One of my favorite parts about being a doula is the postpartum visit. Getting to reconnect with my clients again, rehashing her birth story and parsing her for the fabulous work she did to get her baby Earth side is always fun. Of course, those sweet new born cuddles are definitely something I live for too!
If you are planning on visiting a family that just had a baby, here are 3 things to keep in mind.
1: Always remember, that mom just had a baby, so it's not her job to entertain you. She shouldn't be getting drinks and offering you a seat. Instead, tell HER to sit down and hold her baby while you get her a drink or snack. Remember you're there to help not to be served.
2: Offer to start a load of laundry, we all know how many onesies new babies go through in a day! Or, maybe the new mom would like to take a hot shower or a nap, you can offer to hold the baby while she does this. I know she will be so appreciative if you do.
3: Never go to visit a new family without something for them to eat! You can bring something as simple as smoothies from Jamba Juice or coffee and pastries from Starbucks. Or, if you're like me and love being in the kitchen, then something hot and homemade is the way to go! The last thing a family with new baby wants to think about is, "What are we having for dinner?" so let's help them out with that and bring them something delicious.
One of my favorite meals to bring to my doula clients is lasagna. It's simple to make, it's cheese, it's hot and comforting and it's exactly what every new family wants! I've had so many request for this recipe by my doula clients that I decided to share it here for everyone to enjoy!
Ingredients:
1 16ox box no boil lasagna noodles
1 16oz jar marinara sauce
(I like Whole Foods 365 roasted garlic but use whatever your favorite is)
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons butter
1 pound ground beef
1 medium yellow onion, small dice
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 cup red wine (optional)
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon anchovy paste
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons sugar
16oz shredded mozzarella
8oz Italian blended shredded cheese
Method:
In a large saucepan on medium high heat combine the oil, butter, onion and garlic and sauté till the onions are soft. Add the tomato paste, anchovy paste and spices and sauté a few minutes. Next, add the ground beef and cook until brown then add the wine. Lastly add the marinara sauce and sugar and allow to simmer for about 10-15 minutes stirring occasionally.
Use a 13x9 pan to assemble the lasagna. Start with a bit of sauce at the bottom then add the noodles more sauce and both cheeses. Continue until you have 3 layers of noodles ending with sauce and cheese on top. You should use all the sauce and cheese.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 to 55 minutes. You may need to cover it with foil if it starts to get too brown on top. Enjoy!
The thing I love about this dish, is that if it's a small family of 3 they can cut pieces off keep it in the fridge and eat the lasagna a bit at a time. If they are a large family of 6 then it's big enough to feed everyone dinner leaving one last thing on mom's to do list.
I sure hope you give this a try! I want you to think of me as your virtual doula! Drop me a line here if you have any questions. Or if you want to stay in the loop and never miss another blog post, just click here. Come on you know you want to!
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