Nesting Days Blog

As a postpartum doula, one of the first things I help my clients do is develop a Nesting Strategy around three key objectives: 1.) getting adequate rest and good nutrition to facilitate healing and lactation, 2.) delegating tasks to others so that she can focus is on nurturing herself and her baby, 3.) and spending lots of time skin-to-skin with her newborn.

Breastfeeding is increasingly promoted these days, as more and more evidence shows the importance of feeding babies this complete, species-specific food. We know that breast milk is full of living vitamins and minerals, but here are some things you might not know:

You’ve probably heard about the proverbial “baby blues”, and its more serious sister, postpartum depression, both of which can leave you and your body feeling all kinds of bad after you give birth. Let’s start with something really important: If you feel this way consistently, you’re not just having a “bad day”, and more to the point, it’s nothing to be ashamed of! Postpartum mood swings are very common, due to the intense changes in hormones that new moms experience.

Two blue jays built a nest in my lemon tree early in the spring, and I had patiently kept my distance as they diligently tended their young over the past months. As it turned officially summer this weekend, I decided it was time to get the ladder out and take a closer look at their handicraft.

I’m a trained postpartum doula. Because many people don’t know what a postpartum doula is or does, I usually begin by explaining what I don’t do. I am not medically trained. I do not make diagnosis, give medical advise, or administer medicine.

What I do do is Nurture, Educate, Support and Transition (N.E.S.T.) the new mother and her infant on their journey from womb to world.

Kristen LaValley had so much difficulty breastfeeding her first child that she eventually gave up. I asked her to tell her story of how she listened to her instincts, went skin-to-skin, and used the Nesting Days carrier to successfully nurse her second child.

Congratulations, new mama!

Your baby is finally here and how precious and sweet it is to hold them, smell them and marvel at that perfect (and tiny!) body. Is there anything cuter than baby feet? I don’t think so.