What is a baby concierge?

By now you have seen my posts, pictures and blogs about my new business... I am still getting the question of, "What is it that you do exactly?"

The catch phrase to describe this service is that I am like a wedding coordinator, but for all things baby! Of course, that is the simplest way of putting it because there is SO SO much more that this concierge will offer.  From the moment you decide to have a baby (and after the excitement wears off) there often is a feeling of being overwhelmed! This is not just for first time parents either-- products, procedures and births are different with each child. Not to mention that after you have one child your time becomes more and more limited, and your needs increase as well. Unlike a wedding, where once the wedding is complete a coordinator's job is done, having a baby is an ongoing event for the rest of your life!

J'aime la vie assists right from the beginnning with pediatrician, OB and/or Doula placement, childcare/nanny placement, and nutrition/ fitness consults.  We also will design a customized birth plan & baby registry with products that work for you! Researching strollers, car seats, high chairs and what toys are best can be enough to drive a person mad! I have done it all, and I continue to keep up with all the consumer reports and actual 'parent tried and true' testimonies to make sure you do not waste your money or time.

J'aime la vie can organize and decorate your nursery, baby proof your house, get training for your pets if you are worried about how they may feel with a crying child in the home! I can set up house cleaning services, grocery store runs before birth, after and beyond.  I have access to the valley's top photographers, bakeries, florists, and more to help you create the baby shower of your dreams!! I don't stop there... I plan religious ceremonies, 'baby-moons', birthday parties, gender reveal parties, and new parent showers!! I will design invitations; baby announcements and can even create a photo baby book for you or for you to give as a gift.  I also offer an adoption transition service for those parents who may be taking in a child from any age! One of my favorite services I will be offering is a bed-rest concierge... for those moms who are not allowed to get up and do the things they need to, I will!

Every family's needs and situation is different, so I offer A la Carte options as well as customized packages! These services are great to give as a gift to a friend or daughter!

I planned my baby shower on my own; I was new here to Arizona from Minnesota. My friends felt helpless in not being able to help me put this together... so what a great gift to give a friend! You can have as little or as much control in the process as you would like. I am not here to take away this special time for you, I am here to take away the stress and give you an incredible event on your budget. I will always be available by phone or email to all my clients at any time.

Stephanie Anotinette
480-717-2795
ByVictoriaAntoinette@gmail.com

Do I really need a birth plan?

What is a birth plan? 

"The birth plan is a written list of your preferences to be used as a guide for how you would like your labor and delivery to go. As labor can be unpredictable, you may need to deviate from this plan at times during labor." This is according to the Health Library.

One of the most important things to remember about a birth plan is, it is just that... a plan. No one, no matter what background you have or how many children you have given birth to, can determine how your birth will go. However, it is important to have a plan! A guide, if you will, of what your wishes are in best & worst case scenarios. This doesn't have to be a typed out and laminated report (unless you are a bit OCD like me), but a clear, concise one-page document will do. Sharing this with your spouse, doctor, doula or midwife will ensure everyone is on the same page and help to create a positive experience for you & baby! 

That is the easy part; the more challenging part is determining which plan works best for you. Mothers today are far more educated on the various ways to deliver. There are c-sections, vaginal births, water births, home births, midwives, doulas, doctors, drugs, no drugs, and so forth. It can be incredibly overwhelming for any mother, no matter how many children they may have had already. Our bodies, and outlook on these matters change as we learn more, age, and have more children. 

The births of my two daughters were vastly different, which goes to show your plans can change with each birth! With my first daughter, I was 2 weeks late and in labor for over 30 hours... 18 of which was considered hard labor. I wanted to give birth in a hospital, to me it was just more comforting to have medical support nearby if needed. My plan consisted of only two things; I wanted an epidural, and wanted to avoid a c-section. I was terrified, young and in an incredible amount of pain.  The doctors were swarming me like vultures towards the end of my labor; they wanted me to get the c-section. Had my labor gone on much longer I would have had to, but in the end I was able to push her out.

With my second birth, I wanted a more natural approach. I still wanted to give birth in a hospital, but I did not want any drugs. Since I had such a traumatic experience the first time around, my husband and I decided to bring in a doula to assist. I think one of the most common misconceptions about a doula is that she is doing what the husband should. That couldn't be further from the truth! I don't care if you are super dad, or if you faint at the sight of a drop of blood... a doula makes the birthing experience a more calming one. Greta, my doula, has 30 years experience in assisting births. She worked along side my OB, and was an advocate for my husband and I during the labor!  With my back issues (later blog) I opted for an elective induction at 39 weeks. In hindsight I would have tried harder to wait because I believe that this prolonged my labor. I was on a petocin drip all night and my body was not dialating. 

By the next morning I had not progressed much so they wanted to break my water to get me to dilate. The nurses were strongly encouraging me to get an epidural since breaking your water will cause your contractions to intensify. At first I declined this so my doula could continue to assist me in different positions that would help me naturally dilate. After a few more hours I had only opened another 3cm (which left me at 6cm). For birth to occur they need you at 10cm and to be fully effaced. 

The nurses could not give me anymore petocin, and physically my body could not handle labor much longer. In the end I agreed to the epidural, which sped things along within a matter of an hour. I was very frustrated that I was unable to fulfill my plan of "no-drugs", however in the end all that was important was that we were healthy and safe! 

So as I said, it is good to have a plan... but you need to be flexible with that plan. Sometimes you will need a c-section, or maybe the home birth you dreamed of is just not going to work. The good news is with each birth you typically get a new plan. If you had a c-section the first time, you can try for a v-back the next time. Birth is a beautiful experience no matter what way your baby comes into the world! No matter which plan you choose or end up with for that matter... it is the gift you get in the end! 

As always, consulting your OB/GYN to make sure you know all the health risks is most important!

At J'aime la vie we offer a consultation that will take you through all the different options you have and match that with your wants & needs! 

Stephanie Antoinette

480-717-2795

LoveByVictoriaAntoinette.com