Daytime Doula Support: Empowering Moms to Thrive After Birth


 At Newby Nurturing, we understand that every mother’s journey is unique, and we acknowledge both the beauty of early motherhood and its challenges. While we still offer overnight postpartum care, we're excited to announce that we now provide daytime postpartum doula support tailored to your individual needs. 

So What Does a Daytime Postpartum Doula Do?
 Our team of compassionate doulas is here to ease your transition into motherhood. Depending on your family's needs, tasks may include:

Newborn Care and Soothing: 
From diaper changes to comforting techniques, we help ensure your little one is well-cared for, allowing you time to catch up on much-needed rest. 

Breastfeeding Support and Guidance: 
Whether it's supporting you with latch techniques, assisting with your breast pump, or providing evidence-based guidance on proper breastmilk storage guidelines and how to safely prepare infant formula, our certified doulas offer personalized support. 

Sterilizing Bottles and Pump Parts:
 We understand the importance of keeping your feeding equipment clean and can take care of this task so you can focus on bonding with your little one. 

Washing and Folding Baby Laundry: 
To take another endless task off of your hands, we can wash and fold your baby's clothes, blankets and burp cloths, ensuring fresh ones are always available. 

Meal Preparation: 
We can prepare nourishing meals and snacks and ensure you're staying hydrated, giving your more time to relax and recover.

 Providing a Listening Ear and Emotional Support: 
The transition into Motherhood is a monumental experience. Our doulas are here to listen, offer encouragement, and provide non-judgmental support on your journey.

Helping with Bottle Selection and Swaddling Techniques: 
We can help you choose the right bottle and teach you to master swaddling so that you can confidently soothe your baby.

Why Choose Daytime Support?
Daytime doula support gives you flexibility to take a break and care for yourself. Whether you need time for a hot shower, to run errands, or have someone accompany you to a doctor’s appointment, we're here to help. Our goal is to ensure you feel supported and confident as you adjust to your new role. 

We currently serve families in the Houston and San Antonio-New Braunfels areas. Ready to get the support you deserve? Inquire today at www.newbynurturing.com to schedule a free consultation. Let us help you recharge while we handle the rest.


What Can a Postpartum Doula Do For You?

 


A postpartum doula ensures that you feel supported and heard during your transition into motherhood—a time that often comes with many questions and uncertainties. 

She can be a listening ear as you process your birth story or any concerns you may be having. She offers evidence-based education and can connect you with resources or trusted professionals in her referral network. 

She can assist you with light household duties, such as washing and sterilizing bottles and pump parts, preparing nourishing snacks, refilling your water, and taking care of baby laundry. 

If you are breastfeeding, she can answer questions, assist you with achieving a comfortable latch, and refer you to lactation specialists when needed. 

She is also there to help you and your partner catch up on rest. While you get some shut-eye, she can take over care of your sweet baby, providing soothing, diapering, bottle feeding, or bringing the baby to you to nurse, all while keeping a detailed log of their nightly routine. 

Most importantly, a postpartum doula is there to support not only the mom's recovery but the whole family as a unit. She is a compassionate professional who brings a nurturing presence to the families in her care.

 If you are interested in postpartum doula support, we have a wonderful team that proudly serves families in the Houston and San Antonio-New Braunfels areas. Click here to fill out a contact form to set up your free 15-minute consultation.

How to Choose the Right Postpartum Doula for You


So you've decided to hire a postpartum doula, but now you are wondering how to find the right one for you.

You might start by asking your healthcare provider for recommendations. Many postpartum doulas have networks of local providers they work with. Your obstetrician, chiropractor or pediatrician might know of a great doula or have heard of one through their professional network. 

Another option is to search online for "postpartum doulas in the Houston area", or wherever you are located and look over their websites. Doulamatch.net is a directory for parents to find a doula in their area, listing their years of experience and relevant certifications such as doula training, breastfeeding education, and CPR certification. You can also consider doula agencies, which often have teams of experienced doulas and handle the vetting process to ensure you receive quality care.

The most important factor when choosing a postpartum doula is how comfortable you feel with them and whether they can provide the comforting support you need during this exciting and often vulnerable time. 

If you are in the Houston area and seeking postpartum doula support, my skilled team would love to support you in any way we can. Click here to schedule a discovery call and be matched with one of Houston's finest baby whisperers.





Ways to know if your baby is getting enough milk


One of the most common concerns for new mothers is wondering if their baby is getting enough milk. In the early days of breastfeeding, babies’ tummies are tiny—about the size of a marble when they're born, holding 1-1.4 teaspoons.


During the first few days postpartum, babies take in smaller, more frequent feeds of colostrum, (Mom's first milk), which arrives in small amounts weeks before delivery and is the perfect food for babies. Colostrum has been referred to as baby’s first medicine, or “liquid gold” since it is packed with nutrients and antibodies that will prime their immune system those first few days earth-side.

 
Breastfed babies typically eat between 8 and 12 times a day, sometimes more! Responding to their cues is important and will help establish a good milk supply. Babies tend to feed more frequently during growth spurts or when they're not feeling well. 


Here are some ways to know if your baby is getting enough: 
Feeding Cues 

  • Signs of Satisfaction: Babies usually begin a feeding with clenched fists. As they nurse, their hands will relax and open up, and they will appear content and relaxed after feeding. 

Diaper Output 
  • Wet and Dirty Diapers: Your baby should have an adequate number of wet and dirty diapers. Expect about 6-8 wet diapers and at least 3-4 stools per day once your milk comes in. 
Weight Gain

  •  Growth and Development: Regular weight checks are important to ensure baby is gaining weight adequately. Babies typically lose a bit of weight in the first few days but should be back to their birth weight by about two weeks old. 

Breastfeeding can be wonderfully rewarding but can be a challenging journey for some. If you have concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to a lactation professional or healthcare provider for support! 


We're here to support you


If you're a breastfeeding mom in the Houston area, my expert team of postpartum doulas is here to support your unique breastfeeding goals. Lactation home visits are currently available in the San Antonio-New Braunfels area. 


**Click here if you'd like schedule a free discovery call to learn about more about our services.**


If you are interested in virtual support through your breastfeeding goals, I offer by-the-minute consulting through I Help Moms —[click here for my coaching link]! 

Calm in the Chaos: A Guide to a Restful Postpartum Experience



As a postpartum doula, I get asked a lot of questions about what we do. I've shared a lot about the role of a postpartum doula in my other blog posts, so I'll give you the shortened version. 
 
We're often referred to as baby whisperers, but really, we are mother-focused. We are there to support the whole family as they welcome new life, but our priorities lie in mothering the mother during a time when so much revolves around the baby.  
 
Sure, we provide expert newborn care, but we are also there to make sure mom's resting, comfortable, and staying nourished so that she can properly heal the baby-sized wound in her belly. 
 
In our 'hustle and bustle' society, there's been a message circulating, that's left many women with the impression that they should bounce back as quickly as possible after having their baby. Well, I'm here to spread another message. You can have a slow and restful postpartum that doesn't involve you losing out at all the joy that this sacred time can bring and spreading yourself too thin. 
 
For a limited time, I'm offering my postpartum planning workbook to any expectant mother seeking a bit of peace of mind. With this tool, you can craft a plan and assemble a support network, ensuring you're not navigating this journey alone. 
Wishing you a Happy Mother's Day and happy planning! 

World Doula Week: Celebrating the Impact of Doulas


Today begins the celebratory week of Doulas, World Doula Week~ March 22nd through March 28th. This week has become a time for reflection on how I came to know this work and how it has changed me as a caregiver and a person.

 If you don’t know what a doula is, well, I’ll just start by telling you what they don’t do: deliver babies! 'If you know, you know.' If you’re a doula, you’ve likely been asked this.  

What we do is support the mother from the time of conception to delivery, through postpartum, and often through the baby’s first year of life. In the Greek language, doula means a woman who serves. 

We serve the mother during a time when talk of the baby might feel like it silences her inner voice, telling her to reach out for extra love and tenderness. We serve her because often we’ve felt times in our own womanhood/motherhood journey when we’ve desired this level of support, a listening ear, and a calming essence. Someone to validate our feelings and not pass judgment. 

It's worth noting that there are different types of doulas, including birth doulas, postpartum doulas, bereavement doulas, and my intent for this post is to celebrate the role of doulas in supporting mothers through birth, postpartum experiences, identity shifts, and times of loss. 

If you’re a doula and you’ve loved and cried tears of joy and empathy throughout your journey, I see you, because I’m doula’ing right along with you.  Happy World Doula Week!!