3 Professionals You Need When Your Baby Arrives

Pregnant people! Birthing Folks! Before this little babe comes into the world, there are 3 professionals I recommend already having lined up so that you do not need to stress about finding them in the moment. 

1. Postpartum Support Specialist! (aka postpartum doula) we hold the BIRTHER ( & the baby if you request…) but we are here for the birthing person and the parents. We are here to educate (PLEASE ask us all the questions! If we ourselves can’t do the proverbial “it”, we know someone who can) we are here to hold space in the light and darkness of the fourth trimester – overall, we are here to make your lives easier so that you can focus on you, your baby, and your new family. 
2. IBCLC – lactation consultant! Some birthers do not struggle with nursing at all. Baby latches, they get the food, and all is right in the world. However, in the US only 24.9% of all newborn babies are able to be exclusively chestfed through the first 6 months of life. Fun fact: it is usually the baby’s latch, and rarely the “fault” of birthing person! If your goal is to exclusively chestfeed, I highly recommend having an IBCLC locked and loaded to be sure that this journey is smooth for you! 
3. Perinatal Mental Health Support: When you give birth, you experience the most intense hormone crash and depletion of your life. All of your hormones elevate and escalate to support the birthing process, and growing this tiny human! After birth, those hormones can feel like they just drop off the face of the earth, leaving the birthing person left with an extremely intense hormone crash.  75% of birthers experience the baby blues; which should not last more than 2 weeks – however, of this 75%, 15% of birthers develop a more serious postpartum depression, anxiety, or trauma related condition depending on the birth process itself. The good news is that if these conditions develop, you are not alone, they are HIGHLY treatable, and often only require short term medication to regulate the hormones & chemicals in your system. Rarely do these conditions lead to long term issues! I highly recommend having a perinatal mood specialist’s information so that you can receive the help you need at the earliest possible time.