Unlocking the Secrets to Happy Parenting: A Guide to Emotional Mastery, Self-Identity, and Family Connections
Discover the three key pillars of successful parenting: managing emotions, developing a strong parental identity, and nurturing healthy relationships. Learn practical strategies to navigate the emotional ups and downs of parenthood, build self-confidence as a parent, and foster strong bonds with your children.
The Connection Between Birth Trauma and Breastfeeding
The Connection Between Birth Trauma and Breastfeeding
Recognizing the connection between birth trauma and breastfeeding is crucial for healthcare providers, lactation consultants, and support networks. Here are some strategies to help mothers navigate this challenging terrain:
Encourage Open Dialogue: Creating a safe space for mothers to share their birth experiences can be therapeutic. Listening to their feelings about the trauma can help them process and find ways to cope.
Tailored Support: Each mother’s experience is unique. Providing personalized support that addresses both the physical and emotional aspects of breastfeeding can empower mothers to find what works best for them.
Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques: Introducing mindfulness practices can help mothers manage stress and anxiety associated with breastfeeding. Techniques such as deep breathing, visualization, or gentle yoga can promote relaxation.
Breastfeeding Education: Educating mothers about breastfeeding techniques, positions, and the importance of patience can help build confidence. Providing resources and information can demystify the process and help them feel more in control.
Access to Professional Help: Encouraging mothers to seek help from lactation consultants, therapists, or support groups can provide them with the necessary tools to overcome challenges. Professional guidance can help them navigate both breastfeeding and any psychological impacts of their birth experience
Coping with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) During the Postpartum Period
The postpartum period is already an intense emotional rollercoaster. New moms may experience shifts in mood, sleep patterns, and energy levels as they adjust to caring for their baby. The added weight of SAD can make these feelings more pronounced, leaving moms feeling even more drained and emotionally low. Common symptoms of SAD that may overlap with postpartum challenges include:
Low energy or fatigue, even when you’ve had some rest.
Difficulty concentrating or feeling mentally foggy.
Increased irritability or anxiety.
Changes in sleep patterns, such as sleeping too much or struggling with insomnia.
Increased cravings for carbohydrates or weight fluctuations.
Feelings of isolation or loneliness due to reduced daylight and colder weather.
Tips to a Guilt-Free & Shame-Free Halloween
This Halloween, we hope these tips will help you enjoy a celebration that’s full of joy and connection, free from the pressure to “measure up.” We’re here to support you in creating a fun, mindful Halloween experience that fits your family’s unique values and needs.
Helping Your Child Navigate Stressful Transitions with Relational Safety and Peaceful Parenting
By integrating relational safety (a concept from Dr. Mona Delahooke) with the peaceful parenting approach championed by Dr. Laura Markham, we can ease our children's anxiety and help them feel emotionally secure during times of change.
Here are practical tips for supporting your child through transitions while fostering emotional connection and promoting long-term resilience.
Happy ADHD Awareness Month, Yes ADHD Can be happy.
October marks ADHD Awareness Month, a time dedicated to understanding Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, raising awareness and promoting support for individuals and families affected by it. ADHD is a complex condition that impacts not just attention but also executive function, emotional regulation, and relationships. When discussing ADHD, it’s important to highlight some insights from leading experts in the field who offer compassionate and evidence-based approaches.
Preparing for Postpartum Before Birth: A Mental Health Checklist
How Maternal Health Impacts Child Development: The Importance of Perinatal Well-Being for Relational Health
Maternal health is the cornerstone of child development, and the perinatal period represents a critical window of opportunity to support both mother (parent) and child. By prioritizing perinatal well-being and relational health, we can help prevent mental health challenges in children and youth, laying the groundwork for a lifetime of emotional stability, resilience, and well-being.
Unrealistic Expectations during Motherhood
Let’s break down the harms of social media and motherhood:
Constant Comparison: Social media showcases selected versions of motherhood, often promoting perfectionism. Mothers often compare themselves to these unrealistic standards, leading to feelings of inadequacy, guilt, and shame.
Emotional Burnout: The pressure to meet impossible standards in parenting, career, and personal life often results in emotional exhaustion, anxiety, and burnout.
Distorted Reality: Highlight reels on social platforms present an idealized version of parenting that rarely reflects the real struggles and messiness of daily life.
Mental Health Strain: Constant exposure to “perfect” lives contributes to anxiety, depression, and self-doubt, as mothers struggle to reconcile their real-life challenges with the images they see online.
Isolation: Despite being connected through social media, many women feel isolated because they believe their struggles are unique, further deepening feelings of inadequacy.
Navigating Interfaith Holidays: A Guide for Mothers Celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving and Yom Kippur Together
National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month in Canada: Honouring the Lives Lost and Supporting Families
National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month in Ontario provides a vital opportunity to acknowledge the pain of families who have experienced these devastating losses. Whether through participation in events like the Wave of Light or reaching out to a grieving family, October is a time to offer support, raise awareness, and break the silence surrounding pregnancy and infant loss.
Common Myths About Perinatal Depression and Anxiety
pregnancy and postpartum can feel really hard. Here are some myths that can get in the way of healing from our struggles.
Navigating the Shadow Pandemic: Supporting COVID Babies as They Start School
Signs and Symptoms of Perinatal Depression and Anxiety
Shining a Light on Hope: How Light Therapy Can Help Perinatal Depression
Perinatal depression, a mood disorder that affects women during pregnancy and after childbirth, is a surprisingly common condition. Studies suggest that up to 20% of expectant and new mothers experience symptoms of depression. Traditional treatments for perinatal anxiety and depression, such as medication and therapy, can be helpful. In addition to these interventions, a promising adjunctive therapy can be applied to your routine: light therapy. Light therapy has been shown to be effective in treating seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that occurs during the winter months. The research suggests that it may also be beneficial for perinatal depression, and can include benefits such as increased energy, facilitation of better sleep, reduction in symptoms of anxiety and in some cases, help provide pain relief.
Embracing Fall: Mental Health Tips for the Perinatal Period
Navigating Back-to-School Worries: A Polyvagal Approach to Brain-Body Parenting and Peaceful Parenting
Navigating Back-to-School Worries: A Polyvagal Approach to Brain-Body Parenting and Peaceful Parenting
Coping Mechanisms for Perinatal Loss: Addressing the Unseen Suffering
Coping Mechanisms for Perinatal Loss: Addressing the Unseen Suffering
The unrealistic loads of motherhood
You are forced to decide between being present with your children, taking care of your home, taking care of yourself, fulfilling the needs of your marriage, and being a good friend, child, or aunt. Saying "yes" should be a conscious decision, not driven by guilt, people-pleasing, or external recognition. It’s unrealistic to expect that you won’t feel stress or that it will always feel good. But if we can find a way to process and address the daily demands with a sense of well-being and helpful stress integration, we may experience more joy in our day and less guilt, shame, and despair. Choose your hard.
