Did you know?

Did you know your baby hears your voice while in the womb? When your child is born, amongst all the newness of light, temperature and gravity, it’s you (and your partner’s) voice that is a familiar comfort.

Did you know little bumps on a mother’s nipple secrete a substance that smells like amniotic fluid?  That’s a familiar scent that compels your newborn to find your nipple as he/she rests on your chest.

Did you know that when you hold your newborn baby on your chest, your body temperature rises seven degrees between your breasts? Direct skin to skin with your baby helps him/her stay warm, breathe easier and have a more regular heart rate.

Did you know that oxytocin is abundant in labor and breastfeeding? It’s the Love hormone that promotes our sense of connection with others and our instincts to hold and protect. Mothers, newborn babies and fathers all experience rises in oxytocin.

In these and many other ways, you are a simple, low tech and important source of warmth and comfort for your child, right from the start.

Prenatal classes and Home visits
Robin Snyder-Drummond, CD(DONA), IBCLC
617-435-0693

Best Possible Support

“I really appreciated having someone come and be hands-on with us to be sure the latch, position, etc. were OK. It was much easier to be able to stay in our home environment, where we were nursing, than to have to go somewhere else to meet with a consultant. It really felt like Robin could understand the full picture that way as well.” Carrie, East Boston, 2011

“The students and I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to come to NSCC and present your “Postpartum Support” class! We all learned a lot and thoroughly enjoyed the presentation … Students made a point of finding me after class and through e-mail to say how much they enjoyed your thoughts and suggestions.”  Judith Maxwell, RN, MS Prof. Nurse ED. North Shore Community College,  2011

“You watched what my baby was doing to help me problem solve. You were so calm, and so eager to try anything without ever making me feel like I was incompetent. Your calm demeanor made it feel like best possible kind of support.” Kate, Boston, 2011

“Having Robin look at what was happening with my baby and myself during breastfeeding and offering tips was invaluable and most of all helped me to relax and allow my baby to relax as well. Practicing in our own home without having to pack up and take the baby elsewhere, especially with another young child along, was very helpful”.  Victoria , Boston, 2011

“Robin was very flexible to our needs and provided us with a wealth of information and support. She is excellent!”  Tamar, Brookline, 2010

“Because of what we learned in your class, we were able to make more educated decisions. Thank you for the very informative class, your real life stories and down to earth personality. I am glad we took it, it was so helpful.”  Patti, Wilmington, 2009

“The class was way more than what I expected. It passed what I needed which is great. She explained everything in good details and did not use complicating words. Everything was helpful. Everything was covered plus more. I loved the way she taught so much I wanted more. I love the way she explains things.  She uses sounds and uses her sense of humour.  That relaxes me for what is to come.”  Michelle, Salem, 2007

“We both enjoyed the class and have a greater sense of empowerment because of what we learned in class. Robin is a great instructor, very knowledgeable!”  Lt. and Mrs. W, Burlington  2009

“Thank you are two little words to wrap around our grateful, big feelings.” Paula and Alex, Cambridge, 2005

Robin Snyder-Drummond, CD(DONA), IBCLC
Prenatal classes and home visits
617-435-0693

Resilient and Ready

Getting ready for your newborn includes eating whole food, drinking clean water and promoting a positive attitude: eat, drink and be merry!  Take care to understand what your body needs and trust your instincts. That will help you adjust and be more resilient as a new parent.

In the first two weeks, what your body needs is very specific: skin-to-skin contact with your newborn, frequent nursing and napping. Holding your newborn is calming, gets you in synch with your child, stabilizes your baby’s body temperature. And, with frequent nursing in the first two weeks, it helps a mother establish an abundant milk supply. (*If your baby is in the Special Care or Neonatal Intensive Care, nursing, frequent expressing or pumping will help establish your supply.)

You are learning and responding on an new hormonal level and your gut feeling is important information. Both partners have varying hormonal fluxes, both partners are fatigued. Around the world, there are many traditions that honor this transition with four to six weeks for recovery. It’s important in the first two weeks, at least, to follow the Golden Rule of Postpartum.

Two Naps and One Event. One nap in the morning, one nap in the afternoon. At night, more naps. One event means a pediatrician appointment or a friend’s visit, only one each day. That ‘schedule’ will respect your body and mind at this time. You’re less stressed and that builds your resiliency as a parent.

Your child’s birth is, essentially, a major career change (maybe it’s a promotion). In an article about managing personal and career changes, Dae Williams, a career consultant, outlined six elements for a successful transition. These are entirely relevant to postpartum.

The six elements are :

• good health
• support at the time of transition
• emotional security
• prior transitional skills
• supportive environment
• economic security

Reviewing previous changes in your life, what worked, what would you have changed?  Consider what’s supportive to you now, what else you need. You do have strengths, you may not see them as such.

The first weeks are like riding a bike. You learn as you continually adjust your balance. Someone can help you with your stability at first. Eventually, these will be easy habits and you’ll be on your way.

About Me

Hi, I’m Robin Snyder-Drummond and I’m a board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) who makes home visits in the Boston area. Here’s a little about why and how I work with families.

Your child’s birth is the welcoming of a new being into this world and it is a beginning for you. It is a time to feel positive about yourself as a woman, a man, a couple and as a parent. I’m inspired by Nature’s amazing designs for success and I hope you will be, too.

I focus on meeting parents in their homes because that’s where you adapt your life, use your new skills and grow your family.

Prenatal Workshops and Classes
Trained by midwives in 1985, I began as a ‘labor coach’ and immediately saw what a difference personal support made to a laboring woman.  This inspired me to become a certified childbirth educator and later, a DONA certified birth doula, CD(DONA).

Since 1993, I’ve taught prenatal classes in community settings (high school, air force base, women’s shelter, lesbian moms group and more) and hospitals. I’ve  facilitated moms groups, parent workshops and trainings for other professionals. As a birth doula, I’ve attended to over 200 families in six Boston area hospitals, one birth center. I’ve met many more families during home visits for postpartum care.

My colleague Joan and I began BirthReady in 2000 to promote more choices for childbirth education and support.  My workshops are practical and positive, drawing from my education and experience with families in many different situations. The most important learning, I feel, is in the informal conversations during classes and at home visits.

Home Visits for Breastfeeding Help
In 2009 I passed the exam to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). The IBCLC credential is the only internationally recognized accreditation for lactation consultants. This required college level courses, breastfeeding specific education and 2500 hours of one on one counselling. Many of those hours were spent with families in classes, in labor, in their homes and mom’s groups. It’s a delight to see these families grow.

Professional Associations
I’m current in my CPR certification and am a certified Basic Life Support Instructor. I’m a member of the International Lactation Consultants Association, DONA International, Partners in Perinatal Health conference planning committee, and the Nursing Mothers Council. At present, I teach a prenatal series at Winchester Hospital and a Baby Safe class at Beverly Hospital.

Let’s keep in touch.
Thank you for visiting my website. Please sign up for my e-mail list and feel free to contact me at 617-435-0693. I’m glad to talk with you about classes, workshops and home visits. And congratulations on your blossoming family.