THE BUDDHA BELLY BLOG
Newborn and Infant Bottle-Feeding | Formula Fed Babies
Newborn and Infant bottle-feeding can be daunting! Feeding their newborn is one of the first things in most new parents’ minds, right behind a birth plan! No matter which option is chosen, most parents need to use a bottle at some point. From leaving baby with a caregiver to get a well-deserved break to letting…
Newborn Sleep Essentials | Get More Sleep!
“Newborn sleep essentials, what are they?” “Will I ever sleep again?” Among new parents, these are frequently asked questions. Newborns often wake after short intervals of rest, leaving parents tired, frazzled, and ready to invest large amounts in coffee stocks. While it is true that newborns physiologically need to wake to eat around the clock,…
There’s No “Perfect” Bottle for Your Baby
Some babies take right to bottle feeding with no problems. Some babies have a bit harder of a time with bottle feeding. Marketing and commerce have convinced us that there is a perfect bottle out there and if we only spend $653 trying all 42 of them we’ll magically solve our bottle feeding issues. As…
Newborn Care Tips from a Postpartum Doula – Babywearing
Babywearing (as it is called) is a lifesaver for new parents! Imagine eating, hands free, while your baby peacefully naps without waking. It can happen and one of the easiest ways is to “wear” your baby in a comfortable and perhaps even stylish baby carrier. Okay, first some guidelines. (TICKS is a great acronym to…
Teaching Labor Support Workshops Across Florida
Christie and Amy, Buddha Belly owners, have been participating in an exciting project and we wanted to share what it is all about. In 2017 Christie was invited to as a doula consultant and trainer, to join a special project with the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative, (FPQC), housed within the University of South Florida. Just…
Newborn Care: The Circumcision Decision
To circumcise your newborn baby or not is a serious decision for parents to make. There is a lot of controversy regarding circumcision and it can be a challenge to find unbiased information. Here are some quick facts and helpful resources to assist in your research and decision making regarding this procedure:
When Will My Period Return after Pregnancy?
Lovely bonus of pregnancy? No periods! Unfortunately, at some point postpartum, your period will return. But when? Breastfeeding suppresses menstruation at least for a while. For some mothers, there may be an absence of menstruation for weeks, months, and even years while still breastfeeding. Some mothers will even need to completely wean before they see…
Newborn Care: What to Expect When You’re Expecting Twins
Are you expecting twins (or more?) and unsure of what to… expect? At Buddha Belly, we’ve had the honor and pleasure to support dozens of families of multiples with their pregnancies, labors, births and postpartum lives. Here is some insight from our experienced doulas. Your ideal birth plan is probably going to need to be…
What Is HypnoBirthing?
What is HypnoBirthing? HypnoBirthing® (The Mongan Method) is based on a philosophy and technique that is thousands of years old. It resurfaced in the work of Dr. Grantly Dick-Read, a 1920’s English obstetrician who was a pioneer in natural birthing without fear and anxiety. The method teaches you how to achieve deep relaxation, fostering your…
5 Things a Women’s Health Physical Therapist Can Help With
We recently met with Christina Noonan, a local Tampa Physical Therapist who focuses on women’s health. We learned all about the services she provides and are happy to share more information here in our latest guest blog post: As we all know, having a baby is not an easy task. It is also not easy…
How A Peanut Ball is Used in Labor
Photo by Dear Little One Photography There are many important benefits to changing positions regularly in labor. We often suggest that women in labor change positions every 30 mins to an hour. When you are laboring with an epidural you are limited in the number of different positions you can try because you are mostly…
When Should I Start Pumping Breastmilk?
Unless you need to be separated from your baby early on or circumstances require you to start pumping immediately (such as having a preemie in the NICU), it is recommended to wait about 4-6 weeks before you begin pumping. During these first few weeks your body is acclimating to the needs of your baby. When…