The Birth Lounge Blog

Bed Sharing with Amanda Jansen Today we're talking about bed sharing with Amanda Jansen, who is a registered nurse and IBCLC. She has eight years of L & D and postpartum experience as a nurse.  (This blog is pulled from a The Birth Lounge podcast interview with Amanda Jansen.) So let's start off with the basics.  What is Bed Sharing?  If you get online, you'll realize there's not a set definition. Just to make it clear bed sharing, obviously infants in the bed with you. Co-sleeping, you know, there's something right beside the bed, like kind of like an arms reach but not necessarily, you know, right next to mom.  And then there's room sharing, which could just be a crib in the same room with you.  So those are the three levels parents should be informed of, and then of course the independent sleep in a separate room, that a lot of families choose to do. So a little bit more of my history. I did bed share with my first as a postpartum nurse, you know, I'm...

How to Pick the Best Baby Bath  There's a few things to know about bath time with children! First and foremost, babies don't like baths to begin with. Some do, but for the most part babies less than 8-12 weeks don't love bath time. With that being said, bath time plays a crucial role in your routines. First, it is an anchor. An "anchor" is a point in time of day or an action that happens at the same time each day. For example, when a child eats lunch, they come to learn and expect that nap time follows. If there is one parent in the house who returns home at a similar time each day, that will become an "anchor" for the children in the home and they will learn that this anchor means the day is coming to a close, dinner is next, and bedtime is soon.  Bath time will serve this same purpose for your child. Not necessarily a newborn, but whether you take a full-blown bath every night or not, having your child's body safely submerged in warm water will do ...

 (HeHe's article is published for Birch Baby HERE in its entirety.) The time immediately following your birth is crucial to the well being of your child. Research says that respecting what is called “The Golden Hour” can help give your child the best possible start.  If it is possible, requesting that your medical staff and birth team respect this time can help your baby adjust to life on the outside before they are poked and prodded with newborn test and passed from person to person for birth stats.  The way in which the golden hour mentality is carried out varies from culture to culture. In some cultures an extended golden hour called “lying in” is a practice in which women are waited upon and only allowed to do minimal tasks such as getting up to use the bathroom, but not to shower.  It is said to be supportive of postpartum healing and mother-child attachment. However, in some cultures, parents aren’t afforded any paid time off of work to re...

Hey Villagers! Let’s be honest - there’s nothing quite like the excitement of brand new baby rolling into town. Whether it’s a friend, family member, or neighbor who has added a new tiny human to their home, you may be waiting on the edge of your seat to meet the new babe. Before you go running to get your share of baby snuggles, there are a few unspoken rules you should keep in mind when it comes to visiting a newborn and we’re going to break those down for you today. First of all - when exactly is it okay to come knocking on their door? Ask when it would be a convenient time for them and never come over unannounced.  Definitely come with a practical gift in tow - you can never go wrong with food for a busy new family! Maybe pick up some fruit or something else fresh as they’re probably relying on the freezer for most of their meals. Always lend a helping hand during your visit. Offer to take care of those dishes in the sink ...

Another Perspective, Support for the Midwifery Bill with Diana Snyder [This is also an episode of Friday Free Talk on The Tranquility Tribe Podcast on iTunes. Listen  here .] Hey Tranquility Tribe! Thanks for joining us for this episode of the Tranquility Tribe podcast. Last week, Hehe talked to Joyce Hunt-Kimball about Bill H. 1189, more recently drafted as H. 4655, about why she opposes the bill and the impact that it could have on women’s health. Today, Hehe is speaking to Diana Snyder, who is a strong supporter of the proposed bill. Who is Diana? Diana Snyder is a healthcare attorney who graduated from BU school of law in 2011 with a focus on the intersection of healthcare and women’s rights. After she graduated, she moved to California, where she practiced for four years. During her time in CA, a friend who worked in a hospital asked her for legal advice on forced compliance issues that she had observed in her workplace, including forced cesareans and forced...

Just Say No... Even To Your Visitors [This is also an episode of Friday Free Talk on The Tranquility Tribe Podcast on iTunes. Listen  here .] For some, this may sounds like an insane idea and for others they are sitting there nodding their heads like "yup, this is my jam." If you couldn't imagine having your baby and not having visitors.. I hear you, I respect that, too. This is an exciting time and sharing it with friends and family is so important to some people. Equally, though, some people feel more comfortable adjusting to life with a newborn before they allow visitors to come in. For me, I don't have a preference because it isn't my baby. I know what I want for my own children, but what does that matter for this conversation?  I'm going to dive into the benefits of waiting to have visitors. Obviously, these are general benefits that we see on average. There will always be outliers and unpredictable cases that no one could have seen coming. H...

Maternity Photoshoots... Here's why you will want one!  [This is also an episode of Friday Free Talk on The Tranquility Tribe Podcast on iTunes. Listen  here .] Hey Tranquility Tribe! In this episode , Hehe got the chance to speak to Malka, a photographer who specializes in newborn and maternity photography, about a wonderful way to create lasting memories of pregnancy and infancy through photographs. Malka is a pure goddess behind the camera and her final prints are breathtaking.  Malka the Photography Goddess.  After studying literature and creative writing in college, Malka became more and more involved with photography through the combination of her passion for and knowledge about the art and her desire to capture meaningful family moments.  When her daughter was born, Malka’s interest in photography was intensified by the constant presence of an adorable little subject.  She described it as "magical." Inspired by motherhoo...