When Lou was born a friend of ours said to us, “the trippy thing about having kids is that soon, you won’t be able to remember a time before she was here.”
He was right, six months later and feels like a lifetime. Perhaps it’s because she’s always been with us.
Cuddles with my babies🌷on the Loula @sixpennyhome sofa in lightweight linen.
📽 Photos by @krowkaphotography
🌞Bonnet crocheted by yours truly
Cuddles with my babies🌷on the Loula @sixpennyhome sofa in lightweight linen.
📽 Photos by @krowkaphotography
🌞Bonnet crocheted by yours truly
Cuddles with my babies🌷on the Loula @sixpennyhome sofa in lightweight linen.
📽 Photos by @krowkaphotography
🌞Bonnet crocheted by yours truly
Bedsharing ✨Been getting lots of questions on here about co-sleeping/ bedsharing.
I slept in my parents bed for many years as a child. Since the AAP (American Acadamy of Pediatrics) condemn bedsharing, many see it as dangerous and taboo, but for me it’s a familiar and beautiful part of life that I’m so passionate about. People used to tell my parents all the reasons why they should put us in our own beds but my grandmother would say in her loving way, “there will come a day when your babies no longer want to sleep in your bed. So just enjoy it while you can.” She was right. It wasn’t forever. We eventually slept in our own beds and now I live across the country from my parents and am writing this from the bed I share with my baby. Everything has its season.
Aside from the fact that I loveeeeee cuddling with Lou through the night, I choose to bed share because 1) it allows us to get more sleep knowing she is safe in my arms and I don’t have to ever get out of bed to tend to her 2) allows me to breastfeed her in my sleep safely which promotes milk supply * falling asleep with baby in rocking chair/ couch is not safe* 3) It has well documented biological benefits.
Every family and baby is unique, so I recognize that bed sharing might not be the best or safest option for everyone, but to tell all parents that it’s unsafe is just not true and creates unnecessary shame in mothers and keeps keeps parents from helpful resources.
Show me an animal in the wild who sleeps in a separate cave or den away from their babies. It’s a normal part of parenting! Don’t let anyone scare you away from mothering with your intuition!
As a new mom, of course I’ve had my tired days but overall I feel so much more rested than I ever expected and I know that because I am bedsharing.
I highly recommend both parents read the book Safe Infant Sleep (second slide). This data driven book sheds light on the many benefits of bed sharing and answers all of your questions about doing it safely.
Mamas, I would love to hear about your experience. Share in the comments below so new and expecting parents can learn from you 👇🏽
Bedsharing ✨Been getting lots of questions on here about co-sleeping/ bedsharing.
I slept in my parents bed for many years as a child. Since the AAP (American Acadamy of Pediatrics) condemn bedsharing, many see it as dangerous and taboo, but for me it’s a familiar and beautiful part of life that I’m so passionate about. People used to tell my parents all the reasons why they should put us in our own beds but my grandmother would say in her loving way, “there will come a day when your babies no longer want to sleep in your bed. So just enjoy it while you can.” She was right. It wasn’t forever. We eventually slept in our own beds and now I live across the country from my parents and am writing this from the bed I share with my baby. Everything has its season.
Aside from the fact that I loveeeeee cuddling with Lou through the night, I choose to bed share because 1) it allows us to get more sleep knowing she is safe in my arms and I don’t have to ever get out of bed to tend to her 2) allows me to breastfeed her in my sleep safely which promotes milk supply * falling asleep with baby in rocking chair/ couch is not safe* 3) It has well documented biological benefits.
Every family and baby is unique, so I recognize that bed sharing might not be the best or safest option for everyone, but to tell all parents that it’s unsafe is just not true and creates unnecessary shame in mothers and keeps keeps parents from helpful resources.
Show me an animal in the wild who sleeps in a separate cave or den away from their babies. It’s a normal part of parenting! Don’t let anyone scare you away from mothering with your intuition!
As a new mom, of course I’ve had my tired days but overall I feel so much more rested than I ever expected and I know that because I am bedsharing.
I highly recommend both parents read the book Safe Infant Sleep (second slide). This data driven book sheds light on the many benefits of bed sharing and answers all of your questions about doing it safely.
Mamas, I would love to hear about your experience. Share in the comments below so new and expecting parents can learn from you 👇🏽
When people ask why we moved to North Carolina…
When people ask why we moved to North Carolina…
When people ask why we moved to North Carolina…
When people ask why we moved to North Carolina…
When people ask why we moved to North Carolina…
When people ask why we moved to North Carolina…
On the days I don’t feel like the best mother, all is well because I chose the best father.
Food is my love language and I know from personal experience that good nutrition can have a profound impact on so many factors of one’s wellbeing physically, mentally and emotionally. I became a nutrition consultant for pregnancy and postpartum because I believe that it is never too early to develop healthy eating habits. Our early days set the foundation for the rest of our life. Did you know we learn flavor in utero!?
This month we introduced solids to Lou and it has been such a joy watching her discover new flavors. So far she takes after me and loves food, and lots of it! Her dad is a fantastic cook so what’s not to love.
The very first food we gave her was pastured chicken liver from a local farm. In the first-year babies still get most of their nutrients from breastmilk. However, as Iron needs increase after six months there is benefit to getting iron from food. Chicken liver is one of the most nutrients dense foods rich in Protein, Choline, Iron, B Vitamins and Vitamin A. Let’s face it, most of it ends up on the floor and in Paulie’s mouth but due to the density of nutrition a little goes a long way. I don’t recommend iron fortified cereals for babies or for anyone. It is hard on the digestive system, contains empty calories and it is best to avoid all processed foods for as long as possible.
Feeding your baby fresh made foods doesn’t have to be a lot of work. We are doing a combo of Baby Led Weaning and purees of the foods we also like to eat! Avocados, sweet potato, chia seeds soaked in breastmilk, bone broth, carrots and spinach are some of the other foods she’s tried so far in her Tripp Trapp from @stokkebaby highchair.
Why we love the Tripp Trapp from @stokkebaby high chair:
– It has foot support to help keep her in optimal alignment to prevent choking.
– Made from beechwood from renewable forest which means minimal plastic and looks great in our log cabin!
– Grows with the child. Converts into a regular chair that even adults can sit on.
– You can pull baby right up to the table to join the family meal
– Light weight and easy to clean!
#stokke #stokkepartner
Today is International Home Birth Day!
As a doula I’ve supported births in all settings and I know for certain that no matter where or how it’s done birth requires you to access a DEEP inner strength to prepare you for motherhood.
My hope is that every mother is treated with the respect and sovereignty she deserves and is well supported while birthing in the place she feels most comfortable and safe. For me that place was home.
I chose home because it was important for me to:
• Be in the place I felt safe and in my power
• Minimize risk of unnecessary intervention
• Be surrounded only by people I know and trust
• Know that hospital policy would not be impacting my ability to birth freely.
• Avoid having to advocate for myself during such a vulnerable time or justify my choices to anyone.
• Move around as I pleased knowing that it would help decrease pain and support the process of labor.
• Have unlimited access to water in labor
• Be with my dog ☺️
• Not have to labor in the car or drive home after
• Approach birth as a sacred event, not a medical one
• Be undisturbed in the physiological process of birth and postpartum.
We all have unique circumstances and preferences when it comes to where and how we birth our babies, I hope you feel empowered to choose what is best for you
Came across this photo of me at one of the first births I attended in 2016. It was the birth of a very special mama friend in my life who has since given birth to two more boys. The most recent one weighing 11.6lbs at birth! Yes…he was born vaginally without complication because women’s bodies are magic and because this mama knew how to advocate for herself. She chose to birth with midwives who believe in her ability to birth big babies!
Looking back at this photo makes me heart happy because I can see how happy this work makes me. People ask me all the time why I became a doula. It all started after seeing the @businessofbeingborn . This film literally changed the course of my life which has had a ripple effect on my own birth and motherhood experience. Forever grateful to @abbyepsteinxoxo and @rickilake for being my guiding lights.
Today @businessofbeingborn
is celebrating 15 years of delivering the truth! This film changed the births and lives of so many and is something I recommend every single one of my clients watch to become more informed.
This Mother’s Day you can watch the documentary for FREE worldwide from May 10 – 14! Get access at thebusinessof.life
There is so much pressure and expectation around infant sleep. Should my baby sleep through the night? Should I train my baby to sleep alone? Should I put my baby on a schedule? The “shoulds” and “should nots” are endless when it comes to sleep, and everyone seems to have an answer.
I’m sure I’m not alone in the late night Google searches and impulse purchases marketed towards spiraling tired moms.
At seven months, we’re still nursing to sleep and transferring to crib for every nap. Unless we’re wearing to sleep or taking a car seat nap of course! (All big no no’s in the sleep training world!)
We don’t follow a sleep schedule and crying it out alone even for a moment is out of the question. Some naps are long, some are short and some are skipped altogether but most days this works for us.
Every so often on a tired day (usually during a leap or discovery of a new baby skill) I find myself falling into the trap of thinking I need to follow an expert’s formula when it comes to sleep. Perhaps if I do X and Y she will sleep twelve hours through the night, fall asleep at 7 PM and nap when I snap my fingers. The days where I get stuck in the idea of how it “should” look are hands down the hardest days for all of us.
When I am reminded that it’s all part of the process and won’t last forever, when I surrender to the ebb and flow and let go of expectation around how and when sleep should happen, we all feel more rested and at ease. It always helps to come back to the reality that the only constant in parenthood is change. 🌊
Thank you @charliecraneparis for this this beautiful bar-less crib we use for naps now that Lou is very much on the go!
✨ The past few years facilitating these circles and connecting with hundreds of incredible mamas from across the world has filled my heart beyond measure. I call it Growing Together because that’s exactly what we do! The course is eleven weeks long but the connection, community and impact is forever. We cover pregnancy nutrition to early parenting approaches and EVERYTHING in between.
Link in bio to join. All questions welcomed!
✨ The past few years facilitating these circles and connecting with hundreds of incredible mamas from across the world has filled my heart beyond measure. I call it Growing Together because that’s exactly what we do! The course is eleven weeks long but the connection, community and impact is forever. We cover pregnancy nutrition to early parenting approaches and EVERYTHING in between.
Link in bio to join. All questions welcomed!
✨ The past few years facilitating these circles and connecting with hundreds of incredible mamas from across the world has filled my heart beyond measure. I call it Growing Together because that’s exactly what we do! The course is eleven weeks long but the connection, community and impact is forever. We cover pregnancy nutrition to early parenting approaches and EVERYTHING in between.
Link in bio to join. All questions welcomed!
✨ The past few years facilitating these circles and connecting with hundreds of incredible mamas from across the world has filled my heart beyond measure. I call it Growing Together because that’s exactly what we do! The course is eleven weeks long but the connection, community and impact is forever. We cover pregnancy nutrition to early parenting approaches and EVERYTHING in between.
Link in bio to join. All questions welcomed!
✨ The past few years facilitating these circles and connecting with hundreds of incredible mamas from across the world has filled my heart beyond measure. I call it Growing Together because that’s exactly what we do! The course is eleven weeks long but the connection, community and impact is forever. We cover pregnancy nutrition to early parenting approaches and EVERYTHING in between.
Link in bio to join. All questions welcomed!
✨ The past few years facilitating these circles and connecting with hundreds of incredible mamas from across the world has filled my heart beyond measure. I call it Growing Together because that’s exactly what we do! The course is eleven weeks long but the connection, community and impact is forever. We cover pregnancy nutrition to early parenting approaches and EVERYTHING in between.
Link in bio to join. All questions welcomed!
✨ The past few years facilitating these circles and connecting with hundreds of incredible mamas from across the world has filled my heart beyond measure. I call it Growing Together because that’s exactly what we do! The course is eleven weeks long but the connection, community and impact is forever. We cover pregnancy nutrition to early parenting approaches and EVERYTHING in between.
Link in bio to join. All questions welcomed!
