“This service is specifically for those of you who are currently suffering from postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, postpartum OCD, antenatal depression or related illnesses.  I know that many of you don’t have access to support groups or the best specialists.  You may not have people around you that understand.  Need some extra hope each day from people who DO get it?  Someone to shine a light towards the end of the tunnel?  That’s Daily Hope!”

The emails are free. You can sign up at the link above. I did, and as far down my path of recovery from postpartum anxiety as I am (feeling great!), I’ve found that each daily email has given me a moment to check in with myself and have renewed energy.

Won’t you give yourself this little gift, too?

]]> http://www.olydoula.com/blog/feed/ 0 http://www.olydoula.com/blog/ http://www.olydoula.com/blog/#comments Mon, 15 Nov 2010 20:47:06 +0000 Carolyn http://www.olydoula.com/?p=306 Continue reading →]]> Around Olympia babywearing appears to be really popular. Out-n-about you can see practically every style of carrier. You can see mamas with tiny babies snug in Moby wraps around downtown. And the Farmer’s Market seems full of parents carrying babies and toddlers around in Ergo carriers. Old school ring slings, made popular by the Sears baby book experts, are still a standard, as are Baby Bjorns, external frame backpacks, Mei Tais, and many others.

As a postpartum doula, I’m frequently asked about safe babywearing, especially after the spring 2010 recall of Infantino SnugRider slings and Consumer Products Safety Commission warning about the use of slings with small infants. Unfortunately, this recalled resulted in drastic warnings about babywearing, as if the practice – in general – was full of risks. It’s not. Done with care and common sense, babywearing is a wonderful way to bond with your baby, respond to her immediate needs, gain mobility and free up your hands for practical life.

My general guidelines for safe babywearing include the following guideposts:

1) Does it feel right? If mama or papa feels uncomfortable and worried that baby is in a compromised position, that’s reason enough to get help adjusting carrier position, find a different carrier or stop.

2) Can you see baby’s face clearly, with it turned slightly to the side? An upright, accessible face indicates baby has a clear airway.

3) Is baby upright, not slumped over? A vertical position with baby at or above your bellybutton and bottom seated is safest. Note that front-facing and cradled positions are not recommended by most experts, even if product manufacturers suggest it.

4) Does the carrier feel snug and supportive but not binding or constricting?A snug fit is important – we don’t want baby sagging down at your belly or slouching position. But you should be able to move about without feeling like a strap is cutting into your shoulder or circulation is slowing.

The following article does a very nice job of outlining how to safely wear your baby and includes fabulous illustrations using a variety of popular carriers. Peaceful Parenting’s Babywearing: Safe Positions. Please read it!

I believe that it’s valuable for parents to test drive at least 2 types of carriers before settling on one that works for their family. In my family’s case, my husband preferred the Moby, a wrap-style carriers while I choose 2 front-pack style carriers: the Bjorn (with extra lumbar support) for my son’s earliest months and then the Ergo, which we started with as a front pack and now use as a back pack. Even if you plan to buy online, there are local shops that will be happy to have you take test drives with the products they carry. Some will have “practice babies” (dolls or stuffed animals) you can experiment with. Also, look to family and friends with small children to try out styles they own. Veteran mamas will be proud to show off their babywearing chops.

(photo courtesy of ERGOBaby)

If necessity is the mother of invention, then motherhood necessitates invention. The Boobie Shirt came about one middle-of-the-night when my son was just a couple of weeks old. My breasts were leaking and my son was nursing practically non-stop through the nights. But I was getting so cold having my shirt off and the covers down (so not to cover my son’s head). On the fateful night I stumbled out of bed, grabbed to first t-shirt I could reach in my husband’s dresser, and Edward Scissorshanded two holes approximately at breast level.

And thus was born The Boobie Shirt. I loved this shirt for weeks. It comforted my shoulders through cool nights. It sopped up leaky milk. It gave my son easy access. But, gosh, was it horrendous to look at!

Many, many months have passed since I needed The Boobie Shirt, but I’ve kept it folded up alongside my son’s tiniest onesies and receiving blankets. I guess it’s a sort of talisman of my survival and ingenuity in the throes of sleep deprivation, postpartum anxiety and cold shoulders.

I can imagine that each of you have your own version of The Boobie Shirt – an invention born from mothering necessity that has gathered mythic symbolism for you as you grow into motherhood. I just hope your talisman of motherhood is not so scary to look at as is mine!

The 5 S’s are:

1)    Swaddling – tight wrapping

2)    Side or Stomach – holding or laying baby on her side or stomach (NOT for sleep – just for soothing)

3)    Shushing – loud white noise

4)    Swinging – rhythmic, jiggly motion

5)   Sucking – sucking on nipple, finger or pacifier.

VIDEOS:

Baby Calming Magic: A papa swaddles, side-lies, shushes and swings his baby girl.

Dr. Karp Demonstrates 5 S\’s on Live TV: This clip shows Dr. Karp demonstrating the 5 S’s in real-time.

The other tea that I absolutely love is peppermint with rice or soy milk. My husband swears by it as a tonic for general happiness. I think he’s on to something! Peppermint with milk is becoming my favorite nighttime beverage.  Note for breastfeeding mothers: Peppermint taken in large quantities has been cited as reducing milk supply. Perhaps at this time you can enjoy your favorite nursing tea and your partner can enjoy some peppermint!

There are many soothing herbs that can be beneficial during a mother’s postpartum time. Since herbs are powerful, it is wise to do a little research before consuming herbs in any great quantity or regularity. There are many herbalists in Olympia who can provide information to you about safe herbs during pregnancy, lactation and postpartum times. And KellyMom.com has a nice section on herbs and breastfeeding.

Cheers to good tea and soothed feelings!

Precautions: I’m not an herbalist. This blog post is not intended in anyway to represent medical advice or diagnostic information. While herbs have been used throughout human history for healing and well-being, they can be powerful medicine and have potential contraindications with certain medical conditions and medications. Please consult a trained herbalist and/or medical professional about how to safely use herbal remedies given your own conditions and circumstances.

*Usually I wouldn’t link to a commercial website, but at the moment this is the best and, really, only non-sensationalized description of oatstraw I can find.

Social support for new parents is proven to reduce the duration of postpartum mood disorders and makes adjusting to life with baby a whole lot smoother. Social support is anything that gets parents together in an environment where they can safely share their stories, worries and discoveries. It can include support group meetings, meet-ups for play and walks, parent-baby classes and online chats and forums.

Many of us are using social networks, like Facebook, to keep in touch with friends and socialize. While Facebook’s the biggest, social networks come in many shapes and sizes. OlyBabies is a little social network for mamas and papas in the South Sound area of Washington State (the “Oly” in OlyBabies is for Olympia, our home town).

OlyBabies was created in March 2009 as a way for our childbirth education class to stay in touch. From there it’s turned into a sweet and supportive community of parents of young children.  It includes discussion forums, personal blogs, web links and events. And it has a archives of discussions about diapering, sleep, breastfeeding, green poop and on and on!

OlyBabies welcomes visitors and new members. It’s free! Parents and loved ones in the South Sound area are welcome. Commercial memberships and promotions are not permitted, except for local sponsorships by baby-focused businesses that are invited to help pay the costs of Internet hosting (so no one’s going to try to sell you on a pyramid scheme there!).

Please come check out OlyBabies! Expectant parents and those with newborns are especially wanted to create discussion forums that will meet your needs as you take the plunge into parenthood.

The October 8 date will be presented by two outstanding Olympia doulas – Diksha Berebitsky and Nicole Heye. Future nights will include a panel of local doulas so that you can start your selection process right there and save some time!

Here are some of the specific questions we will answer:

1. What are doulas, and why would you want one?
2. What if you already have a husband or partner who plans to be actively involved?
3. How can you find the right doula for you and your family?
4. Can you afford one?
5. Can doulas be used in any birth environment (hospital, home, birth center)?
6. Are doulas only for natural childbirth? (No!)

This is an ongoing event. Here are the upcoming Meet the Doula Nights:

October 8, 2010 6:00-8:00pm
December 3, 2010
February 4, 2011
April 1, 2011

Location: Around the Circle Midwifery, 2120 Pacific Ave SE, Olympia

Contact for more information:

• Nicole 360-485-3512 redraspberrydoula@gmail.com or
• Diksha 360-455-4566 ananddiksha@hotmail.com

Focusing on who you are, what your gifts, strengths & dreams are as a parent. We will identify our personal gaps: and create resources, build bridges, maps, and networks to fill them full. We will also focus on the powerful dynamic of your unfolding child: who are they, what do they need, and how can we support & nurture them.
For Caregivers of Babies-4 yrs old
Most Fridays (no class on October 22nd) October 8th-November 19th
5-6:30 pm
$20 single person
$15 each if you bring a mate, friend, grandparent, other interested person
Call Tammy if you are interested in creating child care for this class
For more information:
Call Tammy @ Labyrinth Living Counseling 360-349-2346

Are you surprised to see this topic on my blog – a blog dedicated to postpartum life – a joyous and deep time with our beautiful babes?

The reality is that postpartum mood disorders (PPMDs) can lead to thoughts of suicide. PPMDs can lead to specific plans for suicide. And PPMDs can lead to suicide.  And we need to talk about it.

Thus, I’m so thankful to see Katherine Stone talk about suicide in today’s Postpartum Progress blog post:

You Could Save A Life: World Suicide Prevention Day.

Please read it and remember: If it’s a crisis to you, it is a crisis. Help is out there. Call for help. You can get better.

Suicide.org (a non-profit prevention site) provides some more information about PPMDs and suicide in this article:

Postpartum Depression and Suicide

Note this this article says 10-15% of women (mothers) experience postpartum depression. Current research indicates the rate in the U.S. is higher – 20% or beyond. I want to highlight this because we need to be aware that PPMDs – including a spectrum of depression, anxiety, psychosis and obsessive-compulsive disorder -  are common and run a spectrum that is broader than depression.

If you need help, contact your local crisis clinic or suicide prevention hotline. Thurston and Mason County residents can call the Crisis Clinic at: 360-586-2800. You can also phone or text a friend or relative. If you need a comforting voice to talk to, Washington State’s Warmline for parents needing support for PPMDs is 1.888.404.7763. You might have to leave a message for a return call – it’s worth it!

If you or a loved on are in the process of attempting suicide (e.g., took some pills or cut on self), call 9-1-1.

Hugs, Carolyn