Posts by Nikki Shaheed
Creating a Village – The Challenge for Modern Parents
In the colonial United States, women in a community would attend to a mother during birth, and take turns caring for and feeding her family during the first 40 days postpartum. At the end of the initial postpartum period, a “groaning party” would be held to celebrate and thank those who came together on behalf…
Read MoreFour Signposts to Know When to Go to the Hospital or Birth Center
Many expecting families wonder how they will know that it’s the right time to go to the hospital or birth center, or summon their midwife for a home birth. They’re trying to figure out the place in between arriving too early, and having a baby in the car. These four tips will help you look…
Read MoreThings Nobody Told Me About Postpartum
Bringing a new baby into your family brings many big adjustments – your body, your finances, and your sleep schedule all have to bend and flex to make space for an additional family member. While friends and family tend to share about adjustments that come with parenthood, there are some pieces of the postpartum puzzle…
Read MoreJudging People for Getting an Epidural
While there are many strong opinions about using pain medication in labor, the conversation about epidurals and birth often lacks nuance and context. Many pregnant parents feel like they must choose sides, without being mentored on the way systemic policies and ingrained beliefs influence one’s decision on whether or not to have an unmedicated birth.…
Read MoreHow to Create Compassionate Birth Affirmations
In preparation for birth, many pregnant parents like to create affirmations written out on paper or strung up in a style inspired by prayer flags to keep them encouraged and focused during labor. There are even online shops that sell beautifully crafted affirmations for birthing families to display. How They Can Help Rehearsing affirmations helps…
Read MorePreparing Soulfully for Parenthood: Part 2
There is no shortage of information on pregnancy, birth, baby feeding, and childrearing in books, online, and from anecdotal accounts. Sometimes appearing in public while pregnant or caring for child(ren) can be taken as an invitation for unsolicited stories and advice. It’s a lot for modern parents to wade through! Some parents will choose to…
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