Are you ready for the first 10 days with your newborn?

A quick word about how the series works and the all-importance of understanding this information BEFORE your baby is born. Our culture has shifted away from preparing us for parenthood, where it used to be the norm. Your doctor and midwife may give you a lot of education around pregnancy and birth, but unfortunately, postpartum is left in the dust and you must be proactive in learning this information because there is no one profession that can fill this gap.

As soon as your baby is born, there are several interventions that could potentially take place for both them and you, and you need to have decided beforehand how you want to handle them. I outline the various interventions and  decisions that need to be made, and explain a way of thinking about each item using a framework for informed consent.

Newborn interventions discussed:

• who catches the baby
• rubbing vernix off or keeping it
• routine suctioning
• skin-to-skin or swaddle
• when to perform the newborn exam
• delayed cord clamping versus cord blood banking
• hepatitis B vaccine
• vitamin K shot or oral
• erythromycin ointment in eyes
• bathing newborn screening and hearing tests and more

Mama interventions discussed:

• routine Pitocin usage
• placental management
• stitching for perineal tears
• cesarean next steps
• the Golden Hour
• help with lactation

This video is practically an entire breastfeeding course in and of itself – and it’s because this understanding around latch dynamics, infant swallowing vs. nurture suckling, weight gain, on-demand feeding, and stool changes are very important to successfully set up your breastfeeding relationship.

You will learn:

• what Golden Hour is, why it’s important, the hormones involved and why we want them, how to maximize its benefits, and how to still have a Golden Hour with a cesarean birth
• all of the INCREDIBLE changes going on in your baby’s cardiovascular and pulmonary systems at that moment of the first breath
• how to get a good latch, in detail, using different techniques and signs
• how to identify and fix a bad latch
• the difference between comfort suckling and nutritive milk drinking via multiple example videos of real babies nursing
• all about colostrum
• all about tongue and lip ties – how to identify them and what to do about it
• various breastfeeding positions and their benefits
• how small a newborn stomach really is
• how to read your baby’s hunger cues
• how to rouse a sleepy baby
• what to focus on for YOU and YOUR recovery in that first few hours, and more!

Here we discuss what to expect in that first 24 hours after your baby has been born. Babies go through various stages of active time versus inactive/sleepy time, and this is normal and to be expected.

You will learn:

• all about meconium the first poop, and how this will transition in color and consistency over the first few days
• if baby is getting enough milk
• about various skin anomalies that can occur with newborns, and when to worry versus what is normal
• changes YOUR body will experience via afterbirth contractions, lochia (bleeding), clot passing and what to be aware of
• postpartum nutrition, rest, hydration, fluid loss, and more.

Knowing what to expect is half the battle of new parenthood.

Here you’ll feel ready and equipped by understanding:

• how to handle that first night
• how to maximize the gift of a longer stretch many babies allow
• where baby can sleep
• what they should wear
• what position they can sleep in
• safe cosleeping
• how newborns can be quite noise and active while still actually asleep
• when and how to feed a sleeping baby
• and general newborn sleep expectations

Learn day-by-day what to expect from your baby as well as your own body – as milk comes in, bleeding lessens, newborn stomachs get bigger and more. I break down time into 48-hour chunks so it’s more digestible and easy to refer back to where you are once your baby is actually here!

Walk away understanding:

• my top postpartum and baby supplies and items to have on hand recommendations
•  days 2-3 for you:
  • Rhogam, managing afterbirth contractions, bleeding, and resting
  • birth recovery practices and understanding traditional postpartum healing philosophy
  • postpartum supplementation and nutrition for optimal health
• days 2-3 for your baby:
  • the “second night phenomenon”
  • how many pee and poop diapers to expect each day
  • diaper tricks
• days 3-5 for you:
  • adjusting to motherhood
  • milk transitioning from colostrum to full milk
  • engorgement management and warning signs
  • pumping, milk storage, how to use a silicone hand pump
• days 3-5 for your baby:
  • wet/dirty diaper expectations
  • conjunctivitis
  • physiological weight loss
  • how to soothe an upset baby
• days 5-7 for you:
  • nipple healing
  • postpartum healing continued
• days 5-7 for your baby:
  • wet/dirty diaper expectations
  • poop color transitions
  • cord care
• days 7-10 for you:
  • healing expectations
  • postpartum set up hacks 
• days 7-10 for your baby:
  • wet/dirty diaper expectations
  • the first bath and soap recommendations
  • development resources
• looking into the future of weeks 2-3 and then 3-4 with an overview of what to expect

A philosophical pep talk and morale boost for you as you enter this a beautiful and important phase of life. We discuss identity shifts, new character roles, how our babies choose us, and more.

Birth recovery can take anywhere between a few days to several weeks, and there are important practices to know that help optimize your healing so you can be comfortable and present with your baby.

In this video, you’ll learn:

• all about perineal tearing and tissue healing supplements, homeopathics, herbs, diet, and home practices like sitz baths and vaginal steaming
• how to understand the post-birth bleeding (lochia) 
• common pelvic floor problems and remedies
• gentle core re-engagement via breathing exercises

Sometimes cesareans are planned, but most often they are not. You may feel very overwhelmed by the idea of having an unplanned cesarean – so let this course hold you and prepare you, in case this is the path your birth takes.

We cover:

• planned cesarean: gentle cesareans and being involved, preparing your body beforehand, preparing baby,  delayed cord clamping and other options
• if unplanned cesarean: talking to baby about what is happening, staying calm, pain medication, reminders
• pain management post-cesarean and using homeopathics alongside pharmaceuticals
• pelvic floor problems and remedies
• re-engaging the pelvic floor via breath work
• incision and scar care
• vaginal care and lochia
• cesarean tips and tricks for dressing yourself, nursing, tissue recovery
• natural symptom management for swelling, bloating, constipation, engorgement, aches and more

Circumcision may have a place in the setting of religious or strong personal beliefs, but cultural trends are shifting. Parents often do not receive true informed consent about what happens to their baby boys or how to care for an uncircumcised penis, if they choose to not circumcise. 

You’ll learn:

• the official American Academy of Pediatrics stance on circumcision
• how circumcision rates vary state-to-state and worldwide
• what occurs during the procedure
• how pain is managed
• healing tips
• benefits 
• risks
• caring for an uncircumcised penis

Placenta encapsulation has become a hot topic in recent years. Many claim a great benefit from consuming their placentas, while some  lactation consultants warn of risks of lowered milk supply. So, what’s the deal? 

In this video you will learn:

• placenta consumption theory and history
• consumption options (different preparations and forms of taking it)
• benefits
• risks
• hormone loops and what placentas contain
• other placenta rituals from around the world that are non-consumption based