The three most basic things babies need are the same for the rest of us.
At Burgeoning Bud Postpartum, I help both baby and family to attain all of these basic needs in every visit. For Babies: Eat, Play, Sleep (eventually, in that order) For Parents: Eat, Play, Sleep (not in that order, and not even in any sort of schedule, but more as a general life philosophy!)
Burgeoning Bud Sleep Well Video
“I cannot recommend Jess enough as a postpartum doula…..
As first-time parents, my partner and I had taken newborn care classes but had no practical experience. Jess became our trainer—a very friendly, non-judgmental face to turn to with any questions, but who could also sense along the way what we needed help understanding….We are forever grateful for the help and guidance we received from Jess. We feel like we hit the jackpot for postpartum doulas and will definitely work with her again if we have another child.” —Shana, former postpartum client
Eat
When a mother births her baby, her body uses a tremendous amount of energy. If she chooses to breastfeed, her body still needs a lot of energy to produce milk and nourish herself sufficiently. When a partner assists with the new baby (and possibly other children, pets, etc) in addition to their daily demands at work, with family, life, etc, they, too, require energy. I provide non-judgemental breast and/or bottle-feeding support, and nourish families by preparing nutritious, colorful, and delicious food.
Play
Whether this means literally playing and snuggling your new baby, or tending to a favorite activity, doing something fun not only feels good, but supports emotional well-being, reduces stress, and allows us to slow down and embrace the present. I will help alleviate your daily stressors like laundry, running small errands, light-tidying, and more so that you have time to reconnect and recharge with yourselves and one another.
Sleep
Sleep begets sleep, and while the amounts of it are different between babies and adults, we all need it and we all benefit from a lot of it! And yet, in those early days, it can seem (and often is!) like no one is getting any amount of it at all. As a Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant through the Center For Pediatric Sleep Management, I offer comprehensive sleep plans and support packages to help you get your little one’s sleep on track.
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About Jessica
My journey into doula work came naturally after having all three of my babies. In truth, I have wanted to be a postpartum doula after my firstborn, and I even enrolled in a program while pregnant with my second. But as the best-laid plans go, my second pregnancy resulted in a very premature birth and life became very challenging. It was not until after my third baby’s birth (this time, full-term) that I realized all three of my births and postpartums were unique in their own ways. Since no two postpartums are alike, the support always looks different. It was then I dove into a mentor-based postpartum doula program and sleep consulting program and began my journey.
Remember that parenting is the ultimate creative experience. It is not rewarded by being a good student of others’ words. It is about having the courage to find one’s own.
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More about Jessica
For as long as I can remember, I have always been drawn to intuitive and creative outlets. I came to Boston initially to begin my career as a professional classical singer and private voice teacher. The human voice is an incredibly powerful instrument; it resonates within us and gives us our unique sound. My experiences as both a teacher and performer of classical vocal music has shown me the value of finding one’s own voice and believing in its beautiful and infinite sonic possibilities. Prior to my life out east to pursue my career in music, I lived in Ann Arbor, MI, where I both attended my undergraduate and worked at Zingerman’s Delicatessen. I worked at “The Deli” for 5 years where I developed a deep knowledge and appreciation for food, simple traditional recipes, creativity in the kitchen, and the importance of supporting local farmers and artisans.
I spent time farming in France and Italy as well as in Northern Michigan, all the while eating and cooking delicious food and making lasting friendships. These foundations still play a significant role in my life today as food is now a large part of how I nurture.
My combined backgrounds of motherhood, music, teaching, food, deep friendships, yoga, and herbs gives me a unique view on how to support new families. I believe in you and your amazingly intuitive ability to raise your baby. As a doula, I believe in providing supportive and non-judgemental guidance so you can embrace your full potential as a loving, incredible family unit. And I believe we can all be our best selves when we can take a break from stress and embrace the present.