Saturday, September 22, 2018

NEW BRANDING!

I am so excited to announce and show off my new branding! I decided that with the addition of childbirth education classes (and pursuing a certification as a childbirth educator) in addition to wanting to pursue a few other certifications, it would be best to change my name from "doula services" to "birth services" and give myself a fresh new look! I wanted something light. floraly and modern.

Thank you all for your continued love and support as I grow and nourish my passion!

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Updates!

It has been a crazy summer, that is for sure. I have been working hard to earn more certifications so that I am able to offer more services to my amazing clients. One thing I have learned about myself is that my passion for learning and my desire to continually grow has exploded in these last few years of my adulthood. 

With that being said, I am so excited to add Childbirth Education classes to my services. I am currently working on putting together my curriculum and hoping to offer my first class in October. Keep a look out on www.samanthaswartzdoula.com for an updated class schedule. 

Another project I have been working on is re-branding. I have a new logo designed and have been working on updating my website as well. Look out for my new website to go live soon! 

Be sure to follow me on facebook, instagram and twitter for updates and events and subscribe to my mailing list at www.samanthaswartzdoula.com 





Tuesday, February 13, 2018

How Do I Soothe my Colicky Baby?

Parents and caregivers alike often refer to fussy baby's as a colicky baby. Most also associate colic with having stomach issues. But, a Colicky baby is defined as one who is healthy but cries uncontrollably for at least 3 hours, 3 days in a row usually starting at around 2 weeks of age, peaking around 6 weeks and lasting up to 3-4 months of age.

What causes colic? 
We aren't too sure what exactly causes colic. Some theories include:
  • A growing digestive system with muscles that often spasm
  • Gas
  • Hormones that cause stomach pain or a fussy mood
  • Over-sensitivity or over-stimulation by light, noise, etc.
  • A moody baby
  • A still-developing nervous system
Remember, these are all theories and every baby is different, which is why there isn't one answer on the best way to treat a colicky baby. However, this study of exclusively breastfed infants suggests that the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri greatly reduced crying time in colicky infants. It is important to note that there have been studies for other treatments, however double blind or placebo controlled studies were not done at the time of my research to verify the results of these treatments. In addition, there are other reasons why a baby might be fussy including food allergies, an infection, inflammation, etc. If you are concerned with your baby's colic it is important to talk to your doctor to rule out any medical concerns. 


How can I soothe my colicky baby? The best way to sooth your baby is with the 5 S's.

1. Swaddle
I like to call this the baby burrito. Swaddling is the cornerstone of calming. Wrapped baby's will respond faster to the other 4 S's and stay soothed longer as long as their arms are wrapped tightly and can't wiggle. Wrap their hips to be loose. Baby's should not be swaddled all day or for long periods of time, just while they are sleeping or if they are fussy.

2. Side or Stomach Position
While holding baby, put them on their side or on their stomach over your shoulder. Remember that the back is considered the safest position during sleep.

3. Shush
Your baby has spent the last 9 months hearing muffled sounds from inside your womb, so some white noise and shushing sounds will bring comfort to baby. White noise is not all the same however, ocean sounds and fan noises may not do the trick. The best way to imitate the sounds from inside the womb is to "shush." close to their ear and at the volume at which they are crying. Contrary to popular belief, silence is not calming for baby.

4. Swing
Like the shushing sound, recreating what life in the womb is like is very comforting. For the last nine months they have jiggled around as you walked around, climbed steps, etc. so faster, tiny motions are more productive at calming baby than slower rocking. Remember, never shake a baby.

5. Suck
Many fussy babies will fall into a deep relaxation when they suck, either a pacifier or if you breastfeed and it's meal time, offer your breast.

Check out this video for a quick example of the 5S's.






More Resources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3183958/
https://www.happiestbaby.com/blogs/blog/the-5-s-s-for-soothing-babies
https://www.babycenter.com/0_colic-what-is-it_77.bc
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/crying-colic/Pages/Calming-A-Fussy-Baby.aspx
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/crying-colic/Pages/Colic.aspx

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

First Blog Post of 2018!

This year I made a resolution to blog more. It's now February and this is my first blog post of 2018! Better late than never though right? I thought I'd start this year off with answering some questions I've been asked lately, especially by people who aren't too sure what a doulas role is or are confused by how a doula supports a birthing woman.

Don't doulas just help women who have home births? 
No! We support women in any and all kinds of birth scenarios. A home birth, birth center, hospital, Cesarean section, vaginal birth, natural, epidural, induction, twins, triplets, etc. In addition, a good doula will not judge or decide what type of birth you have. Instead, we are here to support and educate you. Do you want an epidural? Great, let's talk through what that will look like so you are prepared. Are you unsure about or struggling with breastfeeding? We can answer basic questions and refer you to a lactation consultant we know and trust. Ultimately our goal is support YOU and YOUR decisions. 

What does doula support look like? 
This answer can vary depending on the needs of the birthing woman. Some women may prefer their doula to be a little more hands on and touchy- offering shoulder rubs, double hip squeezes, wiping their foreheads with a cool cloth etc. while others like a more hands off approach and prefer their doula to offer words of affirmation while handing them a cup of water. Whatever support you prefer in birth, that is what a doula is here for. While nurses and doctors are in and out of your hospital room, a doula is there the whole time to support you. 

What about the father? Can't he support me at my birth?
Absolutely! We love and encourage dad's to be involved in the birthing process and we are not here to take that experience away from fathers. But doula's bring a level of skill, experience and education to a birth. Although we are not considered medical professionals, we have a level of understanding about what is going on during the birth process and can offer different comfort techniques, basic childbirth education, while also being there to help your significant other support you! Dad's bring the love and affection to the birth place, doula's bring skill, experience and education. 

So here is to 2018! Keep an eye out for my blog posts coming soon!