The Birth Lounge Blog

What is the Fourth Trimester? It's just as it sounds. Each trimester of your pregnancy was three months. The fourth trimester is the first 90 days after your baby is born. This can be a lovely and exciting time, but it can also be a time of overwhelming emotion and one of a fine balancing act.  Between the sleep deprivation, having a tiny human depend on you for everything, the emotional whirlwinds, and the constant flow of visitors, the fourth trimester can seem very intense. Having a game plan in place, or at least knowing what to expect, can be helpful.  1. Ask for Help  Society expects too much from new parents, especially birthing parents. There, I said it. It's too much. It's overwhelming. And it affects the way parents think about themselves as caregivers.  Let go of this societal idea that a new mom has to do it all from day one. It is a slow ramp up. First and foremost, your body is healing and this requires you to rest, so let the laundry p...

Doesn't the hospital have everything? Yes and no. The hospital has everything that you will need medically to have your baby. This is true. But think about the environment of a hospital--bright lights, sterile environment, potential for loud noises, unfamiliar faces, that distinct hospital smell, and incessant beeps from medical equipment. Neel Shah recently did a podcast interview with the Harvard School of Public Health and he said, "It's not a ventilator that defines an ICU. It's the ability to have one nurse take care of one patient. So if you go to the cardiac ICU of my hospital at Beth Israel, you'll see one nurse per patient. You go to my labor floor, you'll see the same thing. You know they can track vital signs in real time in the cardiac ICU. So can we. The only difference between the ICU and the labor floor is that our operating rooms are attached." For the entire interview, check it out  here .  So what can you do to ease the feel...

Am I planning a wedding or a birth? Whether your'e planning a wedding specifically or any large event, you know how much work goes into the preparation. First, a venue--finding a place to hold this event is crucial. Next, nailing down a menu that is most satisfying to your pallet (and others in attendance). Finally, creating an invite list and sending out invitations. The venue and guest have everything to do with the style or environment, so choose carefully. You can only prepare so much, but whatever is going to happen that day will happen. You can only control so much. At the end of the day, a lot of factors go into whether or not this event goes off without a hitch. Prepare for what you can and trust the process to take care of the rest. Are you confused yet? Wedding or birth? Plan vs. Prepare Like a wedding, it can be helpful to hire someone that has been to many births and can help you know what options you hav...

 { Snag your seat in our FREE TRAINING to master your mindset for birth without the fear and anxiety! } Fear Fear is an emotion that strips us of control. Fear paralyzes people. The fact that there are so many unknown factors in birth can evoke fear in people. However, fear can be controlled. Fear can be overcome using the right approaches and support.  It is weren't for fear, many people would do things differently. I like to turn fear into power. I like to connect with current thoughts and perceptions and then acknowledge fear. There is a different experience out there, but you have to birth in an entirely different way.  Why I Support Parents with Anxiety As a fellow sufferer of anxiety, I know all too well how change can bring about unwanted emotions. Emotions that are big (even if only to you) and unprepared for. Sometimes, these emotions can be too big to cope with on your own. As someone who has fig...

Traveling with a Newborn  [This is also an episode of Friday Free Talk on The Tranquility Tribe Podcast on iTunes. Listen  here .] What You Need To Know:  Traveling with a newborn can be intimidating, anxiety provoking, and even grueling if you don't prepare. Luckily, most people are very kind and patient with cute and tiny humans. My partner and I travel often--he much more than I due to work--but every few weeks we find one or both of us on a plane jetting off to our next destination. We love to spend time in airports--the people watching is fantastic, but the plane watching is even better. Having the opportunity to be on the first one-hundred flights on a newly released plane or experiencing your first flight on a Dreamliner Boeing 787 can't be described in words for those of us who have a major case of wanderlust. Recently, we spent upwards of 20 hours on a plane with a mom and a one-month old b...

10 one-handed, low-prep, go-to snacks for new moms So often new moms are stuck wondering if they will ever find the time to sit down and eat a full meal ever again. Between feedings, diaper changes, doctors appointments, play dates, and household chores, it can be challenging to find time to prepare food let alone eat. Here is a list that requires little prep and can be easily taken on-the-go.  Apples Whole apples or apples slices are a wonderful go-to snack. Green apples specifically hold a lot of nutritional value such as fiber which improves digestion, protein, and Vitamin A, B6, and C. It helps with liver function as well as helps keep your skin radiant and healthy. Plus, apples are low in calories.  String Cheese  Cheese is such a delicious snack. String cheese, cheese squares, cheese crisps, and cheese wheels are fail proof. They are tiny, transportable, and easily consumed! For moms who have removed dair...

{ Snag your seat in our  FREE TRAINING  to master your mindset for birth without the fear and anxiety! } Bless Your Heart I recently did virtual support for a mom down south. When she was 2 days past her due date, she was so calm and completely relaxed. Yep...you read that right. She was relaxed. She was confident in her body and the process. She trusted her healthcare provider and she found comfort in her baby's ability to start labor when he was ready. She knew when her little boy was ready to make his grand entrance, he would. She knew her healthcare provider would let her know if anything was wrong and if not, she was going to keep herself busy until the time came. And she did. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. A mother, down south, with such a...... crunchy  outlook on birth. Her confidence in her own choices was overwhelming (and inspiring). It brought me to tears. It made me realize that the birth world is chan...