One of the most common concerns I hear from new parents is about their baby's sleep. It can be overwhelming and exhausting to navigate the world of newborn sleep, especially when you're already sleep-deprived yourself. To help sort things out, I'll explain the science of newborn sleep cycles and offer some tips for helping your baby (and you!) get more rest.
Along with the excitement of having a new baby comes a lot of change. In addition to the physical and emotional changes that come with new parenthood, it can also be difficult to navigate relationships with family and friends during this time. It's important to set boundaries that protect your well-being and allow you to focus on your baby's needs, and protect the relationships you care about.
If you’re an expecting parent, you may have heard of people talking about "liquid gold” as part of their lactation/feeding experience. What they’re referring to is colostrum, the incredibly nutrient-rich first milk related after birth. Colostrum has been dubbed liquid gold in part for its appearance (having a dark yellow color and thicker consistency than mature milk), and in part for the valuable role it can play in newborn health.
If you're unfamiliar with the term "Newborn Care Specialist," you're not alone! This is a fairly new term that's arrived on the perinatal care scene in response to an increasing need for support for families bringing newborns into their homes. You might have heard it called a night nanny, night nurse, or baby nurse (which are generally considered outdated terms), but whatever it’s called specialized newborn care can be a postpartum game-changer.
The postpartum period is an understandably challenging time for new parents as they adjust to life with a newborn. It can be full of physical and emotional changes, sleepless nights, and steep learning curves, but it doesn’t have to be navigated alone. Postpartum doulas are trained professionals who offer a wide range of support services to new parents during this incredibly important and vulnerable period.
