub. With the services of postpartum doulas easily available for expert assistance, you can conveniently ensure the efficient work routine of your house, along with the much needed support required for the mother and the baby.

Doulas not only offer breastfeeding assistance and newborn education but also provide the new mother with the physical and emotional support they need to adjust into their new lifestyle, and recover efficiently. They assist and guide mothers to take care of the needs of the child and ensure its complete comfort and health, along with taking care of their own health.

They provide support in baby feeding and share techniques for soothing the child, along with providing references for lactation support and pediatricians.

Postpartum Doulas- A Valuable Resource!  

Not only do Philadelphia area doulas offer expert guidance on how to take best care of the baby, they also facilitate the mother by running small errands and helping her adapt gradually into the new lifestyle. Their support proves invaluable to new mothers, who find the added workload very difficult to cope with, and with the help of doulas easily fit into the new routine without any trouble.

Doulas also ensure services for light housekeeping along with sibling care, for the help of a family having multiple children. They educate and guide the couple along every step of the way, in order to help them easily understand the needs of the child and the best way to meet them, while experiencing the transition in their lives.

They offer flexible services and can be counted upon to provide overnight duties if needed. Being experienced experts, they provide assistance for dealing with the challenging task efficiently, letting new parents enjoy the addition of their new baby into the family.      

Things Never to Say to a Pregnant Woman in Philadelphia

Things Never to Say to a Pregnant Woman in Philadelphia

Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love has many many thousands of women pregnant at any give time. So let's practice what NOT to say to them! Having recently been a pregnant woman for the second time, I’ve heard my fair share of unwelcome comments. Most notably someone chiding my husband that he might need to cut the doorways in our apartment bigger so that I’d be able to fit through them (and as you’ll see below, rule number one is to never comment about a pregnant woman’s weight… ever). For whatever reason, some basic rules of courtesy seem to fly right out the window when people are talking to a pregnant woman. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but consider it a guide to help you avoid some faux pas when chatting with your pregnant friends or relatives.

Was it planned?

Asking if a pregnancy was planned might be taken to suggest that you disapprove of it for one reason or another. It also digs a bit too much into a couple's private life. Let her keep the personal details personal.

Are you sure you aren’t having twins?

Unless twins run in one of the expecting parent’s families, stay far away from this question! What you’re really saying by asking this is: “are you sure you sure you’re not getting too fat?”, and asking that question would never be okay.

Are you sure you're not due sooner?

See explanation above - this is another question that is subtly commenting about the mom-to-be's weight. Even when they’re pregnant and know their bodies will be growing, women still don't like to have their size called into question.

Are you really pregnant? You look so small!

On the flip side, while this may seem like a nice compliment, a pregnant woman may also begin to worry that something is wrong because not gaining enough weight . I guess what I’m driving at, in a nutshell, is that you should just stay away from any questions or comments about a mom’s weight. Leave any judgment regarding her belly being too big or too small to her doctor or midwife.

Can I touch your belly?

Basic rule of thumb, if you have to ask, it's probably not okay. Even worse: actually touching her stomach. I'm sure you don't like random people touching your stomach, right? Hands off the pregnant lady!

So, you're hoping for a boy/girl, right?

If a mom already has a boy, people tend to assume that she wants girl, and vice versa. It can be a touchy question. Sometimes women do long for one or the other and are worried about being disappointed if they have the opposite (and may be scared to admit it). And, usually, the woman is having another baby simply because she wants another child regardless of the sex. Either way, this question gets old fast.

You can't eat/drink that!

There are so many (sometimes confusing) rules about what women can and cannot consume during pregnancy. Most of the time, the mom-to-be is well aware of the rules and has already made an informed decision about how they want to follow them. Calling them out for enjoying a deli sandwich or a sip of wine will, at best, annoy them, and at worse, make them feel attacked.

Get all the sleep you can now...

I'm not sure why we, as a culture, tend to lean towards regaling pregnant women with the worst parts of our birth stories. It's not exactly helpful to make women terrified of having a baby - especially when there's obviously no going back. Let's make a pact to change this and lift women up by encouraging them with the most wonderful parts of our labor and delivery and work to create a culture of beautiful births.

Telling pregnancy and birth horror stories

I'm not sure why we, as a culture, tend to lean towards regaling pregnant women with the worst parts of our birth stories. It's not exactly helpful to make women terrified of having a baby - especially when there's obviously no going back. Let's make a pact to change this and lift women up by encouraging them with the most wonderful parts of our labor and delivery and work to create a culture of beautiful births.

Opting For Doulas- Means To Mother A Mother!

Opting For Doulas- Means To Mother A Mother!

Philadelphia families celebrating the arrival of a new baby within the household is one of the most beautiful experiences enjoyed by a family! While the mother is happy beyond measure, the father carries the newborn angel proudly in his arms, reveling in the pleasure of the recent introduction of the beauty which had graced and completed their family. But, all at once the baby starts crying for an inexplicable reason, and both parents are besides themselves on how to stem the flow of tears of their baby, and this is where a doula comes into the picture!

Having a baby and tending to all its various needs is a challenging task especially for a couple going through their very first experience. The parents are usually unaware of the different needs of the baby, and are uncertain about how to provide their dear one with all the comfort he needs. Moreover, the mother requires both physical and emotional support, during and after the birth procedure, in order to recover quickly and take care of the baby easily, with no complications.

A Philadelphia doula is the ideal answer to all these various needs!

Doula- Exactly What You Need

A doula is a person who provides emotional as well as physical support to the mother of the infant, both before and after the birth of the baby. These experienced women recognize and understand the needs of the mother, for taking care of the wants of the baby, and provide careful instruction to ensure that the mother tends to all the needs of the infant in the appropriate manner.

Goal Of The Doula - Mother The Mother

Though it is not the only service provided by a doula, it is definitely one of the most important ones. A mother needs careful instruction and guidance, along with a companionable care, which ensures her assistance and help during the trying process of taking care of the baby, and a doula ensures proper support in this regard.

Doulas ensure support and comfortable assistance to a new mother, something which she needs more than anything else. They also help her to take care of the baby and understand the baby feeding process, dressing and soothing techniques. They run small errands and offer help, to prevent the mother from becoming overwhelmed with the extra work along with the routine house chores.   

Besides taking care of the needs of the mother, doulas also provide sibling care and provide careful guidance and instruction to both the parents, about how to incorporate changes within their lives after the arrival of the new member of the family.
They also provide referral assistance for parenting classes, support groups, lactation supports and pediatricians for the relief of a family. There are birth doulas as well as postpartum doulas, which offer services based on the needs of a family.

Birth doulas provide emotional assistance and guidance during labor and birth to a family while postpartum doulas ensure help after the birth of the infant. They ensure companionable assistance and experienced support at time of urgent need to a family, though besides themselves with happiness, but completely unaware about how to deal with the new circumstances at hand. A doula serves as a family’s support for entering into a new sphere of life!

Homemade Sunscreen for baby with Step by Step Instructions

Homemade Sunscreen for baby with Step by Step Instructions


This blog post will be personal reflection about sunscreen and my own journey in research and finding the right fit for our family. First I have outlined 3 popular store brands, then I will give instructions for how to make your own.


We are preparing for our annual week down the shore! This year we will have a 12 month old with us. So sun protection will be high up on the priority list, especially given his fair skin. But after some research over the years, I've found there are only one or two brands I really feel safe with. As it turns out, even the brands labeled and designed for babies, aren't so safe after all. Most of my research was done at a fabulous website called EWG's SkinDeep Database. http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ So this year I decided to research the safest ingredients and make my own. And surprisingly, most of the ingredients were already in my house!

So here's a glimpse into my research:

Below please find a list of three of the most popular sunscreens you can find at the local drug store or supermarket. 

Please click on each of the active ingredients to see information from the Environmental Workers Group Skin Deep Database to see the risks associated with their use on humans.(by the way the inactive ingredients are pretty awful too, feel free to look them up yourself) 

 

Coppertone Water Babies Ingredients

(http://www.coppertone.com/products/kidandbaby/waterbabies/lotion/regular.aspx)

Ingredients: Active Ingredients:
Octinoxate 7.5%, Octisalate 55, Zinc Oxide 14.5% (Sunscreens).

Inactive Ingredients:Water, propylene glycol, C12-15 alkyl benzoate, neopentyl glycol diheptanoate cylopentasiloxane, cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 dimethicone, PEG-12 dimethicone crospolymer, triethoxycaprylylsalane, aloe barbadensis leaf extract, ethylhexyl palmitate, diazolidinyl urea, methylparaben, propylparaben, sodium chloride.

Banana Boat Baby 

Active Ingredients
Homosalate (15%) , Octinoxate (7.5%) , Octisalate (5%) , Titanium Dioxide (2.4%)

Inactive Ingredients
Water , Isohexadecane , Ozokerite , Cetyl/PEG/PPG 10/1 Dimethicone , PEG 8 , C30 38 Olefin/Isopropyl Maleate/MA Copolymer , Glycerin , Sodium Citrate , Sodium Chloride , Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Leaf Juice , Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) , Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C) , Retinyl Acetate (Vitamin A) , Dimethicone , Phenoxyethanol , Methylparaben , Butylparaben , Ethylparaben , Propylparaben , Isopbutylparaben , Disodium EDTA , Alumina

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunblock Spray

Active Ingredients
Avobenzone3.0% , Homosalate8.0% , Octisalate4.0% , Octocrylene (2.35%) , Oxybenzone5.0%

Inactive Ingredients
SD Alcohol 40 2 (68%) , Isobutane , Diethylhexyl 2 6 Naphthalate , Trisiloxane , Dimethicone , Acrylates/Octylacrylamide Copolymer , PPG 5 Ceteth 20 , Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) , Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C) , Retinyl Acetate (Vitamin A) , Cyclopentasiloxane , Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer , Fragrance

Now that you've seen how toxic your run of the mill sun block is, check out my recipe!

My baby sunscreen recipe:

Ingredients needed:
I have again put a link to the Environmental Working Group listing of each ingredient for you to read about them, as I have above for the drug store brands.

Shea Butter 
Coconut Oil
Carrot Seed Oil
Beeswax
Zinc Oxide(non-nano)
Chamomile Extract
Vanilla Extract 

Other materials needs:
Glass jar
Pot
Boiling water

All of the above ingredients in my recipe have a risk catagory of ZERO, except the Zinc Oxide which has a catagory 2-3 risk. Zinc has a risk for allergy and immunotoxicity of LOW, and zero for cancer and developmental and reproductive toxicity. The concerns of zinc are only for when it is airborne in sprays.

All of these ingredients I either had in the house, or was able to get delivered to me through Amazon.com in two days.

Step 1:

Gather all ingredients.

Step 2:

Slice beeswax into tiny peices.

Step 3:

Boil water

Step 4:

Put most ingredients into a glass jar:

3 tbsp shea butter
2 tbsp coconut oil
2 tbsp zinc oxide
1tbsp beeswax
1 tsp carrot seed oil
1/2tsp chamomile extract(you could use the oil instead, I just used what I had in the house)
1/2tsp vanilla extract for scent

At this point, leave out the chamomile extract and zinc.

Place jar in hot pan with hot water and carefully let it begin warming and stir often. Be careful not to let water boil too much and shake the jar or splash into it. Continue to stir until everything is melting and well incorporated. The beeswax will melt last, but hang in there, it will melt.

Now that everything is well combined, remove from heat and add remaining ingredients. 
Carefully stir in the zinc oxide until it is completely incorporated into the mixture. Now add chamomile extract and vanilla extract.

Stir well, let cool and there you have it, you're very own SAFE sunscreen. The whole process took 15 minutes and now I have a wonderful sunscreen that is both sun protecting and soothing to the skin, that I can feel good about applying to my baby and young children while we are down the shore this week!

 safe sunscreen recipe for baby
Ingredients for homemade baby sunscreen














This recipe has not been evaluated by the FDA, use at your own risk.

Postpartum Doulas- An Expert Companion To Handle All Post Birth Needs Of A Mother

Postpartum Doulas- An Expert Companion To Handle All Post Birth Needs Of A Mother and Baby

Celebrating and preparing for the arrival of a new family member is a happy yet tiring task for the family. The mother is in need of constant support and care, both during as well as after the birth of the little angel, as she is liable to suffer from excessive workload and exhaustion from handling various family chores and tending to the needs of the infant at all hours.

In contrast to baby nurses, doulas do not merely take care of the infant, but rather help the entire family deal with the arrival of the little angel efficiently, making them an irreplaceable asset for a family celebrating their new baby angel!

Moreover, the stress of trying to cater to the different vital needs of the baby can seriously disrupt the already disorganized routine of the house, especially if the parents are unable to trace the source of the angel’s discomfort. This is the time when most families recognize the benefits of a postpartum doula.

Postpartum doulas serve as an answer to the worries and troubles of all those anxious parents who need help in dealing with the baby and taking care of the urgent healthcare needs of the mother.

What Are Postpartum Doulas?

Postpartum doulas are professionals who offer their service assistance to facilitate families to deal with the initial trying weeks after the birth of the baby, which are very crucial for the parents to settle into the new lifestyle.

Doulas provide much needed emotional as well as physical support to new mothers in dealing with postpartum depression and anxiety. They also facilitate them to handle all the housework and the needs of the baby, so that she does not feel stressed out. Postpartum doulas help the mother fit into the new lifestyle and workload gradually, so that she is better able to cope with it later.          

Philly area doulas help the family through the difficult transition of adjusting into a new lifestyle, by helping run small errands and offering assistance in handling different household chores, for the assistance of families. They prove to be of significant help to families which have multiple small children to look after or in the case of the mother having given birth to twins or triplets.

An Invaluable Asset For The Family!

Besides acting as the essential support for the family, postpartum doulas also offer specialized assistance for helping new mothers learn ways of feeding and taking care of the baby. They also provide expert experienced care to the mother, which helps in minimizing the risk of any maternal complications or problems which might affect her health, thus affecting the wellbeing of the baby as well.   

Postpartum doulas are also a great assistance option for mothers who have had to undergo any complicated procedures during delivery, and require expert care and advice during the initial days to eliminate any probable chances of complications. The doulas offer lactation support and newborn care instructions, for around two to four weeks after the birth of the baby, and can be asked to extend their services according to the need of a family.    

Postpartum doulas offer flexible hours of service and though they provide assistance for a few hours some days in a week, but also assent to offer overnight services in case of urgent or pressing need.