Sunday, February 26, 2017

HOME, SWEET HOME….really?

Tips to balance the newborn Fantasy with your new Reality
by Donna Ford & AJ Jonesco, Directors of Client Services
CAPPA Postpartum Doulas & Newborn Care Specialists

You have waited a lifetime for this moment – or at least 9 months. Today is the day you bring your brand new baby home for the first time. Elated? Terrified? Uncertain? Confused?  Sore? Yes, you may experience an entire range of emotions as you tackle one of your most rewarding challenges in your life - your newborn!

No doubt that you have plans and expectations for how this time is going to go. We want to help by giving you some quick tips to alleviate some of your uncertainty and give you confidence with your bundle of joy.

- Let it go! It's wonderful to prepare for baby’s homecoming and have a strategy for your first few weeks with your baby. But give yourself permission to let go and take things one day at a time.  Or one feeding at a time.  Or one minute at a time.  Even if your list of things to do didn't get touched, let it go and focus on giving love and care to your newborn.

- Flexibility is key! It is very likely that your sense of timing will feel accelerated. Time and the postpartum period are an interesting dynamic. Days and nights merge and it takes some time to establish a new balance and routine that works for your family. And that’s okay!  Take a deep breath and give yourself and your family the time you need to understand and care for your baby. Try not to strive for unrealistic goals or have expectations that are not flexible based on how you feel in the moment. Remember that these little ones are really quite simple; they are all about bonding, feeding and sleeping.

- Track your baby's patterns. Whether in a small notebook, your phone, or on a pad of paper, jot down your baby's feeding times, diaper changes, sleep patterns and anything you notice each day.  This will help you be prepared for your first pediatrician visit, and you can bring your notebook with you to show your doctor.  You'll be prepared and confident to discuss those first few weeks.

- Ask for support. As you return home, remember that you are recovering physically and emotionally with the added flux of hormones throughout your body. Recognize this and give yourself permission to let others support you. Communicate with your partner, your family, and friends, and accept help. Consider having in-home support or overnight help. A trusted family member or a postpartum doula can help make a plan to allow for your rest and fulfill your baby’s eating and sleeping needs. In fact, research shows parents who receive support can…

·       Feel more  secure and cared for
·       Are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics
·       Have more fulfilling breastfeeding experiences
·       Have greater self-confidence
·       Have less postpartum depression
·       Have lower incidence of abuse


By taking good care of yourself, you will better be able to manage your baby.  It will take time to understand your newborn’s signals and patterns but be patient this will come as you get to know him or her a little better. Remember, your baby is still growing at a rapid pace in those first few weeks. A newborn’s stomach size is the size of a marble. By a month, your baby’s digestive system will mature and feedings may spread out a bit. There is a lot of change in a short period of time, so expect that and listen to your baby’s cues as they learn to communicate their needs to you. Every baby is different – and you will get to know yours in no time!  Relax, be easy on yourself, and accept support, and know that this period is fleeting. Enjoy the journey – make it yours and every single day with your new baby. J

Friday, February 17, 2017

5 Top Reasons to Join a Mommy & Me Group


by Jill Campbell, PsyD, Mommy & Me curriculum Director at The Pump Station & Nurtury®
  1. This class is a great way to bond with your baby and learn about all things related to your baby’s development such as how your baby matures emotionally, cognitively, socially and physically. We incorporate songs and developmental play into every class.
  2. We’ve all heard the expression that it takes a village to raise a child. The Pump Station & Nurtury’s Mommy & Me Program is the place where you come to grow your village of support. Here you will meet other women with babies the same age as yours. Being a new mom can be very isolating, but when you become part of our mommy & me community, you are sharing this experience with other new moms. We have created a safe haven where you will not feel judged. Many women develop life long friendships in these classes.
  3. You will learn practical and useful information on topics such as infant sleep, language development, renegotiating your relationship with your partner, introducing solids, empathic limit setting, and so much more! 
  4. Based on a mindful parenting philosophy, we teach new moms how to be attuned to their child’s inner world. We will support you in learning how to trust your intuition and parent in a way that honors your authentic self. Women gain confidence and trust in themselves in this new role of being a parent.
  5. Our mommy and me facilitators are all trained licensed therapists with backgrounds in child development.
For more information on our Mommy & Me/Parent & Me Groups email ParentAndMe@PumpStation.com or visit the following resource links below: