Technology to the Rescue: How Smartphone Apps Can Assist First-Time ParentsWhen you become parents for the first time, life instantly becomes more challenging. That’s not to say that parenting isn’t full of joy as well, but it can definitely be chaotic. Fortunately, with a great support system in place and a little help from your smartphone, you can reduce the stress and increase the bliss in your life with your little one. Balanced Birth Support invites you to explore the …
10 Questions to Ask Your Provider about Pregnancy, Birth, & Postpartum from BBS Senior Doula Kerry Reynolds
Kerry Reynolds is a Balanced Birth Support Senior Doula serving Metro DC & Greater Maryland. She has been a birth doula for over a decade with tons of experience supporting all kinds of births including home birth, medicated and non–medicated hospital, cesarean birth, twin deliveries, LGBTQ families and VBAC deliveries. Learn more about Kerry by visiting her Balanced Birth Support profile. Getting to know your doctor or midwife is an important part of preparing for birth & postpartum. Its essential that …
How To Choose & Evaluate Reliable Sources As You Begin Your Parenting Journey
Ariel Rubin is a certified Lactation Counselor & Postpartum Doula. She is the mother of four children, including a set of twins! She is passionate about helping families during the postpartum period with a focus on feeding issues including breastfeeding, pumping, & bottle feeding. Contact her here! If I had to sum up all of the advice in the eight or so care of twins books I read, it would be easy: keep the babies on the same schedule. Feed …
A Note To New Parents: Your Health and Happiness Matter. Because YOU Matter.
The Tidal Wave of Complicated EmotionsA dear friend texted me last week, after coming home from a pediatrician appointment for her newborn daughter. When the pediatrician did the obligatory check-in on Mom’s mental health, my friend was honest and shared that she had been struggling, and experiencing some postpartum mood symptoms. The pediatrician responded: “You want to take care of yourself, because your mental health can have long term effects on the baby.” Last night, another friend texted me, …
Top Tips for Budget-Conscious Families To-Be
Based in Grandville MI, Jennifer McGregor is a pre-med student who enjoys writing about health and medical topics and providing health and medical resources. She co-created PublicHealthLibrary as a way to push reputable information on health topics to the forefront, making them easier and quicker to find Top Tips for Budget-Conscious FamiliesBringing a baby into the world is such a blessing, and the last thing you want to have on your mind is financial stress. A handful of clever spending …
Important Questions to Ask Your OB-GYN at Every Stage of Life (Free Printables too!)
Christine Huegel is a health and wellness blogger who specializes in women’s health topics. She believes knowledge is power when it comes to the female body and hopes to not only educate women, but empower them to make every aspect of their health a priority. The female body is an extraordinary thing. It’s also complicated, and it can be difficult to understand what’s normal or what your body needs on your own. Like many women, you may be wondering what’s …
Emergency Preparedness for Families with Babies & Toddlers
September is National Preparedness Month and during that month the United States Breastfeeding Committee provides information and resources related to feeding your infant and young child during an emergency. While it is obviously not September, the recent international disasters and emergencies have gotten me thinking about preparing my family in the event we are affected by an emergency or natural disaster. In US and most of the developed world we often take things like electricity, clean water, and access to …
In The NICU: Caring for Yourself and Your Premature Baby
Its never easy when your baby has an extended stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Even if you have advanced notice that its a possibility, you can never fully prepare yourself for the wide range of emotions, bone- aching exhaustion, fear, and the eventual excitement when you bring your baby home. However, there are ways that you can empower yourself and your family for a NICU stay, whether you know it might happen, or if it comes as a …
