FAQs
- You offer quite a few different services for the postpartum period…how do we know which will work best for us?
- We’re taking a childbirth class—won’t we learn about newborns in that class?
- What makes these classes different from the hospital-based infant care class that all my friends have taken?
- Does a Postpartum Doula just come and take care of our baby for us?
- I’ve read lots of books all about newborns. How could I still benefit from these classes?
- I’ve read The Happiest Baby on the Block book and even have the DVD—why would I need a class on it?
- What if I only want to take one of the classes that you offer?
- Why attend an infant massage course when I can just rent a DVD?
{If you have a question that you don’t see here, please feel free to e-mail it to me here and I will be more than happy to not only answer it, but to also add it to my FAQ page.}
1. You offer quite a few different services for the postpartum period…how do I know which is best for us?
My services range from short-term to long-term depending on your needs. If you just have a few questions or concerns, a 15 or 30-minute Skype call through my Baby Helpline may be all you need. If you need a thorough education on your baby’s behavior and want a plan and specific techniques for how to deal with crying, sleep issues and learning how to soothe your baby, the 2 1/2 hour in-home Newborn Coaching could be for you. If you feel that you may require more long-term help with newborn care , care of the mother, overnight baby care, healthy food preparation, light household tasks and help with older siblings, Tranquil Family Postpartum Care would certainly fit your needs–this is especially good for moms who have had a c-section.
As your newborn gets a bit older (6 weeks to pre-crawling), you may enjoy taking a Blissful Babies infant massage class to learn a series of strokes and routines to help with issues such as soothing, improved sleep, less crying and helping with tummy troubles. Getting to meet other moms in your area is just icing on the cake!
2. We’re taking a childbirth class—won’t we learn about newborns in that class?
I feel confident in saying that the answer to that is more than likely no, not to the level that you should. I have taught a 10 week long childbirth class for the past 9 years and although I devote an entire 2 hour class to the postpartum period, I am never able to cover all of the important behavioral aspects of the newborn phase. This is important because it teaches parents what to expect and the reasons your baby behaves the way they do.
Most childbirth classes spend the majority of the postpartum class covering what happens directly following the birth in the hospital or birth center, bringing your baby home, caring for the mom, breastfeeding and very basic infant care. I saw a great need in my students to learn more and decided to fill it with the Tranquil Baby classes. There just isn’t enough time in a childbirth class to delve deep into newborn behavior, learn infant massage techniques and to develop a specific set of soothing skills for you, as parents, to use during that phase of your baby’s life.
3. What makes these classes different from the hospital-based infant care class that all my friends have taken?
The first, and biggest difference is the one-on-one interaction between you and I and the ability for me to completely personalize everything to meet the needs of you, your partner, but more importantly, the specific needs of your baby! This differs greatly from the sometimes 15-20 couples you will find at the hospital class. Even if you take a group class from me, the class size will be greatly limited so as to ensure plenty of personalization.
The other main difference is that the hospital class tends to focus more on the physical acts of caring for a newborn such as how to put a diaper on, how to care for the umbilical cord and how to use your car seat. While I will be more than happy to also help you with these things, my main goal is to have you truly understand your newborn’s behavior and have a set of skills in place to make your transition from a couple to a family of three (or more) a smooth and enjoyable one. I tend to focus more on the emotional and mental aspects of infant hood vs. just the physical ones.
4. Does a Postpartum Doula just come and take care of our baby for us?
No, the role of the postpartum doula is to assist the mother and father in any way necessary so that they can successfully parent their new baby. Most postpartum doulas will care for the baby short-term so that the mom can take a much-needed power nap or get a relaxing shower but our true role is to work ourselves out of a job by helping the mom to learn how to mother her baby. We do this by providing education on things like soothing and newborn sleep, cooking healthy meals and snacks for the family, helping out with older siblings, helping out with baby so mom can spend time with the older siblings, doing light housework and even taking care of the sometimes-now-neglected family pet.
Some doulas (such as myself), also offer overnight care and in this case, the doula is doing the majority of the baby care throughout the night so the parents can get a good night’s rest. If mom is breastfeeding, I will bring your baby to you when he wakes up so you can nurse and then I will change him and get him back to sleep. This can be especially beneficial for a mom who has had a c-section and can’t get in and out of bed repeatedly throughout the night.
5. I’ve read lots of books all about newborns. How could I still benefit from these classes?
Reading books is great but my goal with the Tranquil Baby classes is to help you tune into your own instincts as a parent and to learn to honor your wisdom rather than always looking to outside sources or “experts” for answers about your baby. After all, YOU are and always will be the true expert on your baby.
This is where the importance of a close connection, a deep trust and a secure attachment come into play and that is exactly what the Tranquil Baby classes will foster between you and your baby. Books are also written using generalizations. Every baby is unique with its own personality and disposition and that’s precisely why you will be the expert on your baby. What works for one baby might not work for another but you will know exactly what your baby needs because you will be tuned-into and connected to your baby.
6. I’ve read The Happiest Baby on the Block book and even have the DVD—why would I need a class on it?
While reading the book and watching the DVD are very helpful, it is still crucial to have a certified, trained instructor to demonstrate the many different aspects of “The Happiest Baby” techniques. As Dr. Karp states, it is very important that all of the steps are followed exactly and if one step is “off”, it can negatively affect the success of the process. I first introduce “The Happiest Baby” techniques in the “Prepping for Parenthood” class, but what really seals the deal is when I visit after you have given birth, for the “Soothing Solutions” class, and we can work together, one-on-one, with your baby, to review all of the steps and make sure you are completely comfortable with the process. This is where mastery of the techniques happens and where you gain confidence in your ability to successfully use “The Happiest Baby” calming techniques with your own baby.
Not only have I completed the certification process to be a certified parent educator, but also was also fortunate enough to be able to attend a training taught by Dr. Karp himself. Again, while the books and DVDs were great learning tools for me, nothing could beat leaning directly from Dr. Karp himself. This “hands-on” approach is what I hope to give to you!
7. Why attend an infant massage course when I can just rent a DVD?
While there are many books and videos available on Infant Massage, learning along with other parents or one-on-one, from a Certified Educator of Infant Massage (CEIM), is a more hands-on, interactive and personal experience.
I will teach each of the strokes one-by-one so you will feel comfortable and confident that you are doing them correctly and gain mastery over them. I will also help you understand your baby’s responses and can help answer any questions you may have about touch, bonding, attachment and other topics. During my Blissful Babies classes, you will also benefit from the interaction, knowledge and experience of other parents and their babies. It’s fun being around other parents who are going through the same phases that you are and can totally relate. Many of my classes go on to form playgroups and keep in touch long after the classes end!
The many benefits of taking an infant massage class will soon become apparent and will greatly benefit you and your baby!
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