Flourishing Families

Don’t cry over spoiled milk! Keep it fresh, y’all! Storing breast milk properly makes sure every drop can be used so it is safe and fresh. After expressing milk, you need to anticipate when it will be used. Be sure to label it with the date and then store it accordingly. Lots of folks print or copy the above guidelines and post them on the fridge or freezer because it is a lot to remember! Aside from correct dating, labeling, rotating and using breast milk, there is another c...onsideration . . . unexpected power outages due to weather events or planned power outages. If you have a large stash of milk, take a minute to think how you might protect that resource if power goes out for more than a few hours (or days). Hopefully, you will never need to employ your back-up milk protection plan but it is still worth it to have one! #pumping #exclusivepumping #breastfeeding #milk #ibclc

Ask a Dad to describe what it felt like to hold their baby for the first time. Our favorite answer to date: Like holding warm laundry. ... Perfection Photo//@becciraveraphoto #TMD #birthmatters #newdad #daddy #dadlife #babylove #baby #postivevibes #doulalove #doulalife #dad #daddysgirl #daddylove #babytoes #newbornbaby #newborn See more

From our education, to our families. Providers or nurses to support staff and our FF team. We thank you. It is through each one of your roles and our relationships that we are blessed and able to show up for your day to day. Thank you for the opportunity and honor in being your go to resource for education, support and conception through parenting needs! #educationmatters #birth #postpsrtum #ttc #parenting #thanksgiving2020

Our most popular class is discounted to $27! Come join us for a full childbirth education class. Covid friendly. Reach out with questions or for more info!

Although we may sometimes joke, I feel like the milk machine, you are not a milk machine. Let me repeat that louder for those in the back, YOU ARE NOT A MILK MACHINE. You are a human being. One of the cool things your body does is the ability to produce breast milk. But there is nothing mechanical about lactation. Milk supply can change for physical or emotional reasons. ... When we experience a drop in milk supply, it is normal to wonder what has changed. Take a look back over the last few days and weeks. What’s new? What’s different? Has it been extra stressful at work? Were you fighting off a cold and taking some cold meds? Maybe your period is about to start? If you look back, you will probably be able to identify the trigger and work to get your supply back to where you expect it to be. If you notice a drop in supply that last for more than a few days and need help getting your supply up, consider talking to an IBCLC (international board certified lactation consultant) for a more in depth look and to find solutions specific to your issue. For those of you who have breastfed, did you ever experience a drop in supply? What helped you get it back up? #feeding #fedisbest #breastfeeding #newmom #chestfeeding #lactation

Hospitals classes are closed, support is limited and it all feels very overwhelming. Let us walk you through our full childbirth curriculum. We will build a foundation of your desires, dive deeper into you and your partner, understand the stages and phases of labor. Comfort positions with and without medication and so much more! You will leave this class feeling equipped, educated and confident in your birth plan. Come join us. Invite a friend. Reach out with questions.

The biggest hurdle you have to overcome as new parents is different for everyone. One client shared her and her partner’s story: The biggest hurdle we had to overcome as new parents was learning who we were all over again. We love our daughter very much, but her arrival was like a foreign exchange student moved into our home. We didn't speak her language, likes and dislikes or know her schedule! To top it all of we both had been given new titles, Mom and Dad. Who was I as a mom? Why is he acting like that as a Dad? We had three new people living under the same roof and man the sleep was scarce. Slowly but surely with grace, laughter and snuggles we all got to know each other (again). What was your biggest hurdle as new parents? #parenting #postpartumjourney #newparents #infantlossawareness #selflove #marriage

Challenging moments in parenting Sometimes it is easy to forget that social media can skew your views of life. Photos are doctored to show nothing but beauty and gorgeous scenery. Everyone is always happy and smiling and on vacation. I have A MILLION more photos of Finley smiling and laughing that I could post. We could all pretend that our child is nothing but sunshine and rainbows all day long (but that is not the truth.) Those smiles and laughs come and go and it is the ...in between time that is filled with a whole lot of other emotions and the grit of motherhood and fatherhood. The last hour of yesterday sucked. It started off with me putting a cap on this cup of milk and spiraled into a non-stop barrage of shrieking and crying through bathtime, diaper change, jammies on, and until he mercifully fell asleep in his crib (and then decided to wake up every 5-10 mins for an hour). I worked all day and the last hour drained me more than entire weeks worth of paperwork. Some moments really test your patience and your sanity because you simply do not know what to do. You don’t know how to help them. You don’t know what toy to try next or what food to put on the plate or how to get them to calm down. And it hurts. It hurts to see your baby so upset. You rationalize it in your head that they just are tired or hungry or don’t know how to deal with literal spilled milk. This isn’t the first tantrum, or the last. It won’t be the last time I throw my hands on my head and sit in the hallway and cry tears of exhaustion and frustration. These are the moments that test you. This is real and raw parenthood. It’s the hardest freaking job in the world. Rewarding, yes, but hard, so very very hard. Today, he ran to me and wrapped his little arms around my neck and as I whispered, I love you, he pulled back and planted a great big kiss on my cheek. It is amazing how much love you can feel in small moments like this. Little one, we will get through this time together. To all you other parents in the trenches of toddlerhood. I raise a glass to you. #parenting #youvegotthis #ittakesavillage #infantlossawareness See more

Have you wondered if there was someone out there to take care of a new family? Someone who can help with infant feeding questions, ask how are you? and deeply listen to the answer, give you a break while you take a shower and maybe even help out with simple household tasks or light meal prep. Someone who can remind you about postpartum bleeding, help with c-section recovery or smoothe out the transition with siblings. Someone who you can talk to about physical and emotional... postpartum changes, can remind how to use a swaddle and Just. Be. There. There is such a magical person! A postpartum doula is a professional focusing on care after the birth who can help with newborn care, feeding questions, physical support, household support, navigating postpartum emotions, sibling care and/or meal prep. Some postpartum doulas have additional services like massage, body work, photography, yoga, etc. We always love to talk about doulas and helping folks find a postpartum doula who meets their needs. Let us know what you would like to know about postpartum doulas. #doula #postpartumbody #postpartumjourney #hospitalbirth #newborncare #newborn

Being your child's safe space I was wearing a dress and another person came around the corner on the path. Finley buried himself within the folds of my dress, lifting some of the fabric around his face to peek out at the stranger that he was scared of. It was such a strong reminder that while I have a husband, work, a house to clean, dinner to make, 4 animals to feed, a yard to weed, another baby to plan for, laundry to do, and a million others things that take my time and... energy away from him - his everything is us. He needs me to take care of him in some way, every minute, of every day. He has no responsibilities, no commitments, no time restrictions. His job is to play and learn and grow. To him, mommy and daddy are the most important people in the world. It’s a huge responsibility. The complexities of raising another human are staggering. The nuances of every choice you make for them and the outcome that is elicited is mind blowing, rewarding, and anxiety inducing all at the same time. I was his protector in that moment. His shelter and safe space from the unknown. He may not always hide behind me (or in my dress), but he will always have a home base with me to break down and be vulnerable and raw. He was scared and I let him be scared and comforted. He will always be my baby, and I will always be his momma. Your love will always be safe with me. #motherhood #parenting #slowdown #intentionalparenting #infantlossawareness #child #attachmentparenting See more

If you have been stashing your freezer full of breastmilk, heads up! Proper storage only gets you half of the way there. It needs to be thawed safely as well. You don’t want to waste one drop of that goodness because you (or someone else!) thawed it incorrectly. You do not want to be that person! Your breast milk deserves better than that.... General Rules of Thawing Breast Milk FIFO - first in, first out. Don’t thaw at room temp - defrost in the refrigerator or a bowl of warm water No hot spots - microwaves and boiling water can cause hot spots that can harm your baby. Use it or lose it Make sure all caregivers (partners, grandparents, baby sitters, etc) know how to thaw breast milk safely Breast milk is a precious resource. Make sure you take good care of it. #breastfeeding #breastmilk #lactation #ibclc #chestfeeding #fedisbest #education

Are they strangers around the table or just your extended family? Navigating this can be sometimes smooth as silk, and other times like preparing for battle. If only we could open our mother in laws prewritten manual, flip to chapter 15 and read the chapter on my child’s spouse and how our relationship works. The best advice is to read your own novel first! Reflect on your own expectations, wants and desires. (Do you want to cook the turkey every year?) Once you can recogni...ze your prewritten wants and desires, you and your spouse can discuss what is important, non-negotiable, and what you are willing to let go of. How have you noticed either matched or mismatched expectations in your extended family? What have you done to compromise or set boundaries? #flourishingfamilies #flourishinparenthood #educator #childbirtheducator #childbirtheducation #newborncare #newborneducation #ncs #sleeptraining #breastfeedingeducation #chestfeedingeducation #ibclc #lactation #breastfeeding #pumping #newparents #newmom #newdad #classes #hostpialbirth #homebirth #birthcenterbirth #laboranddelivery

On the night of May 14th last year, I was 3 days into labor and my water finally broke at 11pm. It is amazing how fresh the memories are. I’ve been reliving my labor since Sunday. It is kind of like picking at a scar that has not quite healed yet. The memories of how horrific those hours were leading up to Finley’s arrival have come rushing back and I remember what happened hour by hour. At this time last year, I did not have a baby. But today, I have him, and I am filled wi...th such joy. When mothers tell a 39 week pregnant lady that in the end, it is worth it, this is what we are talking about. Finley reaches out and says up and wraps himself around me and buries his head in my chest. He grabs my finger and leads me around. We chase each other and he giggles while I get him and laughs hysterically when I don't5 . He points at a book and says book and climbs into my lap to have it read. He is a part of every minute of my day, whether he is with me or not. He has changed my world and made every second of labor worth it because he loves me and created a world full of happiness and messiness and laughter. Tonight was the first night he has ever fallen asleep while reading a book (normally does not sit still). He grasped my finger and gently closed his eyes and soon his chest was rising and falling in a sweet slumber (usually cries and protests while falling asleep). He has grown so much and we have been through so much. This one perfect slice of heaven at the end of this day has given me peace. I’m going to be a wreck tomorrow, but today, I will rock my baby with happy and sad tears until I have to put him down and bask in bliss of this moment in time. He will always be my baby. #csection #cesereanbirth #doula #laboranddelivery #postpartum #trauma See more

A kind reminder we all need. #partnership #parents #reminder #parenting #love

Teamwork makes the dream work! We often hear folks say, I just want me and my partner at the birth. We don’t need anyone else. While that is true for some people, we see over and over again the power of having a doula and the difference it makes for parents. The role of doula cannot replace the role of a partner at birth. No one can do that! Partners are going through their own journey, watching something they love give birth and taking care of this new baby. They might hav...e questions, concerns or doubts. A doula’s role is to support both you AND your partner. A partner who feels supported and informed can be more confident and helpful. Things doulas can do for partners: *Give guidance in early labor at home *Demonstrate effective massage techniques *Offer encouragement and positive feedback *Suggest different positions *Clarify and support choices when birth plans change * Support labor and birth at home, birth center, hospital *Find confidence in planned unmedicated, medicated or c-section births *Address concerns or questions in real time, in person or by text/phone *Gives cues to remind everyone to eat, drink, get up, empty bladder * Help anticipate what is happening in labor *Answer questions What was that thing called again? Why is my doctor suggesting that? What are the risk and benefits of that? Is this normal? * Take a few pictures with your camera or phone * Process emotions after birth *Facilitate breastfeeding and newborn care *Support postpartum recovery for the whole family *Normalize newborn behavior, eating and sleeping What do you want your doula to help your partner with? Did you have a doula? How did they help you and your partner in labor, birth or postpartum? Any questions about doulas? Drop them here! #doula #doulasupport #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #laboranddelivery

Non Negotiables . . . things we desire, need and absolutely deserve! Being a new mom we deserve to have care, consideration and respect. The physical, emotional and practical support we need is undeniable. Anticipating, discussing and planning our postpartum needs are just as important, if not even more so, than making a birth plan. Somethings we encourage you consider:... We deserve to have our physical needs for hydration, nourishing food and restorative sleep prioritized. We are recovering from 9 months of pregnancy, the monumental task of getting this baby out of our body and adjusting to learning care for this new little person. How can help facilitate getting your physical needs met? We are social creatures and even the most introverted among us still need social support. New moms need kindness, laughter and support. Friends, extended family, new parents circles (in person or online) can fill us up in a way different than our partner. Who is in your tribe? New parents continue to have relationships with their care providers. Having a trusted care provider (midwife, doctor, nurse practitioner, pediatrician, lactation consultants, etc.) you can reach out to with questions, concerns or routine well checks is a key part of our emotional, mental and physical health. Do you know who those care providers are? If they don’t inspire honest discussion and confidence in their care, do you need to find someone else? What are YOUR non-negotiables? What do you want? What do you need as a new mom? How can you make these arrangements? #selfcare #postpartumjourney #sayno #choosejoy #tribe