The Nurture Nest

12/16/2022

It is not unusual for babies to do nothing but fuss and cry unless they are in moms arms. This is NORMAL!

That does not mean you are not going to hear:

"You are spoiling that baby."

"She only does that because you pick her up."

"She is obviously not around people enough."

None of this is true. You cannot spoil a baby.

Babies are learning about relationship and trust. They need us for that. "I cry, mom comes."

Babies have no ability to emotionally self-regulate. They need us to co-regulate with them. (Keep your own emotions in mind when trying to calm a baby in certain environments).

Gatherings that are overwhelming and overstimulating for most adults, are of course going to be the same for babies!

Older babies may also have a stage of playing strange. This is a normal developmental phase of building separation from parents. It makes sense that an overstimulation and overwhelming environment would enhance the playing strange. This is true even with people they already have a relationship with and not just new people.

05/08/2022

03/01/2022

SECOND NIGHT SYNDROME

Many new parents are quite caught off guard by night number two with their new baby!

After the first 24 hours of sleepiness and even having to "wake baby to feed," baby seems to wake up and discover that they are ravenous!

All. Night. Long. Feeding, then crying, then feeding then crying! It's easy to become concerned that maybe you're just not producing enough milk and your new baby may very well starve. Cue deep feelings of failure (which are then exacerbated because you're exhausted from the birth process and now not sleeping all night!)

It makes sense if you think about all that baby has been through - the physical exertion of birth and their bodies recovering and adjusting can make them exceptionally tired the first day. But by day two, they wake up and bit and realize that things are SO MUCH DIFFERENT than what they are used to.

They are experiencing a rumbling in their tummy that is quite disturbing. They have new textures on their skin, new noises all around, and the brightness of the lights makes them want to keep their eyes closed. The only thing they recognize is mama. The warmth of her skin makes them feel like they are safe. Home.

Another good reason babies seem to have their "days and nights" mixed up that second day is biological: Prolactin (our milk hormone) is highest when melatonin (our sleep hormone) is highest. And our milk supply is a supply and demand system.

Thus: the more your baby nurses at night, the quicker your milk supply will come in!

So mama, just be prepared. Your little one will need some extra attention on night number two!

Hold them close, lots of skin to skin, nurse as often as they desire, and don't get discouraged! You are doing exactly what you were meant to do! You're doing a great job!

01/02/2022

Happy New Year!! 🎉

I always have the most amazing clients, and this year has been no exception. Thank-you so much for welcoming me into your homes, especially during these Covid times, and trusting me with your little ones ❤️
It’s been an absolute pleasure getting to know each and every one of you! Looking forward to 2022!

11/18/2021

I sometimes find it difficult to really explain the benefits of hiring a postpartum doula, and what I "do" as a postpartum doula. Yes there are the "tasks" I can help out with (laundry, baby care, meal prep, etc), but there are also the less tangible aspects of doula care that can make a real difference in a family's postpartum experience. I listened to this podcast the other day, and it describes one woman's postpartum doula experience so beautifully. Please have a listen if you would like to learn more about what postpartum doulas "do"!

You Are Here Because You Believe Birth Is About Making Mums Too. Interview with Ashley Winning

11/05/2021

Last meal post for the week, and it’s all about supper ideas! What are your favorite quick & healthy supper meals? I love my crockpot – to me, there is nothing better than getting supper dealt with early on in the day :) This can work well with a newborn if you are “front loading” your day (ie. getting the one or two things you really want to get done that day, done in the morning, when you might have a little more energy). It is also perfectly acceptable to let people know what freezer meals you would appreciate if they are asking what you would like/need as a baby gift or how they can support you Postpartum. When I asked a friend this, she provided me with 3 recipe options, and I LOVED that, as I could pick which one I felt I would do a good job of making, plus it guaranteed that it was something she would enjoy eating!
And of course, you can always do what we do on Friday nights, and just get take-out! 😍

11/04/2021

Today let’s talk about lunch! Warming foods are always lovely during the Postpartum period, and nothing says “warm” to me like soup! I love this 13 Bean Soup Mix – just add a few spices, some broth (bone broth for extra nourishment and healing power), any veggies/meat you’d like (totally optional, I add carrot & celery). They also have a “vegi” soup mix that is very similar, with the addition of vegetable alphabet pasta in it.
What is your favorite soup?

11/03/2021

Drop an emoji below showing how you feel about meal planning/prep/cooking😩 Cooking is not my favorite thing – I find it stressful and time consuming, trying to come up with meals that work with the diverse taste palates of my family (1 meat lover, 1 vegetarian, 1 semi vegetarian, and 1 who only eats plain food). That being said, ensuring that YOU eat well is super important Postpartum – nutritious meals that give you energy and promote healing. A few essential nutrients are Protein, Iron (it is common to be low or deficient in iron by the time you give birth), and Vitamin C.
Today I’m going to talk about breakfast! It’s my favorite meal to prepare. From basic eggs, toast & fruit, to muffins and puddings, it’s the one meal that I don’t struggle to come up with ideas for. Take Chia Puddings for example. If you have Chia seeds, I can probably come up with some sort of yummy breakfast! The best part is, these need to sit in the fridge for a few hours (up to overnight) so they can be prepared at any time of day, and ready for you the next morning. I made this banana peanut butter one this morning (added some strawberries for extra Vitamin C), and it will be ready for my afternoon snack! 🍓🍌🥜

10/07/2021

Virtual La Leche League Regina meeting this Wednesday, October 13th!

Did you know that low breastfeeding rates are a direct result of lack of support? And that out of the approximate 89% of women who initiate breastfeeding, only 1/3 meet their breastfeeding goals? LLL offers free breast/chest feeding information and support. The Regina chapter is currently offering monthly virtual meetings. Check out their page (www.facebook.com/lllcregina) for more info and the Google Meet link. Expectant parents welcome too!