Wait, Why Should I Use a Doula?

Check out this YouTube video.
Happy Pride, NYC!

Why A Doula?

With a doula by your side, you are never alone in the process

Be sure to follow all of my Doula Pins on Pinterest

Calling All NYC Mamas!

Hello All!

As I've mentioned, I'm in the process of completing my doula certification and am in need of some mamas to hire me to complete the process.

If you or someone you know is expecting a bundle of joy, please send them my way for Free or Low-Cost doula services!

Blessings and Light,

Erika

Documenting Delight

Documenting Delight is one of my all-time favorite photo and video websites that I go to when I need a little sunshine in my life. Last night when Netflix infamously went down I had a choice. I could either go straight to sleep or I could watch home birth and natural hospital births online.

Of course I chose option B.

Welcoming Theodore is probably one of the most beautiful and positively breathtaking videos and photos that I've seen in a while. Not that this happens to every Mama, but it was pretty awesome to hear Mom exclaim, "That was easy!" when Theodore came out.

Take a look at the amazing video that accompanies the post, but for now enjoy this precious photo.

Photo from Documenting Delight

Thank you, Documenting Delight!

Human Breastmilk Is Protective During Infections, Study-Cross Post

AsianScientist (May 27, 2013) – Breastfeeding is protective when there is an infection in mothers or babies due to the immune cells called leukocytes found in human breastmilk, says a new international study led by The University of Western Australia

The research may help to explain why babies who are exclusively breastfed have fewer infections.

In a paper published in the journal Clinical and Translational Immunology, lead author UWA’s Assistant Professor Foteini Hassiotou and colleagues show how the number of leukocytes in breastmilk changes during the course of breastfeeding as well as in response to maternal and infant infection.

The team recruited 21 breastfeeding mothers and their babies at different stages of lactation, from a few days after birth to several years into lactation. The researchers first established the normal range of leukocytes in the milk of healthy mothers and babies.

They then found that the leukocytes in breastmilk increased rapidly when either the mother or her baby had an infection and returned to normal levels when the infection was over. Remarkably, this response was also seen when only the baby had an infection and the mother was asymptomatic, reinforcing the importance of breastfeeding for the protection of the baby.

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