What Does a Doula Really Do?

What Does a Doula Really Do?

According to Doula International, "the word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period". Doula International describes the differences between a birth doula and a postpartum doula: 

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How to Help Your Baby Develop Fine Motor Skills

How to Help Your Baby Develop Fine Motor Skills

Being a parent is tough work and helping your baby develop fine motor skills may not be the first thing you add to your daily to-do list. Parents Magazine offers a few ways you can help your baby develop manual dexterity by simply playing with their hands! 

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Massaged Your Baby Today? Study Says Massage Good for Baby & Dad

Massaged Your Baby Today? Study Says Massage Good for Baby & Dad

The National Fatherhood Initiative is a major advocate for infant massage between fathers and their babies. Naturally, mothers are the primary caregivers to their newborn babies. However, that does not mean that dads are left out. Research shows that "when a child has a significant bond with their father, this bond contributes greatly to child outcomes. " Child do better physically, emotionally and scholastically when both parents are involved in their lives.  

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Words of Wisdom, From Debolina Dutta

Words of Wisdom, From Debolina Dutta

Debolina Dutta is a teen educator and she has worked in public, private, and international high schools for 15 years. On March 16, Debolina will be facilitating a guided conversation group for parents about sexuality and changing bodies with psychotherapist Leah Chalofsky. Debolina believes that knowledge of ones body empowers people to make educated decisions for themselves. She offers parents and guardians a few words of wisdom about parenting during this transitional period for tweens and teens.

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How Can Parents Talk to Their Children About Sexuality and Changing Bodies?

How Can Parents Talk to Their Children About Sexuality and Changing Bodies?

According to an article by Planned Parenthood, it is best to start talking to children about sexuality early on in their childhood. They stated that, “Talking with children about sex and sexuality may be uncomfortable at first, but it gets easier with time and practice.” In addition, there are many ways to start conversations about sex and sexuality with your kids. 

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Breastfeeding Benefits Add Up!

Breastfeeding Benefits Add Up!

We learned via an article by Breastfeeding Basics that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends nursing for at least the first year of life. This may not be a realistic goal for all mothers but there are benefits to breastfeeding your baby for a few weeks to a few months. 

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10 Reasons Why You Should Read to Your Kids

10 Reasons Why You Should Read to Your Kids

We all hear time after time that reading to children is essential to their development. But, what exactly are the specific advantages your child can gain? Here are some benefits that highlight the importance of reading to your child via earlymoments.com:

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The Benefits of Breastfeeding Support Groups

The Benefits of Breastfeeding Support Groups

Support systems are extremely important for new mothers. As new mothers, there are some things that come instinctively. However, the journey of motherhood is a long one and receiving a little help along the way with a group of like-minded women makes the journey a lot easier. 

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Are Parenting Classes Worth It?

Are Parenting Classes Worth It?

We learned via an article by Slate that Britain attempted to launch a pilot program which offered parenting classes for lower income families in 2012. They expected “around 20,000 parents of children under five to show up. Fever than 3,000 did”. 

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Developmental Movement Skills for Babies

Developmental Movement Skills for Babies

We learned via an article by Active for Life that movement and exercise for babies is rarely ever mentioned in baby books. We tend to forget that the more engagement and movement babies experience during the day, the better the sleep. Just like adults, babies need to be active in order to be healthy and learn important movement skills. 

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Positive Impact of Support Groups

Positive Impact of Support Groups

Although this article comes from resolve.org, or the National Infertility Association, it speaks to the benefits of support groups like those we have here at Community Well. The article discusses how support groups help individuals cope with negative feelings primarily, and although support groups are helpful with processing negative feelings, they are also in place to help community members share tips, share individual experiences, and lots more. 

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A Study Of New Mothers Reveals The Importance of Community

A Study Of New Mothers Reveals The Importance of Community

We have all heard before that it takes a village to raise a child. The support parents receive from their family, friends, and community members can have a profound impact on the family’s happiness and stress levels. This is especially true for new parents who may need the extra help in the beginning of a new journey with their first baby. 

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What Kind of Help Do I Need After Baby Arrives?

What Kind of Help Do I Need After Baby Arrives?

Figuring out the help you need after the birth of your baby can be tricky. Your family members are coming to your home offering to feed, play and and care for your baby while you and your partner rest. However, having so much help in your home can be overwhelming. Sometimes you just want mom, dad and baby time!

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