Baby Blues or More?

Are you wondering if you have the "baby blues" or if it's something more?

The baby blues occur right after birth and resolve on it's own in 3-5 weeks. They symptoms of the baby blues are tearfulness, irritability, sadness, sleeplessness, anxiety, exhaustion. But what if those symptoms don't clear up on their own in about a month? You may be suffering from Postpartum Depression or Anxiety (Postpartum Mood Disorder-PPMD). PPMD is not uncommon. Up to 20% of all women suffer from PPMD across cultural and socioeconomic lines. PPMD can occur up to a year (or longer) after the birth of a child and may have begun while you were pregnant.

Early intervention is key if you think you might be suffering with PPMD. There are many sources of help available online and in person, whether you need medical, therapeutic, or social support. Reaching out or having someone reach out for you is the most important thing to getting help.

Ok, so what if you haven't had your baby yet, but you are looking into PPMD as a precautionary measure. Here are some risk factors and stressors that can increase your chance of suffering with PPMD.

Risk Factors:

• Depression or anxiety before or during pregnancy
• Previous cases of PPMD
• Intense fear of child birth
• History of mental illness and/or substance abuse
• Poor support system
• Abuse
• Loss of pregnancy or child
• Loss of one's own mother
• Medical complications in mother or baby
• Social Isolation
• Abrupt weaning
• Thyroid dysfunction
• Multiples (twins, triplets, etc.)

Stressors:

• Environment (home, work, finances, safety)
• Biological (history of infertility, hormones, thyroid issue)
• Relational (partner issues, family issues)
• Genetics (predisposition for PPMD)

Dads (or partners) can also be at risk for depression or anxiety after a baby is born. It is important that they get help too!

If you are suffering with PPMD or think you are at an increased risk, talk to your care provider, your doula, your lactation professional, your child's pediatrician or anyone who can help you reach out. There are also great online resources. Postpartum Support International helps women across the world be well.

It is ok to not be ok... it is not ok to stay not ok. 

There are people who can help!

Vaginal Birth After Cesarean

I attended my first successful VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) a couple of days ago. It was long and hard, but my client was able to have a vaginal birth, although she had to let go of a few things that she really wanted in her birth plan. It is so hard to let go of the things you planned on, but otherwise she wouldn't have been able to achieve her main goal of a vaginal birth.

If you've had a previous cesarean section and are now are trying to decide which is the best option, here is some information that might help you make your choice. The International Cesarean Awareness Network has a great website that help you understand the risks and benefits of a VBAC.

VBACs have been popular for years within the natural birthing community, but are just now becoming more mainstream within the medical obstetric community. Research is now showing that VBACs, in most cases, are safer for both mom and baby. Check out this video on a national morning show that talks more about the concept of VBAC and safety.

As always, discuss VBAC with your care provider to make sure it is the best and safest choice for you and your baby.

Some Postpartum Tips

I have been on hiatus, well, kind of. I have taken off the month of January for birth doula-ing, but for the months of December through February, I have had the shear pleasure to work with a great family as a postpartum doula. This "time off" was refreshing and renewing for me. It allowed me to have a more predictable schedule and not be as exhausted. Working with a lovely family has really renewed my passion as a postpartum doula. I was feeling a bit down, after some difficult experiences, but this one really lifted my spirits and reminded me of some great knowledge about the postpartum period that I want to pass along.

1. Breastfeeding. If you are nervous about breastfeeding or are having difficulty, it is so important to get support through it. Whether you visit your local la leche league, use a postpartum doula, or see a lactation consultant, it is just important to have support and correct information. Another important point about breastfeeding is that your newborn (up to around 2 months) needs to eat 10-12 times a day. I know that it seems like a lot, but this is what your baby will require. Sleepy babies do not gain the weight the way they should. Here are some ways to wake your sleepy baby.

2. Get out and about when you can. Or have people to your home so you don't feel isolated. Knowing that you have a break from the "normal" routine may lift your spirits and help you avoid baby blues or postpartum mood disorders. Consult your doctor as to when is a good time to take your baby in large crowds.

3. Wear your baby! This is the number one thing I can recommend to new parents. Babies love to be worn and you can get household chores done at the same time. Baby wearing also counts as tummy time for your newborn. There are so many benefits of baby wearing and you can check them out here. There are great places to check out all the different options for baby wearing. If you are local to the Baltimore area, Greenberries or Soft and Cozy Baby have baby wearing experts.

I wish you all the best in your postpartum period with your family and new baby!

Yup, that's me baby wearing just after putting on a duvet cover on a duvet. Love it!

What you need to know about the NICU

Most parents' expectations of what life will be like after a baby is born is filled with joy, visitors, pictures, and a quick stay at the hospital. But for those facing the challenges of a baby in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit), life is very different. Usually NICU babies are very sick or premature and life seems to hang in the balance. Although it can be a very sad and hard time, there are things that you can do make life in the NICU a little more bearable.

In the webinar, Different Beginnings: An Inside View of the NICU, nurse, Mary Coughlin, describes what the NICU is like, what nurses can do to make the stay better, and what parents can do to help their infant thrive.

There were two main points that stood out:
1. Parental involvement is key to infant success in the NICU. There are countless studies that show that infants have better outcomes if parents are involved in their daily care. In addition to parental care, skin-to-skin (also known as kangaroo care) is vital to infants health in the NICU. It is so important to be there for your baby when they are sick. Nothing effects their outcome more than the parents.

2. Feeding your infant breastmilk is crucial to an infants ability to thrive in the NICU. Breastmilk is so important to an infant in the NICU that it is sometimes referred to as medication. Breastmilk is nutritionally perfect for infants, and especially beneficial to the sick or premature NICU infant. Breastmilk helps infants grow faster and healthier!!

If you are a parent facing the chance of NICU stay, please listen to the webinar and get support from other parents who have had infants in the NICU.

A Christmas Birth Story

As a doula, when you take a client around the holidays, you know there is a slight chance that a baby will come on the actual holiday and that is exactly what happened to me. My December client was a couple of days over due when I heard my phone chirp on Christmas Eve morning. It was the text that I was hoping to avoid until after Christmas morning, since this year I was hosting my parents and sister. My client was in early labor and so at this point my main goal was to finish cooking Christmas Eve dinner before I had to leave. We finished dinner just in time for me to leave. When I met my client, she was still in early labor so I knew for sure we had a Christmas baby on our hands. After some tough night labor, she had her baby.

I rushed home to open gifts, but my kids were already done opening them. My hubby graciously video-ed them opening each thing. The adults had waited until I got home to open presents, but the only thing I wanted was to eat and go to sleep. I mustered the strength to open and appear thankful (which I was) for all the awesome gifts. Then I crashed.

Later, when I was reflecting on the true meaning of Christmas, I thought about Mary giving birth alone (no doula or midwife), with just Joseph by her side. How scared and confused she must have been, not knowing what to expect from labor. I thought how thankful I am to help women through that unknown and difficult time. I also felt blessed to witness the birth of a child on Christmas day--what an awesome gift! So as it turned out that the best gift I received this Christmas was not all wrapped up in fancy paper and bows, but instead came swaddled up in a pink and blue hospital blanket!

Fistula Foundation Donation

It's that time of year to get your final donations into your favorite non-profit organization. One of mine is the Fistula Foundation. Part of my blog is actually dedicated to helping these women. Click on the "Shop" tab and check it out.

About two weeks ago my husband posted the "shop" part of my blog on facebook and within 3 days, I was able to raise $100 for this awesome cause. My goal is $450, which is the cost of one fistula surgery in developing nations. I am over half way there, raising $295. Wow! That is so awesome.

If you want to help, you can go to the http://www.fistulafoundation.org/ and donate there or purchase some great baby/mama gear on my blog and 100% of the profits go to these women.

If you need a little inspiration, check out this video!

Preeclampsia Update

Preeclampsia, one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in the US and around the world, has been updated in terms of diagnosis. There no longer has to be a detection of protein in urine for a pregnant mother to be diagnosed with preeclampsia. A report has recently been released by ACOG determining that a mother with other signs of preeclampsia, such as high blood pressure, can now be diagnosed with the condition even if there has been no detection of protein in her urine. Just be aware that if you have elevated blood pressure and other risk factors, you could be diagnosed with preeclampsia. One way to avoid high blood pressure is with a proper diet. Check out the Brewers Diet to see what you can do to possibly avoid preeclampsia.