The Mama Coach

Cluster feeding really is a thing, and it is completely normal. As exhausting as it can be, it is very important to remember the WHY behind cluster feeding. Around 20 hours old or on the second night, you will notice your baby will feed, and then you’ll put them in the bassinet or just hold them, and then 15 mins later, he/she is rooting again for the breast. This can continue for the entire night. You literally feel like you’ve done nothing but feed the baby all night. The e...nd is near as babies will do this for a few hours, even 5-6 hrs, and then stop and have a nice long sleep. The reason your baby is doing this, is not to torture you, although it feels that way, but because they are trying to bring your milk in. The way that breast milk production works is the more the demand, the more the supply. The more your baby is on the breast, stimulating the milk ducts, telling your brain that your body needs to make milk, the more your body will make milk. Cluster feeding is not limited to newborns. It will happen around your baby’s growth spurts: 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months. Any time your baby is going through a growth spurt, you may notice that they want to feed more often, so as hard as it is for an already exhausted Mama, increasing the feeds will help satiate your baby. Once they’ve finished cluster feeding your job is to also sleep. Initially, you want to make sure you feed your baby when he/she is hungry, especially when they are cluster feeding. I would hold off on introducing a soother until breastfeeding is well established. The reason is that you don’t want to miss your baby’s feeding cues. If they have a soother in their mouth, you won’t notice the cues for feeding. Once you’ve established breastfeeding and if you want to, then that would be an appropriate time to introduce a soother. Breastfeeding can be very challenging and you don’t have to struggle alone. Reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Currently, providing support by virtual appointments.

To the women who are mamas To the women who are aching to become mothers To the women who are struggling through motherhood To the women who are grieving loss To the ones who have lost their mothers... To anyone who feels pain on this day We acknowledge your pain We admire your strength We See You All You are loved You are supported You are valued Sending love to each and every one of you on this Mother’s Day

Every Mama needs to read these words Above all else, I want you to know that you are loved and lovable. You will learn this from my words and actionsthe lessons on love are in how I treat you and how I treat myself. I want you to engage with the world from a place of worthiness. You will learn that you are worthy of love, belonging, and joy every time you see me practice self-compassion and embrace my own imperfections.... We will practice courage in our family by showing up, letting ourselves be seen, and honouring vulnerability. We will share our stories of struggle and strength. There will always be room in our home for both. We will teach you compassion by practising compassion with ourselves first; then with each other. We will set and respect boundaries; we will honour hard work, hope, and perseverance. Rest and play will be family values, as well as family practices. You will learn accountability and respect by watching me make mistakes and make amends, and by watching how I ask for what I need and talk about how I feel. I want you to know joy, so together we will practice gratitude. I want you to feel joy, so together we will learn how to be vulnerable. When uncertainty and scarcity visit, you will be able to draw from the spirit that is a part of our everyday life. Together we will cry and face fear and grief. I will want to take away your pain, but instead I will sit with you and teach you how to feel it. We will laugh and sing and dance and create. We will always have permission to be ourselves with each other. No matter what, you will always belong here. As you begin your Wholehearted journey, the greatest gift that I can give to you is to live and love with my whole heart and to dare greatly. I will not teach or love or show you anything perfectly, but I will let you see me, and I will always hold sacred the gift of seeing you. Truly, deeply, seeing you.- Brené Brown Happy Mother’s Day Weekend

It is unavoidable and can be placed in the same category as balance. In the ideal world, all of us would feel balanced and guilt free. I don’t think that is possible. Life is busy, stressful at times, and striving for perfection will exponentially worsen the feelings of failure and guilt. Find your tribe and follow your path with no judgement or shame. Check out this article on managing mom guilt https://themamacoach.ca/managing-mom-guilt/... #maternalmentalhealthweek

Over the last few weeks I’ve barely been on social media, but I have been very active behind the scenes. Trying to maintain a good work life/home balance. And slowly learning to slow down. To quote Dr. Jody Carrington - Balance is .- Here’s the thing- some days you will crush it, be beautifully in the game, goals clear, sure of you yourself, parenting on pointe. Most other days my friend, you will be a f disaster-on all accounts. That, sweet one, is the perfect b...alance. You and me, we’re all in this together. I read this quote one year ago and I didn’t want to believe it. I tried every day to tweek things and find that perfect balance. One year later, and after working and parenting through a pandemic, I stand by this 110%. There’s never going to be a perfect balance. And that’s okay. At the end of the day, what matters most to me is that our children go to bed knowing and feeling how much they are loved. With a 4 year old who has more questions than an interrogation officer and an almost 2 year old who insists on potty training himself, our days go by so fast. Working shift work, supporting mamas, raising our boys, adding new life to our petting zoo/acreage. I’ve been really trying to live in the moment, soaking up every minute I get to be home with my boys. I’m so thankful for this life. With that being said I’m slowly opening up my calendar to more clients over the next few months. I am so grateful and lucky to support amazing mamas like you. Virtual/Online Support offered: -prenatal classes -lactation support -prenatal breastfeeding workshops (my new favorite!) -sleep support Please DM if interested