Wellmama

Planning for postpartum begins during pregnancy. It’s an excellent time to meet with a postpartum doula and start making and talking through your list! Preparing for the Fourth Trimester: ▫️ Do your research. Feeding, sleep, vaccines, circumcision, diapering, baby products and gear. There is obviously A LOT to consider before baby comes! Talk to professionals or other trusted parties who can help you find current, research-based information. ▫️ Prepare your nest. Stock up on healthy snack foods to keep in baskets near your nursing zones. Invest in a good water bottle. Set up and stock your diaper changing station(s). Stock your freezer with meals you can pull and reheat. Make sure you have plenty of comfortable, soft, stretchy clothes such as leggings, pajamas, nursing camis, robe, etc. You will be spending a lot of time at home, so have a few things that make you happy to look at (flowers, naturally scented candles, photos, salt lamp)! Make a list of podcasts, audiobooks, and ...

Babywearing is a beautiful way to incorporate attachment parenting into your daily life. It gives your baby (or toddler!) the security of being close to you as well as the numerous physiological benefits of touch: Stronger immune system, lowered stress levels, and oxytocin-boosting...just to name a few! All of this while freeing up your hands. Babies who are too distracted or fussy to nurse will often happily breastfeed in a soft carrier, and many babies love to nap in them as well. There were a several months when I could only get Milo to sleep in the sling and then I would either sit down and loosen the wrap but keep him on me, or transfer him to bed. It is completely normal for your baby to prefer to fall asleep (and stay asleep) on you! Contact naps are a great way to enjoy some quiet time for yourself with baby snuggled close, or you can wear your snoozing baby while catching up on chores or playing with older children.  There are so many different kinds of baby carriers a...

There is much healing to be done after you have a baby, and keeping a stash of freezer pads (or “padsicles”) can bring some much-needed relief in the early days. The cold is temporarily numbing while the herbs or solutions can reduce swelling and inflammation and speed up tissue recovery. You can make a beautiful herbal concentration using a mix of calendula, plantain, chamomile and marshmallow; using about a half cup of each dried herb, boil about 8 cups of water, add the herbs and let steep covered for at least 20 minutes or preferably longer. You can then strain and add this concentrated liquid to sitz baths or peri bottles, or pour over several overnight maxi pads and freeze them on a piece of foil. Alternately, if you don’t have dried herbs (mountain rose and heart of herbs are both good places to order from), you can simply use alcohol-free witch hazel (available at any drug store) and pure aloe vera gel (no fragrances or dies). Soak the pads with the with hazel first (maybe ...