Ashley Stetson, CD(DONA) joins us on the podcast again, this time to discuss navigating the infant stage with multiples. Ashley is a Certified Birth Doula, San Diego HypnoBirthing Educator, and Doula Match Facilitator at the Birth Education Center of San Diego. She became a mother to spontaneous triplets in 2011. Their birth inspired her to join the childbirth community and help families achieve the birth experiences they deserve. She is a highly trained doula with much experience in high risk pregnancy, multiples pregnancies, cesarean births, and induction.Here’s what we covered in our chat with Ashley:
- A brief review of the birth of Ashley’s triplets
- What it was like bringing all three babies home and how they survived the early months with three newborns
- The importance of having adequate support in place for the postpartum period (and why hiring a postpartum doula is SO worth it!)
- An estimation of what Ashley and her husband spent on diapers and formula in the first few years (plus some money saving tips that she discovered along the way!)
- Some ideas for feeding/sleeping schedules with multiples
- Special considerations when caring for preemies/babies who spent time in the NICU
- Some notes about postpartum healing and how it might be different than with a singleton
- The importance of getting involved with a community of other multiples families
- The essential baby gear that Ashley suggests
- Resources mentioned in this episode:
- 12 Ways to Support a Woman Who is Breastfeeding in the NICU
- Life After the NICU: 6 Tips to Transition from the NICU to Home
- 4 Lessons on Breastfeeding in the NICU
- Mother Multiples Facebook Group
- Breastfeeding the Premature Baby (part 1)
- Breastfeeding the Premature Baby (part 2)
- Breastfeeding the Premature Baby (part 3)
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This is a very helpful article for the moms-to-be and any women out there who are preparing to have a baby. I do believe post-partum should be something both woman and man should try to be prepared for by reading articles before the woman goes to labor so they will know in advance what could happen.