Local & Online Resources
build your community
Childbirth Education
Beyond Labor - Becoming A Parent - group & private 6-classes sessions in New Orleans
Birthmark Doulas - 3-session childbirth education
Nola Nesting - in person and virtual classes
Motherboard Birth - online education and digital birth plan
If you have strong preferences for your birth, I highly suggest you take an out-of-hospital birthing course. Hospital courses are very basic.
Ochsner Baptist Childbirth Education Classes
Breastfeeding Support
If you need breastfeeding support, you can reach out to your doula or lactation specialist where you delivered. If you are having problems breastfeeding, I recommend an appointment or two with an IBCLC.
New Orleans Breastfeeding Center
Advanced Breastfeeding Medicine - Dr. Credo
Louisiana Breastfeeding Coalition - Resources
Pelvic Floor Therapy
I recommend at least one planned visit prenatally and postpartum to address appropriate birth prep and healing.
Local Parenting Support
Parenting Center at Children’s Hospital
Book Recommendations
Expecting Better, Emily Oster
The Birth Partner, Penny Simkin
Like A Mother, Angela Garbes
The Fourth Trimester, Kimberly Johnson
Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts, Karen Kleinman
Cribsheets, Emily Oster
What About Us, Karen Kleinman - partnership
Fair Play, Eve Rodsky - partnership
When Things Didn’t Go As Planned…. Grief, Trauma, Loss
I recommend a few prenatal or postpartum sessions with a doula or therapist to help you and your family communicate and adjust well to a newborn. Especially if there are complicated circumstances like infertility, NICU, birth trauma, loss, mental health struggles, etc, digesting your grief is an integral part to being a present parent and human. Here are some wonderful book, online, and podcast recommendations, and I’d also recommend a few sessions for your and your partner.
Here is a checklist that is helpful in examining your potential symptoms and risk factors - the more risk factors and symptoms present, the more support is recommended.
Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts, Karen Kleinman
I Had a Miscarriage, Jessica Zucker
Heal Your Birth Story, Maureen Campion
Finding Meaning, David Kessler
Return to Zero - still birth & infant loss
Saul’s Light - local NICU and Loss support
Postpartum Support International - information and online support group
Parenting Book & Podcast Recommendations
Okay, a couple pieces of unsolicited advice on parenting…
Parenting is NOT about perfection. Not even close.
Don’t get too far ahead of yourself in your parenting philosophies. How old is your child and what is their developmental capacity? Stick with where they are at.
Much of our parenting ability has to do with us and our capacity to regulate our own emotions, be self-reflective, and communicate with our kids and partners. Check in with yourself - what support and growth do you need? Can you apply these parenting philosophies kindly to your own inner-child?
Big Little Feelings - program, book, & podcast
Good Inside - program, book, & podcast
Raising Securely Attached Kids, Eli Harwood
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk, Faber & Mazlish
Hunt, Gather, Parent; Michaeleen Douchleff
Clinical Mental Health Support - Psychiatrists & Therapists
Perinatal Psychiatry - New Orleans
Dr. Meagan Vincent, Dr. Kendall Genre, Dr. Kara Brown
Therapists - New Orleans
Dr. Bridget Vacha, Hien Sanchez, LCSW, Re:birth Counseling Center, Dr. Anna Breuer
Virtual Resources
Mother to Baby Fact Sheets - clinical medical information on development, foods, medication effects, etc
Postpartum Support International - peer and clinical information, support, and connection to local and national mental health support. Call or text the PSI Helpline for professional or peer support - 1-800-944-4773