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...

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 sun...

Being a parent is no joke. But, being a breastfeeding/pumping and a working parent is one of the hardest jobs you’ll ever hold. No matter how you feed your baby, you are doing a great job and I want you to feel recognized. I see you! Keeping yourself nourished and rested while simultaneously keeping a tiny human alive, nurtured, and content is an accomplishment all in itself! Returning to work after having a baby can be an experience of mixed emotions and navigating how you will continue to breastfeed or pump at work can be even more daunting. There’s a few things you need to know such as what laws are in place to protect nursing parents, when should you pump to support your milk supply, and how to store breastmilk at work after you express! Here are a few fun facts about breastfeeding and transitioning back to work: - All fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have laws that specifically allow women to breastfeed in any public place....

When Things Are Bigger Than You Recently, I have been truly connecting with the approach of "Is this bigger than me?" to try to combat what I call "The Guilt of Saving the World." This is where someone has such strong feelings about helping others that it sometimes inhibits them from seeing the limitations of their help or that they may not be able to remedy certain situations at all. I became acutely aware of this guilt that I so often encounter when I first moved to Boston. The homeless population around Newbury Street and the Back Bay area absolutely break my heart. They do. It makes me feel so deeply sad. I without fail will always purchase food and drink for someone when we go walk around that area. I won't give them money because I want them to be fed and hydrated more than I want [insert whatever their sign says]. I can't help them get a job, or help them get to their destination, but I can feed them and I can give them water. I can give them a ...

Start the New Year With Potty Training (This was an article Hehe wrote originally for Family Education, you can view the full article  HERE . Sometimes we make potty training much harder than it needs to be. Don't set your family up for potty training failure, make the resolution of successful potty training this year. Here are the top tips you will need to potty train your child in as little as two weeks. Here are some tips for successful potty training this year: Introducing the Potty Be intentional about introducing the potty consistently. It’s helpful to set a time to specifically offer the potty such as waking up in the morning or going down for a nap.  Go Slow Do not force your child to sit if they are scared. You will make them more afraid or cause them to refuse. When they are ready, you can place them on top and help them sit. Model You can (and should) model using the toilet for your child. You can show them that you are safe. Throw in some...

7 Things to Do When You Bring Home Baby #2 (This was an article Hehe wrote originally for JEducational, you can view the full article HERE . Bringing home a baby can be an exciting time for the whole family. However, it can also be challenging to navigate. Introducing Child #1 to Child #2 can cause new emotions to arise for your older child and disrupt any sense of normalcy you may have. Keeping these helpful hints in mind when preparing this transition can help for a smoother change in family dynamics. -  Tip #1: Prepare in Advance with Language, Books, Songs, Pretend Play - Tip #2:  Help your child settle into their new role. - Tip #3: Involve your older child(ren) - Tip #4: Routines (vs schedules) - Tip #5: Carve out alone time for each child. - Tip #6: Capture casual snapshots - Tip #7: Ask for help Don't forget to check out the FULL article with breakdowns for each tip, here . The relationship between siblings is an unbreakable bond. How...

{ Snag your seat in our  FREE TRAINING  to master your mindset for birth without the fear and anxiety! } 10 Apps Every New Parent Needs Apps make life easier. That is a no-brainer. Wanna lose weight? There's an app for that. Wanna find a hot date? There's an app for that! Wanna order food so you don't have to leave your lulu's and the couch? No problem, there's an app for that. There's even an app that you see a doctor when you're sick and you never have to leave home! Now, THAT is concierge service and I'm here for that. While I can't move in with every Tranquility by HeHe family, although that would be fun, I can offer you a list of apps that I use in my daily life as a Maternity Concierge and recommend these to every single one of our clients. These apps will get your more sleep, help you support your child's development, and carve out a bit of self-care time for yourself! I wouldn't dare ...

Becoming a Podcast Influencer with Bryn Huntpalmer [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 talked to Bryn Hunt Palmer, an inspirational mom and business owner.   If you’re thinking about starting a business but aren’t sure how to do it, this is the episode for you – Bryn has some super helpful tips for growing your passion into a business while finding that illusive balance between your work and the rest of your life! Bryn’s Background Bryn Hunt Palmer is the host of The Birth Hour, a podcast dedicated to enabling parents and families to share, learn from, and connect through each other’s birth stories.   Bryn is also the mother of 6-year-old Adelaide and 4-year-old Darwin and lives in Austin, Texas, with her kids and her husband, Richard.   Bryn got involved in the birth world during her first pregnancy.   Eager to le...