Category: Mothering

Newborn Sleep

Posted on by Holly Yeager
A brand new baby will sleep much of the time, waking every few hours for feedings. Many new parents have a lot of questions about how long and how often a newborn should sleep. Because newborns have such a small stomach they should be waking to be fed every 2-3 hours. How often your baby eats depends on what their nutritional needs are and what they are being fed. It is best to talk to your provider to see if...Read More

When should your child stop seeing you naked?

Posted on by Holly Yeager
Turns out this is a tough question to answer. I spoke with Nancy Brooks M.S., PsyD (can) who works with children and teens here in Lancaster. As you can imagine, there is no "right" answer for every family. When is it no longer OK for your child to see you naked? It depends on how you want your child to view nudity.  Some people believe that as soon as children can spot differences in males and females that they should be...Read More

Fear of Giving Birth

Posted on by Holly Yeager
There are few things in this world that scare us as much as childbirth. If this is your first child, many of those fears tend to come from fear of the unknown. Childbirth is such an unpredictable experience and each birth is as unique as a snowflake. In our highly scheduled and controlled world it can be scary to let go and let nature take its course. Today we are going to talk about some of the biggest fears many pregnant...Read More

Pumping Iron: Getting more when your Iron is low

Posted on by Holly Yeager
Iron: What is it and why is it so important? Iron is an important mineral that your body uses to make hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the substance in red blood cells that  is responsible for transporting oxygen through your body. When you get pregnant your blood supply increases causing you to need about twice the amount of iron you would need when not pregnant. About 20% of women will develop an iron deficiency known as anemia. The risks of anemia can...Read More

World’s Greatest

Posted on by Holly Yeager
Written by: Brielle Rainney Owner of Southern Pacific Doulas A friend of mine was on facebook showing off her recent purchases. Amongst the lovely flowing dress, and cozy pjs, was a shirt that said “World’s Okayest Mom”. This women is one of the best mothers I know. I know ‘okay-est mom’ is a thing, but this woman owning that shirt is a tragedy. It would be so much more accurate if she had bought a “World’s best mom for my...Read More

The Kitten Doula

Posted on by Holly Yeager
My community is a  tight knit one. Everyone in the neighborhood knows I am a doula. Because of that, I am often stopped and asked how to help grandchildren or friends babies as I am walking the dog or playing with my own children in the yard. Secretly, I love it. My community knows what I do and values me and my profession. This reputation as a helper and expert in babies is what prompted my neighbor Robin to stop...Read More
Healthy food, quick and easy summer dinner

5 Quick and Healthy Summer Meals

Posted on by Holly Yeager
Green Bean and Cherry Tomato Salad Two of summers best ingredients come together to make one amazingly healthy salad. Enjoy as a side or add grilled shrimp or chicken and make it the star of the show! [caption id="attachment_2379" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Green Bean and Tomato Salad[/caption] Ingredients: 2 lbs of Green Beans 2 Pints (1 lb) of Cherry Tomatoes 2 Teasp0ns of Salt 1 Teaspoon of Pepper 2 Teaspoons of Lemon Zest (or lime for a bit more tang) 1/2...Read More

What is a Postpartum Doula anyway?

Posted on by Holly Yeager
The 4th trimester is described as the first three months after your baby is born. Some even call it a babymoon! Your postpartum doula wants to help you adjust and enjoy this new period of motherhood. They are here to support you by helping you create a peaceful and nurturing postpartum. Baby Care - Not only can your postpartum doula answer all of your baby care questions, but they can help you understand your babies cues and nuances. They can care for...Read More

Your Pelvic Floor : What You Need To Know

Posted on by Holly Yeager
Approximately 1 in 3 women in the US suffer from pelvic floor issues at some point during their lifetime. Pregnancy and childbirth can strain and weaken the pelvic floor muscles leading to leaked urine when you sneeze or cough, or even sexual dysfunction. We spoke with Dr. Deb McKim, PT, DPT, MTC; a physical therapist at Western Berks Physical Therapy who specializes in pelvic floor health. What is your pelvic floor? For those of you who don’t know, the pelvic floor...Read More

The Power of Pain

Posted on by Holly Yeager
Ouch! Just hearing the word PAIN makes us shudder and recoil. No one wants to be in pain. We spend our whole lives trying to avoid pain. It is no wonder that pain is the number one fear women have of labor. Pain has a purpose. Pain is our body's way of protecting us. It is a signal to "pay attention". In the instance of touching a hot stove, it creates an immediate and  powerful reaction to protect us from...Read More

LVR Portraits : Preserving Memories For Lancaster Families

Posted on by Holly Yeager
  Working with new families means I get to see all kind of beautiful babies. Our clients are always looking for the best way to preserve those earliest moments and Laurie Ressler is just what they need. I was able to tour her studio recently and get to know more about her and her beautiful family. So Laurie, How Long Have You Been A Photographer? I have been photographing newborns for five years now. My son Oliver was the first...Read More

A breakdown of ACOG’s new recommendations

Posted on by Holly Yeager
Recently ACOG (The American college of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) released a committee opinion report titled "Approaches to Limit Intervention During Labor and Birth". This new report has a list of steps that care providers can implement to create a safer and more satisfying birth experience.  ACOG has had a long standing stance on the benefit of doula support and it is great to see that on the list. Here is the breakdown of the new recommendations: Continuous Support During Labor: Doulas –...Read More