On The Blog
Who is waiting for Doula O'Clock?
Sunday nights are very popular requests for overnight doula care. Monday mornings are often flooded with calls from families who packed a lot into their weekend and now realize that more support would make a big difference. When families lack sleep, overnight care can make huge deposits in your sleep bank, and help get you back on track.
Is everyone telling you to "Enjoy Every Moment"?
Does everyone tell you this? Are you quarantining with your baby, trying to enjoy every moment? Or are you stressed, trying to fit work into a very demanding new situation with a baby or twins?
Afternoon sunlight means more sleep for baby?
Did you know that babies need exposure to sunlight in the daytime hours to help regulate their circadian rhythms? After 3 months of age, babies start to develop their own melatonin cycles and need light to help them distinguish the rhythms of the day and night.
Doulas in the Hospital
Doulas are increasingly being asked to work overnight in the hospital due to hospitals implementing the Baby Friendly Initiative and becoming certified Baby Friendly.
On the Edge...
As doulas who offer overnight care, gentle sleep consults, and of course a host of handy mom-helping services, we often hear the worst stories. (Like the moms who freeze their purses and call us because they can't find their keys! True story--and not just one!) But lately I am hearing stories aboutmoms who put off their need for sleep long enough to really feel like they are having a breakdown. Like losing their mind, and not just for that moment when you 'forget' you had a baby and then suddenly realize you have been a mother for 3 months (not uncommon!). But the kind that feels desperate, clinging to any kind of support they can possibly trust.