AthensBorn Birth Services
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Ramblings & Musings

Can I afford a postpartum doula?

7/20/2016

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AthensBorn Birth Services: The First 40 Years
Hiring a postpartum doula is something that’s sometimes looked at as a luxury. But, ask most parents a little farther down the road and they’ll tell you about the things they wished for most in those earliest newborn days. Support and sleep. Two things that an experienced postpartum doula can offer!

How can I make it happen?

At AthensBorn, most of our clients hire a postpartum doula in one of two ways.

#1- When friends and family members ask what gifts or what kinds of help would be welcomed, these parents express how grateful they would be to receive a contribution to postpartum doula care. If you were to put a postpartum doula package right there on the gift registry for a baby shower, chances are it would not be the most expensive thing on the list and people generally love to contribute to these kinds of services! Becca and I have gone a step further to make this as easy as possible by offering the option to gift services through our website. Friends and family members can choose the services they’d like to gift in whatever amount they prefer and pay directly online. Done! We also provide the option to have a pretty, paper gift certificate mailed for those who wish to have something more personal in hand to give. Everyone likes a little glitter and ribbon from time to time, right? So, having the name and website for a postpartum doula you’d like to work with at the ready when people ask is a great way to start.

#2- Prioritize. Many of our clients simply make postpartum doula care a priority and set aside a small amount of money every month toward their services. It’s important to them to feel supported and cared for in those early days, so they plan ahead and make adjustments where needed. It’s usually not as hard as it might seem. If a family sets aside $15 every month of their pregnancy, they’ll have enough for a helpful postpartum package. Many businesses (including AthensBorn) also offer payment plans.

If you’re not sure if a postpartum doula is the right option for you, ask around among friends and parents in your community. Talk to someone who hired a postpartum doula and find out about their experience. And, as always, we’re happy to answer any questions you have!

Take care,
Kate
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Blessing the Mother Through Ritual...

7/13/2016

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Mother Blessing - Pregnant Belly with Flowers
Mother Blessing
Honor the Mother-to-Be with a Mother Blessing Ceremony  
In today’s Western societies, much of the time leading up to a baby’s arrival is spent focused on...well...the baby. And, we are *all* for focusing on sweet, little babies! But, in the midst of baby showers, baby books, baby clothes, painting nursery walls, and focusing on all the items and tasks that seem to come along with these adorable, tiny individuals, it’s all too easy to lose sight of the truest preparations needed for the new parent’s journey: readying the heart in love, strength, connection, and openness. At AthensBorn, we believe the most important “stuff” that’s needed to parent a new baby is not actually material “stuff” at all. One lovely way to refocus attention to this readying of the heart is to honor the mother-to-be with a Mother Blessing Ceremony.

What is a Mother Blessing Ceremony?
A Mother Blessing serves to help prepare the expectant woman for the emotional and spiritual work of labor, birth or adoption, and motherhood. Words of wisdom and encouragement are shared, beautiful memories exchanged, and space is held for the woman of honor as she grounds herself and prepares for the life transition to come.

The guest list for a Mother Blessing tends to be much smaller than the guest list for a baby shower because only the most trusted women from the innermost circle of the woman’s life gather together, as this is an emotionally tender and especially meaningful event for her.

Activities at a Mother Blessing Ceremony are crafted to the unique desires of the woman of honor,  and usually include two elements: the creation of something the mother can carry with her into her birthing or adopting time to remind her of the web of women holding her up across time and distance; and, something to signify the connection between the women until the baby has safely arrived into her mother’s arms.

Food, laughter, tears, love, discussion, song, and a deep sense of togetherness are an incredible gift to mark this significant time in a woman’s life.

It’s a powerful, beautiful tradition that we absolutely love facilitating for women!

If you would like more information about our Mother Blessing Ceremony, please let us know.  We’d be happy to answer your questions.


Take care,
Kate
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Breastfeeding...do I really need a class?

7/9/2016

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AthensBorn - Breastfeeding Mom and Baby
A common question we hear from soon-to-be parents…

“Breastfeeding is natural, so why do I need to take a class?”

Natural? Yes.
Easy? No.

Breastfeeding your baby is one of the most natural things in the world of parenting. It is also a learned skill. When we tell parents that breastfeeding is natural and then offer no further information, we may unintentionally be setting them up with unrealistic expectations. Part of the problem comes from how we use the word “natural” in our language these days. One definition associates the word with something that comes easily or occurs with very little effort.

“She’s a natural.”
“It just came so naturally to him.”

These are things we often say to convey how effortless and enjoyable an experience was. But, breastfeeding is something that is learned with practice. It is definitely natural in that it’s how nature intended us to biologically feed our babies. But, it takes time for both mama and baby to learn how to do it, and it takes a partner time to learn how to best support it.  

“My grandmothers never needed to take a breastfeeding class. So, I should be ok without one.”

Oh, so true. And, how we all long for those days of breastfeeding yore. But, here’s the thing. Our grandmothers grew up watching the women in their families and neighborhoods breastfeed. At home, at family potlucks, in each other’s living rooms, babies breastfeeding everywhere. And, just like so many of the things we learn by observing, we pick up helpful information about breastfeeding in the very same way.

As a generation, we have lost this very valuable education. Think of the things we would have learned from watching our mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, and friends breastfeed their babies…things like the fact that breastfeeding in the early days is done with a ton of pillows and often an extra set of hands (or two). That it’s normal to feel ravenously hungry or suddenly have the thirst of someone who’s crawled through the blazing Sahara when you sit down to nurse your baby. Or that breastfeeding a newborn baby takes an average of 6-7 hours out of every day. That’s a shocker to many parents right there! But, do the math and you’ll see it’s true. The different ways to hold a baby, coax a baby, latch a baby onto the breast...all things we can absorb into our understanding of breastfeeding when given the opportunity to watch and learn from others. But, the main thing that we learn from growing up immersed in a breastfeeding culture is this...we CAN breastfeed. We come from a long line of women who figured it out and therefore we will, too.

Our generation has to learn a little differently, but we are just as capable as our ancestors. While some of us are lucky to have relatives and friends who have nursed their babies and can offer helpful tips and advice, most of us can greatly benefit from an excellent breastfeeding class with a skilled teacher. Having an idea of what breastfeeding may look like can give parents much more confidence when the time arrives. Parents who know what to expect will be less worried that about milk supply, less worried about whether their baby’s eating habits are “normal,” less worried about whether or not it’s taking too long...just less worried, in general. And, who wouldn’t rather be less worried? These parents will also have some tricks to try when they encounter bumps in the road and they’ll know when it’s time to reach out for help.

So embrace the idea of a breastfeeding class! You’ll walk out feeling better prepared and more excited for your journey. And, your helpful and friendly doula should be able to point you in the direction of some great options in your area.

Take care,
Kate
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    Kate & ​Becca

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  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • KIND WORDS
    • FAQ
    • DOULA APPRENTICESHIPS
    • BLOG
  • SERVICES
    • BIRTH DOULA PACKAGES >
      • LABOR DOULA PACKAGE
      • APPRENTICE LABOR DOULA PACKAGE
      • CESAREAN BIRTH PLANNING PACKAGE
      • LAST MINUTE DOULA SERVICES
    • PLACENTA ENCAPSULATION
    • LACTATION SUPPORT >
      • Lactation Consultations
      • Pregnant & Planning Ahead
      • Lactation Education & Classes
      • Lactation & Insurance
    • POSTPARTUM SUPPORT
    • GIFT CERTIFICATES
  • CLIENTS
    • Online Forms
    • Local Resources
    • FAQs
    • Community Connections
    • Insurance Reimbursement
  • CONTACT
  • EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS
    • Movement & Positioning Workshop
  • AthensBorn Shop
    • Shop Birth Doula Services
    • Shop Lactation Services
    • Shop Postpartum Services
    • Shop Placenta Services