Fighting Fatigue: A Guide to Self-Care for Parents of Special Needs Children

Fatigue is a common challenge among parents of special needs children. Raising a child with a disability can be both physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausting, leading to a profound sense of tiredness that no amount of sleep can resolve. What’s more, the immense love these parents have for their children often drives them to put their own needs on the back burner. However, parents must remember that they, too, need care and nourishment to sustain their role as effective caregivers. In this article from Birth and Beyond, we’ll help you assess your level of personal fatigue and create a self-care plan to rejuvenate your well-being.

You Are Not Too Fat To Give Birth

For those of us who have been stigmatized by the medical system for our weight, it can be really embarrassing to go to a regular obstetrical provider once you find out you are pregnant. Some providers assume you already have health complications and some will be vocal about the pregnancy complications “you will have since your BMI is higher.” Some providers will tell you that you need a c-section at your first appointment because they assume you aren’t able to push your baby out vaginally.

Starting an At-Home Business as an Expecting Parent

A soon-to-be stay-at-home parent is an influential figure in their own home, and they have the potential to make money for the family (if parenting isn’t enough!) If you’re interested in starting your own home business, this information from Birth and Beyond Doula Services will help you get started.

How To Be Ready If Your Baby Has A Fever

If you’re a parent, one of the scariest things you can face is your baby having a fever. It can be difficult to know what to do and how to best take care of them, particularly if it’s your first time as a parent. In this blog post, we’ll look at how to be best prepared for when your baby has a fever and talk about the best approaches for managing their temperature and getting them comfortable and back to health.

What To Avoid While Pregnant

There’s so much information out there on what to avoid while pregnant. This guest blog from The Birth Injury Center is super helpful in determining what is safe and what isn’t. Register for our virtual Early Pregnancy Planning Class on January 7th from 10am-11:30am to learn more!

Pregnancy After Loss: What You Need To Know

October is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month. There are so many topics we could discuss in relationship to this, but the one I want to touch on that no one appears to talk about is pregnancy after loss. The grief and pain associated with the loss of a pregnancy, infant, or child is unimaginable and unfortunately still taboo to talk about.

Surviving The NICU: A Birth Story

September is NICU Awareness Month. Surviving the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is no easy task, but it is possible. I’m Briana, the owner of Birth and Beyond and I am here to tell you my NICU survival story. I planned a homebirth in late 2021 for my February 2022 estimated due date. I ate all the good foods, I exercised, I chose a good provider, and I remained stress free in the middle of a global pandemic.

Can Being a Mompreneur Work For You?

In a fast-paced world full of challenges it’s important to encourage an attitude of self-care while your kids are still young. Cultivating this mindset means modeling the right behaviors and suggesting activities that can calm the mind - here are some tips from Birth and Beyond Doulas to get you started.

No Kidding: Promoting Self-Care for Young Children

In a fast-paced world full of challenges it’s important to encourage an attitude of self-care while your kids are still young. Cultivating this mindset means modeling the right behaviors and suggesting activities that can calm the mind - here are some tips from Birth and Beyond Doulas to get you started.

Ways To Take Care of Yourself While Breastfeeding

Being a new parent is challenging because you are adjusting to caring for a newborn. If you choose to breastfeed or baby, you face additional difficulties. While breastfeeding is a huge adjustment for both you and your baby, it can be a rewarding experience if you remember to take care of yourself. Here are four tips from Birth and Beyond Doulas that can help you navigate breastfeeding successfully.

Postpartum Depression Support in Raleigh

Postpartum Depression - I hear this term all the time as a perinatal health professional. In my experience, it is the most commonly discussed perinatal mood and anxiety disorder, however it is not the only one. May is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month and whether you are expecting a baby or supporting someone who is, it’s important to fully understand all perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs).

Why You Need a Doula for Your Cesarean Birth

As a doula, I have supported many cesarean births, as one in three birthing people in America give birth this way. When I first started supporting birth long ago, vaginal births felt “easy” to support. It was everything I learned in my doula training. It wasn’t until my first cesarean birth that I felt outraged…irritated…disappointed…and very, very annoyed.

Childbirth, PostpartumBriana SmithApril 5, 2022pregnancy, birth doula, birth, cesarean birth, cesarean recovery

A Tooth For Every Baby?

Have you ever heard the saying “gain a kid, lose a tooth”? If not, there is an old wives tale that says a person will lose a tooth for every baby they have. While this may be a stretch, there is some significance behind this claim. Good dental health during pregnancy is imperative, as many studies have found that pregnancy can interfere with calcium absorption and pregnancy naturally increases hormones that can have a negative effect on oral health.

Childbirth, PostpartumBriana SmithMarch 1, 2022pregnancy, birth doula, birth, oral health, dentist, dentist in raleigh

The 411 on Postpartum Belly Binding

Placenta Encapsulation, Mother Blessings, Postpartum Belly Binding? There are so many birth-related traditions that have been performed throughout the years that are known to help with postpartum recovery. You may have seen my blog a few years ago on Postpartum Belly Binding, but because it is such a popular topic, I figured I’d revisit it this month. If you are currently pregnant, or recently had a baby, you’ve probably heard the phrase “bouncing back”. While I am not an advocate for focusing on “getting your body back, I understand your desire to feel like yourself again. Social media and celebrities often set the bar for when you should be back at your pre-pregnancy weight and shape. But, they never remember to reiterate that your body took 40ish weeks to get to where it is, in addition to doing a pretty amazing thing (growing a human), so give yourself some grace on “getting your body back”.

Dude, Hire a Doula!

This is pretty much my strongest recommendation in my whole book. No “maybe think about…”, no “you should consider…,” no “be open to…”. Simply put, just do it. Trust me on this one. But wait, what’s a Doula, and why should I hire one? First things first, a Doula is a trained birth professional who is an expert in all the non-medical aspects of pregnancy and childbirth. They are experienced in childbirth education, physical comfort measures, emotional support, and many other things that can make the birthing experience easier for everybody. They are a combination of your wingman from heaven and Mama’s super awesome best friend. In a word, they are simply amazing.

Intimacy in the Fourth Trimester: How New Parents Keep the Romance Alive

Welcoming a child is among the most joyous times in a couple's relationship. It's also one of the hardest. Many young couples are struggling to adapt to parenthood. Having a baby comes with a lot of new responsibilities and routines, not to mention hormonal swings and sleepless nights. It's normal for couples to put the baby first during this initial phase. However, when the relationship takes a back seat for too long, connection gives way to conflict, hurt feelings, and lost emotional intimacy.

6 Preparation Tips for Expectant Parents with Disabilities

Surveys indicate that nearly one in eight people have a disability. Thanks to the internet, there are more ways to find out how to take care of your child while you have a disability and discover all sorts of resources. If you’re expecting a little one soon, here are some tips from Birth & Beyond Doula Services on how to prepare.

Is Your Placenta in Your Birth Plan?

You may have spent 10-16 hours in a childbirth education class learning all about your options for childbirth. You might even learn a little bit about the postpartum period and infant feeding. You’ll be told “planning is important”, and “being flexible” is even more important. You might even get a birth plan template that asks you questions like:

-Would you like intermittent or continuous fetal monitoring?

-What position would you like to push in?

-Are you giving your baby Vitamin K and antibiotic eye ointment?

-What is your preferred feeding method?

But rarely does it ask what your plan is for your placenta…

Postpartum Bleeding: What’s Normal vs What’s Not

You learn all about what to expect during pregnancy, labor, and childbirth – but why does no one talk about the fourth trimester and the physical changes that happen during the immediate postpartum period? Whether you’ve had a vaginal birth or a cesarean birth, you will experience some degree of postpartum bleeding, also called lochia.

What You Need to Know About Postpartum Sitz Baths

Having perineal pain during your postpartum period is common. Tenderness and soreness are the two main descriptor words I hear my postpartum doula clients use. Luckily, there are things that you can do at home to ease this tenderness and soreness as your body begins to recover and heal from birth.