Today, I'm going to be talking with Haley about her journey with her amazing daughter, Avery, and her struggles with real and profound mental health and how that shaped her postpartum period. Let's peel back the layers of glossed-over narratives of parenting that do a disservice to parents who struggle in silence.

Episode Highlights:
(02:18 - 03:22) Haley shares her struggles with anxiety and how being pregnant ramped it up

(04:29 - 07:56) Haley talks about her relationship with her baby while having issues with her mental health

(13:25 - 14:17) Haley sharing how having a support plan helped her get through postpartum depression

Mentioned in this episode: 

• Pospartum Support International

Do you have a story to tell?
If your breastfeeding experience has been transformative for you and you'd like to share it with others, then please let us know! We're always looking for new stories to let other people know what's possible. Just send your name and a short overview of your journey, or even just your words of wisdom for new parents.

Also, if you need support and want to connect with other parents who understand what you're going through, check out the Nourished Young Community so we can help support you on your journey.

Visit www.nourishedyoung.com to learn more.

Today, I'll be chatting with Kait, as she shares her challenges of navigating a breastfeeding relationship that didn't work out exactly how she initially planned. Kait opens up about the emotional rollercoaster brought by societal expectations that weigh on new mothers, and how she ended up in a place where she felt at peace with her journey.

Episode Highlights:
(02:50 - 03:53) Kait shares her struggles in balancing her career and breastfeeding her newborn baby 

(07:38 - 08:55) Kait talks about how she challenged societal pressure and how she felt more empowered when she decided to let it go

(13:13 - 15:34) Alexis sharing her advice on making what is here work and giving yourself permission to feel multiple feelings at the same time

Do you have a story to tell?
If your breastfeeding experience has been transformative for you and you'd like to share it with others, then please let us know! We're always looking for new stories to let other people know what's possible. Just send your name and a short overview of your journey, or even just your words of wisdom for new parents.

Also, if you need support and want to connect with other parents who understand what you're going through, check out the Nourished Young Community so we can help support you on your journey.

Visit www.nourishedyoung.com to learn more.

Today, I'm going to be talking with Alexis as she shares her story about her difficulty with feeding her baby and the pressure of feeling like every single decision she had to make felt so huge and so hard, and how that impacted her newborn experience.

Her experience is a powerful testament to the strength found in trusting your mommy instincts to make confident decisions for both baby and parent.

Episode Highlights:
(01:03 - 05:13) Alexis shares her story about her feeding experience and things that happened after her baby was born

(06:15- 07:34) Alexis talks about her hesitations on being able to 100% trust the medical authorities

(22:24 - 22:58) Alexis sharing her advice on what to keep in mind when you're seeking for help and information

Do you have a story to tell?
If your breastfeeding experience has been transformative for you and you'd like to share it with others, then please let us know! We're always looking for new stories to let other people know what's possible. Just send your name and a short overview of your journey, or even just your words of wisdom for new parents.

Also, if you need support and want to connect with other parents who understand what you're going through, check out the Nourished Young Community so we can help support you on your journey.

Visit www.nourishedyoung.com to learn more.

Today I'm going to be talking with Julia, as she shares her challenges of learning how to embrace, how things can look way different than you thought and still turn out okay. She's also going to tell us how she and her partner work together to find their way forward while living in a different country during the time of pandemic.

Episode Highlights:
(03:33 - 04:14) Julia shares about her, experiencing pandemic and culture shock all at the same time while worrying about giving birth to her baby

(09:43 - 12:06) Julia talks about the stress she felt having issues with her lactation and her realization that having high expectations is her biggest mistake

(30:15 - 31:14) Julia celebrating her motherhood and sharing her advice to other moms who might be facing challenges similar to hers

Do you have a story to tell?
If your breastfeeding experience has been transformative for you and you'd like to share it with others, then please let us know! We're always looking for new stories to let other people know what's possible. Just send your name and a short overview of your journey, or even just your words of wisdom for new parents.

Also, if you need support and want to connect with other parents who understand what you're going through, check out the Nourished Young Community so we can help support you on your journey.

Visit www.nourishedyoung.com to learn more.

Today, I'm chatting with Helen as she shares her story about feeding her two babies with a low supply. Helen bravely opens up about the challenges she faced with breastfeeding under less-than-ideal conditions and how that changed and shaped her entire journey of motherhood.

Episode Highlights:
(01:04 - 03:03) Helen talks about how she she as a nurse thought that she was pretty prepared with the surprises of motherhood

(03:07 - 05:39) Helen shares about her giving birth during COVID pandemic and her dealing with low supply

(12:44 - 15:37) How low supply is a common yet under-discussed issue and the necessity for a better support system for those who experience it

Mentioned in this episode: 

• Low Milk Supply Foundation
• Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine

Do you have a story to tell?
If your breastfeeding experience has been transformative for you and you'd like to share it with others, then please let us know! We're always looking for new stories to let other people know what's possible. Just send your name and a short overview of your journey, or even just your words of wisdom for new parents.

Also, if you need support and want to connect with other parents who understand what you're going through, check out the Nourished Young Community so we can help support you on your journey.

Visit www.nourishedyoung.com to learn more.

Today, I'm joined by Melissa to talk about the unexpected emotional challenges that come with raising twins and how important it is for parents to regulate their emotions to better guide their children. Melissa shares her proactive approaches to her twins' nutrition and development, and why it is okay to admit our imperfections as parents.

Episode Highlights:
(00:00 - 01:51) Melissa talks about her experience as a new parent and the unexpected gift of giving birth to twins

(07:35 - 08:46) Melissa shares about the challenge she encountered called "cluster feeding", and why emotional regulation is the hardest during the first month

(24:33 - 25:35) How Melissa prioritizes self-care and socializing to help her nervous system calm down

Do you have a story to tell?
If your breastfeeding experience has been transformative for you and you'd like to share it with others, then please let us know! We're always looking for new stories to let other people know what's possible. Just send your name and a short overview of your journey, or even just your words of wisdom for new parents.

Also, if you need support and want to connect with other parents who understand what you're going through, check out the Nourished Young Community so we can help support you on your journey.

Visit www.nourishedyoung.com to learn more.

Today I'm chatting with Katie, who shares her personal struggle with latching, and the frustration and tears which led to trusting herself.  We also shed light on the critical role of support systems and the overlooked aspects of breastfeeding, such as the implications of tongue ties on a child's development, and the damage caused by dismissive attitudes of medical professionals who lack understanding of common issues that new mothers face with breastfeeding.

Episode Highlights:
(0:01:45)  Katie shares how she experienced immediate pain with getting her baby to latch, and saw three different lactation consultants who gave the advice to "grab and squish" the breast with your hand and shove it in the baby's mouth

(0:07:36) We discuss the challenges encountered during breastfeeding, and why it's important to work with a lactation expert early in the process

(0:14:08) Katie's dedication to pumping for a year, and celebrating her personal accomplishments in feeding her baby, rather than adhering to the pressure of "breast is best"

Do you have a story to tell?
If your breastfeeding experience has been transformative for you and you'd like to share it with others, then please let us know! We're always looking for new stories to let other people know what's possible. Just send your name and a short overview of your journey, or even just your words of wisdom for new parents.

Also, if you need support and want to connect with other parents who understand what you're going through, check out the Nourished Young Community so we can help support you on your journey.

Visit www.nourishedyoung.com to learn more.

Today I'm chatting with Frankie, and NICU nurse who discovered the unexpected joy of breastfeeding her son Casper, and the insights that came with being a new mother. She also shares the struggles that came from buying into the opinions from her own family members who influenced her to stop breastfeeding earlier than what she truly wanted.

Frankie reflects on what her own internal wisdom was telling her at the time, and dissonance that kept her from to continuing, and how this experience showed her to trust her own inner compass instead of the fleeting opinions of others. 

If you're going through your own struggle with knowing whether to listen to the outside voices that say "breast is best," or you are receiving unsolicited advice from friends, peers and family members, this episode is a must-listen.

Episode Highlights:
(07:48 - 09:22) Frankie's Regretful Decision to Stop Breastfeeding
(15:32 - 16:23) How Frankie Found Comfort and Connection With her Son Casper
(20:11 - 21:37) Challenges of Receiving Unsolicited Advice from Others
(21:49 - 24:02) Advice for New Parents on Trusting Your Own Instincts 

Do you have a story to tell?
If your breastfeeding experience has been transformative for you and you'd like to share it with others, then please let us know! We're always looking for new stories to let other people know what's possible. Just send your name and a short overview of your journey, or even just your words of wisdom for new parents.

Also, if you need support and want to connect with other parents who understand what you're going through, check out the Nourished Young Community so we can help support you on your journey.

Visit www.nourishedyoung.com to learn more.

Today, I'm joined by Kristin, who shares her experiences as a mother of two, discussing the trials she faced in breastfeeding, sleep training, and the eventual decision to switch to bottle feeding to find what works best for both herself and her baby. As you'll learn in this episode, parenting is not a one-size-fits-all journey.   

Through Kristin's journey, you'll learn about the significance of living in the present moment, the gap between expectations and reality, and the importance of trusting your own intuition as a parent. We also talk about the struggles she faced with pumping and how she finally found a sweet spot between bottle feeding and pumping.

Episode Highlights:
(01:08 - 03:02) Lessons Learned from Expectations vs Living Our Own Reality 
(13:10 - 15:23) Breastfeeding Experience and Kristin's Pumping Journey
(17:29 - 18:32) Happier Baby, Happy Life 
(24:53 - 25:39) Bonding and Finding What Works for You and Baby

Do you have a story to tell?
If your breastfeeding experience has been transformative for you and you'd like to share it with others, then please let us know! We're always looking for new stories to let other people know what's possible. Just send your name and a short overview of your journey, or even just your words of wisdom for new parents.

Also, if you need support and want to connect with other parents who understand what you're going through, check out the Nourished Young Community so we can help support you on your journey.

Visit www.nourishedyoung.com to learn more.

Today, I'm chatting with Acree, a grad student and mother, who shares her unique journey navigating academia and parenthood simultaneously. She shares her candid experiences of becoming a mother for the first time during the pandemic,  and the contrast of what it was like with her second child, and the emotional challenges she faced along the way, such as intense hormonal shifts and anxiety.

We also explore why it's crucial to set boundaries, and build a supportive system that involves family and friends. It's not about being a supermom and grinning and bearing it alone! 

Episode Highlights:

(02:14 - 03:37) Pursuing MFA in Creative Writing and Motherhood 
(11:09 - 12:47) Breastfeeding and Hormonal Effects
(15:05 - 16:10) Postpartum Anxiety and Lack of Awareness
(17:40 - 19:19) Emotional Fluctuations During Breastfeeding

Do you have a story to tell?
If your breastfeeding experience has been transformative for you and you'd like to share it with others, then please let us know! We're always looking for new stories to let other people know what's possible. Just send your name and a short overview of your journey, or even just your words of wisdom for new parents.

Also, if you need support and want to connect with other parents who understand what you're going through, check out the Nourished Young Community so we can help support you on your journey.

Visit www.nourishedyoung.com to learn more.