Why seek support during the birthing year?
So here’s the thing…
No matter what happens, bringing a new baby into your life is a big deal. Whether your pregnancy is a breeze or a nightmare; whether your birth goes completely as planned or is a total surprise; whether caring for a newborn is the easiest thing you’ve ever done or the hardest; whether you birth or adopt or find yourself caring for a new little person in any other of the many ways that families are born. You just never know what will go “right” and what will go “wrong.”
Furthermore, very few people actually spend time doing the inner work to prepare themselves emotionally and energetically for the task of bearing and raising a child. We do our best. We read the books, we go to the prenatal yoga classes, we take the folic acid, we eat the green things. We work on what we can within our budget. But there is a whole world that opens up to new challenges once we make the decision to be a parent. Our priorities are challenged. Our boundaries are challenged. Our patience, beliefs, self-confidence and personal will are challenged. Not to mention navigating the medical system. And we’re expected to go through it like we know what we’re doing. The truth is, we’re rookies every day, whether this is your first or sixth kid – you’ve never lived this day before. Every challenge will be unique.
A Roadmap to the Highest Outcomes
If you approach becoming/being a parent as a truly multi-dimensional experience – physical, emotional, mental and spiritual – and seek guidance from trained and trusted professionals along the way, you will be able to make the most of one of life’s greatest miracles. Here is our recommended roadmap and timeline to help you make the most of it. The most important thing you can do is KNOW YOURSELF: what are your priorities? What are you willing to give up? What can’t you live without? The better you know what you need, the better we can support you. Alight Doula offers the best tools in the world to connect you to the kind of inner knowing that allows you to make the best decisions for you and your family, along with the practical support to get you through the days where everything is spit up!
Before the baby comes…
Step 1 – Spiritual Empowerment
If you’re trying to conceive, pregnant, or otherwise anticipating the arrival of a new little one, start with Life Activation & Empower Thyself. It’s important to note, there’s no wrong time to take advantage of these steps – it’s just particularly awesome if you can manage to get them done before baby comes. Life Activation will help you navigate decisions with a clearer connection to who you are and what’s important to you. Empower Thyself is like a whole system upgrade to expand your energetic capacity and protect you from taking on other people’s “stuff,” to name just a few benefits.
Step 2 – Physical Vitality
To paraphrase the venerable spiritual teacher Amma, to be truly healthy, our bodies need to move and our minds need to be still – but more often than not, the opposite is true. This is even more important during the incredible process of pregnancy.
So if you’re able – move your body!
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- Find a physical practice that feels good. We like pre-natal yoga at DownUnder Yoga, but there are tons of free online resources too! If you have any physical limitations, reach out for community resources. Movement should be productive, fun, and accessible for all, especially during pregnancy.
- Maintain optimal nerve function with regular chiropractic care. Our favorite Boston area practitioners are Dr. Nick Penzarella (Somerville), Dr. Sean Carey (North Shore), and Dr. Tim Murzycki (MetroWest). BONUS – all three of these incredible practitioners also provide newborn care!
- Experience a total repatterning of your movements, and build the physical strength required for labor, with individual training – we love Everett Hoffman, functional patterns trainer in JP.
And Feed that belly!
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- Alight Doula & Healing offers dedicated meal prep & planning for a wide variety of goals and dietary needs. But also, it’s DELICIOUS.
- Educate yourself on the proper needs of your growing body. There’s a ton of information out there, sometimes conflicting. A good place to start is with whole foods nutrition, avoiding toxins wherever possible, and adding supplements under the direction of your health care provider. We love the Medical Medium blog for fresh, healthy, healing recipes all year round.
Step 3 – Mental Clarity
Cleanse your mind to prepare for all that’s to come!
There is no shortcut to a quiet mind. Meditation IS the shortcut. But that doesn’t mean it has to be difficult. Meditation classes are an amazing way to access deep relaxation and guidance without having to do all the work yourself. The discipline you build with consistent practice will serve you beyond anything you could imagine as you face the challenges of parenting. Alight Doula offers one-on-one instruction, or we can refer you to an instructor near you.
Learn more about Max Meditation System™.
If you’re giving birth…
Step 1 – Doula Support
No matter where or how you give birth, if it’s at all possible – hire a doula! Doulas improve birth outcomes, period. If cost is a concern, consider asking for donations on your baby registry to put towards a birth and/or post-partum doula, check out whether your insurance offers reimbursement, or inquire about payment plans. Some doulas even work for no fee or a low fee if they are in training for certification! In January 2019, Massachusetts passed a bill to cover up to $1500 towards the cost of a birth doula who has registered as a MassHealth provider, and other states are doing the same. Research with your insurance to see what’s covered.
Step 2 – Spiritual/Energy Support
To take your birth to the next level, consider your options for energetic support. Sacred geometry, Ensofic Reiki, and Baby Blessings are incredibly powerful tools that protect the energy of your space and promote relaxation and peace during the birthing process.
Post-partum…
Hurray! Baby made it Earth-side! Now what??
Step 1 – Post-partum Doula Support
Take stock of where you’re at. Do you have help from family or friends in the area? Are you physically recovering from birth? How much time do you have before returning to work, if that’s your plan? These are all questions that we will navigate together, ideally before baby comes, but after is ok too. Post-partum doulas offer the practical and emotional support that completes your village – and it definitely takes a village!
More information about Alight Doula Services can be found here.
Step 2 – Adapt… and Adapt Again
Maybe you don’t need as much help as you thought you would. Maybe you thought you’d be ok and you’re not. No matter what’s coming up for you, Alight Doula can help. Post-partum care involves providing resources and referring out when necessary, along with all the practical help necessary to run a household, care for newborns, and care for the people who love them. A typical visit might include light housekeeping, errands, meal prep, newborn or sibling care so parents can sleep/shower/feel like humans again.
