Posts by Christie Rinder
Is Having a Doula Important?
Is having a doula important? Imagine you are planning to compete in an Olympic sport. Would you prepare, train, practice, compete and execute the sporting event all on your own? Or would you have a coach, trainer, nutritionist, medical staff and your family nearby to guide, encourage and take care of you as needed? Of…
Read MoreHow Will I Cope with Labor?
How will I cope with labor? What are the options? Some mothers know exactly what they want and others would like to research and learn about their options. Here is a brief summary of some pain relief and coping strategies used in labor. 1. Unmedicated/Comfort Measures Laboring mothers that plan to go without medicine often…
Read MoreChildbirth: There Is No Right Way (updated 2022)
Is there a right way to do childbirth? My mother was a hippie who was very naturally-minded. I was the first of her three children, all of which were born at home with a home-visiting doctor. At five years old I got to be present in the room when my little sister was born in…
Read MoreAn 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…
Read MoreAck! 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,…
Read MoreWhen Is the “Right” Time to Wean?
In America, most babies (approximately 77%) wean – that is, stop breastfeeding – by one year of age, according to the CDC. 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 for weaning from breastfeeding is between two and…
Read MoreAromatherapy 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…
Read MoreI Wish I Had a Postpartum Doula When…
Postpartum doulas can help new parents in a number of ways. Their job includes being an assistant, a friend, a consultant, a confidante and so much more. Parents need support during this major transition in their life when a new little human is relying on them for everything day and night. We asked a few…
Read MoreHoliday Traditions in Tampa Bay
I love Christmas and I love traditions. My Dad used to take us out to a Christmas tree farm in California and we would chop down the biggest, fullest, nicest tree we could find every year. One year it was so big he had to tie it to the ceiling. I’m not joking. I was…
Read MoreWhat’s a Lip/Tongue Tie? A Dentist’s Personal Story
Last week we visited with Dr. Maggie Davis, a pediatric dentist in Palm Harbor. She has a fantastic practice tailored to the needs of families with infants and small children all the way through adolescence. We are happy to have her as a guest blogger providing this helpful information. – Christie & Amy The topic…
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