A Doula for Twins
All new mothers need information, encouragement and support. How can a doula be especially helpful when you are having twins? 1. Your doula can help you find accurate information and determine what your preferences and wishes are. Giving birth to twins presents possibilities that you may want to know more about, including: will they be…
I Trust My Doctor. Why Do I Need Childbirth Classes?
At a childbirth education class recently, a father-to-be asked a very thought-provoking question: If you have a great care provider (OB/midwife), why do I need childbirth classes? Why do we need to know any of this stuff? Why not just trust them to make the decisions for you? While not comprehensive, here are a few ideas…
Two Doulas Is Better Than One!
One of the distinctions of Buddha Belly is our commitment to offering premier, professional support to growing families in Tampa Bay. That’s why we’re pleased to announce our newest innovation: doula teams. Because two doulas is better than one! How does it work? If you hire Buddha Belly to support you at your baby’s birth, you…
Send us your Belly Casts That Need Finishing!
Did you know that we will happily work on belly casts that need repairs or finishing work? We can do this even if you are not a Tampa Bay local. Ship your cast to us and we will make it beautiful and then ship it back to you when it’s done. We’ve created a great relationship…
What’s Laboring Down?
Whew! You made it! You’re finally at 10 cm dilated, that means it’s time to start pushing, right? Well… maybe not yet. Dilation is only one small part of the coordinated efforts made by your body and your baby’s in order to be born. Other things that need to happen are effacement, tilting of the cervix AND…
There’s a Placenta in Your Kitchen???
Placenta encapsulation is the act of putting dehydrated placenta into capsules to be ingested by the mother. Placentophagy is the act of eating the placenta. Since many people find this idea distasteful, encapsulation is a much more palatable way to get the benefits. The Buddha Belly Difference Each Buddha Belly placenta client receives their own…
Birth Plans & Your Unpredictable Birth
We love helping our clients figure out and come up with their birth plans. It’s a great opportunity to learn about all of the options and variations that can come up in labor and birth and what you would prefer. One of the hardest things we deal with as laboring and birthing people is accepting…
Hospital Bag Checklist
“What should I bring to the hospital?” Here are some ideas. A few items on the list will also be provided by your hospital (blankets, pillow, shampoo, soap, etc) but if you prefer your own toiletries and want to feel more at home we suggest you bring these items with you. Download a copy of this checklist here. Labor…
Interview With an Overnight Newborn Care Specialist
Postpartum doula, Marisa Seegraves specializes in overnight newborn care. She has been taking care of families as a nanny and doula for more than 12 years. How do you help families get more sleep? As a postpartum doula one of my main goals is to help families get more sleep. During an overnight shift I care for…
Three Common Medical Newborn Procedures
Part of our practice as doulas and childbirth educators is to discuss procedures that happen during or after birth. Three common ones involve your newborn baby. They are erythromycin eye ointment, vitamin K injection and hepatitis B vaccine. Erythromycin eye ointment This is an antibiotic ointment that goes into your baby’s eyes right after birth,…
Interview With a Postpartum Doula
Rebecca Towner and her two children, Photo courtesy of Pure Bloom Photography. Buddha Belly postpartum doula, Rebecca Towner, answers questions about her role in supporting families: What does a postpartum doula do? A postpartum doula wears a lot of hats. She is there to provide emotional, practical and educational support for your family during this…
Sex After Childbirth
Intimacy and sex after childbirth can be a source of concern or relationship tension for new parents. While this topic may seem taboo to some, it’s helpful to keep some factors in mind. Your midwife or doctor will likely recommend refraining from sex until at least six weeks postpartum whether you had a vaginal birth…