As a postpartum doula, one of the most common questions I hear is:

“Where should my baby sleep and how can I make sure it’s safe?”

So, let’s talk about it!

Whether you're a brand-new parent or welcoming your third baby, navigating sleep safety can feel like a maze. You hear one thing from your mom, another from your pediatrician, and then TikTok throws in something completely different. So let’s clear the noise and talk about what the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) actually recommends when it comes to safe sleep.

You did it! You brought your baby home!

Now what?

The first week postpartum is raw, beautiful, emotional, and often overwhelming. As a postpartum doula, I’ve walked alongside many families in these early days, and one thing is always true: you’re not supposed to know how to do it all.

This post is here to gently prepare you, ease the stress, and remind you, you’re doing better than you think.

If you're feeding your baby formula, whether by choice, by necessity, or somewhere in between, you deserve nothing but support.

Yet somehow, parents who use formula are still made to feel like they have to explain themselves.

I'm here to say: you don’t.

Your feelings are valid.

Let’s talk about formula feeding with honesty, kindness, and zero judgment.

Whether you’re exclusively pumping, combo feeding, or using bottles occasionally, how you feed your baby is just as important as what you feed them!

Enter: paced bottle feeding. A gentle, responsive feeding method that mimics breastfeeding and supports baby’s ability to self-regulate. It’s one of the most important bottle-feeding techniques I teach as a postpartum doula.

When we talk about the postpartum period, we often hear about the “baby blues” or postpartum depression, but what about postpartum anxiety?

If your mind feels like it’s constantly racing, or you’re overwhelmed with "what if" thoughts that make it hard to rest, you're not alone. Postpartum anxiety is common, real, and treatable and the more we talk about it, the more we can support new parents through it!

Welcoming a new baby into the family is a huge change and not just for parents, but for older siblings too!

If you’re expecting another little one and wondering how your first child will handle it, you’re not alone. Feelings can range from excitement and curiosity to confusion and even jealousy and that’s okay.

Here’s how you can help your older child feel seen, supported, and included in this big family shift.

You’ve probably packed the hospital bag and built the crib, but have you planned for your postpartum recovery?

We spend so much time preparing for birth that it’s easy to forget about what happens after. That’s where this checklist comes in. Think of it as your gentle guide to building a soft landing for your postpartum journey. One that’s calm, supported, and ready for real life with a newborn!

One of the biggest surprises for many new parents is just how unpredictable (and exhausting) newborn sleep can be.

If you’re wondering:

“Why does my baby sleep all day and party all night?”

“Is it normal for them to wake up so much?”

“Shouldn’t they be on a schedule by now?”

“Will I ever sleep again?!”

You're not alone and you're not doing anything wrong. Let's walk through what's normal when it comes to newborn sleep, and how you can gently support better rest for your baby (and for you).

Welcoming a baby into the world is a life-changing experience filled with love, exhaustion, wonder, and big emotions. One of the most common things I see in my work as a postpartum doula is new parents wondering: “Is what I’m feeling normal?”

Let’s talk about two very real, but very different post-birth experiences: the baby blues and postpartum depression (PPD). Knowing the difference can help you or someone you love get the right support when it’s needed most.

(And Why More Families in Raleigh, NC Are Choosing It)

Bringing a new baby into the world can be beautiful, but for many parents, it’s also exhausting, emotional, and unexpectedly hard. The early days of parenthood, known as the fourth trimester, are full of changes: physical recovery, hormonal shifts, sleep deprivation, and the deep emotional work of bonding with a newborn.

In a world that often tells parents to “bounce back” quickly, too many are left feeling overwhelmed and alone. This is where postpartum doulas step in and why their support is changing lives for families in Raleigh and beyond.