Bornbir Blog

Pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum articles for parents, doulas, lactation consultants, and other perinatal care providers.

How to Become a Certified Fertility Coach: Step-by-Step Guide + Success Tips

Fertility coaching has become an increasingly meaningful career for people who want to support individuals and couples navigating infertility, IVF, pregnancy loss, and the emotional weight of trying to conceive. As awareness around reproductive mental health grows, so does the demand for trained, ethical fertility coaches who can provide education, emotional support, and guidance—without replacing medical care.If you’re wondering how to become a certified fertility coach, this guide walks you through the process step by step and shares practical tips for building a successful fertility coaching practice. We’ll also explain how the DNT Network Fertility Coach Certification fits into this...

Newborn Care Specialist

​ Newborn Toilet Training

The idea of toilet training a newborn might sound a bit out there. But we’re not talking about the kind of potty training you do with a toddler. This is a gentle, responsive practice called Elimination Communication (EC), and it’s all about tuning into your baby's natural signals and giving them a chance to use a potty right from the start.The Reality of Newborn Toilet TrainingThink of Elimination Communication less as "training" and more as a conversation with your baby. It’s a way to recognize and respond to their innate needs, viewing diapers as a helpful backup rather than a...

Breastfeeding Lactation Consultant

A Parent's Guide to Lactation Consulting Services

Lactation consulting offers one-on-one coaching for your unique feeding journey. It’s all about getting expert, hands-on support to help you and your baby find a comfortable rhythm, whether you're breastfeeding, pumping, or doing a little bit of both. Taking this step is incredibly common and a great way for parents to build confidence and work through any feeding challenges that pop up.Your Guide to Lactation SupportThink of a lactation consultant as a supportive guide for one of the most important, and sometimes stressful, parts of early parenthood. Their main job is to provide evidence-based care and practical, real-world solutions. Instead...

Breastfeeding Lactation Consultant

Lactating 101: A Practical Guide for New Parents

At its heart, lactating is the beautiful, biological process of your body making breast milk to nourish your baby. It’s an intricate system driven by hormones that signal your breasts to produce milk right after birth, perfectly adapting to your baby’s hunger on a supply-and-demand basis.This whole process doesn't just switch on the day you deliver. Your body is cleverly preparing for lactation all throughout pregnancy.What Does Lactating Mean for Your BodyYou can think of lactation as a conversation between your body, your hormones, and your baby. It's a finely tuned biological symphony. Long before your baby arrives, your body...

Mental Health Therapist Doula Training

Perinatal Mental Health Certification Alternatives: PMH-C (PSI) vs. C-PMHS (DNT Network)

As interest in perinatal mental health grows, more professionals—including doulas, therapists, nurses, lactation consultants, social workers, and support specialists—are seeking credible certification programs. Two well-known pathways are: The Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C) from Postpartum Support International (PSI) The Perinatal Mental Health Specialist Certification (C-PMHS) from DNT Network Both programs help professionals support families experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), but they differ in structure, cost, time commitment, level of rigor, and accessibility.Below is a side-by-side comparison to help you understand which path may be the best fit for your goals.Overview: What Each Certification RepresentsPMH-C by PSI PSI’s Perinatal...

Breastfeeding Lactation Consultant

How to Put Nipple Shield On

If you’ve found your way here, chances are you’re looking for a way to make breastfeeding more comfortable, and you're wondering how to put on a nipple shield. The basic idea is simple: You flip the brim, center it over your nipple, and smooth it down so it creates a light suction. This little maneuver helps your baby get a much deeper, more effective latch.Understanding When a Nipple Shield Can HelpLet's be real. Sometimes breastfeeding doesn't go as smoothly as we'd hoped. A nipple shield can be a total lifesaver in those moments. It’s a tool designed to help with...

Breastfeeding Lactation Consultant

A New Mother's Guide on How to Stop Breastfeeding Pain

Let’s get one thing straight. While a bit of initial tenderness can be part of the learning curve, ongoing, sharp pain during breastfeeding is your body’s way of saying something isn’t right.You are not supposed to just grit your teeth and bear it. And you're definitely not alone.Why Breastfeeding Hurts and How to Get Relief NowPain is one of the most common hurdles nursing mothers face. Studies show that somewhere between 64.4% and 68.5% of mothers deal with breastfeeding pain, and for many, it's so intense that it becomes a primary reason for stopping sooner than they’d planned.It's easy to...

Sleep Coach

How to cope with sleep deprivation: Tips for new parents

Getting through sleep deprivation requires a two-pronged attack. You need in-the-moment survival skills for those really tough nights, plus a bigger-picture plan to actually improve your sleep and lean on your support system. Just admitting that this brand of tired is different is the first, most important step.The Unique Challenge of New Parent Exhaustion Let’s be real. The exhaustion you feel as a new parent is on another planet. It’s nothing like pulling an all-nighter in college or staying out too late with friends. This is fragmented, unpredictable, and just… relentless. You’re not imagining it; your body and mind are...

How to Become a Doula in Illinois? (2025 Guide for Aspiring Birth & Postpartum Doulas)

If you feel called to support families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum healing, becoming a doula in Illinois is a meaningful and rewarding career path. But unlike many states, Illinois has a formal process for doulas who want to work with Medicaid-covered families. To be fully recognized as a professional doula across the state, you must complete a state-approved doula training program and become an Illinois Medicaid-Certified Doula through the SIU School of MedicineSIU School of Medicine.The good news? The process is clear, accessible, and designed to ensure doulas are well-prepared to support families. And if you’re training through DNT...

Newborn Newborn Care Specialist

Newborn sleep schedule by week: a gentle, week-by-week sleep guide

If you're searching for a newborn sleep schedule by week, you might feel like you're looking for a map to a hidden treasure. But here's the honest truth from someone who's been there: newborns (think 0-3 months old) don't really do "schedules." Their world revolves entirely around their immediate needs for food, comfort, and connection. They sleep when they're tired and eat when they're hungry, in short bursts all day and all night.Understanding newborn sleep before you even think about a scheduleBringing your baby home is one of life's most incredible moments, but it usually comes with a huge question...