TaylorMaid Doulas

25/10/2021

“When pregnant, the cells of the baby migrate into the mothers bloodstream and then circle back into the baby, it’s called “fetal-maternal microchimerism”.⁠

For 41 weeks, the cells circulate and merge backwards and forwards, and after the baby is born, many of these cells stay in the mother’s body, leaving a permanent imprint in the mothers tissues, bones, brain, and skin, and often stay there for decades. Every single child a mother has afterwards will leave a similar imprint on her body, too.

Even if a pregnancy doesn't go to full term or if you have an abortion, these cells still migrate into your bloodstream.

Research has shown that if a mother's heart is injured, fetal cells will rush to the site of the injury and change into different types of cells that specialize in mending the heart.

The baby helps repair the mother, while the mother builds the baby.

How cool is that?

This is often why certain illnesses vanish while pregnant.

It’s incredible how mothers bodies protect the baby at all costs, and the baby protects & rebuilds the mother back - so that the baby can develop safely and survive.

Think about crazy cravings for a moment. What was the mother deficient in that the baby made them crave?

Studies have also shown cells from a fetus in a mothers brain 18 years after she gave birth. How amazing is that?”

If you’re a mom you know how you can intuitively feel your child even when they are not there….Well, now there is scientific proof that moms carry them for years and years even after they have given birth to them.

I find this to be so very beautiful.

23/02/2021

This made me cry 😭😭

When you first have children they talk about the challenges of parenting....the struggles of a baby waking in the night,
the toddler who won’t stay in their bed, the cost of childcare, injuries from sports...

Having to take off work to pick them up from school when they don’t feel well, helping them with homework, a messy house, the never ending laundry, the cost to buy school clothes, packing their lunches....

You watch their eyes light up on Christmas morning....and try to soak in the magic of those moments.

You coach them in sports, rushing to practices and ballgames...and tote them all over the country to let them play the game they love...no matter how exhausting or expensive it becomes.

Life is just so busy that you rarely even stop to think what the end of those days look like.

In fact, it’s not really even something you can wrap your mind around.

You go into it thinking that 18-20 years sounds like a long time....

Then suddenly hours turn into days...days into months...and months into years.

That little person that used to crawl up next to you in bed and cuddle up to watch cartoons...suddenly becomes this young adult who hugs you in the hallway as they come and go.

And the chaos and laughter that used to echo throughout your home....gets filled with silence and solitude.

You’ve learned how to parent a child who needs you to care for and protect them....but have no clue how the whole “letting go” thing is supposed to work.

So you hold on as tight as you can...wondering how time passed so quickly...feeling guilty that you missed something....

Because even though you had 20 years.....it just somehow doesn’t seem like it was enough.

You ask yourself so many questions...

Did you teach them the right lessons?
Did you read them enough books as a child?
Spend enough time playing with them?
How many school parties did you have to miss?
Do they really know how much you love them?
What could I have done better as a parent?
....When it’s time for them to go, it all hits you like a ton of bricks.

Parenting is by far the most amazing experience of your life....that at times leaves you exhilarated....while others leave you heartbroken.

But one thing is certain.....it’s never enough time...💕

So for all the parents with young children...whose days are spent trying to figure out how to make it through the madness...
Exhausted day in and day out...

Soak. It. All. In.

Because one day....all those crazy days full of cartoons, snuggles, sleep overs, Christmas morning magic, ballgames, practices and late night dinners...

All come to an end.

And you’re left hoping that you did enough right, so that when they spread their wings....

They’ll fly...💕💕💕

Credit to the Amazing Author:

19/05/2020

07/05/2020

This is exactly when a postnatal doula is helpful, she will help mum with all of these concerns.

It's okay to need something and to ask for help ❤️ This Maternal Mental Health Week is a chance to shine a spotlight on something we need to be talking about more every day. For more information about mental wellbeing, visit our website: www.tommys.org/mentalwellbeing

23/04/2020

To all those new parents out there

Source: helentheillustrator

12/03/2020

Loving helping my current mum with her twins (permission given to post photo by mum)

02/08/2019

I love this one......

Ever felt that jaw tremble thing a while into a feed, you think bubba is all done and just hanging out at the b**b then they do it, the bottom jaw sort of judders. I used to think it was a bit of a relaxation reflex type thing but actually it's baby giving the b**b the hurry along for another let down. Seconds please mummy!

**biemilk

20/05/2019

02/04/2019

This is so very true 😀

When you first have children they talk about the challenges of parenting....the struggles of a baby waking in the night,
the toddler who won’t stay in their bed, the cost of childcare, injuries from sports...

Having to take off work to pick them up from school when they don’t feel well, helping them with homework, a messy house, the never ending laundry, the cost to buy school clothes, packing their lunches....

You watch their eyes light up on Christmas morning....and try to soak in the magic of those moments.

You coach them in sports, rushing to practices and ballgames...and tote them all over the country to let them play the game they love...no matter how exhausting or expensive it becomes.

Life is just so busy that you rarely even stop to think what the end of those days look like.

In fact, it’s not really even something you can wrap your mind around.

You go into it thinking that 18-20 years sounds like a long time....

Then suddenly hours turn into days...days into months...and months into years.

That little person that used to crawl up next to you in bed and cuddle up to watch cartoons...suddenly becomes this young adult who hugs you in the hallway as they come and go.

And the chaos and laughter that used to echo throughout your home....gets filled with silence and solitude.

You’ve learned how to parent a child who needs you to care for and protect them....but have no clue how the whole “letting go” thing is supposed to work.

So you hold on as tight as you can...wondering how time passed so quickly...feeling guilty that you missed something....

Because even though you had 20 years.....it just somehow doesn’t seem like it was enough.

You ask yourself so many questions...

Did you teach them the right lessons?
Did you read them enough books as a child?
Spend enough time playing with them?
How many school parties did you have to miss?
Do they really know how much you love them?
What could I have done better as a parent?
....When it’s time for them to go, it all hits you like a ton of bricks.

And all you can do is pray....hope....and trust that God will protect them as they start to make their way into the world alone.

Parenting is by far the most amazing experience of your life....that at times leaves you exhilarated....while others leave you heartbroken.

But one thing is certain.....it’s never enough time...💕

So for all the parents with young children...who’s days are spent trying to figure out how to make it through the madness...
Exhausted day in and day out...

Soak. It. All. In.

Because one day....all those crazy days full of cartoons, snuggles, sleep overs, Christmas morning magic, ballgames, practices and late night dinners...

All come to an end.

And you’re left hoping that you did enough right, so that when they spread their wings....

They’ll fly...💕

credit ; Misty Brewer Lee

27/01/2019

Indeed.

09/01/2019

Happy New Year everyone. I'm now taking bookings for late Spring so if you know anyone who might need support after their baby is born, please get in touch. Extra help is particularly useful after a Caesarian section, multiple births or if mum suffers from depression.

13/10/2018

As a postnatal doula I think this is an important message for all families with young children.

Chickenpox is going around again! Please remember NOT to give your children nurofen/ibuprofen if you think your child has it. This type of medicine is an anti-inflammatory. It reacts with the chickenpox making them go deeper into the skin tissue, potentially causing a more severe secondary infection.
Better options: 👶Paracetamol for fever 👶Calamine Lotion for the itch 👶Keep your child hydrated
Always seek medical advice.

25/07/2018

Useful info for these hot evenings.

Important and hopefully helpful information during this heatwave.

23/07/2018

When I had my first baby I did not know that ‘Sleep’ was a learnt skill – I naively thought that if a baby was comfortable, fed and tired he would just fall asleep. Big mistake. During the first few weeks I continually ended up feeding or rocking him to sleep which set a terrible precedent for the next few months.
Sleep for a new mum is like the holy grail and the most frequently asked question at mother and baby groups is ‘is he/she sleeping through yet?’

Have realistic expectations of you new baby. There are going to be a few months of unpredictable and sporadic sleep until their brain has matured enough to sleep for longer periods. This usually takes 4-6 months, and by longer periods I mean 5-6 hours in a row.

However, you can help your baby to develop good sleeping habits from just 2-3 weeks old. Babies do not automatically know how to fall asleep; it is a learnt skill. Like me, many new parents don't realise the trap they are falling into when over a number weeks and months they nurse or feed their baby to sleep. The baby rightly believes by then that being fed or rocked to sleep is how they should fall asleep. So by the time they are 5-6 months old and still need to suckle or be rocked to sleep every time they stir in the night, the damage is done and everyone ends up exhausted. The trick is to help your baby learn to fall asleep independently and here are some tips to help you start:

1) Timing is essential - don't let them get over tired. New babies need approx 16 hours sleep in 24 so will only be awake for short periods, no more than 1 hour at the most.
2). Try to put baby down awake. If he falls asleep during a feed try changing his nappy to stir him. It's probably best to try this tactic during the day, and at night let them stay asleep so you can get some sleep too.
3) Swaddling - babies have no control of their limbs so trying to fall asleep with their arms and legs flailing about is impossible. Firm swaddling helps to keep the limbs tucked away and replaces the cosy feeling of the womb. Because of the risk of overheating only cotton sheets or thin cellular blankets should be used. Swaddling is useful until baby is about 3-4 months old when they can start using the baby sleeping bags. Hopefully by then they will have begun to learn the art of falling asleep alone.
4) Dummies. Some mums are averse to the idea of a dummy and that's fine but they can be a very useful tool for the first few months until baby can co-ordinate their thumb to their mouth. Many babies find sucking a great comfort and once breast feeding has been well established (by about 2-3 weeks) a dummy can safely be introduced.
5) Try to make a difference between night and day. At night keep the room darker and quieter during feeds and keep eye contact minimal. Only change their nappy if you need to -if it's just a little wet leave it until next time.
6) Perseverance - in can take many weeks of giving your baby opportunities to learn to fall sleep independently before the penny drops. On some occasions, if you catch them just right they will drift off easily, but more often it will take some time, involving you frequently going to them and comforting them, burping them, replacing a dummy etc but each time baby successfully goes to sleep alone she is perfecting her skills and establishing those brain patterns for the future.

Tracy at TaylorMaid has alot of experience in helping mums with a new baby and can support mum through the first few weeks, particularly in helping baby learn good sleep habits. She is now taking bookings for November onwards.

31/05/2018

Some signposts for Breastfeeding support, from pages, professional organisations and your health care professionals.

28/05/2018

Breastfeeding assistance is an important part of the role of a postnatal doula. Emotional, as well as physical support, can help struggling mums get past any difficulties enabling them to carry on breastfeeding. 😀

Breastfeeding advice from mums to mums, by Forging Families x

18/03/2018

As a postnatal doula who has worked with many mums who have postnatal depression I would say this poster contains some wise advice.

02/03/2018

As a postnatal doula I have helped many mums with PND. A PN doula is there to support and care for new mums, and assist in caring for her new baby and any other children, whilst also helping out with household chores e.g washing, shopping and cooking. This allows mum to rest and recover from the birth, bond with baby, maintain a close relationship with any other children and most importantly have chance for a sleep at some point during the day. Lack of sleep as been identified as a major trigger for depression. For any further information about this service please visit www.taylormaiddoulas.co.uk

Our poster on preventing/lessening relapse in PND with a few alterations led by mums.

15/02/2018

This is our first feedback from one of our Breakout sessions at our amazing conference.

What do dads want?

With thanks to Paul Webster

04/02/2018

Brilliant conference yesterday in Sheffield held by Forging Families on Perinatal Mental Health. Some very brave mums and dads speaking about their personal experiences, and some excellent information to take away with me.

08/12/2017

A very clever demonstration.

07/12/2017

A postnatal doula goes into the home for a few hours each day to help mum with her new baby and any other children in the family. She also helps out with practical tasks e.g washing, ironing, shopping and cooking, which takes some of the pressure off mum, allowing her to recover from the birth, bond with her baby and spend time with her other children. The role combines those of nanny, maternity nurse and housekeeper, but is essentially that of ‘mothering the mother’. Dads also like the help as it takes the pressure off him too, so instead of coming home from work to a distressed and exhausted family, he finds a meal cooking, his clothes washed and ironed and his partner and babies content !!!!

26/07/2017

I am postnatal doula who helps new mums after the birth of a baby. A doula goes into the mums home for a few hours each day to help her recover from the birth, and assist with breastfeeding if required. I help with practical tasks around the home, and with caring for any other children in the family. I am looking for new clients in the autumn, in the Nottinghamshire area. 👶👶👶

13/04/2017

Find more info about reflux disease treatment and symptoms. Check through links to know about living with reflux guides.

26/03/2017

Happy Mothers Day to all the lovely mums I've worked with over the last 16 years. Hope you all have a happy (and relaxing !!!!) day.

24/12/2016

Looking after yourself this Christmas x

23/07/2016

Perinatal Mental Health Toolkit