Welcome to Day 11 of your Baby Prep Series Reader! As an overnight doula, one of my favorite things to do for brand new parents is make a meal in the middle of the night so it is waiting for them in the refrigerator in the morning. So when they wake up, it’s one less thing to think about. They just heat it up and eat. In the early days there is... so much focus on feeding the baby that…parents forget to take care of themselves. And in those early weeks, that matters more than you might think....
22 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, 🎁 Day 10 is about having what you need where you need it Having a changing station set up on each floor of your house saves you time and energy. No searching for wipes at 3am. No running up the stairs after your OB told you to "take it easy". ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 🎁 YOUR DAY 10 GIFT: The Changing Station You don't need a changing table on every floor, a changing pad or even a towel to lay the baby on is fine. The key is...
23 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Quick question: Are you planning to pump at all? Even occasionally? If yes, here's something worth knowing before baby gets here: Breastmilk storage is one of those things that will constantly have you second guessing yourself. How long has this been sitting out? Is it still good? Do I toss it or do I use it? And when you’re tired, the last thing you want is to guess...or worse, waste milk you worked hard to pump. Before we get to today’s gift, one quick tip: When you freeze milk,...
24 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, 🎁 Day 8 is one of those “I’m really glad I knew this ahead of time” topics. Because this surprises almost every first-time parent: 👉 Your baby will lose weight after birth. And it’s completely normal. But here’s the part that can feel stressful in the moment… How much is normal… and when does your pediatrician start to worry? Pediatricians usually become concerned if the baby loses more than 7-10% of birth weight. Trying to calculate weight loss as a sleep deprived new parent feels...
25 days ago • 1 min read
Day 7 already, Reader 🎁 Here's something that catches a lot of first-time parents off guard: You prepare your home for baby but not the places you'll actually spend time. Grandparents' houses are the big one. It feels like a small thing, until you're there with a newborn and there's nowhere easy to put baby down, you're missing the one thing you really need, or you're trying to settle baby in a totally different setup than home. It adds stress you don't need. Especially in those early weeks...
26 days ago • 1 min read
Day 6 of your Baby Prep Gifts, Reader 🎁 Getting the nursery ready is one of the most fun parts of baby prep. It's also where I watch first-time moms accidentally overbuy every single time. Because the question that comes up the most is: "How many onesies do I actually need? What about sleepers?" And when you're not sure, you buy more just to be safe. Then you end up rotating through the same four outfits because newborns grow out of everything in a week anyway. Today's gift will save you...
27 days ago • 1 min read
Day 5 already, Reader! And today's gift is one you'll definitely use. Here's the question I get from first-time moms more than almost any other: "I want to breastfeed, but I also want to pump so I'm not the only one who can feed the baby." And the follow-up is always: "So when do I start?" Because nobody wants to tank their supply, end up with painful oversupply, or be the only human on the planet who can feed their baby at 2am. If you've been wondering when to start pumping, what supplies...
28 days ago • 1 min read
The hospital bag question comes up with every one of my doula clients in the third trimester. "What am I actually supposed to pack?" The Google rabbit hole on this is rough. Long lists. Conflicting advice. I've seen clients show me packing lists with four robes, eight pairs of socks, a mini humidifier, and enough snacks to survive a blizzard... just in case. Here's what I know after 10+ years: you need a lot less than the internet thinks you need. A simple list beats a long one every single...
29 days ago • 1 min read
Summer is peak visitor season. Peak "everyone wants to come meet the baby." Peak summer colds floating around every gathering, airport, and backyard BBQ. Here's what I tell every one of my doula clients: protecting your own health in those first few weeks matters just as much as preparing for baby. The first weeks with a newborn are already a lot. Recovery, feeding, very little sleep. Adding a cold or flu on top of all of that is the last thing anyone needs. There are simple ways to cut...
30 days ago • 2 min read