Post-Partum Doula Support
Tia Zlotnikoff
Not only is Tia a Postpartum Doula, she is also a holistic health care counselor and a dear friend to me. She is in the business of listening; helping people in achieving total health and a balanced lifestyle through plans that are specific to the needs of each individual.
As a Postpartum Doula Tia provides education, non-judgmental support, and companionship to new mothers and families in culturally diverse communities and home based settings. She offers evidence-based information on infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from childbirth, infant soothing and coping skills for new parents and will make appropriate referrals when necessary. Tia is trained in breastfeeding support, postpartum adjustment and newborn characteristics, care, feeding and development; assisting and promoting parent-infant bonding.
As a mother once told me :
“Tia helped me get to know and understand my baby, she helped me communicate with him as in what sounds and looks meant what needs, I could not have done it without her”
I personally have never met a better listener, friend and guide into self acceptance and self awareness which in turn equals learning to care for myself and my body. It does not always happen over night, in my case years, which feeds my point that Tia has never judged nor “given up” on my process and helps me in not judging myself. Lets face it, we all judge and critique ourselves in an unforgiving way the most.
The same goes for a new mom, if not more; in a culture that is constantly generalizing, even force feeding what moms are “supposed” to be, what babies are supposed to be doing. Sleep schedules, feeding, co-sleeping or not?, do we let the baby cry it out or not? and again, this is “supposed” to be the happiest time of your life. The weeks following a birth are exhilarating and joyous, however, they can also be an isolating time for a mom and these pressures even if intellectually we know “shouldn’t” matter, our inner critic can override intellect especially in the moments where we are most sensitive or alone. Having a person with Tia’s qualities by your side is invaluable and one of the best choices you can make.
The words of another mom:
