What is a Night Nanny? Choosing Newborn Care
What is a “night nanny”? While searching to get some extra winks of shut-eye, new parents often find this term. It can get confusing because they will also find terms like “night nurse”, “Postpartum Doula”, and “Newborn Care Specialist”. These terms are not created equally. The primary responsibility (caring for your newborn) falls under each…
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…
There’s No Perfect Bottle for Your Baby
Have you been searching for the 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…
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? The new moms we work with as postpartum doulas all want to know! Here’s what you need to know: Breastfeeding suppresses menstruation at least for a while. For some mothers, there may be an absence of menstruation for…
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. Our postpartum doulas have seen the benefits for clients who choose to work with a physical therapist as part of their postpartum healing. We learned all about the services she provides and are happy to share more information here…
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…
Pregnancy Diabetes: What Is Gestational Diabetes?
What is Pregnancy Diabetes / Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)? According to Stanford Children’s Health, pregnancy diabetes, gestational diabetes mellitus or GDM, is “a condition in which a hormone made by the placenta prevents the body from using insulin effectively. Unlike type 1 diabetes, gestational diabetes is not caused by a lack of insulin, but by other hormones…
Breastfeeding Support in Tampa Bay
Let’s just start this conversation by saying if you don’t want to breastfeed, that is OKAY. It is your body and you get to make the choice about everything that happens to it. If you want to breastfeed and then change your mind, that is OKAY too. You don’t need to defend that choice to…
My Cheesy Baby: What Is Vernix?
No, your newborn isn’t dirty! That’s vernix caseosa, a powerfully protective, “water proof” coating that covers baby’s skin in utero and prevents heat loss after birth. Vernix can aid in the passage through the birth canal and act as a physical barrier against bacteria. It’s also theorized that vernix helps in the development of healthy…
Birth Plans Can Change
“When our birth plan changed and I needed a surgical birth, my doula held my hand in the operating room and helped us to stay calm.” – Haley, St. Pete Beach Birth plans can change, like Haley describes. Many people (mistakenly) think birth doula support is only for a “natural” birth or vaginal birth. What role does the doula play…
Breastmilk: Is My Baby Getting Enough?
Is my baby getting enough breastmilk? This is the number one question we get from new parents. This is a totally normal question to have – after all, most of us have seen bottle-feeding and it is very easy to measure baby’s intake from a bottle! For more information be sure to check out Your…
Induce Labor Naturally?
Looking to get labor started? Are there any natural ways to induce labor? There is a LOT of misinformation out there (thanks a lot, Dr. Google!) about DIY ways to kick start childbirth. Believe us, we hear them all as birth doulas! But do they actually work? In conclusion – there is a lot of…
Food and Drink in Labor?
Food and drink in labor? Many people are surprised to find out that their birth facility or care provider restricts “oral intake” in labor after admission to the hospital. ACOG (the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) says: “There is insufficient evidence to draw conclusions about the relationship between fasting times for clear liquids and…
Fort DeSoto Camping with Kids
Looking for tips on camping at Fort DeSoto with kids? Recently I took my kids on their very first camping trip ever to Fort DeSoto. It was also my first time camping as a parent! My 11 year-old son’s reaction when he heard we might be going camping was priceless and is what really made…
An Oversupply of Breastmilk?
Breastmilk oversupply? Before it happened to me, I really didn’t realize it could be a problem. How could any mother have an oversupply of breastmilk and how could that possibly be a problem? I’d heard about mothers who struggled to keep their milk supply abundant enough for their baby, but oversupply? It sounded like a…
Ack! Why Does My Belly Hurt So Much?
Many pregnant women suffer from a specific discomfort during pregnancy caused by the round ligament. This pain is usually felt low on the front of their abdomen, near the pubic bone, and may continue towards their groin. It may be felt on one side or both. The round ligament connects the uterus to the groin,…
When Is the “Right” Time to Wean?
In the United States, most babies have stopped breastfeeding by one year of age. According to the CDC, about 41% of babies are still receiving breast milk at 12 months. However, that doesn’t mean YOUR baby will or has to follow this same timeline. The book Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives surmised that the human biological age…
Aromatherapy in Labor
Recall a time in your past that you felt relaxed and comfortable. Was there a nice smell associated with this time? Maybe the smell of a particular flower that you enjoy? Aromatherapy is one tool that can be used for comfort in labor. Essential oils are extracted from plants, flowers and fruit and distilled. They…
What’s a Lip/Tongue Tie? A Dentist’s Personal Story
The topic of babies with tongue and lip tie is a subject that is very near and dear to my family. I am a pediatric dentist in Palm Harbor, so I am very aware of the impacts tongue and lip ties can have on oral development. But more importantly, I have three little boys who…
Chiropractic Care Postpartum
Our guest blogger for today’s post is Dr. Shannon Whitlock of Happy Healthy Spine in St. Petersburg. In addition to receiving chiropractic care during pregnancy, many of our postpartum doula families continue with chiropractic care even after birth. Dr. Whitlock provides great insight into the benefits below. Let us know if you are looking for…
Early Labor vs Active Labor – When to Go to the Hospital? (updated 2022)
Understanding the differences between these two phases of labor will help you to make a better decision about when to head to the hospital, birth location or call the midwife! What does early labor look like? Early labor is usually the longest part of labor and can last from a few hours to a few…
Birth Doula or Postpartum Doula: Which One Do I Need Most?
This might be a bit shocking to hear from the owner of a doula agency. After all, we hope you’ll hire us to help you prepare for birth with one of our childbirth classes, support you prenatally and at your baby’s birth as birth doulas, help you recover quickly with placenta encapsulation, AND help you…
What is a Postpartum Doula?
The idea of having a labor doula support you during labor and birth is growing in popularity. But what is a postpartum doula? What does a postpartum doula do? A postpartum doula is a trained professional support person that can assist you after your baby is born. Her duties may include: providing newborn care expertise,…
Understanding Plugged Ducts: Causes, Symptoms & Relief
Latest update September 2026 Who knew there was so much to learn about breastfeeding?! Breastfeeding mothers can experience a variety of challenges, and plugged ducts are one of them. Knowing what may contribute to a plugged duct, how to manage it, and when to reach out for additional support can help you feel much more…
My Newborn Wouldn’t Latch
Nursing, although natural, can be nothing short of a beautiful struggle. It is a delicate dance between mother and baby at first breath earthside, and quite frankly an acrobatic adventure as time moves forward. It moves through its phases but you’ll always remember those eyes staring up at you, the mumbling as they feed, dropping…
Finding a Pediatrician
When should I begin finding a pediatrician? If you don’t already have a pediatrician for your baby, it’s a good idea to start looking for a pediatrician during pregnancy. Give yourself a few weeks to a few months. This allows you sufficient time to make a well informed decision. What is the difference between a…
Will My Baby Ever Sleep through the Night?
There is a lot to be said about babies sleeping through the night, various styles of parenting, sleep coaching and everybody has an opinion. It’s a good idea to learn about the science of sleep and what is developmentally normal for babies. Author Elizabeth Pantley has this to say on the subject here: “The medical definition…
Cloth Diapers or Disposables?
There are lots of different styles, sizes, brands, cute patterns and accessories to explore. Some families are totally dedicated to cloth diapering and others do a combination of both cloth and disposables. There are special wet bags to put your wet cloth diapers in when you are out and about and diaper bins made just…
What is the Difference Between a Nanny, Baby Nurse, Babysitter, Postpartum Doula?
What is the difference between a nanny, baby nurse, babysitter and a postpartum doula? Nanny: Usually hired to stay or live with a family for a long-term period of time to take care of babies or small children. Occasionally, a nanny will also help with household duties. Nannies work daytime and overnight shifts and stay…