January, 2016 | Gold Coast Doulas

5 Quick Makeup Tips for New Mothers

Leave a Comment / Self-Care / Kristin Revere

Gold Coast Doulas is thrilled to present a guest blog from Christina Parrilla of Beauty by Christina. She is a self taught makeup artist and hair stylist. She started her business with the hope of creating incredible experiences for women of all ages, colors, and sizes. She feels that beauty is so much more than just lipstick and curls..beauty is looking in the mirror and having complete confidence in yourself. We were fortunate to have Christina assist at the first Gold Coast Doulas photo shoot. She did Kristin’s hair and makeup. We plan to hire her for future events. All photos are by The People Picture Company.

5 Quick Makeup Tips for New Mothers

Here are some quick tips for all the new moms who now have 10 minutes (or less) to get ready for the day.
Tip 1. Always have a face cream or moisturizer near by. Moisturizers are made for different skin types so make sure to check if the lotion you’re interested in is for dry/oily/or combination skin. I recommend using a day cream in the morning right after washing your face, that way you wake up feeling hydrated and fresh!

Olay Active Hydrating Beauty Fluid Lotion is an extremely affordable product, you can find it at most drug stores or super markets for $9.99 and it’s rated No. 17 on totalbeauty.com’s 18 best face moisturizers. If you don’t mind spending a little more on your lotion, La Roche-Posay Toleriane Fluid Soothing Protective Non-Oily Lotion is rated No.1 and sells for $29.99.

Tip 2. Make sure you are in the correct foundation. Having a good quality foundation is key to healthy-looking, radiant skin. When applying foundation you can use a beauty blender, brush, sponge, or even your finger. A little goes a long way, so always start with a drop and add from there. My favorite foundation at the minute is the NARS All Day Luminous Weightless foundation, it is extremely lightweight and has great coverage. You can find this foundation at Sephora for $48.00. A more affordable alternative is L’Oreals True Match Foundation, also very lightweight and leaves your skin with a natural glow. You can find this product at any drug store or Ulta for only $9.99.

Tip 3. I’m pretty sure that being sleep deprived isn’t helping that under eye area at all. If you suffer from dark circles or under eye bags then concealer will be your best friend. Applying just a few drops will instantly take you from looking exhausted to awake and ready for the day in seconds! You do not want to apply too much though, depending on your skin type concealer might cake up under the eyes. So, just like with your foundation start will just a little and add if you need it. I am currently using Tarte’s Amazonian Clay Waterproof 12-hour Concealer and I love it, however it is pretty thick so be aware of that before purchasing it! This product sells for $23.00 at Sephora. CoverGirls Smoothers Concealer is a great alternative, not as thick but it is creamy and lasts all day. This product you can find at any drug store for under $6.00.

Tip 4. Powder. You will need a good powder to help set your foundation and concealer. If you have oily skin having a powder on top of your liquid foundation will help control shine throughout the day. I prefer to apply my powder with a brush, and I make sure to apply the most around my T-zone area. Mac’s Studio Fix Powder is in my opinion the best powder on the market. I have never had any complaints on how it looks, feels, or the amount of coverage. This product sells for $27.00 and you can find it on-line, at Macy’s, or any MAC store. E.L.F’s Studio Translucent Matifying Powder is a top-rated beauty product on totalbeauty.com for having a soft, non-caky, natural finish and is only $3.00.

Tip 5. If you want an instant pop, mascara definitely does the trick! Even if you do not apply any eye shadow, adding mascara to your lashes can dramatically change your eyes. Mascara makes your eyes look bigger and brighter, and gives your lashes a nice dark curl. Make sure to apply mascara to the top and bottom lashes for a bolder fuller look. My all time favorite mascara is Grandiose by Lancome, I have never had a mascara that makes my lashes look so full and long! It even has rose extract in the formula to help strengthen your lashes over time. This product costs $32.00, and even though it is pricey I promise it’s worth every penny! Maybelline’s Great Lash Volumize mascara is a favorite among pro makeup artists. Minimal clumping along with great volume makes this mascara a top pic, you can find it almost anywhere for only $5.00.

These are the products I use on a daily basis to achieve an easy natural look. It takes me about ten minutes to apply everything and walk out the door. For new moms, even though makeup will probably be the last thing on your mind these are 5 products that will save you an incredible amount of time when you want to look simple but just a little more done up. Now if for whatever reason you have more than 10 minutes to get ready, don’t forget to throw on you favorite lipstick too! Good luck!

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Your Confusing Little Mammal

Leave a Comment / Parenting / Kristin Revere / breastfeeding, nursing

We are honored to feature a guest blog from Kelly Wysocki-Emery, RN, IBCLC from baby beloved, inc. Kelly went to college to become a psychologist, but after the experience of birthing and breastfeeding her first baby, she was “hooked” on the incredible miracle of it all. She decided that she wanted to help other mothers with breastfeeding struggles (as she faced many of them with her daughter) and in 1994, Kelly became certified as a lactation educator and postpartum doula.

Over the next decade she gained experience (as well as a nursing degree) and started helping moms in the hospital, where she earned her IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) credential. She subsequently ventured out to create a place where mothers could come once they were discharged from the hospital (the time when most problems rear their ugly heads). baby beloved, inc. was born December 1, 2004.

At my last breastfeeding class, I set out popcorn and Hershey’s chocolate kisses for the attendees to enjoy. The class started at 6:30 pm, so I asked them whether or not they had time to grab dinner after work before getting to class. All of them had eaten dinner, as had I. I had a huge, satisfying dinner at Blue Water Grill. I was stuffed. But wouldn’t you know it, I probably had 4-5 of those kisses, and the attendees of my class ALSO had ample popcorn and chocolate kisses. So what gives? If we were all just coming from dinner, and were presumably full, why would we grab popcorn and chocolate?

Turns out, we humans eat for comfort. And social bonding. And boredom. And pleasure (the chocolate kisses were quite pleasurable to me, I assure you). As new breastfeeding mothers, it’s helpful to remember this when baby is wanting to nurse again 1.5 hours after you fed him. I know it’s frustrating. Some day he will be able to walk to the refrigerator himself, but for now, his only way of communicating his needs is to cry and reach out for you. He is a little human who can’t walk or open his own bag of chocolates. YOU are the chocolate kiss in his life.

Babies have desires and preferences and irrational behaviors just like we do. If we just presume this from the start, it will make our lives as nursing mothers much more relaxed and understandable. I see mothers sometimes stressing about a baby’s 3 hour feeding schedule. Baby wants to eat at the 1.5 hour mark perhaps, and mothers get thrown off because the books, and the doctor and the Internet all say babies should eat every 2-3 hours. Conversely, I see mothers sometimes get concerned if baby sleeps a four to five hour stretch without eating. Now in the beginning, before baby is back to birth weight, it would be prudent to wake any baby who is sleeping longer than 3-4 hours, but a month old baby who is gaining weight well is probably just fine to be left sleeping (maybe not FIVE 5-hour stretches….but one stretch would probably be OK for a full-term, healthy newborn who is gaining gangbusters).

I know as a lactation consultant that when a baby wants to cluster feed, a mother (who is exhausted and perhaps “touched out”) may reasonably wonder to herself “But my baby just ate an hour ago. I must not have enough milk, otherwise why would he be wanting to nurse again?” Reasonable enough question. But if you substitute your baby for me (or yourself) and ask why a perfectly, well-fed, recently-fed woman would want to reach for 4-5 chocolates (when clearly my stomach was full), you might start to understand. If I were a dinner guest in your house, and I had just finished a fantastic, plentiful meal but then 45 minutes later I accepted your offer for dessert, would you find that odd? Or would you accommodate me?

I know it can be frustrating when you can’t measure what is in the breast. It’s reasonable for a new, “rookie” mother to be confused and worried. And unfortunately, we as lactation consultants and nurses sometimes set you up for all of this measuring the minute your baby is delivered (at least in the hospital) when we give you “feeding charts” so you can record the minutes you feed on each side and the number of wet/dirty diapers baby has so we can “tell if baby is getting food from the breast”. I totally understand that WE set you up to be anal about measuring things. I am constantly conflicted about having to do this, but as a new mother, I know you are looking for guidelines to ease your worry. You are looking for the guardrails so you can know if things are normal or not. If a baby is having lots of wet/dirty diapers, then chances are they are getting plenty of milk—and that is really what I want to drive home to parents so they can reassure themselves at 2 a.m. when I’m not there. So they can walk themselves down off the ledge when worry and sleep-deprivation kick in. And always know you can go to your pediatrician’s office for a weight check ANY time. Your doctor will let you know if the growth is normal or not. It might be a growth spurt, or a cluster feed, or any number of things, but please don’t automatically jump to the conclusion you don’t have enough milk. And if baby is not gaining well, then that is the time to reach out for help from a qualified lactation professional to help troubleshoot what might be going on.

But if the weight trend is good, and diapers are ample, your baby might just need you a little more at those times. If you are “touched out” and need a break, don’t hesitate to ask for help from husband or family, of course. You deserve a break, too, and you are not expected to do this all alone. Everybody needs space and time to rejuvenate and replenish. It’s not selfish, but rather a beautiful example to your baby or child of lovely self-care.

Kelly’s next breastfeeding class is on March 7th. Register at Renew Mama Studio today .

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What is the Hypno in HypnoBirthing?

Leave a Comment / HypnoBirthing / Kristin Revere / childbirth education, Hypnobirthing, Hypnosis

Gold Coast Doulas is pleased to present a blog from Karlye McNeely RN, BSN. Karlye is co-owner of Gold Coast Doulas LLC, she is a graduate of the Hope/Calvin nursing program, and former L&D nurse. Karlye is a certified HypnoBirthing practitioner and has been teaching HypnoBirthing classes in West Michigan for 11 years. She has spent 10 years supporting couples as a birth doula. Karlye most recently became trained, and is pursuing her certification as a postpartum doula. She looks forward to this next adventure in supporting families during these important childbearing years. Karlye is a wife, and mother to three wonderful children. In her spare time she enjoys baking, taking walks with her husband, and cheering her kids on at their extracurricular activities.

I have had the pleasure of teaching HypnoBirthing in West Michigan for the past 11 years. During these years I have often heard the same suggestion given to me over and over again, “this is such a great class, you should just change the name.” Well, changing the name was never an option available to me. Instead, I took the position of educating people about hypnosis, as it was always the “Hypno” portion of HypnoBirthing that everyone seemed to struggle with. So, here you go, some information about what hypnosis is, what it isn’t, and why we use it for birthing.

What is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a state of consciousness that many of us spend a large portion of our day in and out of. In its simplest form, it is focused concentration. Have you ever been engrossed in a good book, “glued” to the television while watching a sporting event or movie, driving in your car and not quite remembering the drive? Do you practice mindfulness, meditation, or spend quiet time in Prayer? These are just a few of the normal life activities during which you are in a state of hypnosis! All hypnosis is self-hypnosis, even when being facilitated by a practitioner. The reason is, hypnosis can only be achieved if the recipient is a willing participant. Although, the usual definition of self-hypnosis refers to a person’s working alone or with a relaxation CD, hypnosis can be used for a variety of reasons, in a number of settings, often facilitated by a practitioner. In fact, hypnosis can be so effective that it was recognized by the American Medical Association as a beneficial therapy for many physical and emotional needs in 1957. Self-hypnosis for birth was designed to help the birthing mother acheive an ultimate depth of hypnosis, or focused concentration, so that her body could remain loose, limp, and relaxed, thus allowing the birthing muscles, free of tension, to function as they were created to function.

Hypnosis is NOT

Hypnosis is not something a person can be forced to do. If the recipient is not willing to relax both their mind and body, it simply won’t work. While in a state of hypnosis no one can be forced to divulge private information or do something that would be against their beliefs or moral code. If something of that nature would be asked of them while in a hypnotic session, they would simply come out of their relaxed state and no longer participate. When a person is in a state of hypnosis they continue to be aware of their surroundings, are able to communicate, if needed, and are not asleep. This is especially important to understand in relation to birthing hypnosis, as many women think that they will not remember their birth, or be unaware of what is happening around them while using hypnosis. The exact opposite is true, women using hypnosis for birth are actually more aware and connected to what is happening within their body and with their baby, they are aware of their surroundings and their birth companions supporting them, and they are able to communicate when needed. However, because of their deeply relaxed state, and the comfort they feel while so relaxed, they simply choose to remain within their own mind and body. To any outside observer, it may appear as though she is sleeping or distant. Another comment I often will get is, “I can’t be hypnotized” or “I can’t relax my mind, it is always going.” First, the majority of people can use, and benefit from hypnosis. However, like many things we do in life, some need more practice at it. The more time you practice bringing your mind and body into this focused and relaxed space, the better and easier it will get. For this reason, I recommend that couples interested in learning the HypnoBirthing philosophy and techniques for birth, begin their preparation earlier in their pregnancies. Generally, recommending beginning classes during their second trimester. The more time you have to condition your mind and body to relax, the easier it will be to reach your desired level of hypnosis on your birthing day.

Why use hypnosis for birthing?

So, why do we even need to consider using hypnosis as a preparation for birth? We have been conditioned and programmed to believe that giving birth is incredibly difficult and painful, and in some cases, that our bodies are flawed to the point that it isn’t even possible. Surely you can recall many experiences, stories, television and/or movies that have portrayed birthing in a very negative way. Most of us have had experiences with well intentioned friends or family members sharing their stories of birth, for most, these tend to be horror stories. Maybe this a second pregnancy, third, or fourth, and the previous births have been less than ideal, unfortunately, at times even traumatic. These are just some of the ways women have formed a negative impression, or paradigm of birth. If we are being honest, a FEAR of birth. These stories, pictures, experiences have imprinted into our subconscious minds throughout the course of our lives, and created the foundation of our beliefs about birth. These beliefs, or fears, are the blueprint by which our body plays out labor and birth. Does our body begin labor believing that birth is natural, normal, and healthy? Or, does labor begin with a sense of fear, danger, and distrust? For many it is the latter. By using hypnosis you are able to access the subconscious part of the mind, beginning to change your beliefs about birth, to more accurately represent the truth about birth. A woman’s body was created to grow and bring forth new life. When this normal, physiological process of birth is understood, and a woman believes and trusts her body’s own instinctual abilities, she is then able to relax and surrender to the power of her own birthing body, thus freeing her to have a more empowering and satisfying experience. By utilizing self-hypnosis a mother has the opportunity to create a new foundational paradigm of birth, a relaxed body, and a focused mind. Thus, opening herself up to a more positive, more efficient, and more enjoyable, labor and birth for herself and her baby.

Karlye teaches Hypnobirthing classes quarterly through Gold Coast Doulas. Contact her for more information.

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Birth Doulas and the Partnership Model

Leave a Comment / Birth, Doulas / Kristin Revere / birth doula

Since Gold Coast Doulas launched in October of 2015, our birth doulas have been operating under the partnership model. Karlye and I are big fans of this model of care both as owners and as partnered doulas. We love having someone to bounce ideas off of. We love creating sustainability for our families and careers with a shared call schedule and we appreciate having our partner relieve us during a long birth.

Our clients love this model of care as well. Don’t take our word for it, here are testimonials from two of the first birth doula clients we worked with in this team approach.

This is what Jessica had to say:

“I am a first time mom and decided to look into the option of a doula. Before I was pregnant, I had never even heard of a doula. I knew I wanted to have as natural a birth as possible but still have it in a hospital location just in case anything went wrong. But really that is all I knew. I was not even sure what that really meant, what questions and decisions would come up before and during labor, what is really required in labor and what is not necessary. It was all new to me.

When I heard about a friends’ sister who lives out of state using a doula I decided to look into the option. She gave me a website and I found Kristin and sent her a message. She immediately called me and right from the first phone call she made me feel comfortable. I was not feeling very confident with my ob/gyn office, and never really have with any doctor’s office. It seems you are always rushed and the thought that the doctor you have been seeing your whole pregnancy may not even be there at delivery is a scary one.

My husband was really unsure and couldn’t figure out why we couldn’t just use our doctor, but he graciously went to the meetings and what Karlye and Kristin said in the first meeting really resonated with him. I liked the fact that in our first meet and greet both Kristin and Karlye were there. They both seemed knowledgeable and really supportive and kind. Knowing that one of the two of them would be there during labor and delivery was definitely a better option than just having a solo doula.

We did meet one other doula, as I felt we should see more than one, and she seemed great also, but the thought that we had two and that both turned out to be great made the decision to go with Gold Coast Doulas a really easy choice. I really liked knowing that no matter what, either Kristin or Karlye would be there with me and would both be there at every meeting beforehand to help provide some comfort.

Some solo doulas may have a backup but they are not attending every meeting with you. That difference was extremely comforting to me. I can honestly say I would have been happy with either of them equally, which I think would be hard to find. I can’t say enough about what I received from having a doula. There was always someone there to ask questions and help you through your concerns throughout pregnancy. I honestly do not think I could have had the birth I had without them.

It was important to me to have as little intervention as possible and the support I received from Karlye (who ended up being the one on call for my birth) really made that possible – Not sure I could have done it without her. She was also great with my husband, giving him things he could do to stay involved, comfort and support me. He was also very happy in our decision to hire Gold Coast.

Karlye also teaches HypnoBirthing, which really helped me through labor. The experience she brings, with previously working as a nurse in a hospital, was awesome. She worked really well with the nurses and one nurse even commented she liked having Karlye there. My son ended up coming at 35 weeks so we had not even gotten to our last appointment with Karlye and Kristin. With him being early, there were definitely things that came up that we had to make decisions about, decisions that were not part of my birth plan. Karlye listened and helped me through the pros and cons of each decision, and I can say I had the best outcome and was happy with the way everything turned out. I would not have changed a thing. If I were to have another baby there is no doubt I will use them again. These women are amazing individuals who are doing this because it’s their passion. They have a way of both providing you with knowledge when you ask and being so caring and supportive. There is no way we could have had the experience we had without them.”

We love all feedback, but clearly we are thrilled to receive this type of testimonial. The experience Jessica and her family had very much typifies what we want all of our clients and families to experience, particularly in the feeling of unconditional care and support throughout our time together, regardless of birth plans or labor and delivery settings.

Here is another testimonial from Jeremy and his wife Patricia:

”I’ll be honest, I was skeptical when my wife told me about her wish to hire a doula. However, from the beginning, Kristin and Karlye were amazing. They were both there as a support system prior to the birth of our son and answered all our questions. When we went into labor, Kristin calmed my wife and gave me confidence. She showed me how to help with pain management techniques and different types of positions, for comfort and to help with progression.

We are so thankful for Gold Coast Doulas’ partnership model of care. Karlye was on-call when we went into labor, but was already attending another birth. However, since they work as a team, Kristin stepped right in.

I know my wife is grateful, but I am not sure I could have done it without you!”

Patricia said she would recommend Gold Coast Doulas for several reasons.
“They were excellent in providing emotional support, encouragement during the birth process, breastfeeding assistance and recommendations on healthy sleep patterns for the baby.

As a first time mother, I was nervous and excited about having a child. I had a lot of questions. What does real labor feel like? How can I be successfully preparing myself for a natural birth? What do I include in my birth plan? What can I do to prepare us for an enjoyable delivery? Who will advocate on my behalf if I am too exhausted during labor? It was a long list…

After discussing my concerns with my doctor, she recommended Gold Coast Doulas. My husband and I meet with Kristin and Karlye to discuss their services and how they could offer emotional support. They were very patient and answered all of my questions, along with helping us prepare our birth plan and making recommendations for the health of the baby and mommy (allowing the umbilical cord to pulsate after delivery, warm baths to help with Braxton Hicks labor, and breathing techniques).

During labor and delivery, Kristin provided encouragement and support to both of us. It gave me confidence and ease with her in the room. She was great with the nurses and encouraged the use of the natural pain management with the stability ball, walking, stretching, massage and deep breathing. Even at the most painful moments, and when I faced complete exhaustion, Kristin stayed positive and upbeat for us. Throughout the entire birth process, she remained by my side and was an emotional support coach.

After the birth of our son, Kristin came to our home. This was extremely helpful. As first time parents, we had more questions about the health and safety of our baby. (How often should we feed him? How much sleep does he need? Will he be okay in his bed by himself?) Kristin answered our questions and helped address our fears. Additionally, she offered advice on breastfeeding and assisted with helping the baby latch on.

Again, we would highly recommend Gold Coast Doulas. Kristin and Karlye are extremely organized and qualified in their field. We were blessed to share our pregnancy and birth with them.”

Ahem… Thank you. We are humbled and honored.

Contact Gold Coast Doulas to find out if our partnership model will work for you and your birth. We would love to have the opportunity to support your family during this amazing and often overwhelming time.

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Riding the Waves

Leave a Comment / Birth / Kristin Revere / birth doula, childbirth, pregnancy

Gold Coast Doulas is excited to feature a guest blog from Lauren Rauseo. Lauren is mom to Dylan, Liv and Fiona. She works part-time as a graphic designer is working to become a postpartum doula as well. Her favorite things are coffee, manicures, wine, yoga, and family dance parties in her living room. Now that she’s done birthing her own brood, she has moved on to sharing her enthusiasm for natural birth with others through her book, Natural Birth for the Mainstream Mama: A practical guide to achieving a drug-free birth in a hospital setting. You can follow Lauren at www.facebook.com/MainstreamMama.

Last summer my family went to the beach on vacation. As I jumped the small waves with my 6-year-old, he held onto me with a surprisingly tight Kung Fu grip. This was the first summer he wasn’t completely terrified of the ocean, so despite him being nervous about waves that were only up to our ankles, we had made great progress.

Holding his little hand, I remembered being a small child myself, about his age, when my dad took me into the ocean. He carried me out beyond the breaking point, where the water was calm and manageable, and I could ride the waves like a smooth and steady roller coaster.

After a few minutes, I was ready to return to the sand and I began to swim toward the shore. I approached the location of safety, where I’d be past the massive arches of water and be able to easily walk the last few feet of wet sand to the beach blanket where my mother sat reading her book. Just then, a wave came crashing down on me. Startled but not yet defeated, I got my balance and stood up just in time for the next big wave to knock me down again. I became stuck in this cycle of attempting to fight a force much bigger than my small body, only to be repeatedly overcome by it.

Eventually, my dad saw me in distress and came to what I’ll loosely call “my rescue”: he picked me up around my waist and urgently threw me toward the shore. I rolled through the next big crash under the salty water while loads of sand traveled under my bathing suit. I made it to the warmth of my mom wrapping me up in a towel physically intact, but not emotionally unscathed.

What I didn’t know that summer was that in order to rival an opponent like the ocean, I needed to work with the force, not against it.

The waves in birth.

When you’re in the throes of active labor, your contractions work a lot like those waves at the beach. When they’re strong, they come with power and intensity, and they can easily knock you down. When each one is over, you barely have time to brush yourself off, take a deep breath, and prepare yourself for the next one before that one consumes you, too. Live through this cycle for a couple of hours, and you will likely feel tired, overwhelmed, and ready to give up. You may long for someone to rescue you, like my dad saved me when he propelled my body ashore.

But you may not realize the same piece of information I was missing on my childhood vacation. When you’re dealing with a force as intense as a baby moving out of your body, you need to work with the waves, not against them.

What does this mean exactly in birth? Stop fighting your body. You can’t just wish these waves away. You must work with them. Move with them. Change positions. Breathe deeply. Make noise. Moaning noises. Deep moaning noises. Watch yourself in a mirror. Change positions again. Walk around. Lean into the sensation. Have a snack. Have a laugh. Have someone rub your back or put pressure on your hips. Let go of your fears. Let go of your expectations. Let go of the tension in your body. Just let go. Look deeply into your partner’s eyes. Look deeply inside yourself to find your inner strength. Look ahead to your future, holding your beautiful baby. Believe in yourself. Ride each wave with confidence. YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS. You can do THIS. You only have to ride one wave at a time.

We can all get through anything if we take it just one hard thing at a time.

My son and I stayed in the kiddie end of the ocean that whole week last July. But I gifted him with important information I had not been so lucky to get. “If you ever find yourself up against a big wave, just face it head on, and dive right into it,” I told him.

As with birth and most other hard things in life, it is the only way to come out the other side.

Gold Coast Doulas is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

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January 2016