The Birth Lounge Blog

Can my baby go to the pool? You’ll never hear me tell you what to do with your child. They are your child. However, I will share with you a few things that you may not know. This is to help you make a more informed choice as a parent.  When it comes to babies and pools there are two things to remember: Your baby's skin is super duper sensitive --everything is so brand new to their skin. From the temperatures to the wind to the light to soft and deep touch--everything is new to your baby. Now the question is, do you want one of the first chemicals your baby’s skin comes in contact with to be chlorine? This actually leads to the second thing.  Chlorine is a harsh chemical intended to kill things and can actually work against our immune systems. Not only that, but Chlorine is actually a mixture of other chemicals. It’s made up of Trihalomethanes and Chloramine. In a pool, there are two free radical agents that go break off and bind to things, like sweat and sunscree

“New Normal”...I keep hearing it everywhere. People talking about what it will be like. Folks saying it’ll never be the same again. Don’t get me wrong, I’m eager to see what our “new normal” looks like too once this is all over, but can we please not forget about the here and now. Like, hello, can we please focus on getting through the right now, this moment.  Transitioning your entire life to fit into the walls of your home and now using video communication for 95% of all interactions is tough. It can feel so overwhelming. Discombobulating. Disorienting. For folks like me, change is hard and avoided. I will avoid change at all cost if it means I get to stay in my comfort zone of everything being as expected. I already worked from home so that wasn’t my biggest change. Mine was having my partner work from home, too. I was used to having the house to myself. The whole house was my office essentially. I could do as I please and film wherever I needed or wanted. This is no more i

Giving Birth during the coronavirus? Here's what you need to know, mama. (This was an article Hehe wrote originally for Motherly, you can view the full article  HERE . Pregnancy brings so many questions, but giving birth during a pandemic can be plain overwhelming. It likely seems as if your questions are never-ending, and the more answers you get, the more questions come up. There is likely so much on your mind right now: Will I need to give birth without my partner? Will I have limited pain relief options? Am I going to be separated from my baby? It's so much to think about, and it can feel scary. As you think about your birth, one of your biggest fears is likely a sense of having a lack of control throughout this process. Mama, you are not alone. Thousands of couples are in the same boat, and I want to share some ways to cope with this shift.  For HeHe's advice and support for those feeling anxious about their pregnancy and upcoming birt

Nationwide Childbirth Classes Leave Millions of Parents in a Scramble (This was an article Hehe wrote originally for Pregnancy Magazine, you can view the full article  HERE . Having an online community is more important than ever with the spread of COVID-19. We all know babies don’t stop coming just because there’s a pandemic . Limiting social contact means planned events, meetings and classes are being canceled all over the country. For expecting parents, this includes their childbirth education classes.. A class meant to inform, prepare and reduce anxiety around becoming a new parent, but so many have been canceled without information on rescheduling. Talk about anxiety! Studies also show that postpartum depression becomes much more of a concern if there is a lack of social support after childbirth. This current medical outbreak has taken social support right out the window and new parents all over the country are desperate for connections with other new parents. For H

Preparing to Give Birth During the Coronavirus Pandemic (This was an article Hehe wrote originally for Family Education, you can view the full article  HERE . When a woman gets pregnant, so many questions run through her mind: Will it hurt? How much weight will I gain? Will I poop during labor? One question that likely never crossed any woman's mind when they got the news about being pregnant is whether she will be forced to birth alone, with limited pain relief, and possibly be separated from her baby at birth due to a global pandemic. Though this is nothing any of us have ever prepared for, this is the internal monologue happening for millions of women across the globe today. For HeHe's advice and support for those feeling anxious about their pregnancy and upcoming birth, please see the full article here . Don’t forget to check out our newest adventure  The Birth Lounge,  listen in to The Birth Lounge Podcast, and follow us on Instagram at @tranqui