All posts tagged: baby

Mother’s Day Shoutout!

We’re hoping you had a Mother’s Day that included some rest, some snuggles, and some time to reflect. Here at One Moon Doula we spent some time reflecting on all of the mothers we’ve been so honored to serve!

So far in 2018 we’ve served the mother (and father) who tried for a 4th… and got twins! We’ve served the single woman who decided to become a mama on her own… the mom who is keeping her postpartum anxiety at bay by bringing one of our doulas in for overnights so she can get the sleep that quiets her anxiety… even the mom who was certain there was no way she could trust someone else with her newborn, but knew for her wellbeing she would have to try, at least for a few short shifts. We’ve served the mom who was so nervous about how her toddler would take the change, and the mom whose partner travels for work and wanted to make sure she wouldn’t be alone when he’s gone. We’ve served moms who are struggling with decisions about how to get their babies to sleep better, with decisions about whether to supplement with formula and which one, with whether to persevere through a difficult breastfeeding situation, and with decions about when to go back to work, and whether to seek help for a postpartum mood disorder.

Mothering a newborn (or newborns!) can be overwhelming – sometimes with overwhelming joy and love, but sometimes with overwhelming stress and sleep deprivation, or most likely some combination. When you commit to your own wellbeing, you are committing to the wellbeing of your child!

Cheers to all of you who are finding ways to take care of yourselves so you can care for those around you. Carry on, mamas!

Kathryn KeenerMother’s Day Shoutout!
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The Sun and Your Baby

While September brings back to school, it can also bring some of the hottest days of the year here in San Diego. We might be beginning to daydream about scarves and boots, but we can’t forget to keep our sunscreen game strong!

Of course, many of you have infants who are too young to douse in sunscreen if they are under 6 months, at least according to the Skin Cancer FoundationBut babies this age produce very little melanin for protection from the sun, and therefore they recommend the following steps:

  • take your walks with your new baby before 10am and after 4pm
  • use window shields to protect your baby or babies from the sun during car rides
  • dress babies in light clothing that covers most of their skin, and in a hat with a wide brim to protect the head, neck and face.

The AAP indicates that a small amount of sunscreen can be applied to areas that remain uncovered (“Sun and Water Safety Tips,” aap.org).

If you’re going to the beach here in San Diego, bring an umbrella or shade structure, and avoid the middle of the day!

After 6 months of age, a sunscreen with at least SPF 15 is recommended. Of course, some parents are concerned about the ingredients getting absorbed into their little ones’ skin. For that we recommend Environmental Working Group’s sunscreen guide, or their “skin deep” app, which allows you to enter in a sunscreen brand and type and see how it scores for its levels of potentially harmful chemicals. The ingredients can change from year to year, and the app stays current!

Have fun in the sun!

But wait – what about Vitamin D!? Sunscreens that protect from the sun can also inhibit our absorption of Vitamin D, which is important too! (See how hard it is to make informed decisions in the best interest of our children!? Here’s where we all take a collective deep breath and have compassion for how complicated this job of raising little humans can feel sometimes).

Not to worry, in our next blog post we’ll tackle what you need to know about Vitamin D and Your Baby.

Kathryn KeenerThe Sun and Your Baby
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