Birth, Baby & Beyond Blog
5 Things Newborn Babies Taught Me
Do you ever look at a newborn, and think “that’s the life?” Before I was a postpartum and infant care doula, experienced with babies, I definitely did. Think about it- you have people catering to your every need. You pretty much don’t have to know anything to...
Are these Braxton Hicks, or “Real” Contractions?
During your first pregnancy, it’s hard to know what to expect. And if you’re like many new parents, you’re very concerned about the safety of the baby. You monitor every ache, pain, and butterfly in your tummy. And Braxton Hicks contractions may drive you crazy....
Doula Confession: Babies Are Boring
Somewhere on the internet, someone is clutching her pearls, and gasping at that title. And I’m so sorry for the shock, but this post isn't for you. Somewhere else, a woman who just can’t wait for her maternity leave to end, so she can get back to the office with adult...
Your Perineum & Your Postpartum Recovery
Things are different after you have a baby. Everyone tells you that. “Your whole life is going to change.” But you’re maybe not expecting that one of the things to change in those first few days, is your perineum. Peri-WHAT? Yes. Perineum. Colloquially, it’s known by...
Postpartum Plan: It’s All About Asking the Right Questions
We talk to all of our clients, at DC Metro Maternity, about their postpartum plan. More than likely, they’ll get lots of advice about birth plans. From childbirth education, to mommy groups, to friends and family, everyone will give them suggestions on how to plan...
Your Uterus & Your Postpartum Recovery
This article about your uterus is one in a series of posts on postpartum recovery. Contrary to what celebrity magazine covers and instagram hashtags would have us believe, everything doesn’t just “snap back” after birth. DCMM wants you to know the truth about...
Isn’t That What a Husband Is For?
Recently, I was explaining to the mother of a labor doula client what exactly the role of a doula is. She looked at me, seemingly amused at all this new-fangled Millenial speak of emotional support and informed decision making, and asked, “But isn’t that what her...
Postpartum… Can You Use It in a Sentence?
When I tell people that DC Metro Maternity is a labor and postpartum doula agency, they might not know exactly what I mean. Usually, they have an idea that it’s about people giving birth, and they’re excited to tell me about their birth story. At some point though, if...
To Swaddle or Not to Swaddle
“Every time I try to swaddle her, she starts crying even harder.” “The nurses at the hospital were able to tuck him in nice and tight, but something changed. Now, he just hates to be swaddled.” “Oh no, we’ve given up on swaddling. We just hold her now until she...
5 Keys to Pregnancy Nutrition
We're not the sort of doulas who will watch every bite of food that you eat, or quiz you on pregnancy nutrition. We figure most of our clients at DC Metro Maternity are pretty well educated about their health, especially since in 2017 the DC metro area was ranked the...
In giving birth to our babies, we may find that we give birth to new possibilities within oursleves.
– Jon Kabat-Zinn