Do you know any mamas-to-be who would love a prenatal breastfeeding consult from the comfort of their own home? And what if at the same time they'd be making a donation to an NGO that serves vulnerable women and their babies?!

Join me as a Nurture Project International Partner for Change as we spread some love this month! Consider sharing or gifting a virtual consult to a pregnant pal :) We'll go over all the basics of breastfeeding, touch on some postpartum wellness strategies and expectations for infant sleep.... AND 50% of the visit fee will go right to support the NGO!

Pregnancy and the postpartum period are times full of emotion. I knew this before becoming pregnant with my first and second. As a Lactation Consultant, I had been given hundreds of glimpses into a woman's postpartum experience. Still, there was something that I went through directly after the birth of each of my children that I had not been prepared for. Something nobody in my circles had talked about. An intense feeling that blindsided me not once- but twice!

I had been longing for children years before we actually welcomed our daughter (now almost 4!!! what?!) into the world. During that time I was busy with my studies both in Naturopathic Medicine and Lactation Medicine, excited by where I was, but yearning to expand our family. That impatient feeling whenever I saw a pregnant mama and felt, “I wish I was her right now!” was boiling to a level that began to feel unbearable! My partner and I agreed that we would wait until my studies were over because it made the most sense realistically for both of us.  

You can imagine, then, that I was beyond excited when I found out we were expecting our first years later and I did everything I could to prepare for the road ahead. I slept in as much as I could, went on dates with my partner, saw movies in the theatre. I knew life was about to change in a big way but felt I was more than ready to embrace it all.  Fast forward to Day 4 postpartum. It really began to sink in that we were now a family of 3, not 2. I was in love with the beautiful little girl in my arms but as I held her I began to feel this overwhelming sense of loss. Loss? What?! I had dreamed of this day for years!  But the pit in my stomach was there along with a deep pain- mourning the relationship I had had with my partner. We were no less committed or connected on that day, in fact we were probably more committed and connected than ever... but I missed him. Even with him right beside me I missed him so much it physically hurt. The relationship had instantly changed, it had to.  Things would never be the same because suddenly we were now not each other’s “only” and this was something that I honestly had not expected to feel after the baby was born with all the excitement, anticipation, and build up. 

With transitions come the unexpected. 

When my second pregnancy came along, I could not wait to give my daughter a sibling and all through my pregnancy I kept thinking of how amazing it was going to be to see her as a big sister.  What hit me on Day 4 this time around, which I absolutely was not expecting was again this deeply painful feeling of loss. This time though, it had nothing to do with my partner. I was mourning my relationship with my daughter. She would no longer be my “only”. My baby. I just could not hold her close enough and believe me I tried. I found myself wishing “we had done more together”, wondering if I had really made her feel special? Had I given her enough of me before she now had to share me? Don’t get me wrong I was beyond thrilled with our newest addition, in fact his birth was the most empowering experience of my life.  So I really had not anticipated this feeling that something had died again. 

There was no hiding the tears that would follow. And so she got to see me cry, and cry hard for a good few days. I got to explain that sometimes people cry because they are sad and sometimes people cry because they are happy- and that I was just so incredibly happy that I get to be her mama.

It might sound dark to say that in birth there is death, but this has been one of my realizations becoming a parent.  It’s unavoidable and part of the transition. We forever change, relationships forever change. I guess the fact that we mourn means we have things in our life to celebrate- for that I am beyond grateful. Accepting, processing, and moving through the hurt is something we just have to do as we look forward with an optimistic hope while treasuring the moments of the past.

​In health,
Laura

Working with families in the postpartum period, I get many questions about how a mother’s diet can affect breastfeeding. Some of the most common questions I get are: What should I eat and what should I avoid?  I often witness a wave of relief rush over mothers when I respond with, there are no rules!  

Many moms are told that eating certain foods like chocolate, cabbage, spicy meals, and citrus fruits, for example, will result in a fussier baby. The cases where a mother’s diet causes negative outcomes in her baby, are not very common.  That said, it doesn’t make sense to create a set of rules for all breastfeeding mothers to abide by.  Many cultures have traditional ways of supporting new mothers in the postpartum period and food often plays a big part of that care.  Having lived in South East Asia, I can say I have worked with families from a wide variety of backgrounds and have come to appreciate the different traditions that exist to nourish new moms as they nourish their infants. It is fine if a mother chooses to honour recommendations passed down within her culture, as long as she is comfortable and doesn’t feel restricted. But for those who are happy to hear it- eat what you want from a variety of foods! 

I am also frequently asked: What foods should I eat to increase my milk production and quality?  The recommendation I give my breastfeeding patients is the same I give all my patients. Do your best to eat a rainbow of colours from fruits and vegetables each day, include protein in your snacks and meals and limit refined sugar intake. If you are getting a variety of foods, then there is usually no question that you’ll be meeting your needs and will make nutrient rich breast milk.  While breastfeeding, your appetite is likely to go up as your caloric needs increase (by about 500 kcal a day which is more than you needed in your third trimester!) but understand that significantly increasing your caloric or fluid intake will not influence your milk volume unless you were malnourished to begin with.

While your body takes from you what it needs to make quality breast milk, there are some nutrients to consider that are affected by a mother’s diet and nutritional status. 

1. B Vitamins:  B Vitamins are water-soluble and can potentially be deficient in breast milk if a mother’s diet is low in them. For those who are not continuing to take a prenatal vitamin, B vitamins can be obtained through from leafy greens, legumes, oats, walnuts and eggs to name a few. 

2. Vitamin D:  The level of Vitamin D in breast milk is also influenced by the mother and her levels. Many factors affect Vitamin D levels including where one lives, time spent outdoors in the sun, and skin pigmentation. Given this, many pediatric societies recommend supplementation to breastfeeding infants to make sure they are getting adequate amounts. High doses of vitamin D to the mother have also been shown to increase the levels in her breast milk.

3. Fats:  The type of fat in breast milk, not the amount of fat, is influenced by the food a mother is eating. When one consumes more saturated and trans fats from the diet, the breast milk will reflect this.  However when one consumes unsaturated fats, which should make up the majority of fats we consume, those will be the dominant fat in the breast milk.

A follow-up question I often hear is, What foods can I eat to boost my milk supply?  Well, this is an area of growing interest.  While there are a lack of scientific studies, the use of herbs and foods to increase milk supply have been used since ancient times and certainly cultures all over the world have made contributions to this body of knowledge.  Common cooking herbs that are believed to help in milk production include anise, blackseed, caraway, coriander, dill, fennel, and fenugreek. Papaya, ginger, garlic, oatmeal, and soups made with mullungay leaves are other commonly relied on galactogogues but there are many others!  

More often, its the factors other than nutrition, such as stress levels, that can have a greater effect on the milk supply.  I always emphasize eating foods that make you feel relaxed and nourished as the best place to start. 

Of course if you have any concerns about your diet and if it is causing issues for your little one, reach out for support from your local lactation consultant!

In health,
Laura


​
Resources:


Core Curriculum for Lactation Consultant Practice 3rd Edition


Increasing Your Milk Supply With Galactogogues By Lisa Marasco, MA, IBCLC, RLC
Journal of Human Lactation, November 2008 vol. 24 no. 4 455-456


Does My Breastfed Baby Need Extra Vitamin D? By Anne Merewood, PhD, MPH, IBCLC
Journal of Human  Lactation, February 2013 vol. 29 no. 1100-101

There is a lot going on during the first week of a new baby's life! Between the sleep deprivation we experience as parents and the work sometimes needed to get feeding established, it's a good thing the little one's are so darn cute!  It's an important time for everyone as the baby starts to orient to their new surroundings and their caregivers begin to bond and respond. Breastfeeding becomes this new skill that both the baby and the parents need to learn to do together.  For some the process unfolds without much effort, while for others it takes a lot more work and perseverance before things feel on track.

The first week is an especially important time as we want to make sure meconium passes out of the baby's system, that they remain well hydrated, and that they can start gaining weight when expected.  So how can we tell if breastfeeding is going well in that first week? Well, the most important thing we need to remember is that we can't rely on the numbers alone to tell us if things are going well. 

"He's feeding 10 times a day so things must be ok!"

"She's on for 50 minutes each time so she must be getting lots!"

"He's lost almost 10% of his birthweight so you should start topping up with formula"

I have heard these comments over and over again in my years supporting families.  And while numbers can be helpful in the overall assessment, they by themselves don't give us enough information.

​Numbers can give us a false sense of security or be a cause for unnecessary intervention. This is something Dr. Jack Newman and his team have been educating families on for years. The number of feeds, length of feedings, and the % weight loss don't tell us if a baby is feeding well at the breast. We need to look at the baby and see whether they are actually drinking or not and then manage the feeding to support the baby's drinking.  This is done by using breast compressions and switching breasts when the baby is no longer drinking. The clock and scale have nothing to do with that part. 

​Looking for a motion in the jaw where the chin drops down deeper and pauses before coming back up again tells us a mouthful of milk was swallowed.  This is much easier to understand by seeing it in person or by watching a video.  The International Breastfeeding Centre has some great videos of what "drinking" looks like so check it out if you need to. 

The number of diapers (pees, poos, and their colour) are more reflective of what is actually going in, and for that reason, are important to be aware of in that first week.  Check out the chart below - for any parents to be out there, it will give you some guidance.  (It was made in collaboration with two lovely women and fellow IBCLCs, Ashley Pickett and Kristi Prince).

Of course when in doubt or if you need assistance, reach out to your local Lactation Consultant!

In health,
​Laura

Mother's Day draws our attention to the women in our lives in celebration of the love and selflessness they show while raising children.  This Mother's Day,
I feel particularly blessed as I reflect on the role I play as a mother to two children in this world. I am also so thankful for the freedom and opportunities they get to experience. Not all mothers get to feel this way and this is a painful reality.

I recently became aware of a U.S. based nonprofit called Nurture Project International (NPI) founded by an amazing woman named Brooke Bauer.
NPI has teams serving vulnerable women and their infants in Greece's refugee camps right now. With my interests in refugee health and breastfeeding, you can imagine that as soon as I learned about their work my attention was captured.  

I want to highlight NPI this Mother's Day and give you more information about their background, mission, and current needs.  I encourage all of you to stay tuned to their work and give support as you are able and willing!  I will be donating 15% of the profits from my online course, Prenatal Breastfeeding Companion, to their efforts.


Some Q & A with Brooke of Nurture Project International

Q: How did NPI get started? 

Brooke:  I started the organization in my sitting room in January.  I have been working in infant feeding support as a La Leche League leader for a number of years here in the Middle East.  At the end of last year I was speaking with a friend about going to Greece to support her midwifery work and was planning a trip for March of 2016.  After posting on a couple of FB groups I was asked if I wanted to join a group that was focused on providing infant feeding support for the refugees.  They are based online and didn't formally have anyone in the field but they provided document translation for the mothers and did social media campaigns to highlight the dangers of formula donations in emergencies.  Once I was linked to this group I realised that there was a need for volunteers on the ground and decided to recruit a few friends to go with me as an infant feeding team.  From there the idea of creating a dedicated organization focused only on infant feeding was formed and Nurture Project International was born.  We formally registered on January 25th as a non profit in the US and our teams in Greece arrived mid-March.  My 7 month old daughter and I were also there in March to assist in getting the operations on the ground.


Q: How did you get involved in this type of work?

Brooke:  I have worked in international public health for the past ten years and have, for the last five years, growing my own family.  I have four children; the oldest is 5 and the youngest is 7 months.  While I have been having my own children I became a certified breastfeeding counselor, certified doula, and childbirth educator.  I have been supporting mothers locally in the Middle East where I live for the last five years.  When I heard about the crisis I just couldn't sit back and do nothing.  I knew that infant feeding in emergencies is a core humanitarian principal that was overlooked so felt that I have the capability to step forward and fill in the gaps.

Q: Why do you think this work is necessary? 

Brooke: Refugee children face unimaginable health consequences from malnutrition, unsanitary conditions, and poverty.  During emergency situations, the rates of disease and death among under-five children is higher than for any other age group. Infants are the highest risk.  The younger the baby the bigger the risk.  In an emergency breastfeeding saves lives. Formula fed babies die at a much higher rate than breastfed babies in emergencies, their risk of death increases 1,300% for formula fed infants over breastfed infants. 

Formula donations come in from well meaning individuals all the time and mothers are often told that their milk is bad or that they can't breastfeed because of stress, neither of which is true.  

I outlined the complexity of the situation here: http://nurtureprojectinternational.org/milk-in-chios/


Q: How is NPI impacting the refugee crisis?

Brooke:  By helping mothers to breastfeed and helping formula feeding mothers to safely bottle feed we are very simply saving lives.  We provide a safe space for mothers to feed, wash, clothe, and play with their babies.  We provide loving support and comprehensive information for the mothers.


Q: Do many of the mothers breastfeed, or bottlefeed? Or is it an even mix?

Brooke:  Many mothers do breastfeed.  Some were given poor information when they gave birth so some have bottlefed from the start but many do breastfeed.  Some exclusively and some do a mixture of breast and bottle.  We support all mothers but it is the mothers who are doing a mixture that our team works really hard to support so that they can build up their milk supply to exclusively breastfeed.  The vast majority of mothers want to build up their supply and exclusively breastfeed once they learn of the risks of bottle feeding in this situation.  It is these mothers who are often seeing their children becoming ill and they are very determined to stop the use of the bottle.  Mother's intuition is very smart and the mothers that we meet often know that the bottle is the reason why the babies are ill but they don't know exactly how they can increase their supply.  So that is where we come in.  For many of us who breastfed ourselves we knew how important support was even in the best of conditions.  These mothers are caring for their newborns in dire conditions with little support available.  So we are there to do anything that we can. 

We are code compliant, meaning that we follow all international codes of conduct for breastmilk substitutes (baby formula).  We assess all mothers that come to our tent to see how we can best support them and ask them information about how they feed their babies and ask questions about their baby's health.  From there we develop a care plan.  If the mother does not have the option to breastfeed then we provide ready to use infant formula in single use containers and teach the mothers how to cup feed their babies.  Even a tiny infant can cup feed.  Cup feeding s much safer in emergencies than bottle feeding.  Bottles are very hard to clean and sterilize.  We encourage mothers with babies over one year old to not have infant formula at all as it is not sterile and can be fatal in this situation.  So we encourage babies over 1 year old to drink whole cows milk or to even not have any milk all together if a wide variety of complementary foods are available.


Q: Can you explain what you do exactly to help with infant feeding?

Brooke:  We have a very detailed standard operating procedure.  We provide breastfeeding support and when that is not possible we provide safe artificial milk and provide women and their children with a stable, secure source of their baby milk.  In addition to infant feeding we provide psychosocial support, targeted clothing distribution, prenatal support, we attend births and help facilitate breastfeeding when possible, baby hygiene station where babies can be washed and a nappy changing station.  

Q: What do you need to assist with refugee infant feeding?

Brooke:  We run 100% on grassroots donations.  Our staff is all volunteer so all of our donations go to our project sites.

When looking to donate items it is important for everyone to understand that donation of bottles, infant formula, and pacifiers is very dangerous and should actively be discouraged.  

Sending money to organizations operating in the field is really the best way to support projects.  Not only does it allow the organization who are working directly with refugees to ask and find out exactly what is needed but it benefits the local economy as well if the NGOs are able to purchase items locally.  
​
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you for your time Brooke!  You and the rest of the NPI team are doing truly amazing work that is having a huge impact on this vulnerable population.  

Wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day this May the 8th!

In health, 
​Laura

​For many parents, managing a fever with their little one can feel frightening.  As a mom of two I understand the helplessness parents can sometimes feel while their kids are suffering and uncomfortable!  So when a fever is involved, it makes sense that the first thought for many moms and dads is to make the fever go away in hopes the child will feel well again.  

A fever is often treated by parents and many health care providers as an illness on its own, but we have to remember that a fever is a symptom of something else that is going on.  It is a healthy response by the body and is not inherently dangerous. This is even true in the rare event that a child has a febrile seizure (caused by a rapid change in temperature).  While they are scary to experience, there is actually no known neurological damage or impairment associated with them (though you'll want to contact a health care provider right away to rule out a more serious cause). There are many potential reasons for fevers to present, the most common reason being a viral infection where you'll see the fever accompany other symptoms like a runny nose, cough, and sore throat. Other more worrisome causes include bacterial infections, urinary tract infections, dehydration, and meningitis to name a few. 

Looking for the root cause of the fever and treating it should be our first step.  Understanding that the fever is a beneficial immune booster and then supporting it within safe limits is the second step.  

So, what are those safe limits?

A rectal temperature above 100.4°F in a child is considered a fever.  

If a fever presents in an infant under 3 months of age- this warrants an immediate visit to your medical doctor's office or emergency room for evaluation. 

If a child is 3-6 months of age and they have a high fever (over 103.5°F)- you should also have them checked out by a medical doctor right away.  

A child of any age with a fever over 104°F and/or signs of serious illness (ie. stiff neck, severe vomiting or headache, severe tummy ache, lack of peeing, lethargy, rapid breathing or decreased breath sounds, inconsolability) should be seen immediately.

A high fever (considered >103.5°F) in a chid does warrant the use of a fever reducing medication like Tylenol or Ibuprofen (not Aspirin) to bring it down a bit, not necessarily eliminate it. These medications are not risk free (with links to gastritis and liver toxicity) and thus should be reserved for when they are absolutely necessary such as times like this. If the fever doesn't reduce shortly after administration of the medication, then a visit to the doctor would be advised.

Most fevers are beneficial and get their work done within a few days or so, but if a fever was lasting a long time (more than a week) or was on the high side for 3-4 days- you'll want to make a visit to your M.D.


So, how can we treat the fever at home before reaching for the Tylenol or Ibuprofen? 

• The most important thing will be to keep your little one well hydrated. This can be done with broths, coconut water, and fresh diluted fruit or vegetable juices if we are having trouble getting them to keep up with their fluid intake.  
• Allow your child to stay home and rest.
• Increase their comfort with some herbal support.  Small amounts of Chamomile or Lemon Balm tea throughout the day, even in babies, is great for calming their nervous systems.  
• As most fevers are due to self-limiting viral infections- add in some supplements to support the immune system such as probiotics, Zinc, Vitamin C, and a great anti-viral herb called Andrographis.
• Keep their immune systems strong through their diet by eliminating refined sugars, eliminating/reducing dairy during the illness, encourage lots of veggies and healthy protein sources like chicken, fish, and legumes. (Don't stress too much though if their appetite is down, as is often the case when we are fighting off an infection). 

In the end, follow your instincts as a parents because you know your child best and seek medical attention when in doubt!
​ 
In health,
Laura



Resources:

American Academ of Family Physicians: http://www.aafp.org/afp/2013/0215/p254.html

Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Diagnosis in Primary Care 3rd Edition by Dains, Baumann & Scheibel

​Naturally Healthy Babies and Children by Dr. Romm


*disclaimer - the purpose of this post is intended to be informative and not to replace the advice of your primary care health provider

As a Naturopathic Doctor, I have to say that acupuncture is one of my favourite tools in practice.  It's ability to treat a wide range of health conditions from hormonal imbalances to inflammation, from stress to immune support, has always intrigued me.  It is often best utilized and more effective with cumulative treatments as opposed to having just one.  So, it is not uncommon (depending on the concern) for an acupuncture prescription to be for one-two times a week for several weeks, etc.

As a believer in accessible complimentary medicine, conflict arises because frankly- do the math.  The costs add up when done as private in clinic sessions ($70 a treatment once a week puts you at $280/month).  For someone without extended benefits to cover such a prescription, or even for someone with limited benefits, the financial barrier can begin to restrict access.  

Enter the Community Acupuncture model of care.  One big room, comfy chairs, chill music, and a practitioner attending to several people within the same hour.  This allows them to offer a sliding scale for treatment (typically $20-$40 a treatment). If you look into the history of acupuncture and at how acupuncture is often practised in other parts of the world you will see that this model is not new.  In North America, the movement began just over 10 years ago in Oregon and has been spreading ever since (see POCA, The People’s Organization of Community Acupuncture for more information).

Community Acupuncture is a beautiful thing because it means more people can get acupuncture more often. What’s not to love?  As my 3rd trimester is coming to an end, I have been a frequent visitor to the comfy chair for a good “acu-nap”. Beyond the benefit to the pocket book, there is something about sitting in a calm room with others who are all investing the same time into their health and wellbeing.  We are all coming together in search of our own peace and balance.  This somehow creates an energy in the room to facilitate that healing.  

During my time living in Thailand I was fortunate enough to volunteer with an amazing non-profit called “In Search of Sanuk”.  Through them I was able to provide weekly Community Acupuncture style treatments to a group of Vietnamese refugees they support.  How unrealisitic would it have been for me to do 10 individual hourly sessions each week for 8 weeks?!  With one big room and some floor mats, we did it all together.  It was a very positive experience for all involved as we chipped away at the headaches, stomach aches, and general stress.

At Toronto Community Acupuncture, a place I adore and call home to my clinic based practice, the process is simple.  You arrive, organize your payment, grab some pillows and blankets for added comfort, pick a free chair, and wait to be visited by an acupuncturist.  After a brief conversation in whispers, your needles are placed in accessible areas of the body, typically the head and extremities. Then you get to close your eyes and relax.  Nobody is looking at you, you just move inward and find your place of rest while the needles do their thing.

I understand that this open in-clinic model may not feel comfortable to everyone, but I encourage you to check out a Community Acupuncture clinic in your community if you are curious and want to test it out for yourself!

In health,
Laura 

​We all want our kids to be healthy. Of course colds and flus inevitably come around and take their toll on the little ones (and often the whole family), but the frequency, duration, and prevention of more harmful sequela are areas that I believe lifestyle, nutrition, and herbal medicine play a strong role. 

A browse through complimentary medicine literature and texts will provide a whole host of great options used for enhancing our children's immune function. Beyond the whole foods, low sugar diets, Zinc and Echinacea, I think there is one area that is often overlooked in the holistic perspective when it comes to keeping our children's immune systems strong.... and that is stress.  We know chronic stress can have immune suppressing effects in adults making stress management at the forefront of many health promoting/immune boosting protocols. But are we making stress management a priority in kids?  Or are we overlooking this important area because we associate stress management needs with adults?

Our children have mental health needs just as we do.  In fact, their mental health was being influenced and shaped prenatally before they even arrived to greet us!  There are many factors that can effect a child's ability to manage stress, from external factors such as home life, to internal factors such as individual temperament.  How can we can keep overall stress levels down in our children while keeping resilience and immune function up? Here are my favourite ways:

1) RESPOND to your child's signs of stress with calm and attention.  When they are frustrated, upset, acting out, etc.  do your best to keep your cool.  This will model healthy self-regulating behaviour for them and then you can meet them where they are at to help them navigate their feelings. This is especially key with infants/toddlers before they have an ability to express themselves with verbal language.

2) TALK to them about their stress and share healthy stress management strategies. Punishing kids when they are stressed (because their expressions of stress often stress us out!) won't help them learn to be more in control of their behaviour or deal with their triggers.    

3) Incorporate stress management TOOLS into your daily activities with your kids.  Things like yoga postures, deep breathing, counting... activities that put everything else on pause. Using strategies regularly make them more accessible for the times they will actually need to use them and make it more likely that they will in fact use them.

4) I think as parents, the language we use with our kids is important (even when they are infants).  It can certainly feel like we spend much of the day policing or micro-managing their every move for fear of them hurting themselves, but if we are always speaking to our little ones in negative terms (don't! stop! wait!), it shapes the atmosphere we are creating for them to experience the world. I think asking them more questions instead of making more demands of them gives little ones a greater sense of involvement in their actions and results in a more relaxed/less stressful experience for everyone.

Of course there are so many other great ways to help our kids with stress management. What are some others that you think are important?  Let's make them a priority in our families and key components in our immune boosting efforts.

In health,
Laura


​
Resources: 

Parenting Tools/Resources:
http://www.imhpromotion.ca/Resources/CPT-ParentingMomentsInfoSheets.aspx

Psychological Stress in Children May Alter the Immune Response: http://www.jimmunol.org/content/early/2014/02/05/jimmunol.1301713.abstract

Stress Weakens the Immune System:
http://www.apa.org/research/action/immune.aspx

As I journey through my second pregnancy, I can't help but reflect on how far I have come as a person and as a mother.  When I think about who I was when I first met my daughter, there is a huge contrast to who I am today. 

I would be lying if I said being the mom of a newborn was full of rainbows and butterflies- because for me it was quite the opposite.  The fear, worry, lack of control, and insecurity in it all was a lot to handle.  The miraculous part is that you still start each day with a little being who loves you unconditionally no matter what kind of roller-coaster you feel you're on.

So as I prepare for the arrival of my second, I am thankful for the lessons I have learned along the way.  I am also proud that I gave myself permission to grow into the kind of parent that felt right to me.

Here are the top 5 things I learned being a first time mom...

1.  IF your baby won't sleep on anything but you or your partner- it doesn't mean you are doing something wrong. Think about it- your little baby has just spent 9 months inside a uterus, with human smells and sounds- it's what makes them feel most safe.  This is the number one thing that families I work with ask me about because almost all newborns I have met would rather be with someone than alone.

2.  Sleeping when baby sleeps- day and night- doesn't make you an unproductive slob. Take your shut eye when you can, whether you are resting or actually fall asleep- the hours add up and make a huge difference on your overall functioning and wellbeing.

3.  Asking for help doesn't make you weak.  Trust me, as and ND and at the time, a lactation medicine student, I thought I had it all covered.  It was extremely difficult for me to reach out and ask for help when I needed it, but boy did it save my life!  Looking back, you will never regret reaching out- but you will regret having not done so.

4.  Turning visitors away doesn't make you rude.  There are times in your life when you are allowed to be selfish- the postpartum period is one of them!  You will have eager visitors lined up to see you, but take as much time as you need to connect with your little one and process the new life path you are on.  Take as much time as YOU need.

5.  When you feel like you don't understand your baby, it doesn't mean you're not a good mother.  You will figure it out in time (give yourself time) while doing your best along the way. That is all that matters.  

I heard a quote recently that I felt was spot on in describing the experience of being a new mom, "The days are long but the years are short".  A gentle reminder for us to savour the moments we get, even amidst the chaos. 

In health,
​Laura