FTS Postpartum Doula, Parenthood
Kari Haravitch
Newborn and Postpartum Prep Workshop - Think ...

Your baby gear comes with instructions, why doesn’t your baby?

I’ve been meaning to write this article for a long, long time and I’m so excited I finally had the chance to write it. I wanted to take the change to explain one of my favorite offerings - my newborn and postpartum prep workshop. Sure, the hospital offers something similar, but this is more convenient for families and a better experience, which is the best way for adults to learn anyways!

So, have a read. Whether you’re expecting or not, I’d love for you to learn more about this baby care and after birth prep workshop so that you can share this resource! This article should answer the 5 Ws and an H for everything related to the workshop.

Happy reading and I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Newborn and Postpartum Prep Workshop - Think Outside the Hospital
Motherhood, Personal Stories
Kari Haravitch
Better Care After an Ankle Sprain than After ...

Have you ever taken the time to think about care after childbirth and compared it to care you’ve seen or received after any other injury? Trust me, I know there is nothing like childbirth, but in this article I’m going to attempt to compare my ankle sprain to childbirth. Specifically, I’m going to attempt to compare the recovery and rehab process of the two. Though really, there’s no comparing. 

I wont propose a solution to the issue, just seeking to draw attention to the lack of standardized care for postpartum people. 

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this one…❤️

Better Care After an Ankle Sprain than After Childbirth?
Multiple Children
Kari Haravitch
Juggling Big Siblings and Newborn Feedings

Juggling newborn feedings and big sibling needs is tough. There’s no denying that. This blog article is geared to help with this exact situation - feeding your newborn while still tending to your older child(ren). This article, written by a postpartum doula, has several tried and true tips and suggestions for things to do prior to feeding as well as things to do during a feeding. Take a read and share with a friend who may be experiencing concerns about this exact scenario! Happy reading.

Juggling Big Siblings and Newborn Feedings
Military Life
Kari Haravitch
Anatomy of a Military Child - One Year Older

April is the Month of the Military Child. I wrote this article last year but gave it a few tweaks and updates and am republishing it for 2019. Same information still applies, but I’m one year more experienced along my military spouse/life journey and wanted to add a few more details to the description of the anatomy of these wild creatures disbursed amongst us. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing (and updating) it. Stay blessed!

Anatomy of a Military Child - One Year Older
Military Life
Kari Haravitch
What You Need to Know About TRICARE's Banked ...

TRICARE families, have you heard the great news? TRICARE now includes Banked Donor Breastmilk as one of their covered benefits for all beneficiaries! The details can get a little complicated, but here on the From The Start, Postpartum Doula blog, I’ll do my best to clarify. Take a look at this article for more information and what you need to know about the new benefit and how to use it.

What You Need to Know About TRICARE's Banked Donor Milk Policy

Anatomy of a Military Child

Anatomy of a Military Child

April is designated as the Month of the Military Child. As a postpartum doula, military spouse, and Army Reservist, this celebration is both personal and professional for me. I joined this profession in order to support military families who bring children into our world but reside far, far away from home. Taking a month to honor and focus attention on the uniqueness of a military child's life is something I feel called to participate in. Enjoy this article. And don't forget to Purple Up! for Military Kids on Friday, April 13th! 

The Great Minivan Debate

The Great Minivan Debate

You know you've thought about it. I think all parents, at least in the United States, have contemplated just this topic. To minivan or not minivan!?!? This question comes up in playgrounds, on playgrounds, at schools, in Facebook groups, and anywhere you find a gathering of moms. Today's article pays homage to the topic and provides you with some anecdotal research and evidence to help you decided on this hot topic. Leave a note or a comment if you experienced this debate yourself or if you found this helpful! 

Take Charge Of Your Yelling!

Take Charge Of Your Yelling!

We all do it. Seriously, we all yell. Whether we want to or not, sometimes it just happens. If you're ready to start taking charge of your yelling and reducing it a bit, you've come to the right place. This article helps dissect why we yell, provides over 11 tips (TTPs) on how to reduce yelling, and even a few things to keep in mind after you yell. Feel free to ask questions, provide support, or let us know some of YOUR tips to reducing yelling. We're all in this together! 

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The Games Of Mom

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The Games Of Mom

What if you could complete in the Olympics without even training? Well, in the Games of Mom, all moms of any age, are able to compete! Want to learn how, check out this article! 

(p.s. this is totally fake! Also, please note that I don't encourage competition between moms. We should really be supporting each other. So, this is just for fun!).

Olympics and Motherhood

Olympics and Motherhood

The 2018 Winter Olympics started yesterday and the Opening Ceremonies are tomorrow. Sports play a role in many American families and help shape who we become as people. Have you ever considered links between sports, especially the Olympics, and motherhood? Take a read. When you're done, I encourage you to think about your own sports experiences and how they impacted you as a person. See you when you get back from memory lane...

Groundhog Day and Motherhood

Groundhog Day and Motherhood

Groundhog Day and Motherhood - the cliche from the 1993 movie and mothering young children can often be summarized the exact same way - same stuff/$#!+/crap/thing, different day. But in mothering that might actually be a good thing...until it's not! In this article we'll talk about the good and the bad of routines. Plus, at the end of the article, you'll see comments from over 50 mothers on their self-care tips for breaking that Groundhog Day feeling that often emerges during motherhood. Happy reading! 

Help After Baby Series, Part 3 - Your Village

Help After Baby Series, Part 3 - Your Village

Part 3 in the Help After Baby series is all about support from your village. This article provides feedback on who most often makes a village, what types of support moms of newborns need from their village, and how the village can most effectively support the family. Enjoy!

Help After Baby Series, Part 2 - In-Home, Hired Support

Help After Baby Series, Part 2 - In-Home, Hired Support

Part 2 of the Help After Baby series. This article presents other in-home, paid support options (baby nurses, newborn care specialists, nannies/au pairs, babysitters, and mother's helpers) and compares them to among each other and postpartum doulas. Take a look, share with a friend, and save for future reference! Thanks for reading. See you next week for Part 3 when we talk about support from family/friends/family-like friends!  

supporting families throughout Northern Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland