postpartum — Blog — Doulas of Raleigh

What Have I Done?

I remember sitting in my son’s bedroom playing with him as he built with Duplo blocks. I had my sleeping newborn daughter in my arms. I was totally WINNING at this mother of 2 thing. And then my sleeping daughter woke up and started crying.

4th Trimester, Breastfeeding, Grandparents, Newborn, Older Kids, Parenting, RelationshipsHeather ClementsDecember 5, 2024newborn, baby, new baby, siblings, postpartum, postpartum support, emotional support, toddler

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.

4th Trimester, New Parents, Newborn, Parenting, Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Doulas, Postpartum Recovery, Relationships, Self-careHeather ClementsSeptember 26, 2024postpartum support, postpartum, postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, postpartum depression, postpartum complications, emotional support, community, newborn

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.

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.

4th Trimester, Breastfeeding, Doulas, New Parents, Newborn, Postpartum Recovery, Relationships, SleepHeather ClementsJuly 8, 2024postpartum support, postpartum anxiety, newborn, new baby, postpartum, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding

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???

4th Trimester, Birth, Labor, New Parents, Newborn, Parenting, Postpartum Recovery, RelationshipsHeather ClementsFebruary 28, 2024labor, birth, postpartum, newborn

What to Expect the First Hour After Birth

Whether you’ve labored for a few hours or a few days, there’s nothing like finally getting to meet your baby. Here’s what to expect from the moment your baby is born until the first hour after their birth.

Birthing Partner, Birth Doulas, Breastfeeding, Labor, New Parents, Newborn, PregnancyHeather ClementsAugust 26, 2022labor, labor and delivery, birth, postpartum

Top 10 Mother's Day Gifts

Are you stumped on what to get someone for Mother’s Day this year? Take a look at our Top 10 gift ideas!

Holidays, Mother's Day, New Parents, Older Kids, Pregnancy, Relationships, Recreation and Events, SleepHeather ClementsMay 6, 2022mother's day gift ideas, Mother's Day, motherhood, pregnancy, birth, postpartum

Bringing Home Baby Like a Champ - Our Top Tips for Success

Will you be ready for the B I G day??? We’re talking about bringing home baby from the hospital or birth center. And with our top tips to prepare you for this momentous day, you’ll be bringing home baby like a champ. Read on.

4th Trimester, Doulas, New Parents, Newborn, Postpartum DoulasKelly RutanApril 20, 2021postpartum support, postpartum, postpartum doula, newborn, New baby, new mom, new dad

I Needed Someone to Check on Me Long Before Six Weeks - A Personal Postpartum Story

“Now I understand why people shake their babies.” Have you ever had a thought steal into your head that was too scary to say out loud? Doulas of Raleigh Co-Owner Kelly Rutan has. Today on the blog she is sharing an intensely personal story from her postpartum experience to remind us what this time in a new mother’s life is like and to also hopefully show us what it could be like if we got the help we needed.

Postpartum DoulasKelly RutanMarch 3, 2021postpartum, postpartum support, postpartum depression, postpartum checkup, postpartum doula, newborn, new momComment

Top Tips: The Six Week Postpartum Checkup

Grab a pen and paper and get ready to make a list of all the topics you will cover during your six-week postpartum check-up. Go in prepared, with questions ready, and get the most out of this follow-up visit with your provider.

Postpartum RecoveryKelly RutanOctober 1, 2020postpartum, postpartum checkup, six week visit, six week check up Comment

You're Not a Perfect Mom And Here's Why

How many times a day have you looked at your new baby, looked around your home, and crucified yourself because you are not a perfect mom? How many times a day do you beat yourself up because this new parenthood thing is SO different from how you imagined it would be? We see you. And we’ve got something we need to say to you.

4th Trimester, Breastfeeding, New Parents, Newborn, Parenting, Postpartum Recovery, RelationshipsKelly RutanJune 14, 2019postpartum doula, postpartum, postpartum support, postpartum depression, newborn, infant careComment

If I Could Just....Fill in the Blanks with Overnight Doulas

What could you do with a full night of restful, deep sleep? Would you be more patient with your older kids and your partner? Would you have the energy to do more of what you wanted to do? Would you be able to ____ (fill in the blank)? It’s time to fill in those blanks and actually get more sleep. We make it happen with our overnight postpartum doulas.

Kelly RutanJune 1, 2019postpartum, postpartum doula, overnight, overnight doula, sleep, postpartum recovery, postpartum depression, postpartum support, infant care, infant sleepComment

Postpartum Poetry: An Ode to Postpartum Doulas

We’re having a little fun on the blog today with this short, but sweet, poem about postpartum doula support. Take a look and let us know what you think. Perhaps, Kelly missed her calling as the next Shakespeare.

Kelly RutanMay 11, 2019postpartum doula, postpartum support, postpartumComment

Have You Heard of the Magic Postpartum Pill?

Have you seen placenta encapsulators pushing the benefits of "magic" pills? Well, unfortunately the early postpartum period is not a fairy tale, so beware of anyone selling magic pills. We tell you why.

Placenta Encapsulation, Postpartum Depression, Postpartum DoulasKelly RutanNovember 16, 2017placenta encapsulation, placenta pills, postpartum placenta, postpartum depression, postpartumComment

Is it Safe to Swaddle?

What's the deal with the latest controversy surrounding swaddling? Is it still safe to swaddle your baby? Check out our latest blog to read about the pros and cons when it comes to swaddling.

Newborn, Postpartum DoulasKelly RutanJune 5, 2017swaddle, swaddling, postpartum doula, postpartum, postpartum support, fussy baby, safe sleepComment

What Should I Do? Use your BRAIN.

What can you do when you are faced with a really big decision and don't know what to do? We always remind our clients to use their BRAIN.

DoulasKelly RutanFebruary 28, 2017pregnancy, baby, delivery, new baby, new parent, postpartumComment

Alert! Postpartum Recovery Red Flags

We want you to know that your body can do some unexpected things during the postpartum time, but that most of those things are completely normal. But we also want you to know about the red flags that are outside the range of normal and when to call your care provider.

Postpartum RecoveryKelly RutanFebruary 24, 2017postpartum, postpartum recovery, postpartum support, postpartum complications, postpartum doula Comment

Ouch! I Wasn't Prepared For This...

Holy painful latch! If you find yourself wincing in pain every time your new babe comes to the breast, we've got some helpful tips for you in today's blog.

BreastfeedingKelly RutanFebruary 21, 2017breastfeeding, nursing, feeding, breastfeeding issues, breastfeeding support, postpartum, postpartum recovery, nipplesComment

#treatyoself2017

Find out what the cast of Parks and Rec have to do with you and self-care on this Valentine's Day.

Parenting, Newborn, Older Kids, New Parents, Self-careHeather ClementsFebruary 14, 2017self-care, parks and rec, treatyoself, motherhood, postpartum, birth, new baby, new parent, newbornComment

Beyoncé, Adele, and Galentine's Day

Today is Galentine's Day, so it's all about ladies celebrating ladies. We need this day. As last night's Grammy Awards reminded us, when society completely overlooks our accomplishments - large or small - it's our girls that will have our backs.

ParentingKelly RutanFebruary 13, 2017motherhood, friendship, postpartum, postpartum support, parenthoodComment

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