Posts Tagged ‘St. Louis night nannies’
The Surprising Science Behind Meditation During Pregnancy
I’m excited to introduce our guest blogger today, Jessica Mougis. Jessica’s message about doing meditation during your pregnancy is very important. I also think that postpartum moms will find meditation helpful. Meditation will sooth the nerves of nervous sleep deprived moms. Thank you Jessica!
In the third trimester of my pregnancy I found out my baby was breech. I was devastated and refused to accept that my birth experience would not be the natural birth that I had envisioned. I did everything in my power to naturally get my baby to turn, but she never did. It was during my struggles to accept the new path of my pregnancy that I found Expectful – a platform that makes meditation easy for new and expectant moms.
After a few days of meditation I began to feel a sense of peace that had escaped me for so long. Having that quiet time to connect with myself and with my baby helped me to accept my birth plan. Whenever I felt overwhelmed by my thoughts, emotions and fears meditation became the anchor that brought me back to the peace within. When I began reading about the science behind meditation during pregnancy I was amazed to find that along with stress reduction there were many other proven benefits.
· Calmer Baby Temperament. I have found my baby to be generally content. While a large part of that is her nature, I know that meditation and yoga throughout pregnancy have helped me which has also helped her. Babies are extremely sensitive to the energy around them, and I am hopeful that my effort to remain present and aware are positively affecting her.
· Pain Reduction During Birth. My birth was a cesarean delivery. Even though I was given an epidural and numb from the chest down, I felt sensation. The feeling of being paralyzed was scary and could have easily caused me to panic. However, I was able to return to my breath over and over to help me stay present and a calm.
· Easier Recovery. My recovery was difficult. Healing from major abdominal surgery while being sleep deprived and learning how to breastfeed was very overwhelming physically and mentally. I was better equipped to deal with the pain and stress by practicing meditation.
· Connection and Compassion. Meditation nurtures compassion. This has been instrumental in my relationship with my husband. Having a new baby and adjusting to a totally new life can easily cause strain and tension. Practicing meditation helps me to slow down, take deep breaths, and see things from his point of view. This has brought us close together in our early parenthood journey.
As I reflect on my experience and the science behind meditation, it made me wonder why my doctor never addressed mental well being during my pregnancy. When addressing prenatal care, it’s so important that both the body and mind are looked after.
TLC for Kids provides newborn services for families in South Florida and St. Louis, Mo. Visit our website to learn more about our newborn nannies and over night providers.
Jessica is an experienced yoga teacher and filmmaker. She has taught yoga, dance and videography to more than 1000 children, and has led teacher trainings for more than 150 adults nationally and internationally. Jessica currently writes a blog, Lifted Into the World, about her experiences with new motherhood. (https://liftedintotheworld.wordpress.com) She lives in the Upper West Side of Manhattan with her husband Steve, daughter Emily Rae, and Rhodesian Ridgeback, Romeo.
Interview with a TLC Newborn Nanny Specialist
For the last few weeks our blog has been focusing on Newborn Care Specialists. We had the exciting opportunity to interview Sue M recently. Sue is one of TLC’s best Newborn Care Specialists.
TLC: What training company did you use and what classes did you take?
Sue: I took the Newborn Care Specialist Training with Gentle Ventures Training Center. The center is located in Glendale, AZ, but you can take the classes on line.
TLC: Did you find the online class was easy to use and that it fit into your schedule?
Sue: Yes, I was able to do the class at my own pace and I had up to a year to complete it.
TLC: What did the class entail? Watch video’s, take quizzes, read articles, did you do any hands on training?
Sue: I received a 250 page manual to use while I followed along with online videos. At the end of each chapter there are questions to answer and at the end of the training there is a test that must be passed to receive a certificate of completion.
TLC: What was your newborn experience prior to taking the class?
Sue: Prior to taking the Gentle Ventures Newborn Care Specialist Training I was a nanny for 15 years. In the 15 years as a nanny I cared for about 4 newborns. Since taking the class about 6 months ago I have cared for another 7 newborns!
TLC: Please share with us some of the things you learned and what you’ve been able to teach parents.
Sue: I have learned so much! Some of the things I have been able to teach parents are: healthy sleep habits and sleeping environments for babies, what the best formulas are on the market today and what ingredients to avoid, calming techniques, how to swaddle and why it is important, and natural ways to help ease gas and reflux symptoms…
TLC: Why do you like working with newborns and why did you want to become a Newborn Care Specialist?
Sue: In 2014 I became employed as a temporary nanny for a couple with a 10 week old baby. This baby was the calmest, happiest baby I had ever cared for and the reason why is because the parents had planned ahead by reading and researching healthy habits for their baby. They were determined to get the baby off to a good start with sleep and feeding routines. These routines hardly ever had us wondering or guessing what the baby needed or wanted and this baby rarely needed to fuss or cry because all his needs were met. I was so impressed by this that I began to do my own research and found out that with proper training I could help families make a much smoother adjustment to bringing home a newborn than most parents actually are experiencing! My passion is to do just that! I love to partner with parents and help new families overcome the challenges that a new child brings. I can help parents enjoy this time and set up best practices that will result in a smooth transition for them and their newborn.
TLC: Do you plan on taking other newborn classes on line?
Sue: There are many courses offered not only online but also in person, several are listed on the NCSA (Newborn Care Specialist Association) website and others can be found through networking. I look forward to continuing my education as standards of practice are always changing and there is always more to learn!
I am still working on my certification. To become certified through the NCSA a person must: 1. Complete a course that is approved by the NCSA. 2. Successfully pass the NCSA’s membership test. 3. Complete internship hours or have 2 years experience working with newborns.
Not only have I taken the online class with Gentle Ventures, I also flew out to Arizona to attend an advanced course with Newborn Care Solutions. Right now I am about halfway to the goal of certification.
Thank you Sue for answering our questions about being a Newborn Care Specialist. If you would like to learn more about TLC for Kids and our newborn care visit our website or give us a call 314-725-5660 in St. Louis or 305-256-5905 in Florida.
Recovering from Childbirth
Your baby’s finally here! You are beyond happy, but you’re also exhausted, uncomfortable, and on an emotional roller coaster. You had no idea the first few weeks were going to be this hard.
New moms go through a lot of physical and emotional changes in the first few weeks after bringing home a baby. Physically your body will go through changes such as change in weight and sore breasts. Your body will also be healing from giving birth. Emotionally, new moms might experience baby blues or postpartum depression.
No new mom needs to go through this alone. TLC’s Newborn Specialists are experienced moms and caregivers who can help.
Our specialists are available to educate, support and assist you so you may enjoy your new role as mom. Visit TLC for Kids Miami or TLC for Kids St. Louis for more information on our Newborn Care Services.