Together We Thrive: Silver Lining and First Daze & Nightzzz Embrace Partnership

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In the world of parenting, support and guidance can make all the difference. That's why we are thrilled to announce the exciting merger of Silver Lining Doula & Nanny Services and First Daze & Nightzzz. 

As the saying goes, "two heads are better than one," and in our case, this couldn't be more true. For over 20 years, Pam Diamond, the esteemed founder of First Daze & Nightzzz, has been a pillar of postpartum care and sleep support for Triangle families, guiding them through the ups and downs of parenthood with confidence and tranquility. Now, by joining forces with Elise Silver, the visionary behind Silver Lining Doula & Nanny Services, we are combining over two decades of experience and unwavering dedication to families across the region. By uniting our teams, we are combining our expertise, resources, and passion for supporting families during the transformative journey of parenthood.

 Pam Diamond, a devoted parent and newborn coach, postpartum doula, and baby sleep consultant, is deeply committed to ensuring that families embark on their journey together with the utmost care and support. A true trailblazer in the Triangle area, Pam founded First Daze & Nightzzz in 2003, pioneering postpartum doula services in the region. Over the years, as the Triangle community blossomed, Pam's agency and services expanded to meet the evolving needs of families. With two decades of invaluable experience, First Daze & Nightzzz has had the privilege of guiding and supporting thousands of families through doula assistance, parenting coaching, and sleep coaching, laying the groundwork for a harmonious and nurturing start to parenthood.


Following suit, Elise Silver is dedicated to assisting families in finding their silver lining throughout the journey of parenthood. Upon her relocation to North Carolina, Elise recognized a pressing need for comprehensive parental support across all stages of parenthood. Leveraging theexpertise of the Silver Lining Team, Elise offers evidence-based guidance as a postpartum doula, career nanny, birth doula, rebozo specialist, sleep educator, and family/parent coach, ensuring that each family receives unwavering love and support through every stage of parenthood. With 15 years of hands-on experience in the field, Elise has become a trusted ally for numerous families, providing boundless love and compassion through every step of their parenting journey.

One of the most significant benefits of our merger is the elevated level of care and support we can now offer to our clients. Whether you're grappling with sleepless nights or feeling overwhelmed by the demands of parenthood and simply need a teammate, our team is here to assist you in finding more sleep, less stress, and all the joyful wonder that comes with life with a new baby. From compassionate guidance to hands-on support, we'll walk alongside you every step of the way, ensuring you feel empowered and supported on your parenting journey.

We are ecstatic to embark on this new chapter as Silver Lining Doula & Nanny Services and First Daze & Nightzzz merge into one entity. With our united team of professionals, we are well-positioned to provide even greater support, guidance, and care to families in need. Whether you're seeking postpartum doula services, parent coaching, or sleep coaching for your little one, we invite you to partner with us on your parenting journey. Together, we'll navigate parenthood with grace, compassion, and a whole lot of love.

Pets and babies: Making it work!

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Pets and babies: Making it work!

Here's question I got from a past client after coming home with their newborn.  

I am thinking of getting rid of my dog and cat. I just can’t handle them with our new baby. Have you had other parents who felt the same way during these early weeks and then things got better?

My answer: I appreciate your honesty. A new baby in the house is a huge adjustment for everyone, including our pets!

I worked with a family and their 3-week-old recently, and it was obvious how much their family dog means to them. The house is decorated with professional photos of the dog, comfy pet beds fill the corners and soft blankets cover special chairs. The dog had still not eaten her breakfast by the time I arrived at noon, causing angst in the mom. …

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5 Reasons To See A Pelvic Floor PT While Pregnant Or Postpartum

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5 Reasons To See A Pelvic Floor PT While Pregnant Or Postpartum

More and more women are learning about pelvic floor physical therapy. Hopefully, OBGYNs are recommending it to their pregnant and postpartum patients. According to Lindsay Moses, Doctor of Physical Therapy and owner of Her Body PT, postpartum physical therapy is considered the standard of care for women having babies in many countries outside of the US. Below, Dr. Moses shares five common reasons women seek treatment during the postpartum period.

1. Diastasis Recti – This is the separation of the rectus abdominis muscles, those that run vertically along the front of the stomach, during and after pregnancy. By the end of the 3rd trimester, most women have diastasis recti due to the growing baby stretching the abdominal wall. Although not dangerous in and of itself, it can be indicative of core weakness. When someone has a weak core, they are more at risk for developing musculoskeletal issues such as low back pain. Core strength and stability are crucial for optimizing our physical health and well-being both in the short and long term.

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Support for breastfeeding during month of raised awareness

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My baby nurses her baby.

My baby nurses her baby.

Even though I am way beyond the early years of having and raising babies, breastfeeding remains a frequent topic of conversation in my home. Of course, my line of work lends itself to friends and family sending me breastfeeding stories in the news, or social media posts by celebrities making statements around their choices to breastfeed (or pump) whenever and wherever they choose. But the conversations are also sometimes like this…

During a recent discussion about my line of work with my daughter’s boyfriend, I asked him if he was breastfed. “No,” he replied and quickly added, “but I turned out just fine. And look at Olivia,” he continued, “she’s great, too.” To which Olivia piped up, “Uh, I breastfed for three years.” That tidbit of information didn’t appear to phase him. In fact, it reminds me of when I first started learning about breastfeeding relationships and how they could look, which was much different than my limited exposure imagined. 

Mom pumps milk in the middle of Laguardia airport before installation of nursing pods.

Mom pumps milk in the middle of Laguardia airport before installation of nursing pods.

I recall being at a La Leche League meeting with my 5 week old baby and seeing a toddler nursing in his mother’s lap. I had never seen a child that age nursing (until I had my own I had little experience with babies breastfeeding) and it took some getting used to on my part. Clearly, I made it past all that considering my own breastfeeding journey and later profession. 

Do I think breastfeeding is the only way to feed a baby? Absolutely not. I’ve seen far too many situations where breastfeeding was not working for one reason or another. We aim to support mothers and families where they are. However, I do believe breastfeeding is a human right, and that it saves lives and helps communities. I desire to see mothers supported to successfully breastfeed, and I want negative beliefs that undermine their success to be challenged. 

NationalBreastfeedingMonth.jpg

August is National Breastfeeding Month in the US, which is celebrated in order to support and increase awareness of breastfeeding and its benefits. World Breastfeeding Week was the first week of August and commemorates the Innocenti Declaration On the Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding, signed in August 1990, by government policymakers, the World Health Organization (WHO), and UNICEF to promote and protect this important first food. 

To pump or not to pump, that is the question...

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To pump or not to pump, that is the question...

Mother’s Situation: I’m six months pregnant with my first child and I’m planning on trying to breastfeed. I’ll be returning to work, though, and I think it might be difficult. I’m considering breastfeeding just until I return to work because I don’t want the hassle of pumping and storing my milk. What inspires other mothers to keep on breastfeeding or pumping even after they resume working? 

As a postpartum doula who works with mothers in their homes after they’ve had their babies, I am inspired by the thought you are putting into this important decision. Many of my clients return or will be returning to work, and most of them choose to breastfeed. Many plan to breastfeed until they return to work, and some plan to continue pumping while they are working. 

Quite simply, what inspires them to continue are their babies! 

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Birth of a Doula

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Birth of a Doula

A brand new mother sat at home in her living room with her baby boy a couple of days after giving birth. She had done so much preparation leading up to her birth - she and her husband attended a childbirth class that focused on having the partner as coach to the laboring mother. Even so, she had hired a birth doula to support them both through the process. As part of her childbirth class she attended a breastfeeding support group to learn about feeding her baby once he arrived. She had her music picked out for her birth, lined up her photographer, and packed all the special items she wanted to bring with her to the birth center. 

Things didn’t go as planned. …

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We were all thumbs, or, what to do about thumbsucking

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We were all thumbs, or, what to do about thumbsucking

Q. My baby used to love her pacifier, but now she’s found her thumb and there’s no looking back. Should I worry about the problems we’ll have breaking her of this habit in the future?

You’ve certainly asked the right person - I had a thumb-sucker myself. (Notice the emphasis on “had.”)

Sucking is one of the most common ways babies and toddlers comfort and settle themselves. Many – like my daughter, Olivia, for instance – start in the womb. According to Cary lactation consultant Cindi Freeman, “Sucking is a normal and necessary biological activity for young children that can last well beyond their weaning from the breast and bottle.”  And sucking on a thumb has several advantages over a pacifier. ...

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