Chandler, Arizona
Sweet Pea ​Births
Sweet Pea ​Births
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
Blog
Top 10 PostPartum Tips
Posted on May 22, 2015 at 7:12 PM |
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Winterize Your Body
Posted on November 8, 2013 at 8:27 AM |
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Meet the Doula: Sue
Posted on June 30, 2013 at 10:41 PM |
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Sue Marquis, PCD(DONA) is new to the area, having just moved from Michigan to Arizona
in the last month. Welcome to the heat, Sue!! Thank you to our
friends at Modern Mommy for helping us make the connection! When was the first time you heard the word, “doula”? I had probably heard the word previously but did not know what it was until my son told me that my first grandchild would be delivered at a birthing center with the assistance of a doula. How did you decide that becoming a postpartum doula was part of your journey? After my granddaughter was born, my son and daughter-in-law told me about postpartum doulas and what their role is. I absolutely loved the idea of becoming one, and I knew that it would be something that I could do well at - and be passionate about! How long have you been a postpartum doula? I have been certified since October 2012 and started working with families in January 2013. Regarding training, I completed the Professional Education in Breastfeeding training in September of 2012 and the Doulas of North America (DONA) Postpartum Doula Workshop in October 2012. My certification through DONA International is official as of today! What do you enjoy the most about being a postpartum doula? I love working with, and helping the families. Just as each family dynamic is different, there are countless ways a postpartum doula can help a family. A doula needs to be able to determine the needs of each family and help each one in the best way for them. I find tailoring my approach to their specific needs to be very rewarding, and families are so grateful for the support and help. Some of the areas a postpartum doula can help with are breastfeeding support and consultation, diapering, cooking, laundry, and family life adjustments to the new baby. What is your philosophy when you go into a family’s living space? I try to get some background ahead of time so that I have an idea of what the family needs will be. My philosophy is to be non-judgmental and respect their right to parent in their own way. I make sure to respect their privacy and make confidentiality a priority. How do you work with the new parents? Since this can be a very stressful time in their lives as well as an exciting one, I try to be supportive, nurturing, warm and confident so they know they can trust me to be in their home and help them with their precious newborn. What is the toughest situation you have ever dealt with? How did you handle it? I used to run a daycare, so my postpartum doula experiences have not seemed very tough in comparison! Nonetheless, one situation that sticks out in my memory was when a father questioned me about how a postpartum doula was different than a nanny. I think the reason he asked was because the couple had just had a set of twins, and all the mom wanted me to do was take care of the babies so she could sleep. To him, it seemed I was simply babysitting. I explained to him that what I do is much more than taking care of infants; I told him that a Postpartum Doula offers education, companionship and in-home support for families with infants. Basically, taking care of the babies was helping to take care of the mom. He seemed to understand better after my explanation. What keeps you working as a postpartum doula? I love the feeling that comes with helping and supporting others. I find that parents are, for the most part, very appreciative for the help they are receiving. And I love babies! What does your fee cover – how many visits or hours? Is there a different charge for a shorter or longer-term agreement? I charge a fee of $18.00 an hour. That fee covers assistance with newborn care, family adjustment, nursing support and help with light household needs. The number of visits and hours is up to the individual family. If it is a longer term agreement, I am certainly open to offering a lower hourly rate or a package deal. Do you offer any other services to your clients? I know some doulas have specialties in other areas, and I appreciate that. However, since being a postpartum doula is somewhat new for me, I am not yet offering any other services. That may change in the future. Just for fun, what do you do when you are not doula-ing? I love to spend time with my family, especially my granddaughter, who turns 1 this month. I have been a hospice volunteer. I also like to bowl, and I enjoy watching most sports. If you would like to contact Sue to arrange an interview, here is her information: 313-574-2080 Cell 313-586-8313 Alternate number 480-625-4816 Alternate local number Website: lighthousedoula.com Emails: [email protected] or [email protected] Would you find the services of a postpartum doula to be beneficial? *I think* that the amount of traffic you so generously generate has led to a lot of spam posting. In an effort to keep the spam to a minimum, I am taking the time to moderate comments now. Disclaimer: The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
An Inside Look: Blue Russ Holistic Health Coaching
Posted on June 2, 2013 at 12:22 AM |
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How did you get started in
the field of nutrition? What is your favorite part of what you do?
I have so many favorite
parts! The spark in a client's eye as they articulate exactly what their next
step is, the one they are ready for, the one that will change everything. The
relief in a mother's voice when her children or husband actually enjoy their
green veggies. Helping women connect with each other, sparking lively,
life-changing conversation. The learning and growing I experience with every
single session and class. I could go on and on… How does a family participate in your services?
My philosophy is that guilt, blame, shame,
calorie counting and strict dieting all lead to needless suffering. It is
through understanding and honoring ourselves that we make quality choices. I
see my role as facilitating and strengthening the connection a mother has with
her inner wisdom.
In practical terms, I offer one-on-one health
coaching, cooking classes, workshops and online programs. All are designed to
help moms reach a higher level of health and joy in their lives. The
transformations I witness are beyond belief - I've supported women through
ending their sugar addiction, taking control of their children's health, losing
weight, changing careers, finally finding true love and much more.
My favorite is working with women one-on-one in
my 6-month program. This gives her the chance to take it step by step, avoid
overwhelm and we have time to explore all areas of her life. I consider primary
foods to be what's going on her life, not what she eats. Primary foods include
relationships, physical activity, career and spirituality. If these areas of
life are not simultaneously addressed, even the most perfect diet will do
nothing to improve her health. How can you help a family when they are
expecting? Do you offer any classes for postpartum
health?
Yes! In addition to my other
program options, I have a new offering just for the postpartum period! I call
it "Eat Well for Two" and it involves a day of food prep, recipes,
pantry make-over and health strategy session, all in the comfort of the new
mother’s home. How do you coach a family through first foods
and starting solids?
There are a variety of ways
to introduce solids into a baby’s diet. Each family is different and I work
with their unique situation to discover what is best. In general, breastfeeding
for as long as possible and introducing foods at about 6 months is best. Most
babies experiment with food long before they are ready to eat it. I say let
them at it! I see my role as assisting parents in listening to their intuition
and baby’s cues in order to confidently introduce foods. I offer information
and recommendations but ultimately it has to feel right within the family! How can we get our family to eat healthy
greens that we know we are supposed to eat - the variety and the scope can be
so intimidating! Is there anything else our families
should know about your services, and the classes you offer?
I am passionate about helping moms live a
vibrant life. Being a mother may be the most challenging job in the world, but
it is also the most enjoyable when mom is at her best - not to mention the
ripple effect into the next generation and the planet! It's not about guilt, it's
about power. We have the power to make the world better than we found it!
I encourage all moms to go to my website, check
me out and sign up for my e-newsletter to get tips, recipes and event
invitations. Right now I am offering a
free menu planner to all new subscribers, available immediately when you sign
up! Do you have on-line options for clients who
are not able to join a class in person? I offer four different programs online
throughout the year. The next one starts on June 10 and is called “Vegan for a
Week.” Having a menu plan, recipes, shopping list and group support will go a
long way to increase participants’ vegetable intake. I’m not 100% vegan myself
nor am I interested in pushing any single diet, but I do think that there are
several dietary theories that are worth exploring, including the vegan diet.
I also offer webinars from time to time. The
best way to be up to date on my online offerings is to sign up for my
newsletter at
Have you ever considered a health coach? What would you get help with? Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and
posted. *I think* that the amount of traffic you so generously
generate has led to a lot of spam posting. In an effort to keep the spam
to a minimum, I am taking the time to moderate comments now. The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Mama Time
Posted on February 26, 2013 at 2:16 PM |
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Then something occurs to us - "when" is a matter of time. They are here with you forever. You will never go back to your life before baby. Your time is not going to be “yours” again for a pretty long time. How we come to terms with this reality is completely up to us. Whether we stay home with them or work outside of the home, we will find a strange dichotomy of wanting to be with our children and sometimes wanting to be away from them, too. Add to that a partner who also needs time and attention to keep your relationship as healthy as possible. What to do? Having worked both in and out of the home, I found that I was at my best as a wife and mother when I took care of myself. Here are some questions that I asked myself to make sure I was on track so that I could take care of others (and it's about time for another self-assesment!). Along with checking in with myself every so often, I use Lotus Wei Flower Essences and indulge in Wei of Chocolate flower-essence infused chocolates to tide me over until my next opportunity to re-charge my own battery. What makes me feel happy? The world of advertising and mainstream media wants us to believe we need things to make us happy. You may have discovered that happiness brought by “things” is fleeting. I believe that lasting happiness is self-driven: it is internal and it can be persistent if we can convince ourselves to find joy and gratitude on a regular basis. In my experience, joy and gratitude are easier to bask in when we are feeding our souls – think back to the things that brought us joy as children before “reality” set in – can you do those things and involve your child? Is it a good book? A conversation with a friend? Deep breathes of fresh air? A form of exercise you enjoy? A hobby we enjoyed before we had children? What do we do that brings a smile to our face? When you can identify those things and then work them into your days often enough to make a difference, then we can start to make joy internal. If you are counting on things or people to make you happy, it is going to be a pretty bumpy ride. When you make your own happiness, it is more likely to be smooth sailing. What do we do to “plug-in” and get more “juice” for the rest of the day-week-month-year? The easiest way to gather energy as a new mama is to heed the advice to “sleep when the baby is sleeping”. For some of us, that is harder than others. I found that by putting a timeline (I will do this for this week) or area (keep this one room tidy), it was easier for me to let go and get the rest I needed in the postpartum period. As the kiddos get older, I am claiming some time outside of my busy-ness attending meetings. It can be as simple as making sure they are cared for so that I can take an uninterrupted shower complete with a full skin-care routine. On the days when it can be arranged, In Their Own Words: Shara
Postpartum Ideas
Some Homebirth Secrets Revealed
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