When Greg and I got married, my Dad told me the morning of our wedding, ‘happy bride = happy wedding’ so when I had Callahan I knew I would hear the same advice, ‘happy Mom = happy baby.” It might sound obvious but your attitude and mood can have a ripple effect and influence those around you more than you might expect. I knew when Greg and I decided to have a family, our lives would shift dramatically. After being on our own for so long and really having the freedom to do what we wanted, when we wanted, we would have to adjust our priorities and rely on others more than usual. For me, what was most important and what I knew to be true was that if I was at my best personally, I would be at my best as a Mom and Callahan would feed off of that. It helped me make some tough decisions like breastfeeding versus bottle feeding and also helped me prioritize getting extra help when I was in need of some ‘me’ time.
With our immediate family hours away, we were really on our own as soon as we got back from the hospital and got settled in. I will admit, that was mostly by design. I really wanted it to be ‘just us’ for those first few weeks while we got the hang of parenting but as Greg went back to work and I settled into motherhood and maternity leave, I quickly realized I was going to need some back-up. I hate admitting I need help and also have a hard time letting go of control, so before Callahan was born, I did some research on additional care options for when I needed some support. I had heard of Boston NAPS from a few friends and decided to look into what they were all about. As soon as I saw that their team consists of Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners, I immediately contacted them to see if we could work together.
The first consultation I scheduled with Boston NAPS was a few weeks before Callahan was born. Greg and I met with one of the founders, Emily, and discussed what services we were looking for, what my plan was for feeding, and any other questions we had before our due date. One of the biggest indicators that let me know this was a good fit was the discussion we had around breastfeeding versus bottle feeding. As some of you know, I struggled with anemia throughout my pregnancy to the point of fainting when I was 6 months pregnant and having to get iron infusions every two weeks for the last few months. The infusions would take 2-3 hours and were across town so all-in-all it was a 4-5 hour ordeal. When I met with the hematologist, we discussed that if I planned on breastfeeding, my iron levels would still be a concern. Knowing the level of fatigue I experienced from anemia and the time commitment to keep my iron levels up, I had made the decision to bottle feed from the start. There is SO MUCH stigma and judgment around this decision and truly I felt guilty every time someone asked but I knew my health and personal happiness (happy Mom, happy baby) was more important than other people’s opinions. So when Emily asked the dreaded question of what I planned to do and I went through the spiel I had rehearsed over and over, she immediately said “That’s a great decision.” She went on to say she gave me credit for doing the right thing for me and for making the decision on my own. The level of comfort she provided immediately gave me all I needed to move forward with hiring her team.
After Callahan was born, we met with Emily again for a ‘Lactation Consultation,’ or for our purposes, a ‘Feeding Consultation.” Emily went through basic feeding principles (paced feeding, bottle position, burping, etc.) and also basic care questions we had after being home with Cal for a few days. Having a Nurse in our home answering questions without judgment might have been the best thing for me mentally in that first week. There is so much doubt and uncertainty as a new Mother and having the extra support from a trusted resource is a must.
Within a few weeks of Greg going back to work, I started to get comfortable with the idea of leaving Cal at home for a few hours with one of the Nurses from the Boston NAPS team so we scheduled a Daytime Care visit to get me out of the house. I made an appointment for a facial and spent the afternoon walking around outside and getting some errands done. I came back feeling refreshed, energized, and happy to be back with my little babe.
Since we brought Cal home, we’ve relied on Boston NAPS for coverage for blocks of time I need to get out on my own and for date nights for Greg and I. Aside from Day and Overnight care, they do offer tons of educational classes (pre and post natal), Baby and Me classes, and specialized workshops. You can check out their full list on their website: www.BostonNAPS.com. We’re looking forward to continuing to work with them and signing Callahan up for music class in the New Year!
Robyn, a Nurse on the Boston NAPS team, during Daytime Care
Q & A with Boston NAPS
Is Boston NAPS hiring?
A: Boston NAPS is not currently hiring but you can submit your resume to hello@BostonNAPS.com and they will keep it on file as positions open up.
Does Boston NAPS have a babysitting service?
A: They do not. Their daytime and overnight care is staffed only by Registered Nurses so they really specialize in newborn care. See more details here.
Does Boston NAPS help with sleep training?
A: Yes! See more details here.
Do you have the same nurse each time you schedule daytime or overnight care?
A: We really liked our nurse the first time we did daytime care so asked for her the next time. But, when she wasn’t available, they placed us with a different nurse and she was amazing as well! I honestly have loved everyone we’ve worked with so far.
Does Boston NAPS have a location or are they just online?
A: They offer classes at two locations: The Boston NAPS studio in South Boston and at a partner studio in Charlestown. If you’re not local, I recommend following them on Instagram as they always have great advice on their stories!
Any other questions for me or Boston NAPS, feel free to leave a comment below!
*This is a sponsored post. All opinions remain my own and I was in no way influenced by the participating companies.