4th Trimester Project

A Village for Mothers

Baby Care

Topics in Baby Care

Baby Facts

Mar 31, 2023
Knowing what you might expect as you feed your child in the early days and weeks of their life is helpful! Here are aspects of baby feeding that are typical: Stanford University offers videos developed by Dr. Jane Morton on a variety of infant feeding topics.

Baby Facts

Knowing what you might expect as you feed your child in the early days and weeks of their life is helpful! Here are aspects of baby feeding that are typical: Stanford University offers videos developed by Dr. Jane Morton on a variety of infant feeding topics.

Baby Wearing Basics and Safety

Mar 31, 2023
Baby wearing can be fun and useful, not only for when you are out and about but also around the home. Infants usually feel happy and settled when close to their caregivers. Using a tool like a wrap, sling, or carrier enables that connection while also freeing your arms and hands – hooray! Many families […]

Baby Wearing Basics and Safety

Baby wearing can be fun and useful, not only for when you are out and about but also around the home. Infants usually feel happy and settled when close to their caregivers. Using a tool like a wrap, sling, or carrier enables that connection while also freeing your arms and hands – hooray! Many families […]

Bonding with Other Children

Mar 31, 2023
There is no perfect answer for how to grow a family. Adjusting during the months right after the birth of a new baby is the most intense. There are some things that might help. Try to set aside special time for your older child(ren). Each parent should spend some one-on-one with the older child(ren) every […]

Bonding with Other Children

There is no perfect answer for how to grow a family. Adjusting during the months right after the birth of a new baby is the most intense. There are some things that might help. Try to set aside special time for your older child(ren). Each parent should spend some one-on-one with the older child(ren) every […]

Bottle, Cup, and Spoon Feeding

Mar 31, 2023
Babies can be fed by a variety of methods in the 4th Trimester and beyond. At-breast feeding is optimal for infant development, but may not be possible or desired. In addition to supplemental nursing systems, methods of feeding mother’s milk or formula include by bottle, cup, or spoon feeding. When using a bottle, never prop […]

Bottle, Cup, and Spoon Feeding

Babies can be fed by a variety of methods in the 4th Trimester and beyond. At-breast feeding is optimal for infant development, but may not be possible or desired. In addition to supplemental nursing systems, methods of feeding mother’s milk or formula include by bottle, cup, or spoon feeding. When using a bottle, never prop […]

Breast Care After Loss

Mar 31, 2023
Caring for your breast after the loss can be difficult. Here are some tips to help reduce pain and to stop milk production: For more details about breast care, pain, drying up for your milk, see the Breast section of our site. Resource: Breast Care After Your Baby Dies, DHHS

Breast Care After Loss

Caring for your breast after the loss can be difficult. Here are some tips to help reduce pain and to stop milk production: For more details about breast care, pain, drying up for your milk, see the Breast section of our site. Resource: Breast Care After Your Baby Dies, DHHS

Breastfeeding & Substances

Mar 31, 2023
Alcohol, smoking, and drugs (e.g. marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and other drugs) can go from the mother to the baby through breastmilk and/or by second-hand smoke.   For alcohol, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that “up to one drink per day is not known to be harmful to the baby, especially if the mother waits […]

Breastfeeding & Substances

Alcohol, smoking, and drugs (e.g. marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and other drugs) can go from the mother to the baby through breastmilk and/or by second-hand smoke.   For alcohol, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that “up to one drink per day is not known to be harmful to the baby, especially if the mother waits […]

Conditions for Additional Support

Mar 31, 2023
The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine has numerous free protocols on considerations and things to do in relation to breastfeeding with certain conditions. These topics include late preterm birth, NICU graduate, blood sugar, jaundice, tongue tie, low muscle tone, insulin-dependent diabetes, food allergies, and cleft lip or palate. Family, friends, and other supports will ideally listen […]

Conditions for Additional Support

The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine has numerous free protocols on considerations and things to do in relation to breastfeeding with certain conditions. These topics include late preterm birth, NICU graduate, blood sugar, jaundice, tongue tie, low muscle tone, insulin-dependent diabetes, food allergies, and cleft lip or palate. Family, friends, and other supports will ideally listen […]

Developmental Age and Reactions to Baby

Mar 31, 2023
Everyone is adjusting and will respond differently to a new baby and all the household upheaval that follows. Some of this may be changes in behavior, particularly among younger children, that may look like they are going back in time. Children under the age of four tend to have the greatest difficulty with the birth […]

Developmental Age and Reactions to Baby

Everyone is adjusting and will respond differently to a new baby and all the household upheaval that follows. Some of this may be changes in behavior, particularly among younger children, that may look like they are going back in time. Children under the age of four tend to have the greatest difficulty with the birth […]

Drying Up Your Milk

Mar 31, 2023
During pregnancy, hormones signal a woman’s body to prepare for milk production. Sometimes milk leaks from nipples prior to childbirth. For the first few days after birth, you may notice a thick, yellowish substance that can be expressed from your breasts. This is called colostrum. About 2-5 days after birth, colostrum will become whiter and […]

Drying Up Your Milk

During pregnancy, hormones signal a woman’s body to prepare for milk production. Sometimes milk leaks from nipples prior to childbirth. For the first few days after birth, you may notice a thick, yellowish substance that can be expressed from your breasts. This is called colostrum. About 2-5 days after birth, colostrum will become whiter and […]

Emotions & Baby Feeding

Mar 31, 2023
How we feel about infant feeding and how infant feeding is going is bidirectional. That means, supporting mothers’ emotions is important for baby care and women’s experiences of infant care impact emotions. This can be a positive cycle or a challenge. Ideally, health care team members and family and friends give mothers good support to […]

Emotions & Baby Feeding

How we feel about infant feeding and how infant feeding is going is bidirectional. That means, supporting mothers’ emotions is important for baby care and women’s experiences of infant care impact emotions. This can be a positive cycle or a challenge. Ideally, health care team members and family and friends give mothers good support to […]

Expressing

Mar 31, 2023
Mother’s milk can be expressed by hand, with a manual pump (operated by hand), or with a battery-operated or electric breast pump. The time it takes to express per session varies, but may average about 30 minutes. If using a pump, you can express one side at a time or both breasts at the same time. […]

Expressing

Mother’s milk can be expressed by hand, with a manual pump (operated by hand), or with a battery-operated or electric breast pump. The time it takes to express per session varies, but may average about 30 minutes. If using a pump, you can express one side at a time or both breasts at the same time. […]

Family Loss

Mar 31, 2023
Family Loss Each member of your family experienced connections with your child differently. As a result, each family member may go through the grieving process in a different way. To help each other grieve, build a safe space that promotes open communication, vulnerability, and mutual support. The loss of a young or unborn child is […]

Family Loss

Family Loss Each member of your family experienced connections with your child differently. As a result, each family member may go through the grieving process in a different way. To help each other grieve, build a safe space that promotes open communication, vulnerability, and mutual support. The loss of a young or unborn child is […]

First Conversations

Mar 31, 2023
You may have shared the news of your pregnancy with others or maybe you made the decision to keep it to yourself for a while. But now you have been given the news that your child is no longer with you. Hearing and feeling the words that your child no longer has a heartbeat can […]

First Conversations

You may have shared the news of your pregnancy with others or maybe you made the decision to keep it to yourself for a while. But now you have been given the news that your child is no longer with you. Hearing and feeling the words that your child no longer has a heartbeat can […]

Formula

Mar 31, 2023
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers guidance on infant formula. Babies younger than age 12 months who are fed formula should be given a product specifically designed to meet their nutritional needs. Formula for toddlers, homemade infant formula, and formula imported from outside of the United States is not recommended.  According to […]

Formula

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers guidance on infant formula. Babies younger than age 12 months who are fed formula should be given a product specifically designed to meet their nutritional needs. Formula for toddlers, homemade infant formula, and formula imported from outside of the United States is not recommended.  According to […]

Human Milk Storage

Mar 31, 2023
Fresh milk is the highest quality for baby feeding, as refrigeration and freezing impacts the properties over time and also provides opportunity for bacterial growth (like with all foods). When storing expressed milk, consider doing so in increments similar to what you baby might use per feeding.  The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) outlines milk […]

Human Milk Storage

Fresh milk is the highest quality for baby feeding, as refrigeration and freezing impacts the properties over time and also provides opportunity for bacterial growth (like with all foods). When storing expressed milk, consider doing so in increments similar to what you baby might use per feeding.  The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) outlines milk […]

Managing the NICU Environment

Mar 31, 2023
Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) are all designed differently. Some have private rooms where moms and babies stay together – with beds for moms. Others may have many infants in a single room or pod and hardly even a comfortable chair available much less a place to sleep. Regardless, NICUs often have a lot of […]

Managing the NICU Environment

Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) are all designed differently. Some have private rooms where moms and babies stay together – with beds for moms. Others may have many infants in a single room or pod and hardly even a comfortable chair available much less a place to sleep. Regardless, NICUs often have a lot of […]

Managing Time and Support

Mar 31, 2023
Going from 1 to 2 children, 2 to 3 children, or 3 to more children while recovering from pregnancy, labor, and delivery is not easy! Finding time for self care with even one infant takes some doing – caring for yourself, baby, and other children is definitely a challenge. Fortunately, you have experience from your […]

Managing Time and Support

Going from 1 to 2 children, 2 to 3 children, or 3 to more children while recovering from pregnancy, labor, and delivery is not easy! Finding time for self care with even one infant takes some doing – caring for yourself, baby, and other children is definitely a challenge. Fortunately, you have experience from your […]

Medications and Herbal Supplements

Mar 31, 2023
The safety of medications differ for mom-baby dyads between pregnancy and postpartum. Determining what treatment is most appropriate in any given situation can feel overwhelming, especially when your health care provider may not be very familiar with medications and breastfeeding. There are several free resources that can provide up-to-date information on medications in breastfeeding: For […]

Medications and Herbal Supplements

The safety of medications differ for mom-baby dyads between pregnancy and postpartum. Determining what treatment is most appropriate in any given situation can feel overwhelming, especially when your health care provider may not be very familiar with medications and breastfeeding. There are several free resources that can provide up-to-date information on medications in breastfeeding: For […]

Milk Supply

Mar 31, 2023
Women may experience under or oversupply of milk. Like “birth works,” breastfeeding too generally goes well. However, like with all aspects of our bodies, problems sometimes arise. Dr. Alison Stuebe has coined the term “lactastrophe” so referring to such problems. In addition to breast pain, conditions of concern include under or oversupply of milk. Undersupply […]

Milk Supply

Women may experience under or oversupply of milk. Like “birth works,” breastfeeding too generally goes well. However, like with all aspects of our bodies, problems sometimes arise. Dr. Alison Stuebe has coined the term “lactastrophe” so referring to such problems. In addition to breast pain, conditions of concern include under or oversupply of milk. Undersupply […]

New Baby Health Information One-Pager

Sep 25, 2023
Below, you can view the new baby health information one-pager, along with an overview for ideas to introduce and use the tool in practice. These are helpful for clinics to distribute at discharge or during postpartum visits. < Resources

New Baby Health Information One-Pager

Below, you can view the new baby health information one-pager, along with an overview for ideas to introduce and use the tool in practice. These are helpful for clinics to distribute at discharge or during postpartum visits. < Resources

Nighttime

Mar 31, 2023
Nighttime feeding and sleep are hard to cope with, especially in the first weeks. The Baby’s Sleep section provides an overview of common infant sleep patterns – most newborns sleep often but for short periods of time. Breastfeeding or expressing milk generally matches this pattern, with infant feeding occurring every few hours or more, around […]

Nighttime

Nighttime feeding and sleep are hard to cope with, especially in the first weeks. The Baby’s Sleep section provides an overview of common infant sleep patterns – most newborns sleep often but for short periods of time. Breastfeeding or expressing milk generally matches this pattern, with infant feeding occurring every few hours or more, around […]

Nurturing Your Baby

Mar 31, 2023
When feeding baby there are some important things to know. In almost every situation, mother’s own milk is the biologically best milk for her baby. Human milk provides the nutrients baby needs to grow and be as healthy as possible. Human milk is easy for baby to digest; it changes in relation to surroundings and […]

Nurturing Your Baby

When feeding baby there are some important things to know. In almost every situation, mother’s own milk is the biologically best milk for her baby. Human milk provides the nutrients baby needs to grow and be as healthy as possible. Human milk is easy for baby to digest; it changes in relation to surroundings and […]

Postpartum Visit After Loss

Mar 31, 2023
A postpartum appointment after a loss is used to make sure that you are recovering from the birth. Your provider may talk with you about how you feel physically, discuss genetic test results, birth control options, and if and when you might want to try again. This can be a difficult conversation. But having a […]

Postpartum Visit After Loss

A postpartum appointment after a loss is used to make sure that you are recovering from the birth. Your provider may talk with you about how you feel physically, discuss genetic test results, birth control options, and if and when you might want to try again. This can be a difficult conversation. But having a […]

Premature Birth and Breastfeeding

Mar 31, 2023
Premature (early) birth (babies born before 37 weeks of pregnancy) can be a hard experience for a mother and family. In the United States, 1 in every 10 infants are born preterm to non-Hispanic White mothers. The rate of preterm birth is greater for non-Hispanic Black mothers. After preterm birth, many babies need additional support. […]

Premature Birth and Breastfeeding

Premature (early) birth (babies born before 37 weeks of pregnancy) can be a hard experience for a mother and family. In the United States, 1 in every 10 infants are born preterm to non-Hispanic White mothers. The rate of preterm birth is greater for non-Hispanic Black mothers. After preterm birth, many babies need additional support. […]

Safer Sleep

Mar 31, 2023
Sleep and safety around sleep arrangements is important for everyone in the family. There are steps you can take to making sure that baby’s sleep environment is as safe as possible. The American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) recommends that babies sleep safest alone (on a separate surface from their parents, siblings, or pets), on their […]

Safer Sleep

Sleep and safety around sleep arrangements is important for everyone in the family. There are steps you can take to making sure that baby’s sleep environment is as safe as possible. The American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) recommends that babies sleep safest alone (on a separate surface from their parents, siblings, or pets), on their […]

Seeking Support

Mar 31, 2023
How are you? What can I do to help? Do you need anything? All questions that seem to flood your daily conversations. Everyone wants to help in one way or another. But for you, it can seem like an overwhelming feat to answer these seemingly simple questions. So you respond, “I’m fine.” Two simple words […]

Seeking Support

How are you? What can I do to help? Do you need anything? All questions that seem to flood your daily conversations. Everyone wants to help in one way or another. But for you, it can seem like an overwhelming feat to answer these seemingly simple questions. So you respond, “I’m fine.” Two simple words […]

Spirituality

Mar 31, 2023
For many, acknowledging the spiritual aspect of a loss is a part of the grief process. Questions about faith and spirituality are inevitable when you have a loss. You may notice that your faith is tested or challenged. Some people might find a lot of comfort in their faith community. Others may find that the […]

Spirituality

For many, acknowledging the spiritual aspect of a loss is a part of the grief process. Questions about faith and spirituality are inevitable when you have a loss. You may notice that your faith is tested or challenged. Some people might find a lot of comfort in their faith community. Others may find that the […]

Taking Care of You

Mar 31, 2023
Women with infants in hospital intensive care nurseries (also called units) are more likely to have had a c-section, a scary birth experience, and to have chronic health conditions compared to other moms. At the same time, moms are often so intensely focused on their babies, that they (and others) forget about their own well-being. […]

Taking Care of You

Women with infants in hospital intensive care nurseries (also called units) are more likely to have had a c-section, a scary birth experience, and to have chronic health conditions compared to other moms. At the same time, moms are often so intensely focused on their babies, that they (and others) forget about their own well-being. […]

The Balancing Act

Mar 31, 2023
While it is hard for new moms to balance taking care of a newborn, themselves, and other children / family members, this becomes very challenging with a baby in the hospital. Some moms struggle with the need for sleep as well as the need for being in the NICU with their baby. Some families have […]

The Balancing Act

While it is hard for new moms to balance taking care of a newborn, themselves, and other children / family members, this becomes very challenging with a baby in the hospital. Some moms struggle with the need for sleep as well as the need for being in the NICU with their baby. Some families have […]

Transitioning

Mar 31, 2023
Becoming a parent of more than one child produces important change in your role as caregiver, the experiences of family members, and how the family functions as group. In the midst of all this change, be patient with yourself and the process. For example, don’t put too much weight on your older children’s initial reactions […]

Transitioning

Becoming a parent of more than one child produces important change in your role as caregiver, the experiences of family members, and how the family functions as group. In the midst of all this change, be patient with yourself and the process. For example, don’t put too much weight on your older children’s initial reactions […]

Transitioning Home from the NICU

Mar 31, 2023
Taking your baby home from the birthing facility is an exciting and joyful event. This transition can also cause anxiety and feelings of nervousness, especially for parents of babies that have needed extra care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Getting settled in these situations, whether your baby was in the hospital for a […]

Transitioning Home from the NICU

Taking your baby home from the birthing facility is an exciting and joyful event. This transition can also cause anxiety and feelings of nervousness, especially for parents of babies that have needed extra care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Getting settled in these situations, whether your baby was in the hospital for a […]

Weaning

Mar 31, 2023
The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for two years or beyond, as mutually desired by mom and baby. When you want to or need to wean (meaning stop milk production), it’s best for your body to do so gradually. If you are actively seeking to stop milk production, see information about drying up your milk. […]

Weaning

The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for two years or beyond, as mutually desired by mom and baby. When you want to or need to wean (meaning stop milk production), it’s best for your body to do so gradually. If you are actively seeking to stop milk production, see information about drying up your milk. […]

Workplace or School

Mar 31, 2023
There are many ways that places of work, schools, and other settings can accommodate infant feeding. Mothers and other infant caregivers should feel supported. Balancing infant feeding with other responsibilities takes time and emotional energy. The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine states that helpful strategies include: This booklet from the Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute has great […]

Workplace or School

There are many ways that places of work, schools, and other settings can accommodate infant feeding. Mothers and other infant caregivers should feel supported. Balancing infant feeding with other responsibilities takes time and emotional energy. The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine states that helpful strategies include: This booklet from the Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute has great […]

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