Gentle Nurturing For New Abbeville, MS Moms

New Moms Need Nurturing and Guidance

by Leslye Adelman, M.S.

As a Childbirth Educator and Lactation Consultant for more than two decades, I have observed the changing needs of pregnant women and new parents.

Abbeville, MS Women are starting families later in life. Statistically, the average age of my typical pregnant student has increased 10 years in the last five. These women are settled in their ways, used to spontaneity or at least capable of organizing last minute activities without taking into consideration their pregnancy exhaustion or their infant at home. And when they do finally become pregnant, they don't often take the opportunity to care for themselves, enjoy the nine months or prepare for labor, the birth and bringing baby home.

Technology is a wondrous accomplishment but with increased medical capability comes the necessity for adaptability and flexibility. I have witnessed a great increase in the number of babies being born to women over the age of 35, and in 2005 alone I worked with more than 45 families with twins and triplets, a tremendous increase from five years ago. These babies often arrive early or with special medical need. There is also a more frequent occurrence of medical issues in these women, during pregnancy, such as premature labor, requiring partial or total bed rest, at home or in the hospital, for many weeks of the pregnancy.

Women began to cry out for more individualized instruction and preferred meeting in their own homes at times when most educators are not available, in order to continue with their careers or lifestyles. In the last ten years, I have begun to cater almost exclusively to this population. It is not unusual to find me teaching an early morning weekday class or a 9:00 p.m. Sunday session. It's what works for my clients.

I became a resource, not only for childbirth, breastfeeding and infant care education, but also as a referral service to medical professionals, parenting classes, preschools and private schools, babysitters and more. As a mother of three, I have always shared my knowledge with others, but realized what I was doing was just the tip of the iceberg, and I promised myself that when my children had grown and moved on with their lives, that I would research and coordinate the data I had collected and make it available to others.

After a lifetime of experience and more than a year of preparation, Gentle Nurturing was born, a one-stop referral and resource service, catering to the needs of pregnant women and their partners and new families. Gentle Nurturing provides the ultimate in care to today's busy women who demand the best care for themselves and their growing fetuses.

Once you have contacted Gentle Nurturing and become a member, one of our Gentle Nurturers will visit with you to learn a little about you, your needs and desires. Then we will help you select those services most important and valuable to you at each trimester of your pregnancy. We will match you up with each provider based upon your specific needs and wishes. Perhaps you want to have your hair done at home or have a beautiful pregnancy portrait taken to capture what will become a wonderful time to remember. If your dog is reacting to your changing body and the changes in the house, a trainer can work with Scooby to ready him for the new baby. We will assist in the selection of a doula, midwife, pediatrician, baby nurse, even the decorator and painter to create the perfect nursery. We can provide a CPR instructor or lactation consultant. Members get a considerable discount on breastfeeding supplies and can take advantage of receiving assistance throughout the entire breastfeeding period, be it weaning, returning to work or pumping. If you are not breastfeeding, a lactation consultant will help to make you comfortable through the first days after the baby is born.

Please check out the website, www.gentlenurturing.com for a complete list of services and email or call with any questions, concerns or to become a member. See how much more healthy and enjoyable being pregnant, staying healthy, preparing for and becoming a >family can be.