Top 10 Pregnancy Books Recommended by Birth Doulas
If the idea of pregnancy and birth makes you nervous, you’re not alone. For something so natural, sometimes it doesn’t feel like you know what you’re doing. And that’s okay! We weren’t meant to do this alone. Thankfully, there are some great resources out there. Our award-winning doulas at Gold Coast Doulas have rounded up […]
Intuitive Mothering with Dr. Gertrude Lyons: Podcast Episode #277
Kristin Revere talks with Gertrude Lyons, author of Rewrite the Mother Code. She also hosts a podcast with the same name and offers coaching services. Hello, hello! This is Kristin Revere with Ask the Doulas, and I am thrilled to chat with Dr. Gertrude Lyons today. Our topic is all about intuitive mothering. Over the […]
Baby Sleep Tips for Exhausted Parents [From an Overnight Doula]
The average parent loses 133 nights of sleep before their baby turns one. No wonder you’re exhausted. And while sleepless nights are often part of the parenting journey, it doesn’t mean you have to just power through with no direction. Here’s something you might not know: overnight doulas are filled with valuable insights on how […]
Why I Decided To Hire A Doula
Written by Garrett Wood Kusmierz, CEO and founder of kozēkozē, a perinatal products company on a mission to reduce the mess and stress of motherhood so that moms can better bond with their babies. I want to start by saying that my situation is a little unique—not only did my doula find me but, in […]
Green Beginnings: Six Essential Tips for a Safe, Low EMF Nursery
Guest blog post by Rebecca Pickett of Bebcare Low EMF Emissions Baby Monitors Creating an eco-friendly, green nursery is more than just a trend; it’s a commitment to the health and well-being of the newest addition to your family. By choosing non-toxic, sustainable materials, you’re reducing your baby’s exposure to harmful chemicals or wireless emissions […]
Did you forget something?
Gold Coast Doulas asked Heidi McDowell to guest blog on the topic of preparing your body for childbirth. Heidi is a yoga teacher at Mind, Body, Baby, a doula, a wife, and most importantly, a mama. Her goal is to create a community space for you that feels safe, supportive, and empowering. She holds certifications […]
How to Create a Low Emissions Nursery for Your Baby
If you are expecting a baby or have a newborn at home, you may be wondering how to create a safe and healthy environment for them. One of the aspects that you may not have considered is the level of emissions in your baby’s nursery. Emissions are the invisible waves of energy that are emitted […]
Finding Your Footing in Early Parenthood
Deb Porter, Owner of HOLD Hearing Out Life Drama, helps individuals improve their communication by teaching active listening skills resulting in positive outcomes. Deb also provides a safe, non-judgmental space so that those who use HOLD’s confidential listening service gain clarity and find relief from overwhelming situations. When Reality Doesn’t Match Expectations: You’ve dreamed of […]
Breastfeeding and Infant Gut Health 101
Payal Adhikari, M.D. is a pediatrician and Clinical Implementation Director for Infinant Health. She grew up in the Chicago suburbs and lived in Singapore prior to settling in Chicago with her husband and two kids. She encourages her patients to have fun with parenting and believes in the power of the microbiome to influence positive […]
The Power of Distraction
We often think of distractions as negative. We may get distracted by all the to-dos on our list, and it’s hard to stay focused on work or give our full attention to someone. Our kids may get distracted while getting dressed, or for older kids maybe it’s while doing homework. But let’s reframe distractions. They […]
Connection and Compassion Are Key
I’ve said it a lot; there is no one-size-fits-all solution to sleep, but this applies to parenting in general as well. Many parents will read about certain techniques, and even follow specific scripts with older children, but if they don’t work, parents feel like they have failed or there is something wrong with their kid. […]
Potty Training with Christine Brown: Episode #158
Kristin and Christine Brown, owner of Bella Luna Family, discuss top potty training tips and infant sleep. Welcome. You’re listening to Ask the Doulas, a podcast where we talk to experts from all over the country about topics related to pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and early parenting. Let’s chat! Kristin: Hello, hello. This is Kristin with […]
Pregnancy Loss
Remember the story of Pandora’s Box? In Greek mythology, the story goes something like this: Pandora, told she could not open the lid of a box given to her or her husband from Zeus, finally lets curiosity get the best of her and opens the box. Immediately, out comes all the troubles that humanity would […]
Autumn To-Do: 5 Ways to Optimize Finances
Summertime is drawing to a quick close! As we ease back into the school year, gear up for holiday seasons, and bid adieu to 2022, the following are some tips that our wealth management clients have found valuable to incorporate. It may feel like spare moments are dwindling in the final weeks of summer, but […]
Perfectionism in Parenting
Growing up, many of us were taught to do as we were told, don’t disrupt the norm, and don’t disappoint others. This leads to a perfectionist mindset where we can never do anything right or never be good enough. There will always be someone who is let down, disagrees, or finds something unacceptable. Even if […]
Harnessing the Power of Stem Cells Through Cord Blood Banking
Stem cells are special human cells that have the potential to become many different types of cells, such as brain cells, muscles cells, and more. These cells have the potential to treat, or even sometimes reverse diseases that have left patients of the past without effective options. Umbilical cord blood banking provides potential treatments for […]
Newborn Sleep – What New Parents Should Expect
New parents often have unrealistic expectations about sleep when they bring a baby home. Some parents think they will get to sleep a lot because a newborn sleeps a lot. I’ve heard other parents say they don’t think they will get any sleep for weeks or months. I’m here to tell you that neither of […]
My family is growing, and my home needs to as well!
Need a bigger house but don’t know where to start? The idea of finding a house that checks all the boxes while you’re growing your family sounds daunting. I promise we can make it happen. Have you been to Target multiple times to buy new storage containers, totes, and any other organization hacks, but still […]
5 Tips to Build a Low EMF Emissions Home for Your Baby
Guest blog post by Andrew from Bebcare Low Emissions Baby Monitor Parents are deeply concerned about the safety of their baby. Why wouldn’t they be? Your baby is your bundle of joy and the most precious. With the abundance of wireless devices these days, EMF radiation is a hot topic amongst parents. In this blog […]
How to get my baby to sleep through the night.
This is probably the most commonly asked sleep question for parents, and unfortunately there isn’t an easy answer! There are many factors involved when attempting to answer this question. It can depend on things like: How old is your baby? How much do they eat? How often do they eat? Were they premature? Do they […]
How the Pandemic Positively Affected Working Out From Home!
The original owner, Marissa Andersen, and I (Sarah Greidanus) soon-to-be owner, went into 2020 knowing that it would be a big year for our business – FIT4MOM Grand Rapids. Marissa was passing on the reins to me after being in the helm for over 8 years. The transition was underway and everything was scheduled to […]
What I Wish I Knew: Podcast Episode #104
Kristin and Alyssa, owners of Gold Coast Doulas, talk about the things they wish they had known before having a baby. Listen to this fun episode packed with advice and lots of little gold nuggets of information for new parents! You can listen to this complete podcast episode on iTunes or SoundCloud. Kristin: Welcome to […]
Top 5 Return To Learning Tips
Fall is almost upon us…chunky sweatshirts and boots, falling leaves and school…let’s take a look at how best to prepare mentally and physically for what returning to learning means to you and your family. First of all, you are NOT alone in your feelings of anxiety or vulnerability and it is exhausting living in the land of uncertainty. There are, however, a […]
Creating a Safe Sleep Space: Routers
Alyssa Veneklase talks with Lisa Tiedt, Building Biologist and owner of Well Abode, about creating health sanctuaries in our homes. You can watch this video on YouTube. Alyssa: Hi. It’s Alyssa and Lisa here again. This is Part 3 of our series on how to create a low EMF sleep space, and we’ve kind […]