Dealing With Cabin Fever With a Newborn

So, you're home today and its a balmy six degrees.  The idea of getting out with your baby is about as appealing as getting an episiotomy with a crowd of young interns hovering over you.


So what to do?  New Mommies who feel trapped in the home, here are some fun things to do while indoors:

1. Invite your best friend over for an at-home SPA DAY

• Moisturize your skin and hair:  An inexpensive and natural facial perfect for dehydrated skin as a result of cold winter weather and breastfeeding.  Get those avocados out and mash them up to make an all-natural facial and hair treatment.  Apply avocado directly to clean face,neck, scalp and ends.  You may add organic almond or coconut milk for texture and added nutrients.  Leave in for 10 minutes and rinse thoroughly.  Avocados are loaded with fiber, potassium, Vitamin E and lutein.  They contain massive amounts of mono-unsaturated fat, potassium, fiber and antioxidants, the avocado fights high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.  Avocados also help prevent diabetes and cancer!  So, grab an extra avocado and some whole grain chips and dip.

• Mani-Pedis:  Offer mani-pedi treatment to your girlfriends and swap.  Think of the money you'll both save.  Additionally, time spent with friends who love and care for us is a proven stress reliever.

2.  Bond with your baby in a new way  

• Bond with your baby while exercising:  Enlist another mommy and her new little one over for a Mommy & Me Yoga class.  Order your video at one of the following links:  Amazon, http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=mommy+and+me+yoga+video&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=1097186021&ref=pd_sl_35xhwdmtev_e and Prenatal Yoga Center in NYC, http://www.prenatalyogacenter.com/cmps_index.php?page=free-yoga-videos.  You may also want to take a class here or with Mary Barnes.  For Mary's class schedules go to www.yogafortwo.com

3.  Find your inner creative self

• Express yourself creatively:  Get out the paints, markers, crayons and create a baby book with fun pictures, historical facts, letters from you to your baby.  I did this with both my babies and this item is one of my most cherished family heirlooms.  Ask friends and family to write letters to your baby in this book too.  My oldest can't wait till I gift these books onto her.

Happy Holidays!!

Dear Family, Friends and Colleagues,

Warmest Wishes and Holiday Greetings!

I wanted to take a moment to wish you all a happy holiday. May your family and friends be blessed today and everyday with love, joy and the ability to ride the waves of life with courage and grace.

For my families that I have had the wonderful opportunity to work with, you are my role models and inspiration. I am eternally grateful for having met and worked with you. I am blessed with such an amazing job!

I am a better person for knowing each of you and for having received words of wisdom, encouragement and faith. Though some of us have never met, the Internet has brought us into each others lives; how cool is that?

Happy holidays and in deepest gratitude,

Dena

Dena Ferreira

Certified Birth Doula CD(DONA)

Prenatal and Mommy & Me Yoga Instructor

Personal Trainer

EOL Doula

Rape and DV Advocate

www.abirthinggoddess.com

646.982.8611

When in doubt, be of service.

Dena The Doula

Mothers Judging Mothers: Where Is The Love?

Recently I read a thread line on breastfeeding. The question posed to women was, "what age is appropriate to stop." Boy it got heated. I breastfed both of my girls for 19 and 18 months. I would have gone longer but that is another story. There seemed to be a lot of judgment of one another on mainly the side of stopping nursing sooner rather than later. I asked myself if we could ever free ourselves of being so critical and judgmental of one another and turn in the direction of support?


One woman made an excellent argument for continuing breastfeeding into the toddler years: Basically she compared the health benefits of human milk (for a human) to cow's milk. I thought it was a good point. Wouldn't it make sense that our own milk is what was intended for our children and since milk is a necessity long after toddler years wouldn't it be better to provide them with the best? 

I admit, I do feel a little uneasy when I see a mom nursing a six year old, but that is my issue. I cannot say that the mother is getting some sick pleasure out of it and I have to admit that being raised in a society where breast were seen a purely sexual and formula feeding was the norm, my societal upbringing has tainted my initial reaction.

What is truly sad for me is how quickly I see women turn against one another when we already have so many obstacles outside of the home. We are seen as the weaker sex, get paid less for doing the same job, overlooked on promotions, and experience harsh bias in family courts even when faced with domestic violence and so much more. I look to my sisters to find support in loving and supporting myself and my children.

How can we support mothers who do it a little different but love their children the same? Are we capable of making a universal network that supports each one of us without harsh judgment or criticism? I’d love to hear others thoughts on either of these issues (breastfeeding and/or support vs. judgment).

Lovingly,

Dena The Doula

www.abirthinggoddess.com

Welcome!

Welcome Birthing Goddesses and those passionate about birth, motherhood and women's health. I am a mother of two girls. I live in New York City where I've been working now for three years as a Labor Doula.

I will be posting birth stories of clients and their photos. My desire is to inspire other mothers-to-be to look forward to one of the most profound experiences of their lives: the labor and delivery of their newborn baby.

Dena The Doula blog is intended to introduce Mothers seeking a Doula to my business as well as to support pregnant women by giving them a place to share birth stories, photos, videos and ask questions to Dena The Doula and fellow Birthing Goddesses within this community.

This is a safe place: No judgment and no criticism.

Join us by becoming a fellow Birthing Goddess!

I look forward to getting to know you and share our stories and experiences.

Sincerely,

Dena The Doula