Posts by Metropolitan Doulas
The Role of Postpartum Doulas in Lactation Support
Many new parents find lactation – the body process that produces and secretes milk – complex and sometimes mystifying. Breastfeeding (the act of feeding a baby at the breast and also called chestfeeding or bodyfeeding) can leave parents feeling surprised, joyful, unhappy, and/or exhausted. While many parents choose to breastfeed their babies and have no…
Read MoreFather’s Day Gift Guide for Expectant Dads
Father’s Day is just around the corner, and every year a whole new batch of guys have moved out of the Dude Zone and into the Dad Zone and are celebrating this day of recognition for the very first time. However, I think that we should also start to make some extra efforts to include…
Read MorePostpartum Advice to Survive Parenting Older Children During Covid-19
Now that 2020 is halfway gone, I can’t quite believe all that has happened. As a postpartum doula, my job is to support parents, and that has meant something different this year. Many in our community are 100 days into stay-at-home isolation, but – just like with a newborn – you may have found that…
Read MorePostpartum in a Pandemic: What to Do When Takeout and Cleaning Services Aren’t an Option
It’s definitely an interesting time to have a baby! Things are slowly starting to open up in the United States, but many people still feel uncomfortable doing many of the things we used to do a few months ago. Add a newborn to the mix, and things can feel downright terrifying. We often recommend that…
Read MoreSelf-Care With A Newborn
Living with a newborn can be difficult. That’s not news. Often when folks are trying to be helpful to new parents, they will offer advice like “Sleep when the baby sleeps” or “Take time for yourself.” Sometimes those platitudes are helpful, but more often they leave parents at a loss on how to practically add…
Read More“They were here from the very beginning of you, and the very beginning of you and me.”
Written by Client Kate – Silver Spring It was 3 a.m. on our first night home from the hospital when I dialed Metropolitan Doulas, crying and desperate for help. Our daughter, Piper, had been inconsolable for hours. We had tried everything – the (not-yet-recalled) Rock n’ Play, swaddling, white noise, rocking, shushing, bouncing, just holding…
Read MorePaced Bottle Feeding
Paced bottle feeding means watching your baby for cues, and holding the bottle more horizontally to allow your baby to take breaks.
Read MoreSetting Up Your Baby Nursery
The nursery is often the first visible sign in many homes of a baby on the way. Especially in the first year postpartum, it holds the space and stuff that parents need 24/7. Because of its significance, setting up a nursery can be exciting and overwhelming for many expecting parents as they bounce between prenatal…
Read MorePost-Birth OB Visit and What to Expect
Importance of Mother’s Health In the first weeks after birth, families see the pediatrician several times for healthy full-term babies. However, the mother’s post-birth health and healing is also important to monitor, but visits to the mother’s caregiver can get delayed or put off. All mothers need to see a caregiver at least once in…
Read MoreFeeding Your Baby, Part 1 – Solids
Feeding Routine It is a cruel irony that about the time parents feel most comfortable with their infant feeding routine, it is time to consider introducing solids. Whether breastfeeding, bottlefeeding, or a combination, your infant will show interest in “real” food before you are likely ready to start offering solid food. Beginning at just a…
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