Posted on Leave a comment

Postpartum Essentials

Virtual Tackle the 4th Trimester postpartum products, sitz bath, lactation aids, after birth, perineum, perineal

In the midst of a newborn baby, often the new mother can forget to take care of herself. It’s not really “forgetting”, although Mommy Brain is literally a real thing, it’s more about the new mother prioritizing this tiny human being’s needs and being so exhausted that she just couldn’t get to serving herself. Hiring an Ayurvedic Postpartum Doula can be extremely helpful as the new mother is taught how to carve time out for herself to allow herself physically and emotionally for self-care everyday and learn to incorporate that into the hustle and bustle of being a new parent. Here is a very basic list of postpartum essentials that can help to ease the transition into motherhood.

Perineal Care

This is one of the top postpartum essentials! Make your own sitz bath and perineum spray with my DIY Herbal Perineum Spray Recipe which doubles as my DIY Herbal Perineum Padsicle Recipe: You’ll want to prepare these ahead of time. Freeze them so when you return home, you can heal yourself more quickly. They provide anti-inflammatory relief, which provides pain relief.

You may also purchase these ready-made Sitz Bath Herbs:

Some postpartum mothers like to use this Sitz Bath Toilet Attachment: a basin you will hover over while having a sitz bath on the potty, which allows for a more concentrated sitz bath due to a smaller amount of water in the basin vs. filling your entire bathtub and using more product. It is also a faster sitz bath this way vs. soaking your entire body. Some mothers love to soak/steam in a semi-to-luke warm bath, even if it’s filled only partially. It’s your special moment and you can do what you want! Doing a sitz bath 2-3 times daily is a postpartum essential you don’t want to miss out on because it will speed your healing.

Herbal Perineum Sprays, Balm, and Spray Bottles:

Euphoric Herbals also sells herbal sitz bath sets.

Easing Elimination

Another top postpartum essential is a Toilet Stool – Our colon has a kink in it that gets pinched when we sit like we void (urinate and/or defecate). This can cause us to have trouble “going” completely, making us strain which can lead to a host of problems like hemorrhoids, increased loss of control down the road, and cancer. When we are in the squatting position, that kink straightens out, allowing us to eliminate with ease and comfort. American toilets are not designed to help us void easily. They actually put us in the wrong position for easy elimination. This is where a toilet stool helps us get in a better position.

Postpartum Hair Care

As your Ayurvedic Postpartum Doula, I teach you a daily self-care routine, also known as dinacharya, which involves abhyanga, or self-massage. This can be done with warm sesame oil all over the body, including the scalp. It is great for promoting circulation on the scalp and an absolutely necessity for stimulating hair growth on the scalp, and also for lymphatic and blood circulation when massaging the breasts to increase breastmilk production. Other products that help postpartum hair thinning include scalp treatments which contain ginger, rosemary, and saw palmetto.

Belly Binding and Belly wrapping

Bellybinding helps to create outer strength while gaining internal strength during the postpartum period. It helps bring the abdominal muscles in, as well as all the organs back into their places. It also aids in balancing hormones. One of our bodily energies is called “vata” which has properties representing a changing state of movement, and represents the qualities of cold and dry, and the element of air. It correlates with the energy that assists Baby to come out, and then when Baby does comes out, there is a vulnerable void/space of vata where Baby once was. Belly wrapping can heal the space, allowing the postpartum woman to feel the benefit from it for the rest of her life. If the space is not healed correctly, after six weeks, it seals anyway and can sort of trap a whole array of ailments such as mental and physical problems that occur when vata is unbalanced. There are many handmade bellywraps sold on Etsy which are quite beautiful. The 9-yard piece of fabric is custom braided and traditionally worn for several days and even weeks during the first long resting period of 1-2 months postpartum or longer. Wearing this and bathing less frequently, a couple times a week or even less is common during this period. Abdominal and pelvic binders are quicker to apply and remove easily using velcro; belly binding uses a braiding technique.

Healing from a Surgical Birth

Cesarean scar remediespostpartum essentials postpartum healing postpartum support lactation aids sitz baths after birth: silicone sheets for healing raised scars after they’ve closed.

Lactation Aids

Soothies Gel Pads or Soothies Pack for nipple protection.

Nursing pillows:

Nursing pads: Bamboobie washable nursing pads, or Bamboobies disposable nursing pads.

Postpartum Heat & Ice Packs: Breast Therapy Packs to heat and ice the breasts when engorged, as well as for stimulating milk let down: when breasts are full and knotty, warm compresses or heated warm packs. Massage deeply and push the knots down with fingers toward the nipple when breastfeeding in a hard, kneading motion. Baby can draw the knot out so do not stop breastfeeding as it will get worse. Allow baby to draw any clogged ducts by her sucking even if painful. Baby can fix it! Then take these ice packs out of the freezer and ice your breasts.

Nipple Creams & Balms: Lanolin Nipple Cream for sore nipples and coating the inside of the breast pump flanges to create a lubricated barrier when pumping breastmilk.

Euphoric Herbals also sells herbal nipple salve.

Nipple Protectors like Nipple Shells allow your nipples to be separated completed from any surface so they can recover from any sensation or having to touch anything. Recommended if nipples are so sore and when it’s impossible for them to be touching anything. If you reach this stage, baby is still starting to develop her mouth and jaw muscles, and is having temporary trouble latching properly until she grows a bit stronger, and you need to guide her to latch on your whole areola and not just the nipple. Using these will give your nipples a break to recover and you can apply nipple cream beforehand, and since there will be a separation from any fabric, the nipple cream won’t be soaked into the fabric. The shells also allow your nipples to air dry. You can rub colostrum onto your nipples, then the balm, and then lanolin to “seal” it in for faster healing, and then put on the shells. Thrush is a yeast infection and it can happen if the nipples are wet and not allowed to breathe, for example, from wearing a sports bra (too constrictive) or not allowing the breasts to air dry after feedings. The shells are the perfect prevention tool if you actually need something to help you to be reminded to air dry them or if you don’t have enough privacy to go topless. They are a great solution if you are already encountering that painful problem.

Lecithin helps prevent plugged ducts

Milkies Milk-Saver: Easy to use, slim and durable – simply slip the Milk-Saver into your bra-cup on the non-nursing side before you breastfeed. The Milk-Saver collects the “liquid gold” that is leaked as your breast milk lets down – no more wasting that milk in a breast pad! Holds 2+ oz of milk. The Milkies On-The-Go version are smaller and more discreet; you can wear them when you’re out of the house to collect milk if you let-down when grocery shopping after hearing a baby cry in the next isle – and this version has vents to allow your nipples to breathe unlike the traditional Milkies Milk-Saver.

The amazing Haakaa Silicone Manual Breastpump: A soft, durable tool, which doubles as a milk-saver! It can be placed and held on your breast hands-free to collect milk let-down as you nurse Baby on opposite breast or while pumping the other breast.

I love these herbal teas for pregnancy and postpartum lactation aids by Euphoric Herbals.

Malunggay, also known as Moringa, has been scientifically proven to increase breast milk supply – by as much as 100%!

UpSpring Lactation Aids are also helpful:

Mother Love Goat’s Rue, Shatvari, Fenugreek, Blessed Thistle, Fennel, and Nettle blends are amazing!

Ground flaxseed is a natural galactagogue and used in smoothies and lactation recipes to build and maintain milk production. Be sure to refrigerate after opening.

Thick, rolled oats are also a galactagogue, aid in milk production, and are in most lactation recipes as well.

Brewer’s Yeast is a magical galactagogue in addition to the two above and is also in many lactation recipes. Nonbitter versions are my favorite to use in my famous lactation smoothies!

These galactagogue protein powders smoothie mixes contain oats, flaxseed, and brewer’s yeast, and some of them have fenugreek as well. They are perfect for smoothies as vegan protein is ideal for mamas avoiding dairy due to baby allergies or sensitivities.

Remember, even though the galactagogues in these products are potent, they take time to work in your system and need to accumulate. Staying hydrated and drinking various teas and smoothies and tonics several times a day can boost your supply faster but if you have the same drink mix or same tea all day you’ll get super bored of the flavor. Mix it up! Buy a few so you’ll actually drink them!

Galactagogue cookies and bars are a great way to get those extra 400-500 calories needed for breastfeeding as well as some enjoyment through eating.

Privacy & Sun Protection

When you’re wearing Baby in a sling or baby carrier, and going out for a walk around their sleepytime with the idea and hope that Baby will fall asleep on you while you’re walking, wear a nursing cover which is already fastened, meaning you’ve already tied it loosely and then just slip it over your head. Choose one that is breathable, made of thin, light fabric so both you and Baby don’t get too hot, but Baby is still covered, and choose a dark color so the sun light isn’t shining through it. Choosing a nursing cover with UPF fabric is ideal as Baby can still get sunburned through fabric – but not if it’s made with UPF sun protection!

Coolibar’s UPF Sun Protective Nursing Covers are lightweight made with UPF 50+ cotton/viscose/bamboo/spandex fabric. Their ZnO SUNTECT technology protects against 98% of UVA and UVB rays and is the highest quality zinc oxide protection. They are super soft against the skin, so Mom and Baby are both cool and comfortable. It is best to get a darker color if you will mostly use it during daylight hours. These can be used three ways: as a nursing shawl, a baby blanket, and a car seat canopy cover. They come in a variety of colors; here are just a few styles.

Coolibar makes UPF Sun Protective Bandanas as well which you can wear around your neck as a scarf. Bandanas with UPF are perfect for super hot days because the fabric is smaller, both shorter and thinner than regular nursing cover dimensions. This is great for just covering your neck and top of Baby’s head while wearing Baby on a super hot day. This means you won’t have a long piece of fabric as you’ll only need to cover your neck area and chest area where Baby’s head and neck will be exposed while Baby is sleeping inside the carrier.

Posted on Leave a comment

Tummy Time Instructions

Nourish Birth Tummy Time Instructions

Tummy time enables your newborn baby to receive several essential developmental benefits as your newborn engages their entire body to lay the foundation of all of their sensorimotor skills for their entire life.

How exactly do you do tummy time? Follow the timeline below and read the tummy time tips. It’s never too late to start tummy time exercises, and to give your baby all the tools they need to reap the tummy time benefits.

Tummy Time Timeline

  1. From birth to 3 weeks: Tummy time should start the day baby comes home from the hospital, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). A good time to play with your newborn in this position is after a diaper change or nap. Begin by placing your baby on your chest (practice Kangaroo Care), as often as possible and preferably skin to skin while you are laying down. In the first few weeks, try tummy time for 1-2 minutes, 2-3 times a day, at different times of the day. Your newborn can build up to 10-15 minutes a day.
  2. Around age 3 weeks to 1 month: One to two times daily, hold your baby upright with their belly against your upper chest and their head resting against your shoulder. Gently support your newborn’s neck and head with your hand. As they lift their head they are strengthening their neck and back. This simple exercise allows babies to develop the ability to move their face out of a blanket or mattress in case they accidentally roll to the stomach. When you do place him on his tummy, gently lift his head a tiny bit. Show him how to slowly swing his face to the side. Place safe objects and toys close to your newborn. Move them from side to side in front of her face. This encourages her to move, lift and turn her head.
  3. At age 2-3 months: It is easier for your newborn if you place your hand under their chest during the tummy exercise. This helps to lift your baby a tiny bit. Always put both of their arms in front to help them start learning how to use their arms to push up.

Tummy Time Tips

  • Supervise your newborn during tummy time. Never leave your baby alone. As they get stronger and start moving more, clear away dangerous objects like tables with sharp corners.
  • If your baby doesn’t like tummy time on the floor, do tummy time on a rolled-up towel or your lap. You can later transition to the floor.
  • Newborn babies have limited strength and poor head control. They tend to cry. Thus some parents fear and avoid it. Begin with brief sessions, a few minutes at a time. The key is to stay consistent. Then gradually increase the time as they grow through tummy time. Prepare to be amazed how quickly your newborn will gain strength and develop their vestibular system. They will improve coordination, sensory, oral and motor skills, all while they build self-confidence.
  • Get down on your baby’s level, interact by talking eye-to-eye. Sing songs, stroke their back, and tickle their hands. Engage in facial expressions, smile, and encourage touch. This enables your child to feel safe and secure in tummy time, ultimately enjoying the experience and benefits of learning to move and play.
Posted on Leave a comment

Newborn Development From Tummy Time

Nourish Birth Newborn Development From Tummy Time

In your tummy, your baby was curled up in a little ball shape. Tummy time exercises allow your baby to open up and gently elongate the front of their body for optimal newborn development. Tummy time itself does not hurt. However, it is a brand new, stimulating experience for babies to process as they engage their entire body to lay the foundation of all of their sensorimotor skills for their entire life.

Benefits of Tummy Time:

  1. Tummy time teaches your baby safety techniques. For example, routinely sleeping on their stomach raises a baby’s risk of SIDS about 4 times. However, SIDS risk increases 8-37 times when babies under 4 months sleep on their back and then accidentally roll onto their stomach. Naturally, your baby will flip over during sleep as they age, but the way you can protect them is to provide them with skills learned through doing tummy time exercises. These safety techniques will help them to free their face by arching their back and lifting their head when they do eventually roll over.
  2. Tummy time promotes visual development through building visual motor skills, binocular vision, two eye coordination, looking upward, and moving eyes side to side independent of head movements. This can influence later activities in life such as copying a teacher’s notes from a whiteboard and following a moving object such as a baseball.
  3. Tummy time eases tummy function to help reduce gas and reflux, decrease constipation, and encourage bowel movements.
  4. Tummy time builds motor skills of the arm, hand, neck, and shoulder for rolling over, crawling, and eventually walking. Tummy time also prevents torticollis, abnormal or asymmetrical neck positioning, due to tightness in the neck muscle. Babies may be having trouble with active head and neck movements when they do not turn their head or stare in one area without moving their eyes. Studies show a direct correlation linking thirty waking minutes of consistent tummy time with higher newborn developmental task scores and improved gross motor control of the neck and head when compared to babies who did not practice tummy time exercises.
  5. Tummy time produces the optimal head shape. Most babies sleep on their backs, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, and long periods of time can create pressure on one area of the head. Then when awake, babies are often playing on their backs which reinforces that pressure. A baby’s soft skull molds easily, and this can create a flat spot on that area of the head. Daily tummy time exercises give the baby a break from their back, ensuring a round head and prevents neck troubles and imbalances flat spots can bring due to one side of their head weighing more than the other side.
  6. Tummy time engages oral function while strengthening throat, tongue, and oral skills for optimal latch and feeding. Without enough exposure to tummy time, baby’s tongue will not function optimally.
  7. Tummy time facilitates sensory skills and input for hands to mouth and lips, as well as vestibular skills which help the brain register and respond to whether an object they are looking at is moving or if their head is moving, how quickly, and in what direction. It also helps them have balance and equilibrium, equipping them to coordinate both sides of their body together for future activities like catching a ball, riding a bike, cutting with scissors, and zipping a jacket. Tummy time helps the vestibular system to also develop muscle tone for sitting still and upright in a classroom and holding their body parts in-position like when practicing ballet technique.
  8. Tummy time inspires self-confidence and establishes a connection when your baby is complemented after working so hard. Spending time praising your baby after even thirty seconds of exercises does wonders for your baby’s neurodevelopment. Research has shown that the single most important building block of self-esteem is the responsiveness of the caregivers to the cues of the infant. This means your reactions give meaning and importance to your baby’s impulses.

Tummy Time Methods

A Newborn Care Specialist can help you and your baby through tummy time to reach your baby’s newborn developmental milestones. Learn tips on how to do tummy time here.