Episode 82: Art of Newborn Soothing

Explicit content warning

04/28/22 • 54 min

1 Listener

Doulas of the Roundtable

Newborn soothing can sometimes seem like a mysterious, magical, art, especially to new parents.

The phone rings, it's a new parent who needs help. Sometimes they need more sleep. Others need help with learning how to settle or soothe their newborns. They are feeling panicked, helpless, desperate, and oftentimes as if they are not doing it right. Some also express that they feel as if their baby doesn't like them.

For some, the frantic urgency to try and calm their baby perpetuates the cycle. For others, they cycle through the newborn claiming techniques they know too quickly. As a result, no one technique is given enough time to work. This sense of urgency and desperation often leads families to utilize unsafe practices such as unsafe sleep habits.

As birth professionals, we benefit families by showing them what is possible. Knowing that their baby can be calmed and soothed gives them hope. We give them the skills to recreate a calm and happy newborn when we are not there.

Come join us as we explore the many tools in our toolkit for newborn soothing.

Newborn soothing can sometimes seem like a mysterious, magical, art, especially to new parents.

Come join us as we explore the many tools in our toolkit for newborn soothing.

Previous Episode

Episode 81: Navigating Family Challenges

Navigating family challenges surrounding our clients and their support systems can be challenging for many doulas.

The relationships between our clients and their support systems are nuanced and built over time. As with all relationships, there is often a deep history that we as doulas are not privy to. Helping clients navigate the challenges that family and friends can present is often a huge part of our role.

Giving birth and becoming a parent are emotionally charged transitions. At the same time, it is also an extremely vulnerable state, both emotionally and physically. The people our clients choose to have around them during birth can impact how they view themselves. As a result, those who are present can also result in a client feeling guarded or inhibited.

New parents are faced with judgment and are given unsolicited advice on a daily basis. The pressures to "do it right" are immense. This advice is often well-intentioned, yet family or social pressures can undermine a parent's self-confidence.

Come join us as we discuss how to navigate family challenges that our clients are often faced with in pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period.

Next Episode

Episode 83: Supporting Epidurals

One skill set that many doulas express a lack of confidence in is supporting clients with an epidural.

Many doula workshops overemphasize how to support an unmedicated birth. As a result, doulas may feel uncertain and often unprepared to support the client who has chosen an epidural.

Supporting the client with an epidural is multi-faceted. Many clients and even doulas may assume that a doula's job is done once an epidural is in place. The reality is, that the doula's job has just begun.

Physical support is still necessary when supporting epidurals. Frequent position changes help the baby navigate the changing diameters of the pelvis.

The necessity for emotional support can also increase as clients process their feelings surrounding receiving the epidural. Some may feel only relief. Others may feel guilt or regret. Feelings of failure can also be common.

Come join us as we discuss the ins and outs of supporting our clients who have chosen to receive an epidural.