Monday, September 30, 2019
Doula Services Case Study
Here we’re posting another successful case study for a local client in the doula service industry. Updates will follow as the campaign progresses.
Preparing for Birth and Beyond
231 E 10th St
Berwick, PA 18603
(570) 380-0150
Supporting families during the tenderest moments with experienced doula services, lamaze classes, and breastfeeding support.
birthtobeyond@gmail.com
https://birthtobeyond.com/classes/
https://goo.gl/maps/CjqBrFU511QdCrbs6
https://www.facebook.com/Doula-Services-Lamaze-Classes-107841080577650/
https://twitter.com/Virgini60816888
https://www.pinterest.com/doulabloom79/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/doulaservices/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwUwOjTf9SZHAAki4swRZfw
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5HN1NpZKKfxWcc16gs9LJ9YzUCITnm6m
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-YF9J_rxaU
https://www.yelp.com/biz/preparing-for-birth-and-beyond-berwick
#doulas
#lamazeclass
#lactationconsultant
#childbirthclasses
#breastfeedingsupp
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9350877
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamaze_technique
http://www.pinterest.com/bloomsburgu/
http://www.nytimes.com/travel/guides/north-america/united-states/pennsylvania/overview.html
Doula Services & Lamaze Classes
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Weaning Can get Complicated
One of my amazing clients has agreed to share her experience with weaning depression. This is something that is not often mentioned so catches women off guard. Thank you Rachel for sharing your difficult weaning journey. We both hope this helps others who might have a similar experience. Please seek support and help. I am always willing to talk and offer resources. Virginia
I clearly remember… My son must’ve been about 10 months old and one late June morning he was crawling on the floor around me, trying to look at my face and make me laugh as I lay face-down on my bedroom floor. I felt like I couldn’t anymore, that it didn’t matter if he was a good baby, a happy baby, if I had a million dollars, if name-that-good-thing happened, nothing mattered. I could not, I needed help, and I needed it right then and there. I felt nothing and everything and even now, I don’t have the words to describe what I felt. It was beyond depressed, it was a state of being sucked dry, chewed up and then thrown up and left to rot.
My son was difficult. Until he was 3 months old, he would take a bottle with the only objection of casting longing looks in my direction. At 3 months, he flipped a switch and stopped drinking my milk from a bottle, or really anything from a bottle. I discovered, after tasting it and researching, that I had high lipase milk, a harmless fact that just made my milk taste like a dirty penny within hours of being expressed, whether refrigerated, frozen or room temperature. I figured my son just associated that dirty nasty taste with a bottle and was done.
He never drank from any bottle ever again. After he was able to drink whole milk from a sippy cup and was eating more solid foods, I started to slowly and methodically cut out feedings. We had a very defined schedule since he was a pretty difficult baby and if I didn’t hold all the lines, he destroyed my confidence and sanity like a manipulative lawyer. I had to wean him so slowly and deliberately that there would be no regret, no recourse, and no stopping. I started in May, and we finished a week before his first birthday in August.
By mid June, I had such difficulty sleeping that I would often lie awake until about 2 am, until my body had to shut down, and then I would sleep only until my body could recover from the crash. I ran on 4-5 hours of sleep a night, when typically I need a good 7 or 8. This went on for weeks before I realized it couldn’t be stress, it wasn’t me thinking too much, or eating the wrong foods, that it had to do something with weaning. I knew that weaning could mess with hormones (I mean, what doesn’t mess with hormones from pregnancy through weaning?? The answer is always hormones!!) but I hadn’t connected it with my sleep.
That was only the first of my problems. I started to become incredibly negative and hopeless. I hated everything and everyone, and everyone was against me. It wasn’t hard to convince myself of these facts since I had lost many key relationships and trusts in the months following my son’s birth, and none of those relationships had been replaced or healed. But this was different… this was a hollow-chested tearless agony of life that left me wanting to just die from wasting away.
Once I realized the sleep-hormone connection, deep into my other problems, I went to the doctor and said I did NOT care if this problem was temporary, I was unable to function and needed help. I was prescribed an antidepressant, something about serotonin. I went home thinking, if I can only sleep again, that would at least be something.
The antidepressant did help with sleep, and I think it did help with the feelings of extreme hopelessness. And now as I sit here writing this, 6 months pregnant with another boy, I wonder how I’m going to handle things this time around. I don’t want to assume that the same thing will happen, and I hate being on medication. I almost dread having to take something again.
I mostly just wish I could do that part all over again. I wish I had known that weaning can bring on major hormonal upheaval that will seem out of place a year after giving birth. I didn’t know that my sleep would be so majorly impacted that I would go out of my mind. And I definitely didn’t know that major depression could be the result of weaning. The most anyone ever said to me about emotions/hormones/thoughts about weaning was from women that looked back on breastfeeding with fondness and talked about how sad it was to cut that final tie with their baby and encouraged me to breastfeed longer.
Do you know how sad I was to wean? There never was and still is not a single part of me that regrets weaning, nor is sad that it is over! I have zero nostalgia for that incredibly difficult, painful and horribly isolating part of my life. My son was too distracted to nurse in public, so I was always in my car or at home. I had so many problems (that could not be solved by lactation consultants or the internet, thanks, we did it all) with nursing in general that I do not miss it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m incredibly proud to have nursed my son for an entire year (minus a week, but I’m allowed to round up). But my depression and all that went with it had nothing to do with nostalgia, mixed feelings, or anything of the sort.
I didn’t know that I should have prepared myself socially and personally for weaning. Not because I would be sad, but because I would be unable to function in my right mind and needed friends or confidants to tell me what was going on and help me through it. I needed to know it was ok to take sleeping pills or melatonin or whatever worked for as long as I needed to and not feel that I was giving myself a crutch. I needed to know that I was cared for and that I wasn’t going crazy, that it was a phase, no matter how long or horrible. But nobody mentioned any of this, so who was to not only know about it, but help me through it?
The whole hormonal upheaval for me lasted longer than the actual weaning did. I don’t think I felt sane again for another 2-3 months after our last feeding. It was only a few short weeks after that when I called county early intervention to have an evaluation of my son, who ended up needing occupational and speech therapy due to a developmental disorder. Did his neediness, his difficulty with everything in life, make that hormonal upheaval worse? Stress can have an aggravating effect on hormonal changes, but I have no idea. So I wonder if nursing and weaning this next baby will be hormonally easier. Maybe I’ll let you know in another year or two.
Here’s what I do know. I will be informing all my mom friends and anyone else I trust about any plans to wean, and telling them how difficult it was with my first son. I’ll be asking them to check up on me and demand that I be honest with them about how I’m doing. I’ll probably also arrange with my husband and anyone else willing to give me time to get to the gym regularly so that my brain and body can reconnect with themselves as only time exercising does for me. And I’ll try not to care when a nostalgic woman waxes poetic about the joy of nursing and what a beautiful thing it is.
I think breastfeeding is great. I really do. Hey, it’s the only time that kid is going to eat free every day of the week! It’s an interesting, special and truly beneficial (for mom and baby) activity that is very humbling, heart-warming and again, special. It’s special, gosh darn it! But let’s not kid ourselves; it can be brutal, painful, sad, and when it comes to weaning, downright mercenary. But knowing that ahead of time can be pretty helpful.
If you’re planning on weaning anytime soon, I have a few suggestions.
- Be prepared! Know that besides the inevitable stubbornness that most kids (toddlers, babies, whatever age they are) exhibit, there might be other difficulties in weaning. Some of those difficulties might be in the hormonal fog, weirdness or outright depression that might ensue.
- Don’t automatically assume that any weirdness you feel is because you are disconnected or nostalgic. Take a good look at what you’re feeling and see if it matches with who you are as a person. Is this you? Does it make sense?
- Read up! Have a plan for weaning, including what you’ll do if you have problems like I did. I’ve come across a few articles that were helpful with this sort of thing. Many just explain that depression and weaning are definitely linked, but there haven’t been any studies done to show what exactly is going on.
I do hope that if you’re weaning soon, or currently are, that it is a transition that just changes how your child is fed. It doesn’t need to be more complicated than that! Breastfeeding versus anything else doesn’t need to be. There’s enough baggage out there (especially on the internet) about what is good, bad and evil that we don’t need to muddle it up. And by the way, congratulations on doing whatever breastfeeding you’ve done. It can be hard work. But keep in mind to keep tabs on yourself, take care of yourself, and be honest with yourself. Your child needs you just as much now as they did when you were their meal ticket too.
Preparing for Birth and Beyond
231 E 10th St
Berwick, PA 18603
(570) 380-0150
Supporting families during the tenderest moments with experienced doula services, lamaze classes, and breastfeeding support.
birthtobeyond@gmail.com
https://birthtobeyond.com/
https://birthtobeyond.com/classes/
https://goo.gl/maps/CjqBrFU511QdCrbs6
https://www.yelp.com/biz/preparing-for-birth-and-beyond-berwick
#doulas #lamazeclass #lactationconsultant #childbirthclasses #breastfeedingsupport
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9350877
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamaze_technique
. . . . .
Hershey Water Damage Case Study
Here we are going to document a new case study in the home improvement industry, specifically the water damage restoration niche. The client is locally based in Hershey, PA.
Company details below, we will be updating this post as rankings and call flow increase.
Using the standard process we always do, customized for this location and industry. Mainly organic SEO with accompanying map pack placement and video marketing campaigns.
Becker Construction
241 Clear Spring Rd
Annville, PA 17003
(717) 707-7331
becker@waterdamageguru.com
We pride ourselves on being the best in the water damage restoration industry with the latest equipment and a super fast response time.
https://www.waterdamageguru.com/
#WaterDamageRestoration #MoldRemediation #WaterRemoval #WaterMitigation #HersheyWaterDamageRestoration #HersheyMoldRemediation #HersheyWaterRemoval #HersheyWaterMitigation #Hershey #DauphinCounty #17033 #Pennsylvania
Our Linkedin Business Profile Page
https://www.linkedin.com/in/beckerconstruction/
Becker Construction Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/PABeckerConstruction/
Our Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUaahDRfJRM9uExslw0Wz2w
Where to find us
https://goo.gl/maps/yBCGBxidmMo
Becker’s Tweets
https://twitter.com/kbeckerroofs
Our Pins
https://www.pinterest.com/kbeckerroofs/
Yelp
https://www.yelp.com/biz/becker-construction-annville-2
Additional Resources
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/21/us-usa-pennsylvania-mold-idUSKCN0RL2AS20150921
http://www.ors.od.nih.gov/sr/dohs/Documents/MoldSOP.pdf
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9575923
http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=Pennsylvania
http://www.nytimes.com/travel/guides/north-america/united-states/pennsylvania/overview.html
https://twitter.com/hersheys
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_products_manufactured_by_The_Hershey_Company
Hershey PA Water Mitigation Services
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-lF2qNSfg0
(717) 707-7331 Hershey Water Damage Restoration & Mold Remediation
(717) 707-7331 Hershey Water Damage Restoration & Mold Remediation
The post Hershey Water Damage Case Study appeared first on Local SEO Internet Marketing Consultants - Real Time Lead Gen.
Friday, September 27, 2019
Bands, Beer, Bites, and Chocolate: Choctoberfest 2019
Bands, and beers, and bites, oh my! Top that off with some chocolate, and you’ve got Choctoberfest. This is the event you don’t want to miss. There will be music, delicious food, a variety of refreshing beverages, and handcrafted sweets and treats. What more could you ask for? The festival provides fun for the whole […]
Primanti Bros. Hosts First Anniversary Party
Come celebrate Primanti Bros. first anniversary! Show your love for sandwiches by attending the celebration on September 28th. Come for live music from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., a DJ takes over from 10:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m., and Half Priced Happy Hour runs from 9:00 – 11:00 p.m. There will be giveaways every hour, on […]
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Monday, September 23, 2019
The Breastfeeding Journey
Breastfeeding is natural, but not always easy. The first few weeks can be pretty rough and my own breastfeeding journeys were no different. Back when my first children were born, pain was expected and moms were told it was normal until our nipples toughened up. The prescribed preparation for breastfeeding was to rub our breasts with a rough cloth while showering. Please don’t do that!
My first child was born just after midnight and there definitely was no skin to skin. She was taken from the doctor to the warmer to be checked, cleaned and wrapped up so all we could see was her face. After a quick look, she was taken to the nursery and I did not see her until later that morning. At 8 am, a bell rang and all the mothers in the ward walked to the nursery. There were two rows of rocking chairs with donut pillows covered with pads that had our last name on them. One row was for bottle feeding moms and the other for breastfeeding moms, with a divider between them.
One by one, the babies were wheeled in by a nurse to the waiting moms. The nurse handed Michelle to me and told me to open my gown, then grabbed my breast with one hand, Michelle’s head with the other and when Michelle opened her mouth, she rammed her head onto my breast. The initial latch was a bit shocking! When I told the nurse that it was painful, she said I would get used to it and went on to the next mom.
The instructions were to nurse on each side for 5 minutes, burping in between sides. Michelle spat up what seemed to me everything she had eaten. I called for the nurse in a panic and was told this was normal and perhaps I had not burped her correctly. When the feeding was up, the babies went back in their bassinets and to the nursery. The bell went off every 3 hours during the day for feedings and at night were given bottles of formula. After 3 days, we were discharged with instructions to continue the routine, adding in night feedings. Bottles of glucose water were provided to give them a few times a day and formula for just in case.
The first night home was difficult. Mature milk was not in and Michelle was quite unhappy when the bottle of formula did not make its appearance. I was fortunate that my mother was with me and had breastfed all of us, which was somewhat unusual. Her support and encouragement were invaluable, but the pain and bleeding nipples was difficult.
Mothers were told to work our way up to longer feeds, but should do more than about 15 minutes on a side. Water several times a day was also recommended so baby would not become dehydrated. That just filled Michelle up so she did not nurse well after. Michelle was slow to gain weight so doctors often suggested adding formula and that maybe my milk was not good enough.
When she was a few months old, I was told to add rice cereal to her diet and perhaps some formula. I discovered La Leche League around the same time, which was a great source of support and was what allowed me to continue to breastfeed her until she was 9 months. At that time, an OB said I should have stopped nursing her months before and it was detrimental to her health to continue. I regret to say I believed him. Fortunately, she was eating regular food and drinking milk from a cup at this point and I was able to easily wean her.
The breastfeeding journey with my others was better, though some did have their own unique struggles. Our 4th child was in the NICU for a few weeks and was not able to start nursing until he was a week and a half old. This led to a poor latch and a weak suck and we had to use expressed milk for some time before he would exclusively nurse. Several of my babies had significant reflux, and in hindsight, I realized so did Michelle.
I was able to room in with the others and to nurse day and night from the beginning. However, I expected the painful nursing the first few weeks and accepted it as normal with all of them. How I wish I had known what I know now: that pain and bleeding nipples is not normal! If someone had taken the time to help me get a good latch, that would have helped tremendously!
Let me share what I learned from my journeys and helping clients so you don’t have to learn the hard way!
- For the most part, doctors know next to nothing about breastfeeding and much of what they do share is from workshops often put on by formula companies!
- Babies are expected to lose weight in the first week and to not return to birth weight until 2 weeks of age.
- Nurses in hospitals often have limited experience with breastfeeding. It is not something that is taught to much extent in nursing school. Much of what they share has been learned from their own experience; unfortunately breastfeeding and assisting breastfeeding are not interchangeable. This I learned quickly when I became a doula!
- Breastfeeding can be uncomfortable in the beginning, put should not be painful! If it is, there is an issue with the latch which needs to be corrected ASAP.
- Limiting the time at the breast during a feeding is neither necessary nor beneficial.
- Babies do not need glucose water or any kind of water! They get that from breast milk. Giving a bottle of water artificially fills baby up so they aren’t nursing as much; this leads to poor weight gain and decreased milk supply.
- Someone holding baby’s head in one hand and your breast in the other and bringing them together is not helpful and can actually lead to breast refusal. Think how you would feel if someone pushed your head like that!
- After you get home from the hospital, returning there for breastfeeding help is often more stressful than helpful. Sitting in an unfamiliar environment and having to feed when baby might not be hungry is difficult. Having someone come to your house is much more beneficial and less stressful for you. Certified lactation counselors and doulas will usually come to you. I know I do!
- Attending La Leche League meetings before your baby is born is so helpful. Just being in a room with other breastfeeding moms and seeing them breastfeeding is so encouraging. Continue to attend after baby is born for support and help
- Try and take a breastfeeding class and line up help for after baby arrives home. You will not regret it!
- Breastfeeding success can mean many different things. For some, breastfeeding a week, a month, a year, or longer is their success. Pumping and giving bottles of breastmilk is success, and breastfeeding and supplementing with formula can also be success. There are times that mom does all the right things and for whatever reason does not produce enough milk. Whether baby gets a teaspoon or gallons of breastmilk, giving your baby any amount is amazing, so good for your baby and is your success!
- There are lots of products on the market that can ease the potential discomforts and inconveniences of breastfeeding. Two good breastfeeding books to use for reference are Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding. They are available for clients from my lending library too. Good websites are La Leche League, Breastfeeding Inc. and Kelly Mom. Nipple creams are very good to have on hand, with options available from Lansinoh, Bamboobies and others. I really like a newer product, the Haakaa, which is a hand-held suction pump. Breast pads help with leaking and Bamboobies is a great brand that clients have liked. Lansinoh has great heat and cold packs as well as gel soothie pads. If you know of other good products please share in the comments!
Friday, September 20, 2019
Iron Hill Debuts a New Beer: 5-OhMG
Iron Hill’s Downtown Hershey location is proud to announce 5-OhMG, a dry, light-bodied Kölsch, that was proudly brewed in collaboration with the Derry Township Police Department. This beer does more than taste great. For every pint sold, Iron Hill Brewery will donate $1 to support the local law enforcement initiative to provide a tourniquet for […]
Thursday, September 19, 2019
All Things Diversity Sessions Return
Fairness and anti-discrimition. Valuing the differences and diversity within our community. This is what the Hershey Area All Things Diversity series is all about. These free programs address a variety of different subjects, helping each of us to broaden our perspectives and learn something new. The educational sessions are organized by Derry Township, The Hershey […]
Thursday, September 12, 2019
You’re Invited to Milton Hershey’s Birthday Celebration
On September 13th, 1857, the most famous chocolatier in history was born: Milton S. Hershey. The time to celebrate this entrepreneur’s birth is coming again, marking what would be Mr. Hershey’s 162nd year. To honor Milton Hershey’s legacy, ChocolateTown Square and The Hershey Story Museum will be hosting a variety of community celebrations full of […]
Friday, September 6, 2019
77th Annual Cocoa Bean Game
Can the Spartans defend the bean against the Trojans? The 77th Annual Cocoa Bean Game between the Milton Hershey Spartans and the Hershey High School Trojans is this Friday, September 6, 7:00 p.m. at Hersheypark Stadium! It will be a battle between rivals as the Spartans attempt to defend the bean. The Cocoa Bean Game […]