Posts in 4th Trimester
Don't Suffer in Silence
Don't Suffer in Silence

Women tend to downplay symptoms so that they go unreported. When we do finally speak up, our concerns are sometimes dismissed and underplayed, even more so if we are not white aheteror if we are not heteronormative. Unfortunately, this downplaying and dismissiveness has caused grave repercussions, particulary causing a huge increase in the maternal mortality rate in this country. This blog is going to hi-light some times throughout your pregnancy and postpartum journey when you absolutely need to speak up and advocate for your care.

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4th Trimester, Birth, Birth Doulas, Breastfeeding, Cesarean Birth, Complications, Doulas, Epidurals, High RIsk Pregnancy, Hospital Birth, Illness, Labor, Postpartum Recovery, Pregnancy, Self-careHeather Clementspregnancy, pregnancy complications, labor, labor and delivery, doula, labor doula, postpartum, postpartum recovery, postpartum doula
Make a Plan for Sleep
Make a Plan for Sleep

While you you prepare for your labor and birth, don’t forget make a plan for sleep-for you-when you bring your newborn home. Take a look at our blog post for suggestions how to make this sleep plan.

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4th Trimester, Birth, Breastfeeding, Doulas, Grandparents, New Parents, Newborn, Parenting, Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Doulas, Postpartum Recovery, Pregnancy, Relationships, Self-care, SleepHeather Clementssleep, pregnancy, postpartum depression, postpartum complications, postpartum doula, postpartum support, postpartum hormones, postpartum anxiety, breastfeeding, formula feeding
What I Needed Permission to Do
What I Needed Permission to Do

Sometimes I am too stubborn for my own good. This was true with how I chose to feed my babies, especially with my first baby. You see, I had bought into the belief that babies should be drinking ONLY breastmilk whenever possible, no matter what the cost. I was so strict about breastfeeding and ONLY breastfeeding that it severely impacted both my physical and mental health.

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4th Trimester, Breastfeeding, Formula Feeding, New Parents, Parenting, Returning to Work, Self-careHeather Clementsnew parent, newborn care, infant feeding, breastfeeding, breastfeeding support, formula, formula feeding, Parenting, postpartum, newborn, Newborn care, New baby
Can You Believe They Said That?!
Can You Believe They Said That?!

There’s just something about seeing a pregnant lady or a new baby that makes people completely lose their filter. For some reason people will sometimes make the most unwelcome comments. Read our blog to see if someone has said some of these same outrageous things to you!

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4th Trimester, Baby Shower, Birth, Cesarean Birth, Labor, New Parents, Newborn, Parenting, Postpartum Doulas, Pregnancy, Returning to Work, RelationshipsHeather Clementspregnancy, labor, labor and delivery, prenatal, 4th trimester, newborn, postpartum support, postpartum recovery, new mom, New baby, Newborn
You Are Not Meant To Do This Alone
You Are Not Meant To Do This Alone

I’ll just come right out and say it. Women NEED other women,especially during pregnancy and the early days of parenting. We need them as friends, mentors, and to walk through life with us. But how do we find them? How do we create a community for ourselves? Read the blog for some ideas.

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4th Trimester, New Parents, Newborn, Parenting, Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Doulas, Postpartum Recovery, Relationships, Self-careHeather Clementspostpartum support, postpartum, postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, postpartum depression, postpartum complications, emotional support, community, newborn
The Nighttime Dread
The Nighttime Dread

Everyone tells you you don’t get much sleep after you have a baby. You don’t really internalize that before your baby is here. Then it hits you like a ton of bricks. OH. You don’t get much sleep after you have a baby. You can deal with that fatigue fine during the day but when the sun sets…the nighttime dread sets in. Some might even call it anxiety.

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4th Trimester, Doulas, Infant Sleep, Newborn, Postpartum Recovery, Postpartum Doulas, Self-care, SleepHeather Clementspostpartum support, postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, postpartum mood disorders, newborn, newborn sleep, postpartum recovery, postpartum, postpartum doula, sleep supportComment
I'm Exhausted and Overwhelmed
I'm Exhausted and Overwhelmed

There I was..maybe 5 days postpartum..sprawled across my bed. My eyes were tightly closed, I was balled up in a fetal position, desperately trying to get some sleep. My parents had come to stay with us for a few days and sent me off to take a much needed nap. Except, I couldn’t sleep.

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4th Trimester, Breastfeeding, Doulas, New Parents, Newborn, Postpartum Recovery, Relationships, SleepHeather Clementspostpartum support, postpartum anxiety, newborn, new baby, postpartum, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding
When You Don't Feel the Love
When You Don't Feel the Love

I’ve never shared this with anyone. 

When my midwife placed my baby on my chest after each of my births, I felt….nothing. Well, I definitely felt relief that labor was over.  But that moment of instantly falling head over heels in love with my new baby.. I didn’t have that... What was wrong with me???

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4th Trimester, Birth, Labor, New Parents, Newborn, Parenting, Postpartum Recovery, RelationshipsHeather Clementslabor, birth, postpartum, newborn
Give Yourself the Gift of Sleep
Give Yourself the Gift of Sleep

You need sleep after your baby is born. While we wish this was easy as telling you to “sleep when the baby sleeps”, we all know that there are some days and some nights where your baby just won’t sleep. Instead, we urge you to have a sleep plan in place for yourself before your baby arrives. Of course, if your baby has already been born you can still implement a new sleep plan. Read our newest blog to find out more.

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4th Trimester, Doulas, Infant Sleep, New Parents, Newborn, Postpartum Doulas, Postpartum Recovery, Self-care, SleepHeather Clementspostpartum support, postpartum doula, newborn, newborn sleep, self-care
Water Fun for Babies and Toddlers
Water Fun for Babies and Toddlers

It’s 90 degrees and sunny yet again. It’s too hot to do anything but stay inside in the A/C or get into a pool, lake, or ocean. Sounds easy, right? Maybe pre-kids when you just had to get yourself ready and out the door. Now, the thought of packing up everything you need for a baby or todder for a day at the pool seems a little overwhelming. Good news! There’s plenty of ways to get your baby playing in water without ever leaving your house. Check out some of our ideas!

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4th Trimester, Older Kids, Newborn, Parenting, Recreation and Events, Summer, Toddler FunHeather Clementsbaby, toddler, water play, water fun, summer, summer fun, water baby
Placenta Encapsulation Timeline
Placenta Encapsulation Timeline

This blog post tells you exactly what to expect as our placenta encapsulation client from the moment you sign a contract with us to several weeks after your baby is born. This includes how to store your placenta, how to get it home from the hospital, and what to expect from the 2-day encapsulatio4n process.

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4th Trimester, Placenta Encapsulation, Postpartum Doulas, Postpartum Recovery, Self-careHeather Clementsplacenta, placenta encapsulation, postpartum placenta, postpartum placenta specialist, placenta process, placenta pills, postpartum support, postpartum recovery