6 Ways the Partner can Help with Breastfeeding
Any breastfeeding mother will tell you that it was the support she received from her partner, first and foremost, that impacted her ability to feed her baby. Learn 6 ways to support her!
Demystifying the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU)
Both the concept and the reality of having a baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is both scary and unsettling. Such tiny babies. So much complex equipment. So many monitoring devises. So many unknowns.
How long will be baby be there?
What are all these contraptions?
What do they do?
In an attempt to settle some of your fears and answer some of your many questions we will review some of the common equipment and testing your baby may need.
Birth is a Guessing Game
Birth is a guessing game. When will I go into labor? How long will labor last? Will be baby be born vaginally? Can I do it with minimal interventions? Will I tear? What if I have to make a decision about a cesarean? Will I have childcare for my other children? What if someone shows up that I didn’t invite? What will recovery be like? Can I breastfeed successfully?
My VBAC Birth Story
After 6 months of trying to get pregnant, including one disappointing chemical pregnancy, I saw that beautiful pink line on the pregnancy test! I was pregnant, excited, and ready to begin my journey to a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean).
Subtle Baby Cues New Parents May Overlook
Baby cues can be as subtle as a yawn or quiver in their little lips. They can be quick, fleeting, and easy to miss or they can be persistent and unavoidable like crying.
The first two to four weeks seem to be the trickiest, as you are sleep deprived, and healing from birth. As a new mother I believe it took me at least two weeks to distinguish between the baby’s different squeaks, squalls, and cries. However as time passes, you will get to know your baby and be able to predict their needs quickly and efficiently.