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Rosalind Prather

December 12, 2016 by Rosalind Prather

Planning for Postpartum – For New or Expecting Moms and the People Who Love Them!

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By: Colleen H.  Laszakovits RN-BSN, CPD, CLE of Your Family’s Journey

Colleen is a local Postpartum Doula that we recommend wholeheartedly! She is going to share some food for thought for us that is relevant to any new or expecting mother and the people who love them.

…………………….

Who can you call to help?

Picture this if you will, close your eyes and take a deep breath!

It is your first night home with your new baby. You feed, burp, change and swaddle the baby and place her gently in the bassinet next to your bed.  You pull the covers up to your chin and settle in, it’s only 9:48pm but you feel like you haven’t slept in a week. You quickly fall asleep from sheer exhaustion but within 20 minutes your little one is up and hollering for something. You think, you CANNOT be hungry AGAIN!  You throw the covers off and go to pick up this screaming little red cherry who is loudly exercising her lungs.  You cuddle her on your nice warm chest, speak to her in a quiet voice and sway back and forth to get her to calm down.  She gently nods off and you tip toe over to the bassinet and place her inside. You crawl back into bed and this same scenario plays over and over ALL night long till finally the sun comes up.

 You are exhausted! That Mack truck that you heard about has crashed through your front door and hit you HEAD on. Your back, shoulders and arms are sore from holding the baby in various positions to keep her from crying.  Your bladder is full and you need to change your pad. You discover diapers on the floor because you missed the diaper genie when you changed the 5th diaper at 3:14am. You look down and notice that your bra is undone and your left breast pad is missing, you can’t find your hair tie to pull your hair back and the dog is excitedly dancing at your feet because he is ready for breakfast.

 You hand off your sweet, beautiful, perfect angel to your husband and peer over to see she is sound asleep on his chest, your heart explodes with LOVE and the silent tears silently roll down your cheeks.  Welcome to parenting!

 You grab your phone to capture this moment and see a text from Colleen, checking in to see how your night went and remind you that she will be there at 10am with breakfast burritos. You cry some more, just because! You can’t wait to see Colleen, she always makes you feel safe, heard, not judged, and helps you tap into your own instinctual abilities.

 You think about taking a shower, brushing your teeth and combing your hair but your husband taps the couch next to him to come sit down and snuggle.  You sink into his side and place your head on his shoulder, he gently kisses your head and tells you how amazing you are and how much he loves your new family. You take a deep breath, smile, wipe your tears and KNOW you totally GOT this!

 

What feelings did this scenario bring to your mind? Fear, excitement, sense of calm, overwhelmed, supported, loved?  Memories of your own postpartum period?  When you plan ahead, you will never be alone, whether it is just you and your partner or you have loads of family and friends ready to help out however you need. Talk to any parent and they will all tell you how overwhelming the first couple weeks can be with no support or resources to call on.

A postpartum plan is a starting point for discussions about how your family will adjust to life with a new baby.

The goal of this plan is to help parents identify people and resources BEFORE they are needed thus making their transition into parenthood a little easier.

As a postpartum nurse, doula and consultant one of services I offer is how to create and effectively use this postpartum plan.

Most expecting parents educate themselves, talk to friends and family members, research and plan for how to have the best pregnancy, labor and delivery, however their postpartum period is commonly overlooked and they assume they will just “figure it out.”

I like to compare pregnancy to planning a wedding; a lot of time and energy are invested in creating the perfect outcome (safe & healthy mom/baby to beautiful day to start your new life together.   When you get a positive pregnancy test (you start googling everything, eat better, take vitamins, schedule doctors/midwife appointments, educate yourself on all your labor and delivery options, buy maternity clothes, decorate the nursery and pick out cute decor, buy baby books and take childbirth education classes.  Planning the perfect wedding day includes researching invitations, picking dresses, florists, hair, make-up, colors, venues, time and day, music, food, etc). The postpartum period is kind of like the actual marriage (no one really plans for that)!

Having a postpartum plan in place allows you to focus on the remaining weeks of pregnancy and not fear the parenting journey that is ahead of you.

Can and will you survive your postpartum period without making a plan? Absolutely, but why not take some of the guess work out of it and plan ahead so when you are not at your best (mentally, physically or emotionally), it will already be taken care of.

There are so many little things that you can do today to make your first couple weeks smoother.

Now, I hear you say, I have family in town and they will help out and take care of things.  My reply is AWESOME, FANTASTIC, so happy to hear that.  I love working with the entire family. There is always room for more care and support when a new baby comes along.  Most family members and friends are of great help, however, I am a professional who offers current, evidence-based and non-judgmental services to you and the entire family.  If you are worried that your family members need some up-to-date information, let’s all get together and I would love to answer their questions so they can be the best possible support to you as you recover.

 Some of the topics we will discuss in detail are:

 What does your ideal postpartum period look like to you?

SLEEP: yes, you will get some

Infant feeding: breast, bottle or both

Parenting philosophy’s

Sibling Adjustment

Pet Adjustment

Meals

Self-care

Roles & responsibility changes in the relationship

Mental health

Work/School/Life Balance

Mom Groups

Resources

 With over 18 years’ experience in the postpartum and breastfeeding fields I am a wealth of knowledge and expertise.  I will adapt to meet whatever needs you and your growing family have and I work closely with amazing community partners to help out however your family needs as well. My passion is to support you and your family to have a positive, empowering postpartum experience and feel confident as parents.

Don’t get stuck not knowing who to call or who to ask for help.  Don’t give up when you reach your frustration point. Plan ahead so when challenges arise, you can take a deep breath, re-visit your postpartum plan and call me.

A few hours to plan is all you need to put your mind at ease. Let me know when you are ready! I’ll be waiting to hear from you.

Check out this great article about better preparing moms for what is to come AFTER the pregnancy  https://www.whattoexpect.com/wom/pregnancy/0125/how-ob-gyns-should-be-preparing-expecting-moms-even-better-for-baby.aspx

Who do YOU know that could benefit from my SERVICES:

A grandparent who has a son or daughter who is expecting?

Is your best friend going to have a baby soon?

Does your co-worker hang out in your office asking you questions?

Did your neighbor recently deliver?

Do you have out of town friends or family members who could benefit from a consultation about support services?

 Gift certificates are ALWAYS available and make fabulous and unique Christmas and baby shower gifts.

 

Filed Under: Ask An Expert, Family Tip of the Week, From the Blog, Local Business Features, Parenting Tips/Tricks, Special Guest Feature

May 2, 2016 by Rosalind Prather

Childcare 101: Music Education & Child Development

By: Kate Scally, Childcare 101 Guest Blogger

I am very excited to be a guest blogger for Trusting Connections! As the mother of a young child, I first ran across this group on Facebook and was impressed by the positive reviews and the posts/resources that this group offers. I am so happy that a childcare service like this exists for Tucson parents.

My post today focuses on the importance of music exposure and education in all stages of a child’s development, and some wonderful musical opportunities available for your children here in Tucson. Now, I’m sure you’ve heard something about how important music is for a young child’s development. As a local singer and music teacher, I see this first hand in the students that I work with every day, and I often get asked the question, “When should my child start music lessons?” I usually refer them to this wonderful article, which explains when more formalized lessons should begin:

PBS Article: What’s the Right Age to Begin Music Lessons?

When a child is between the ages of birth to age 3, music instruction should be fun and informal–for example, my daughter is almost two, and absolutely loves to dance (we have several special “dance” dresses already). One of our favorite things to do is put on a song and dance around the room. I incorporate some simple dance and directional movements, such as “reach up and wave your hands” and “stomp your feet,” but for the most part I allow her to move around on her own, praising her for her wonderfully creative movements. We also have many rhythm instruments she likes to use, such as shakers, drums, tambourines, etc. She recently got a plastic guitar from the dollar store, and she loves to strum it and sing along while wearing her sunglasses like a rockstar. Although these activities seem like play, they are in reality building important gross and fine motor skills, and the child is gaining valuable listening and ear training skills, as well as physical coordination.

I really enjoy bringing my daughter to Pima county libraries’ stay and plays and storytimes, which incorporate movement, songs, and dance. Click here to check out events near you.

As your child grows, more formal music instruction in school and through private lessons and camps is very important for brain development and emotional growth. Here are just a couple of articles that go into more detail:

Washington Post: “Music Lessons Spur Emotional and Behavioral Growth”

Time Magazine: “How Music Can Change Your Brain”

I am a performer and music director with the local “Arizona Rose Theatre Company,” a wonderful, family based community theatre company that offers a broad range of youth programming. After teaching music and singing to students of all abilities and working in many different environments over the years, I am proud to say that the Arizona Rose’s teaching environment is by far the most positive and nurturing that I have experienced. I have seen students grow in confidence and blossom in our classes and camps. This summer we are offering a youth musical theatre camp for ages 7-17 that will culminate in a performance of Disney’s “The Jungle Book.” Students will receive training in acting, singing, and dancing in a supportive, nurturing environment from highly qualified teaching artists. For more information, please check out our website.

Phone: 520-888-0509

The camp is July 11-29th, but the registration deadline of June 1st is fast approaching. We try very hard to keep all registration costs low, and we do have a couple of scholarships available through our local sponsors, so please let us know if you need financial assistance. There are also opportunities for you to sponsor a young artist through donations or buying an ad in our program. Registration is going fast, so please check out our website and sign up now! If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at: katescallysoprano@gmail.com.

Our childcare 101 series helps educate local families and nannies on a variety of childcare and child development topics. Want to be a guest blogger? Contact Rosalind at info@trustingconnections.com

 

childcare

Filed Under: Ask An Expert, Family Tip of the Week, From the Blog, Kids Craft/Activity Ideas, Local Business Features, Nanny Tip of the Week, Parenting Tips/Tricks, Special Guest Feature

April 29, 2016 by Rosalind Prather

sitter service lifetime membership

Referral Program
Our Flex Membership is the perfect solution for busy Tucson families. This month, all of our existing clients have the chance to win free membership for life! (That’s a $192 value every year!)
In celebration of our anniversary, August is our annual Membership Drive! This means exciting savings for the families you refer and a chance for you to win TC Membership for life! In the month of August only, new families will be able to join at 40% off.  It’s the only time of year we discount all of our Flex membership fees so this is the best time for you to refer us. Don’t forget that as always, you will get a $50 gift certificate to use towards Flex services for every family you refer who becomes a member of our agency. Plus, for every family you refer, you will be entered into a drawing to win free membership for life!
We bet you know a tired new mom who could use our overnight newborn care services and get some much needed rest. Or a busy working parent who needs help when they travel for work. Or a mom who needs an extra set of hands in the afternoons for taking kids to and from after-school activities, homework help, etc. You may also know someone who simply needs a date night sitter or a personal assistant to help with errands, grocery shopping or meal prep. Send them our way and we will help them find the right solution for their family.
Make sure when referring someone that you tell them to give us your name so we can be sure to give you the credit! At the end of the month, we will draw a name and contact the winner.
We are so grateful for our clients who enthusiastically spread the word about our services. Your referrals mean so much to us.

Filed Under: From the Blog, TC News + Events

April 25, 2016 by Rosalind Prather

Our Nanny Agency Celebrates Five Years!

We are celebrating a big milestone this month and we have you to thank for our success. It has been such a pleasure serving you and your families as Tucson’s premier nanny agency.
It seems like yesterday that Caroline and I sat at a coffee shop and discussed this venture. And as we reflect back on the last five years, we are overwhelmed with gratitude for the support we received from our clients, the nanny community, and other local small business owners in Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley, Sahuarita, and Vail. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for giving us the opportunity to serve your communities. We look forward to many more years and hope our nanny agency and sitter service continues to make a lasting and positive impact on the lives of local families.
As a small token of our appreciation, we would like to gift you with 20% off your next service* (up to eight hours) if you mention the code “Thanks2U” at booking. (Offer expires 11/30/2016)
Thank you, thank you!
Sincerely,
Rosalind and Caroline
Southlake' premier nanny agency owners
We want all of you to know that we are committed to serving your community beyond providing exceptional private child care services. If you are with an organization that is ever seeking donations or with a group seeking sponsors, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We are also continually seeking to build relationships with other family or child-centered businesses that are open to cross-promotional opportunities. Please email Rosalind at info@trustingconnections.com

Filed Under: Events, From the Blog, TC News + Events

February 9, 2016 by Rosalind Prather

Unique Gifts for the Entire Family! (From the Baby’s Perspective!)

By: Guest Blogger, Colleen H Laszakovits RN-BSN, CPD, CLE, CCBE, CCT

I am so excited to finally be earth side and looking forward to meeting all of you eventually, but what would be really cool is if you could love on my family for me as they adjust to my being home.  I am sure that I will look cute in all the adorable outfits and I will try to use all the other gifts, BUT if you are looking for a unique gift for my mom, sibling, family or ME, here is what I propose:

My Mom and Dad would love:

-a postpartum doula (a non-judgmental, experienced professional to focus on her needs)

-home cooked meals (ask first to check for allergies)

-housecleaner (pre-cleaning before baby or weekly wipe downs)

-manicure/pedicure/facial/massage (babysitting provided)

-take my older brother/sister out of the house

-transportation help to and from activities/school

-someone to pick up quick items from the grocery store or Target (just call if you are out)

-haircut and color (makes my momma feel beautiful and normal)

-a friend to listen, encourage her and cry with (I know she loves me but sometimes I can be overwhelming!)

-a night out for my dad (he may need a congratulatory beer, some time away and something to do with sports)

 

I would love:

-a postpartum doula (to support my family so they can be at their best, feel confident and enjoy ME!)

 

My Brother/Sister would love:

-a postpartum doula (to help bring back some sort of semblance of life before the permanent squeaky toy arrived)

-a special age appropriate gift from ME

-time away from the house with other friends and family

-one-on-one time and snuggles from each parent (I know it is my fault because I tend to hog them A LOT)

 

As a Family we would love:

-a postpartum doula (to help support ALL members, 4 legged included and a knowledgeable expert to answer any questions)

-gift cards to go out when ready

-babysitting to watch my brother/sister or let my parents nap or shower

-date night when ready (reconnecting is important)

-Netflix for 6 months (keep everyone entertained while I am up at all hours)

-gift cards to favorite ice cream place (ice cream makes everyone happy, even better if they have a drive thru)

 

As you can see what I want most for my family is to feel loved and supported.  I realize that these may not be the most “fun” gifts to give, but I can guarantee you that my family will be soooo grateful for your unique acts of kindness.

 

Thank you!

Love,

Baby “the permanent squeaky toy”

Filed Under: Family Tip of the Week, From the Blog, Kids Craft/Activity Ideas, Parenting Tips/Tricks

January 5, 2016 by Rosalind Prather

Tucson Kid-Friendly Activities

By: Guest Blogger, Colleen H Laszakovits RN-BSN, CPD, CLE, CCBE, CCT

At my last couple of postpartum home visits, I have been asked, what is there to do with my 1-5 year old? As a recovering mom with a new baby and a stir crazy older child, the thought of packing up and going out is probably the last thing on your mind. However, it could make for a better, calmer and happier afternoon for YOU.

Once you are feeling more like yourself, the activities listed below will give you a few ideas to venture out, meet other parents and tire your older child out a little. Whether it is hot, rainy, windy or cold outside, there is something for you to choose from.  I listed the websites so all you need to do is click on them to find out more information, times, days and costs to participate. This list is only what my family and friends have done with our kiddos, there are many more ideas to choose from all over Tucson.

Strap on your newborn, pack some snacks and give your older child the opportunity to run around, be creative, play and GET TIRED.  Enjoy and have fun!

Indoor/Outdoor activities:

Tucson Children’s Museum: www.childrensmuseumtucson.org

International Wildlife Museum: https://thewildlifemuseum.org/

Tohono Chul: https://tohonochulpark.org/

Pima Air & Space museum: https://www.pimaair.org/

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum: https://www.desertmuseum.org/

Old Tucson Studios: https://oldtucson.com/

Gadsen-Pacific Toy Train Museum: www.gpdtoytrainmuseum.com/

Reid Park Zoo: https://reidparkzoo.org/

Botanical Gardens & Butterfly Magic: www.tucsonbotanical.org

Trail Dust Town: www.traildusttown.com/

Mini Time Machine Museum: https://www.theminitimemachine.org/

Staying cool:

Brandi Fenton Splash Pad: 3482 East River Road, Tucson.  Open April 20-Oct 31 7:00am-7:00pm, daily

Rancho Sahuarita Water Park: https://www.ranchosahuarita.com/

Oro Valley Aquatic Center: www.orovalleyaz.gov/aquatics

YMCA: https://tucsonymca.org/location/ott-family-ymca/

Jewish Community Center– https://www.tucsonjcc.org/

Kids movies:   Harkins Theatres, Grand Cinemas, or Cinemark

Kid friendly parks:

There are several “little kid” friendly parks around.  Ask parents in your neighborhood, they will know where they are!

Story times:

Bookman Story Time: https://bookmans.com/events/

Library Story Time: https://www.library.pima.gov/faqs/what-is-storytime/ or https://www.tucsontopia.com/tucson-storytimes-a-comprehensive-list/

Gymnastics, Dance and play time:

Tucson Parks and Rec (gymnastics and dance classes): https://www.tucsonaz.gov/parks

YMCA: www.tucsonymca.org/gymnastics , www.tucsonymca.org/program/dance    

Open Gym: www.tucsongymnasticscenter.com  https://www.gymnasticsworldtucson.com/ www.oldpueblogymnastics.com   www.tucsontw.com/   www.springsgymnastics.com/

Get Air: www.getairtucson.com/

Pump it Up: https://www.pumpitupparty.com/tucson-az

Dance: www.danceforce-1.com/, www.danswest.com/

Arts and Crafts:

Tucson Parks and Rec: https://www.tucsonaz.gov/parks

YMCA: https://tucsonymca.org

Michaels: https://www.michaels.com/classes-and-events/classesandevents

JoAnn Fabrics: https://stores.joann.com/az/tucson/2042/

Home Depot: www.homedepot.com and type in kid workshops

Lowe’s: https://lowesbuildandgrow.com/pages/default.aspx must be 5 years old to participate

Play areas:

Fast food play areas (McDonalds, Burger King, Carl’s Jr, Peter Piper Pizza, Chuckie Cheese)

Mall children’s play areas (Park Place, Foothills Mall, Tucson Mall)

Mom and Me classes: (children under 1)

Parks and Rec: https://www.tucsonaz.gov/parks  Grab a schedule to see all the classes that are offered.

Yoga: https://milkandhoneytucson.com

Sign Language: https://milkandhoneytucson.com

Check for coupons too, as many times you can find a 2 for 1. Once you find the activity that your child LOVES, purchase a membership or ASK for one for birthdays or other holidays!

Venturing out for the first time with a newborn and toddler can be kind of scary. Take someone with you to help wrangle if you need.  Just try it. All these locations are kid friendly and used to kids crying, melting down, running around and BEING KIDS.

If you are pregnant or just had a baby, I am full of valuable Tucson community referrals and resources. Call me today to see how else I can help you.  www.yourfamilysjourney.com

Filed Under: Family Tip of the Week, From the Blog, Kids Craft/Activity Ideas, Nanny Tip of the Week, Parenting Tips/Tricks

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