Where to go with your baby in Dover, NH

So, you have a new baby and you've finally mastered getting him in and out of the carseat.  You know what to pack in your diaper bag and you are comfortable with feeding him in public.  Great! 

But...where do you go? 

Getting out of the house is not only a multi-hour project, it is also vitally important to your mental health.  One of the best ways to beat the baby blues is to leave your house with the baby and spend some time with other adults.  The perfect scenario is a Mommy & Me group or class, places where you can hang out and not have to leave if your baby gets hungry or starts to cry. 

These groups also give you a chance to connect with other local moms who have babies the same age as yours and perhaps develop friendships.  Below you will find a list, but be sure to "like" me on Facebook for the most updated info on local classess and resources. 

Here's a day-by-day guide to getting out of the house with your baby in the Dover, NH area: 


MONDAYS:

9:30 - 10:30 am  NOGGIN FACTORY, Dover NH

New Baby Play Group
This is an open and free Play Group for wee ones ages birth to 12 months and their caregivers. New Baby Play Group is mostly participant driven, though we will occasionally schedule special guests to present information about popular topics. Special sessions will be announced on Facebook. We recommend that you bring a blanket for baby.
http://www.nogginfactorytoys.com/

Also - check out the Noggin Factory's private nursing and changing room - open every day! 

*********

10:30 - 12:00 PM   TWICE THE FUN in Dover, NH

http://www.twicethefunnh.com/

Busy Babies class on Mondays 10:30 – 12 Noon – for babies 18 months and under

*********

12:00 - 1:00 pm Peace Baby Yoga at ChildLight Yoga in Dover

In this special class, you will learn yoga and infant massage for baby, as well as some restorative yoga and affirmations for you.  For more info and to register:  http://www.childlightyoga.com/


*********
1:30 pm - 3:00 pm  New Parent Support Group at Wentworth Douglass Hospital

Come and meet other new parents and discuss topics of concern to you. Facilitated by lactation consultants and child life specialists. Held every Monday, EXCEPT for holidays, 1:30-3pm.  No registration necessary for this class.  They even have a scale for weighing your baby! TUESDAYS: 10:30 - 11:30 am Baby Signs Class at Seacoast Birth Matters in Kittery, ME  “Sign, See & Play” with Heather Mladek http://www.seacoastbirthmatters.org/ class starts on 3/13 WEDNESDAYS: 9:30 - 11:30 am at Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NH Frisbie’s Mom and Baby Group held on Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m.— 11:30 a.m. ************ CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF NH in Dover First Friends Playgroup Wednesdays,March 7 - April 11 (no playgroup 4/18 & 4:25) 9:30 - 11:00 am The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is offering a new weekly program for its very youngest visitors. The First Friends Playgroup for children ages 6 months – two years will be offered on Wednesday mornings. Parents and children are invited to come to the museum from 9:30 – 11 am to meet and play together on the second floor of the museum. This area features the Primary Place exhibit area designed especially for babies and toddlers, as well as other engaging exhibits. This informal program is included in the museum’s regular admission price and is free for museum members. The non-member price of admission at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is $9 for adults and children, and $8 for adults age 65+. Children under age one are always admitted at no charge. THURSDAYS: 10:00 - 11:00 am Mom & Baby Yoga at ChildLight Yoga in Dover Interested in a gentle and safe way to begin to restore your body to its pre-pregnancy state, but don't want to leave your baby?  Here's the perfect class for you!  For more info and to register:  http://www.childlightyoga.com/ **************

1:00 - 2:30 pm  Hatchlings Group at SEACOAST BIRTH MATTERS in Kittery, ME

http://www.seacoastbirthmatters.org/

Hatchlings:  Babies 0-4 months

Get support, resources & stay connected with other parents as you navigate the parenting waters. Honest, open & non-judgmental discussions about “newborn” parenting are held weekly. 




Am I missing something?  Please let me know at darcy @ doverdoula.com.
http://www.doverdoula.com/













Darcy Sauers is a certified postpartum doula, lactation counselor and the owner of Dover Doula (www.doverdoula.com) in the Seacoast area.  She is passionately committed to helping new moms find the support, resources and information that they need.  Please do not hesitate to contact Darcy with any questions at darcy@doverdoula.com or 603-988-5945.  For more information on breastfeeding, the postpartum period and local resources and events for new moms, follow her on Facebook

The Witching Hour

You've had a long day of feeding, burping, wearing spit up, singing nursery rhymes, feeding, burping, bouncing, walking, feeding, burping, etc.  It's 5:00 pm and you are just waiting for your sweetie pie to walk through that door. 

And then it starts.  The fussing and the crying.  Maybe even some screaming.  It's the Witching Hour.

Before you know it, your sweetie pie has called to say he'll be late and you and the baby are both sobbing.  And that's usually when you also realize you haven't even brushed your teeth yet.  Never mind had a shower.

Does the so-called Witching Hour exist?  It sure does!  Is there anything you can do to help your baby avoid The Witching Hour?  There sure is!

The Witching Hour is simply your baby's reaction to a long day of stimulation.   Remember, this baby just spent nine months in your womb.  Being here on the "outside" is like Disneyworld to him or her, even if you never left the first floor of your house. 

When my clients ask about the Witching Hour, I always tell them that babies are like computers.  And sometimes you just have to re-boot.

When I say "re-boot", what I really mean is try to recreate the womb.  Allow your baby to relax in a womb-like setting to counteract the stimulation from the day and let you both relax.

Steps for recreating the womb:

1.  Dim the lights
2.  Turn off the tv, music and the ringer on your phone
3.  Swaddle the baby up
4.  Depending on the level of fussiness either sit down and snuggle the baby, holding him or her really close to you with his ear resting right next to your mouth.  Whisper and/or sing softly to your baby.  Or, if the baby is really worked up, start to bounce/pace/swing your baby while "shushing" in his or her ear.

These steps will help the baby to feel safe and make it easier for him/her to calm down.

Tips for avoiding the Witching Hour:

1.  Allow your baby to sleep as much as s/he can during the day.  Babies need LOTS of sleep.  This helps them avoid that over-tired, over-stimulated state.
2.  Keep your daily activities to a minimum.  Both you and the baby need to rest and take it easy.
3.  Watch your baby's cues.  If s/he is slowing down and not really focusing on anything, give him or her a break.  The baby is probably ready for a nap.
4.  Limit visitors.  I know it's hard because you want to show your baby off and the whole world wants to come see him/her.  But long days of visitors can wear both you and the baby out.

Two VERY important things to keep in mind while dealing with the Witching Hour.

1.  When your baby is upset, s/he learns that you will be there to comfort him or her.  This is an important thing for them to learn - that they can trust you.
2.  This is normal.  Find solace in the fact that thousand of other new parents are pacing the halls of their own homes across the globe at this very moment.

When the baby does eventually calm down, reheat that lasagna your neighbor brought over and then call a friend or a postpartum doula to come over the next day and help you get a break.

Darcy Sauers is a certified postpartum doula¸ lactation counselor and the owner of Dover Doula (www.doverdoula.com) in the Seacoast area.  She is passionately committed to helping new moms find the support, resources and information that they need.  Please do not hesitate to contact Darcy with any questions at darcy@doverdoula.com or 603-988-5945.  For more information on breastfeeding, the postpartum period and local resources and events for new moms, follow her on Facebook

Do you love babies?

Whenever I tell someone that I am a postpartum doula, nine out of ten times they say, "Oh I love babies, I would love to do that!"  And a couple times a month I receive a call from someone who is thinking of becoming a postpartum doula because they "love babies". 

However, for me and other postpartum doulas, it is NOT about the babies.  It's about the new mom. 

Postpartum doulas "mother the mother" and nurture them to help ease their transition into motherhood.  Holding the baby is just a bonus!  Postpartum doulas do a lot of listening to help new moms process their birth story (positive or negative) and the tremendous range of emotions that they experience in those first few postpartum weeks. 

A big part of what I do is also teaching these new moms to remember to nurture themselves.  The baby does not always have to come first.  Moms need to take the time to eat healthy meals, drink plenty of water, take a shower, take a walk, take a nap. 

A common question I hear is "What's the difference between a baby nurse and a postpartum doula?"  I love to watch peoples' reaction as I answer, "A baby nurse takes care of the baby.  A postpartum doula takes care of the whole family."