New Mom Naturopath: postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, newborn milestones, breastfeeding tips, extreme fatigue

In this episode, I read an excerpt from my diary from my third trimester when I wrote a beautiful letter to my son. My 3rd trimester was rocky and rugged. I was in pain, I was tired, and I was so done being pregnant. Looking back at that mom now, I think, wow, I have come so far. I also thought about how I felt so excited to meet my son.  Now, my son is two years old, and he is running around. I love being a mom, and I love getting to know him better every single day.  If you are in your 3rd trimester, know it does end. Being pregnant feels so long and hard, and everyone and their mother says, “ Oh, just wait.” But I am here to tell you that you are in for a real treat to meet your child. 

Are you worried you won’t be able to prioritize yourself this time? 

I know you want to be the perfect mother. To change all the generational trauma that has run in your family for so long? 

What about those moments when you feel like giving up? What if you had someone in your corner cheering you on? Are you cheering for a better future and helping you become the mom your child deserves? 

I am so excited to introduce the New Mom Naturopath coaching program. A 12-week coaching experience where I walk you through each week of the postpartum period. Giving you the mental coaching you need to thrive as a new mom? 

Want to check out my Free training on how to ensure a confident postpartum? Visit www.thenewmomnaturopath.com

• DATE: Aug 24, 2023 

It is so hard to handle postpartum. There are so many different problems to make decisions. You have stepped not only into the role of mom, but you are now a manager; you must make medical decisions. There is so much to do, and it's a huge transition. I am here to tell you today, that you are doing a good job, even if you are overwhelmed.  

• You Are Here 

If you are listening to the New Mom Naturopath, then you know that you know you are trying to do the research and make the commitment to yourself to yourself. This is a huge transition, and you will figure it out. 

•  You want to be a good mom 

You have the desire to learn more and be present and have the desire to do better than generations before you. You want it. Because you want it, it will happen. You will get it. 

•  You have so many resources 

There are so many different places that you can reach out to. You are not alone on this journey. When you have challenges, there is always somewhere to turn in this day and age to get the answers you need. 

Do you want more connection? Head over to the Facebook group. There are women there ready to help you and offer support! 

Are you worried you won’t be able to prioritize yourself this time? 

I know you want to be the perfect mother. To change all the generational trauma that has run in your family for so long? 

What about those moments when you feel like giving up? What if you had someone in your corner cheering you on? Are you cheering for a better future and helping you become the mom your child deserves? 

I am so excited to introduce the New Mom Naturopath coaching program. A 12-week coaching experience where I walk you through each week of the postpartum period. Giving you the mental coaching you need to thrive as a new mom? 

Want to get my free worksheet on how to plan for postpartum with your relationship? Visit www.thenewmomnaturopath.com

Want to connect with like-minded women? Add me on the new mom naturopath Facebook group!

• DATE:  Aug 21, 2023 

Mindfulness needs to be a core fundamental need for new moms as they enter postpartum. In this episode, I will give you the real reasons to prioritize mental health during postpartum. 

• Daily challenges

As a new Mom, You will face new challenges every day. Your child will be growing, and so will you every single day. I swear you will wake up each morning and go, “Holy crap, you grew,” and your child will have grown right before you. It is insane. How do you navigate through all those changes? You have mindfulness practice to help you sort out your emotions and your fundamental needs. 

• Physiological Changes are happening: 

So you have to keep in mind that your body is changing very quickly in many different ways. Most importantly, your body is rewiring what is happening in your HPA axis, which is your stress response pathway. 

• You’re Not Going Backward 

Goodness, you will grow emotionally, mentally, and physically as a new mom. Undoubtedly, you are either creating better habits for your mental health, or it will be neglected as your child gets old. Building these habits now is super important as you grow into your role as a new parent.

Are you worried you won’t be able to prioritize yourself this time? 

I know you want to be the perfect mother. To change all the generational trauma that has run in your family for so long? 

What about those moments when you feel like giving up? What if you had someone in your corner cheering you on? Are you cheering for a better future and helping you become the mom your child deserves? 

I am so excited to introduce the New Mom Naturopath coaching program. A 12-week coaching experience where I walk you through each week of the postpartum period. Giving you the mental coaching you need to thrive as a new mom? 

Interested in getting coached by Me? Contact me at [email protected]

Want to get my free worksheet on how to plan for postpartum with your relationship? Visit www.thenewmomnaturopath.com

Want to connect with like-minded women? Add me on the new mom naturopath Facebook group!

• DATE Aug 17, 2023 

In this episode, I discuss 3 tactical tips to help you regulate as your child won’t stop crying. During the fourth trimester, you and your child are learning how to communicate with each other. And to make it more interesting, they can only cry. As a new mom, this can be super triggering when you are only trying to soothe your child and get them back to sleep. There are many ways to help calm your baby down, but they won’t work if you are in a state of panic. Trust me; they know exactly how you feel. They can sense fear from a mile away. During my postpartum, I used these strategies to get you in the right mindset so that you can care for your baby today. 

• Box Breath: 

This is a straightforward strategy to get you to regulate your vagus nerve to reduce your heart rate and stop you from feeling overwhelmed at the moment. Box breath is 4 counts; hold for 4 counts, breath out for 4, and hold for 4. You should repeat this around 6 times, which guesses about a minute. No matter how many tears are flowing, you can take 1 minute to ground yourself! I promise you it’s worth it! 

• Mantras or affirmations: 

Yes, this is gonna sound very corny. As I would say to my husband when we first started dating, “Ugh, that's cheesier than cheese!” But I promise you these little phrases can help you when you are buried in the messiest of diaper changes with dinner burning on the stove. So in this section, I give you mantras to help you in the times of chaos you will surely face as a new mom. 

• Get some alone time:

You do not need to feel ashamed if you need a minute to recoup. This means ensuring your child is in a safe space whether that is a carrier, a jumper, a crib, or a pack-n-play, and then leave the room for a few minutes. Sometimes the only way to reset is to get away from the stimulus.  Hint: this is a great time to do some of that box breathing! 

Are you worried you won’t be able to prioritize yourself this time? 

I know you want to be the perfect mother. To change all those generational trauma that has run in your family for so long? 

What about those moments when you feel like giving up? What if you had someone in your corner cheering you on? Cheering you towards a better future and helping you morph into the mom that your child deserves? 

I am so excited to introduce the New Mom Naturopath coaching program. A 12-week coaching experience where I walk you through each week of the postpartum period. Giving you the mental coaching you need to thrive as a new mom? 

• DATE: Aug 13, 2023 

Can I let you in on a little secret? Postpartum can be super boring. Yes, staring at your baby’s eye is the best feeling ever, but after a while your mind will wander and it will get very boring. So it is super important to have ways to keep your brain moving so that you can be present with your child.  

When my son was young, I spent most of the time listening to audiobooks and my favorite podcast!. In this episode, I talk about my 2 favorite podcasts to listen to.

Message me and let me know what podcast is your favorite to listen to! 

• Dear Gabby [3:15] 

In all honesty, I have been watching Gabby since 2011. She has been my teacher since I was in high school. I love her tangible action steps for getting through anxiety or ways to help you manifest the world you want to live in. She gives great stories and also has wonderful interviews with some great leaders in the health and wellness industry. 

• Systemize Your life  [4:30] 

I love organizing. I love routine stacks. And if you love the ideas of creating systems to help you save time and reduce stress in your home, this is the place to be. I love how Chelsi jo teaches you so many tangible things to get your house in order. 

Are you worried you won’t be able to prioritize yourself this time? 

I know you want to be the perfect mother? To change all the those generational trauma that has run in your family so long? 

What about those moments when you feel like giving up? What if you had someone in your corner cheering you on? Cheering you towards a better future and helping you morph into the mom that your child deserves? 

I am so excited to introduce the New Mom Naturopath coaching program. A 12 week coaching experience where I walk you through each week of the postpartum period. Giving you mental coaching you need to thrive as a new mom? 

Interested in getting coached by Me? Contact me at [email protected]

Want to get my free worksheet on how to plan for postpartum with your relationship? Visit www.thenewmomnaturopath.com

Want to connect with like-minded women? Add me on the new mom naturopath facebook group!

• DATE: Aug 10, 2023 

In this episode, I discuss handling conflict during the postpartum period. In the sleepless nights and endless diaper changes, you will be exhausted. Communication between you and your partner will not be perfect. And the result of this will be conflict. Conflict is not the enemy. It is a chance to make your partnership stronger. I focus this episode on how I handle times of high conflict, even when you are overwhelmed by postpartum challenges. 

• Recognize you are not going to be on the same page  [3:55] 

When you are getting frustrated with how things are going in postpartum, it is super essential for you to be able to recognize when you are not on the same page with your partner. If you cannot recognize the conflict, you cannot set apart time to repair moving forward. To avoid this, try to “over-communicate” or go behind what you think is self-explanatory.  As someone who will be entirely focused on your child, in the routine of eating, diapers, and naps, you will likely not realize you are being unclear to your partner. 

• Know What Your Needs Are.  [6:30] 

There is no way to move forward in a conversation if you are unwilling to see your part in a conflict or lack communication. It is super important to recognize what you need. What routines and systems need to be in place so that you feel better? What does your partner need? How can you communicate with each other about changes to your needs? 

Mention: Gabby Bernstien. 

• Tap out phrases: 10:30]

In a conversation, it is essential to have both people feel they have a voice. Each person needs to have time to finish their complete idea. After which, the other person needs to repeat back what they heard. This part is vital for clear communication. 

Mention: SYL podcast episode. 

Are you worried you won’t be able to prioritize yourself this time? 

I know you want to be the perfect mother. To change all those generational trauma that has run in your family for so long? 

What about those moments when you feel like giving up? What if you had someone in your corner cheering you on? Are you cheering for a better future and helping you become the mom your child deserves? 

I am so excited to introduce the New Mom Naturopath coaching program. A 12-week coaching experience where I walk you through each week of the postpartum period. Giving you the mental coaching you need to thrive as a new mom? 

Peripartum depression is challenging for mom, without a doubt. But it was hard for my husband to help me through my 3rd trimester. One of the best ways he helped me through this mental health crisis was by telling me it was out of his comfort zone to give me support. He gave me the push I needed to get help from mental health professionals and reach out to others. I had to realize that I was in charge of my mental health and no one else could take the actions step for me.  

• [6:10] - Your mental health is NOT your partner's responsibility 

Postpartum depression is hard on your partner and you, and recognizing that it is not their responsibility to fix your mental health problems. Working with your partner to create boundaries on what they can handle and cannot do for you is really important. The next step is to respect these boundaries and determine what steps to take to improve. 

•  [6:50]  - Recognize Your Part 

While depression is so dark and scary, it is essential to remember that your mental health is not dependent on anyone. It is necessary and motivating to realize that while you are in this moment right now, you can get yourself out of this trial despite how bleak it may seem. 

•  [10:50] - Accept the Help 

I struggled with accepting help from my healthcare team. They wanted me to increase my antidepressant dose primarily because of the increased blood volume during pregnancy. Intellectually I knew I needed to increase my amount, which would be helpful. However, I resisted increasing my medication because I thought it made me a failure. I could not handle my mental state without the help of my medication. In retrospect, I wish I had increased my dose sooner to feel better. In what ways are you rejecting the service that is being offered to you? What is the roadblock? Why are you stuck? If your future self was better than you are today, what would she say to you?  

Are you worried you won't be able to prioritize yourself this time? 

I know you want to be the perfect mother. To change all the generational trauma that has run in your family for so long? 

What about those moments when you feel like giving up? What if you had someone in your corner cheering you on? Are you cheering for a better future and helping you become the mom your child deserves? 

I am so excited to introduce the New Mom Naturopath coaching program. A 12-week coaching experience where I walk you through each week of the postpartum period. Giving you the mental coaching you need to thrive as a new mom? 

Interested in getting coached by Me? Contact me at [email protected]

Want to get my free worksheet on how to plan for postpartum with your relationship? Visit www.thenewmomnaturopath.com

Want to connect with like-minded women? Add me on the new mom naturopath Facebook group!

Mayo Clinic decision aid for depression medication: https://depressiondecisionaid.mayoclinic.org/index

• DATE: Aug 7, 20323

Hindsight is 20/20. And nothing could be more accurate about the postpartum period. I was worried about postpartum because of my son’s diagnosis. So I feel like I planned more than the average woman. Even still, I found that there were still things I would do differently. First, I wish I had made more of a routine out of going on walks and getting out of the house. I got into a routine of sitting. Mainly because I was healing, but I wish I had made more of an effort to get out to see the sun. Second, I wish I had done more core work after my c-section earlier. I wish I had prioritized scheduling friends to come over before my baby got here, as it was too much for me to handle after my son got here. I would love to get more time before my son goes into treatment for clubfoot. I wish I had created a plan to get back into a normal eating pattern after battling gestational diabetes. 

• Topic #1  [2:48] - Walk more

I live on the 5th floor of my apartment complex. So this was so hard for me to commit to doing during postpartum. But I wish I would take the time to get outside and work out more. 

Topic #2 [3:46] - Delay clubfoot treatment 

This is one I have mixed feelings about. I felt so much pressure to get his clubfoot treatment started. And I am not sure it would have been better for me or worse to delay his treatment. But I wish I had more time with those cute feet and his snuggly self. I wish I had more time, and looking back, I think I would have delayed his treatment until he was four weeks, even though people were advising me otherwise. 

• Topic #3 [5:15] - Focus on core health 

I still have a postpartum belly. My core is still weak. And as a result, I have back pain, and the scar tissues from my C-section are still sore. I wish I had taken more time to work on my core sooner. It’s not fun. It is not sexy. But it is so healthy. 

 Topic #4 [6:10] - Focus more on my diet. 

I had gestational diabetes. And it was so hard to stop myself from eating all the carbs as soon as my baby was here and safe. I had to restrict my diet so much during pregnancy. But I wish I had started creating habits early in my child life to have those already established. 

• Topic #5 [8:00] -  Schedule more time with people 

I had a lot of doctor's office visits with my son's treatment, and my struggle with nursing those first two weeks. Because of that, I did not make plans to have people over, and I wish I could have more human contact in this isolating time.  

Are you worried you won’t be able to prioritize yourself this time? 

I know you want to be the perfect mother. To change all the generational trauma that has run in your family for so long? 

What about those moments when you feel like giving up? What if you had someone in your corner cheering you on? Are you cheering for a better future and helping you become the mom your child deserves? 

I am so excited to introduce the New Mom Naturopath coaching program. A 12-week coaching experience where I walk you through each week of the postpartum period. Giving you the mental coaching you need to thrive as a new mom? 

Interested in getting coached by Me? Contact me at [email protected]

Want to get my free worksheet on how to plan for postpartum with your relationship? Visit www.thenewmomnaturopath.com

Want to connect with like-minded women? Add me on the new mom naturopath Facebook group!

• DATE: Aug 3, 2023

As a mom with a child going through clubfoot treatment, judgment was assumed everywhere I went. My son was wearing casts from toe to thigh as an infant. People automatically assumed something happened. My gut reaction was a total shame, as people assumed I did something to my child. I harmed him or neglected him in some way. But in reality, I was making a huge sacrifice of my son's postpartum snuggles so that he could walk. 

In this episode, I walk you through the steps I took to help myself deal with judgment from other mothers clearly so that you do not have to take on the judgment of others. 

Ignore [8:12]

The easiest thing to do is to let people think whatever they want about you as a mom. You cannot control others' opinions and know you are doing an excellent job. But this can be super challenging because, as a new mom, you are filled with doubt. But I am here to tell you, you can ignore others' judgments. You do not owe anyone a reason for making your choices as a new parent. Period.

Educate [9:19] 

Sometimes I wanted to take the time to tell people about my son’s condition, and this is an excellent time to let people know that sometimes their questions are not as benign as they think. It is never ok to assume I harmed my child, even if they are undergoing medical care.  Remember, you do not owe anyone an explanation for how

you choose to parent, but sometimes there are windows of opportunity to help people grow. 

Look in the MIrror [10:29] 

Ugh, I hate this one.  Yes, sometimes moms would come up to me and say, " My son has a clubfoot. You are doing a good job, Mom. And they had been staring at me for 20 minutes. That whole time, I had been judging them, thinking, how dare you judge me and my son’s treatment? And then I realized they were empathizing with me!  How are you letting yourself feel others? How are you assuming someone is judging you?  I learned this from the Judgement Detox from Gabby Bernstein. I encourage you to check that book out for more details on clearing judgment. It is not easy, but it is so worth it. 

_____________________________________________________

Are you worried you won’t be able to prioritize yourself this time? 

I know you want to be the perfect mother. To change all the generational trauma that has run in your family for so long? 

What about those moments when you feel like giving up? What if you had someone in your corner cheering you on? Are you cheering for a better future and helping you become the mom your child deserves? 

I am so excited to introduce the New Mom Naturopath coaching program. A 12-week coaching experience where I walk you through each week of the postpartum period. Giving you the mental coaching you need to thrive as a new mom? Interested in working with me? Message me at [email protected]. I cannot wait to talk to you!

Interested in getting coached by Me? Contact me at [email protected]

Want to get my free worksheet on how to plan for postpartum with your relationship? Visit www.thenewmomnaturopath.com

Want to connect with like-minded women? Add me on the new mom naturopath Facebook group!

Have you ever left a doctor’s office and felt infuriated? Sure, there are many times it's because you haven’t been heard. But what would happen if you looked honestly at your own decision? How are you getting in the way of making changes to your health? Our prior belief often makes it hard to see the actual problem and the disconnect to the next step. How have you let your bias get in the way of the next step in your health journey?

• Topic #1 [3:05] No diagnosis or treatment is going to help you if you don’t commit to yourself 

• Topic #3 [20:20] How are you getting in the way of your health? 

Interested in getting coached by Me? Contact me at [email protected]

Want to get my free worksheet on how to plan for postpartum with your relationship? Visit www.thenewmomnaturopath.com

Want to connect with like-minded women? Add me on the new mom naturopath Facebook group!