Melissa Bowley

My “why” for becoming a lactation consultant

Hey everyone! I am Alison from AM Lactation Support. I am excited to share my “why” for becoming an IBCLC and going into private practice.

People generally don’t grow up thinking the perfect profession for them to get into is Lactation Support. I think most women fall into it because of their own trials with breastfeeding; that’s exactly how it played out for me. In 2012 I gave birth to my first child, a perfect little girl born prematurely at 34 weeks.

A few hours before I gave birth, I was given an article to read regarding premature babies and breastmilk. The article stated that breastmilk is considered to be a medicine and the best thing I could do for my new 34-weeker. I wanted to do anything and everything I could for her. Because of this article, I was now committed to giving my daughter breastmilk no matter what.

I happily began pumping after birth every 2-3 hours around the clock. After a few stressful attempts at breast where she was unable to consume the amount she needed, I felt defeated and just continued to pump. Once I had left the NICU with a nipple shield and a feeding schedule I thought that was it. I didn’t know that there were people who could help me achieve my breastfeeding goals once I was discharged. Needless to say, breastfeeding didn’t work out. However, I did exclusively pump until she was 1 year adjusted.

I began to notice time and time again that there were people who had similar experiences to mine, but there were also people that had great breastfeeding experiences. The key difference between the two, was the ones that had great breastfeeding experiences worked with great IBCLCs. This is when I decided to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Maternal Child Health with a specialization in Human Lactation. I graduated in 2015 and interned at Women and Infants Hospital. I obtained my IBCLC status in 2017.

In 2017 I gave birth to my 2nd child. When he was born, I thought I would be able to conquer whatever came my way with ease, I was wrong. Much to my dismay, my son was terrible at breastfeeding. He had some muscle issues in addition to a tongue and lip tie. Because I was having a hard time thinking as an IBCLC and not as a Mom I got support from a couple IBCLC’s and a pediatric chiropractor. Because of them I was able to breastfeed my son for 18 months.

The lactation consultants that I saw were either at the hospital or almost an hour drive away. This is when I saw a need in my community and decided to provide lactation support to families in the comfort of their own home. In early 2019, with the help of my Husband and some friends, I was able to launch my private practice. I am happy to be able to serve the families in RI and Southcoast MA

I offer in home lactation support and classes. I am booking online at www.AMLactationSupport.com. You can also find me on Facebook: AM Lactation Support.

For more blog posts like this, sign up to receive the momunity newsletter.

Mindful & Physical Wellness Part II

My strengths have always been planning, organizing, being prepared, always thinking ahead — basically textbook type-A personality. Well, if it’s one thing parenthood has taught me, it’s that you have to loosen the reigns on expectations, learn to be present and go with the flow.

Like others, about a year after getting married and buying our home, that hormonal switch kicked into gear and my husband and I were ready to start our family. Even though my pregnancy was planned, it still turned my world UPSIDE down!

From the get-go, I wanted a natural birth, no drugs. I trusted my body to do what it was intended to and I had faith that I would be able to handle it. Throughout my whole pregnancy I stayed active, I did my prenatal yoga, practiced Reiki, and I practiced meditation and hypnobirthing exercises daily to prepare myself for this miracle. I ONLY saw midwives during my pregnancy, and they were so supportive and reinforced that I was doing everything right, and the baby was head down, ready to rock and roll.

Two weeks before my due date, fate stepped in. The appointment with my midwife was cancelled due to a snow storm, and I ended up in an appointment with a male M.D. — polar opposite from who I had been seeing this whole time. After he did the exam he stated that he wanted to do an ultrasound (this is about when the panic set in). His suspicions were accurate, and I had a breech baby. As it turns out I have a bicornuate uterus, which means my anatomy made it difficult for my baby to ever flip. Next step: scheduled C-section.

As devastating as it was for my “birth plan” to go completely down the tube, all of the preparations I made for my natural birth, ESPECIALLY the meditation and exercise, were critical for my emotional preparedness for the procedure, recovery, and ultimately motherhood. This was a serious lesson for me that I can’t control everything in life, but I CAN learn how to deal with whatever comes my way.

I didn’t really know what to expect out of my maternity leave, but I will admit, I foolishly envisioned myself trotting along on the treadmill while my precious baby rocks away in the swing. I thought I’d have ALL this time to do things. Nope.

We lived far from our families and the lack of consistent help during this time was (who am I kidding, still is) overwhelming. I remember sitting at home one day while still on leave, barely able to keep my life together (or so it felt), thinking to myself, “How am I EVER going to do all of this when I go back to work?!” I couldn’t imagine getting dinner on the table every night, doing laundry EVERY day, and keeping the house in somewhat decent order, let alone get back into exercising and meditating on a daily basis. But, like my mother told me, you just figure it out.

Slowly but surely, things started to come together. Like everyone else, I still struggle with managing it all, but practicing mindfulness meditation has really helped me cope with the curve balls life likes to throw. Perspective really is everything.

I know I already talked in a previous post about how I came to start my business, Integrative Wellness RI, but let me just say here that I see you out there, trying to keep your s*** together amongst all of the noise of parenthood and life. I am so happy to officially be here now to help give you the resources, tools, and teach the skills to bring physical and emotional balance to your life through my services.

Here is what I currently offer, and I am building and collaborating with other providers constantly to bring you more of what you need to live your best life for your family, but most importantly, for YOU.

Prenatal Breath + Stretch Classes

Check out the prenatal class here

Saturdays at 10:30 A.M. beginning June 1st

This is a 75-minute class that integrates mindfulness meditation, breathing exercises, stretching, and core strength exercises to keep your mind and body well as you grow your own little miracle. I include practices that were absolutely essential in my own experience in addition to all of the things I wish I did, and the social support of other class members who are going through the same experience as you.

This is a very supportive environment and safe for ALL fitness levels, and for those with little-to-no experience with meditation.

Integrative Stretching Classes

Check out the integrative stretch class here

Mondays at 6 P.M., Wednesdays at 7 P.M., Thursdays at 12 P.M., Saturdays at 9 A.M.

This is a 60-minute class that combines mindfulness meditation with total-body stretching and core strengthening. In addition to promoting physical fitness, we also focus incorporate stress management and other wellness goals in our practice.

While not exclusive to expecting mothers, it is safe for all stages of pregnancy and those in the postnatal stages.

Private Sessions

As you can probably tell by now, I take a holistic approach with my work and tend to include a multitude of treatments in my practice. I offer private sessions for personal training (focused on functional fitness), flexibility training, mindfulness meditation, Reiki, and healthy lifestyle coaching. Most often, my clients receive a mix of these modalities for optimal treatment based on their needs :).

I’d love to hear from you if you have any questions or would like to discuss my other services in more detail: [email protected] or phone (401) 268-7225.

Alyssa Knapp, MS, CEP, CTTS

Owner, Integrative Wellness RI

For more incredible blog posts like this, sign up to receive the momunity newsletter.

Mindful and Physical Wellness for Women – Part I

MINDFULNESS + PHYSICAL WELLNESS

Prenatal Breathe + Stretch Classes Now Offered

By Alyssa Knapp, MS, CEP, CTTS

First of all, I’d just like to say how grateful I am to have found Momunity and am so excited to be a part of this growing community of supportive women (and men)! So much falls on our shoulders as mothers, sisters, daughters, friends, partners, and we ALL need help and support to live well and be happy. So here’s how I can help YOU…

My husband and I are originally from CT and have been in RI for 7 years now, and for all of you living far from family, you know exactly how hard this can be at times. We’ve reached so many milestones here, but the most dynamic has definitely been becoming a parent. Despite the challenges that arose from entering parenthood, it felt like the instant Eddie (now 2 years old) was born, we joined this whole new community of people who were going through the same ups and downs with raising tiny humans.

Feeling validated and understood is so, so important in navigating this journey. To have others who know just exactly what you’re going through and to NORMALIZE all of the (let’s be honest) bizarre experiences that come along with this stage of life. For me, being a source of support in whatever way I can for other mothers has become such a growing passion! My background in the wellness industry combined with experience as a parent allows me the resources to help other mothers along their path in a holistic way.

The journey that led me here today began in the fitness industry 12 years ago, when I worked as a personal trainer and group exercise instructor. While I loved every minute of it, I recognized that there was something more than physical activity and healthy eating that my clients needed to move to the next level of well-being.

I went back to school to study Psychology + Health Promotion and Exercise which led to a Master’s program in Kinesiology at URI where I focused my studies on the psychosocial and behavioral aspects of physical activity. During this stage of life not only did I experience excessive stress and anxiety, but I also watched so many around me struggle with these emotions, especially other women. I noticed that stress and emotional well-being were a huge predictor of success with other health and wellness goals.

This prompted my research study on how exercise + mindfulness practice can reduce stress and anxiety. The positive results from the study as well as the feedback I received from the participants fueled my desire to develop mindful fitness programs. After completing my Master’s program, I moved on to a corporate role in the worksite wellness field where I spent 5 years coaching (literally) hundreds of individuals on all aspects of wellness (exercise, sleep, nutrition, stress, diabetes, heart disease, healthy pregnancy, etc.), and I developed and implemented many health promotion and health education programs along the way.

My corporate role abruptly came to an end this past year when the company I worked for went bankrupt, and all of the pieces fell into place allowing me to pursue my dream of starting my own practice and get back to my intention of building mindfulness-based fitness programs. And then, Integrative Wellness RI was born! Not long after launching, I moved into a beautiful space in Warwick, RI where I share with a wonderful massage therapist and aesthetician, Carla Parmentier.

I am now happily growing my practice with private sessions, group classes, and am collaborating with other providers and creating new programs to give you the tools and resources you need to live your best life!

Integrative Wellness

My first class dedicated solely to expecting mothers is launching Saturday, 6/1! Every Saturday at 10:30 A.M. I will be teaching a small group class called Prenatal Breathe + Stretch, where will practice mindfulness meditation, breathing techniques, stretches and exercises. This class will help you feel more prepared for the journey ahead, and teach the skills you’ll need postnatal.

Stay tuned for new programs designed for YOU! In the meantime, I’d love to hear from you if you have any questions or would like to discuss my other services in more detail: [email protected] or phone (401) 268-7225.

Alyssa Knapp, MS, CEP, CTTS

Owner, Integrative Wellness RI

For more incredible blog posts like this, sign up to receive the momunity newsletter.

Taking Care of Yourself Means Taking Care of Your Baby

Becoming a mom can be one of the most terrifying and exciting chapters in your life.

You are experiencing growing a child in your womb for the first time. Its mind-blowing if you think about it. From my personal experience, I have imagined what it might have felt like, listened to so many women share their stories, but it is far different than I could have ever envisioned.

I have been working with women (and men) for over a decade in the wellness field. Over the years, I have worked with women through many different phases of their lives. The list of their WHY is long but they all had the goal to make their health and fitness a priority. Sometimes having one goal gets you in the door. Overtime I have witnessed beautiful transformations both physically and mentally. The most important way I helped women (and men) was working with them to find what worked for their bodies while making realistic health, fitness and lifestyle changes.

Pregnancy is no different.

We are bombarded with so many different fads, trends and messages during pregnancy as in all other aspects of life that it can feel very overwhelming. With all my years of experience I know that you have to be willing to realize what will work for you. Yes, there are about a million diets, workout regimes and paths you can take that could transform your body (and mind) and its vital to create sanity and balance within your health and fitness goals while prioritizing what feels manageable for you and your growing family, especially when you are expecting.

What works for one person might not be the path you take and finding what works for YOU is most important. Your body is changing every day as you grow another human in your own body! It’s important to have the tools for your body and different stages of pregnancy at your disposal to guide YOU through this time.

Taking care of yourself means taking care of your baby. Please, take the time to remind yourself of that every day, I know I need to.

From my personal experience I have had somewhat of an overwhelming pregnancy for a multitude of reasons. Anxiety around getting pregnant, miscarrying at three months, all day sickness (morning sickness), extreme nausea (I had it all through my first terminated pregnancy) and still now at 27 weeks, exhaustion, the worst migraines I had ever experienced, ect; to having to completely change the way I eat and exercise to truly take care of my body as it goes into the last couple months of pregnancy.

I spent years helping women before and after and now to truly experience it has been such a gift. I know first hand how humbling and terrifying the process can be. Each woman experiences pregnancy in a different way.

I had to completely change the way I was eating cause I was too sick to eat the way that made me feel my personal best. Getting foods and liquid in me was just one challenge. I was lucky that moving my body (working out + teaching) was something I have been able to do my entire pregnancy, while making sure to listen so closely to my body on how I decided to approach my workouts. It has been one of the only things that has helped relieve my nausea and only really for very brief amounts of time. Once my energy returned I was able to really get outside (fresh air has been KEY) everyday, stretching everyday (yes I stretch everyday – even if it’s 1 minute in the shower!!!) and creating a routine that is evolving, making my days that much more manageable.

I am grateful I met Melissa, founder of momunity.co when I did. We actually met because she signed up for my health coaching and personal training package during her postpartum journey which gave her a very clear idea of what I do. In that time I got to know about her vision for momunity and share my excitement to work with even more expecting moms (pre and post) while I was going through the experience myself. Literally we could not have met at a more perfect time, I had been slowly taking on more women specifically, who were in different stages of their pregnancies and have been teaching more prenatal yoga classes and my husband and I were a couple months into trying to conceive.

I have to say, it is such a joy to be surrounded by other pregnant women when you are personally experiencing it. I know partnering with momunity has been such a blessing and I can’t wait to help build more experiences for expecting moms as well as postpartum. So much happens after you give birth that it is really important to find your team of professionals and community of other moms. The benefits of having an ‘open tool box’ to go through this experience can do so much for new and seasoned moms (+ your partner) and I can’t wait to meet you if you have been craving the village it takes to bring little humans into this world!

Yes, it takes a village.

I can’t wait to meet you and your baby bump!

Please don’t hesitate to reach out and ask any questions directly by email, [email protected] or phone (650) 269-8377

Tessa Hollyn Taub

Owner, It’s your body, It’s your life
http://www.itsyourbodyitsyourlife.com/

For more blog posts like this, sign up to receive the momunity newsletter.

Mindfulness for moms and our little ones. Does it exist?

Excerpt from NewportRI.com article:

Kim Fuller felt she had a “perfect” — her word — family with her husband, Jim Miller, and their two children, Henry and Ella, when she started volunteering with friends at a group home operated by Child & Family, a nonprofit agency, in August 2006.

During the following month, she became acquainted with Keydell, then a 6-year-old boy separated from his family and who had serious behavioral disorders. Her family presented him with gifts that first Christmas, and he later was a guest in their home.

When the volunteer commitment came to an end in August 2008, Denise DiGangi, Child & Family’s manager of the group home, asked Fuller if she would be willing to adopt Keydell.

She and her family agreed. What followed was a difficult ordeal that became a journey of discovery for Keydell and Fuller and her family, but it has a successful outcome.

Fuller shares that story in a new book called, “Finding: The Story of a Young Boy Who Became His Adoptive Mother’s Greatest Spiritual Teacher.”

The ways the family and Keydell interacted and struggled to come to accommodations with each other is engrossing to read, but it shows how difficult adoption can be.

“It was difficult at the time, but it was a great learning and healing experience for me,” Fuller said Sunday during a telephone interview.

Fuller is a photographer, and the book begins with her on assignment for Salve Regina University, taking photos of the Dalai Lama, who visited the campus in November 2005. The event awakened in her an interest in Buddhism and meditation, which she began studying and practicing.

The meditation would assist her in those early years with Keydell, and she now leads workshops on handling the emotional stresses of raising a child with mental illness.

Two doctors in Providence, Dr. Vicki Moss and Dr. Bob Raphael, eventually diagnosed Keydell with attachment disorder, and he and Fuller began a series of bonding exercises. The doctors believed Keydell’s brain might be overactive or under-active because of some very early developmental issues, most likely caused by childhood traumas of neglect and frequent moves from caregiver to caregiver.

“As kind-hearted and loving Keydell was underneath all his behaviors, I think he too would have ended up hurting someone and landing in jail had he not gotten the proper care and love from us. We were very fortunate to have had the means to help him, and that, through my own self-care and spiritual practice, I was able to stay patient and calm enough to get through it myself.”

“My family is forever changed for the better since Keydell arrived in our lives,” Fuller wrote near the end of her book.

Her son Henry, now 24, and daughter Ella, now 21, are both living in California. Keydell is an A-student at Middletown High School, where he is a sophomore and a starting player for the soccer team.

“We watched him struggle, work hard to recover, and become the wonderful brother, son, friend and teammate that he is today,” Fuller wrote. “He knows how to create his own life, and he continues to do so by being positive, working hard to achieve his goals, and never giving up.”

For more incredible blog posts like this, sign up to receive the momunity newsletter.

What is a Doula? How I Benefited From Having One

Whenever I share my birth story with others, they ask me, “what is a doula?” So if you’re curious about doulas, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, I’m sharing how doulas supported me throughout pregnancy, during childbirth, and postpartum.

I had two compassionate doulas, one that followed me during my pregnancy and visited me postpartum and another at my baby’s birth. These care providers were my pillars of strength throughout pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum. I also refer to them as life-saving, apple-bringing, kitchen-cleaning, wonder women!

So, What is a Doula?

Alright, so you’re pregnant, and someone told you about a magical doula. According to DONA International, the world’s leading doula certifying organization, a doula is “a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during and shortly after childbirth to help her achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible.” But what does that mean when you’re in the trenches of pregnancy, birth, and new motherhood?

For me, my doula was a stable support system, an advocate, a knowledge bank and pregnancy encyclopedia, and a hand-holding, caregiving source of strength throughout pregnancy and postpartum.

Do I Need One?

In my opinion, yes. Finding a doula is the first recommendation I give to anyone with a bun in the oven. I’m sharing a bit about my birth story and how doulas provided me with emotional support, encouragement, and reassurance through pregnancy and birth and postpartum.

Just like how every pregnancy is different, every doula-mom experience is different. I believe it’s the most personalized and intimate relationship you will form with a care provider during the transition to motherhood. A doula will articulate your needs when you can’t, support you when you feel weak, and ultimately see you at your most vulnerable.

What Does a Doula Do?

Just like finding an OBGYN or midwife, you’ll want to meet with your doula to make sure they’re right for you. At your first meeting with your doula, they may recommend books or prenatal classes and give you information about what to expect over the next few months.

Your doula may ask about your OBGYN or midwife and discuss your medical appointments. They’ll also answer any questions you may have. The first trimester can be a rollercoaster of symptoms and emotions. Your doula may have a few solutions or can recommend resources.

As you move through your relationship with your doula, they may help you craft your birth plan. They’ll learn what decisions they should be expected to advocate for you during your labor and delivery. Your doula can act as a mediator between you and the medical staff at the hospital or birthing center.

Sabia, our amazing birth doula, met my son’s father and me at the hospital and stayed with us until well after our son was born. Through my labor, Sabia was there with unwavering confidence to articulate my needs when I couldn’t convey them. Having her meant that I was supported in my birthing decisions unconditionally. For example, when I needed quiet between contractions, she made sure folks stopped talking so that I could gather my strength to focus through each of those final pushes. A doula can also help you with relaxation and breathing techniques during labor.

Support for Birth Partners

Birth doulas give guidance to the dads and non-birthing people in the room. During labor, doulas advise birth partners on how to best support the birthing parent.

During my son’s birth, the most valuable thing Sabia did was engage my son’s father in the delivery, as we’re a split household. Sabia made it clear he needed to engage in our son’s delivery and that sitting in the corner wasn’t an option. Had she not stepped in and grabbed him to rub my back for pain relief, I’m not sure he would have felt the capacity to be involved in our son’s birth.

Doulas Services May Include Postpartum Support

My antepartum (pregnancy) doula was also my postpartum doula. Kerry was a godsend–an unwavering pillar of support. She was a constant wealth of information. When my OBGYN or the nursing staff didn’t explain something well, Kerry always had the answer or could point me in the right direction. As delivery grew closer, Kerry kept me accountable for building the resources I needed for delivery and postpartum. She reminded me to prep frozen pads, make freezer meals, stock a diaper station and hospital bag, find a lactation consultant for breastfeeding support, and more.

After birth, the focus shifts to your newborn. But moms need care, too. As my postpartum doula, Kerry visited my newborn and me a few days after we arrived home. It was our first and only home visit from a provider. She walked through the door with a bag of Honeycrisp apples (my favorite and a huge pregnancy craving). She went to work cleaning my house, walking my dog, and giving me a break to take a shower—my first shower without my son since his delivery. Postpartum doulas can also provide newborn care advice.

A Unique Relationship

There is no exclusive list of what a doula will do for you. As a personalized care provider, a doula is there to individually support you, which means you’ll determine what the support looks like.

Do you need help crafting a birth plan and advocating for yourself with doctors? Do you feel more comfortable asking your doula questions than your doctor? A doula can help mediate. Do you need a bag of Honeycrisp apples postpartum like I did? Unlike any other care provider during your pregnancy, a doula will individually support your needs throughout pregnancy.

Add Doula Services to Your Baby Registry

Flourish Care wants to help get mamas the support they need through their baby registries. You can add a gift card for a birth or postpartum doula to your baby registry.

A mom’s journey as a holistic nutrionist

My love for all things food started young. I grew up with a British grandmother who thought salt was too spicy, and thus, my mom didn’t learn to experiment with exotic flavors beyond mint jelly or american chop suey. The food we ate growing up was exactly that of most late-80’s, early-90’s kids: Mac ’N Cheese in that familiar blue box, Toaster Pastries (with cheese on top- anyone else?) and a smattering of frozen vegetables mixed with poorly seasoned ground turkey (because beef was bad for you). Thankfully my father has always been a master gardener and our back yard was always overflowing with veggies come summer in New England. There was nothing like the taste and smell of a freshly picked cherry tomato, bursting on your tongue, still slightly warm from the sun.

Despite my lackluster food upbringing, I started experimenting with cooking in high school. I declared myself a vegetarian, trying my hand at recipes my mother hadn’t dreamed of bringing into our little ranch kitchen. Chickpea curry and veggie risottos, even an entirely vegan oreo ice cream cake. Despite giving up vegetarianism fairly quickly, I entered into my University nutrition program bursting with ideas about how I was going to change the world, one veggie at a time. I was met with rules and regulations set by the US Department of Agriculture about how we, as Americans, should eat. Recommendations I didn’t realize at the time, aren’t always made with our best interests at heart.

I followed the recommendations, being the Type-A person I am, to a tee and beyond, meticulously calculating my macros and tracking my calories to fit the perfect ideal of health. Eventually, I spiraled into an eating disorder that stole multiple years of my life and the pleasure entirely out of eating. Food became numbers, measurements and restriction, how-many-miles-do-I-need-to-do-to-burn-this-cookie-off. As it is for so many women today, eating disorder or not- I just took it beyond. My tipping point came when my doctor looked at me straight in the eye and told me if I kept going along this route, I would never be able to have children.

The summer following, studying abroad in Italy, taking cooking classes and enjoying food prepared only from products of the local land, reawakened my love for real food. I determined that one day I would marry food to health and teach people how to eat healthy, through REAL food, not numbers.

As divine destiny would have it, I met my now-husband a few weeks after returning from Italy. He had no idea of my past struggles with food and only saw me as a woman with a zest for cooking and a slight obsession with all things nutrition. He was a good sport and followed in my culinary adventures, accepted my weird recommendations to maybe not eat so much frozen pizza. When he had to return to his home country of Canada when he graduated, I left the desire to become a dietitian behind (I’ve never liked hospitals, anyway) and took my passion for real food and enrolled in culinary school in Toronto.

After graduating, I worked as a natural foods personal chef, specializing in clients with health conditions that required special diets. I showed them that real food COULD taste delicious, and that getting proper nutrition would enable them to not just survive, but thrive, no matter what their diagnosis. Meanwhile, I started an internship at a local holistic nutrition school. I became quickly fascinated by the emphasis on the nutrients in whole foods and complete lack of attention to numbers. I decided to enroll in a holistic nutrition program myself; all the while I started struggling in my own health—hard. I developed a debilitating case of acid reflux (likely due to my lack of nutrition for so many years) and IBS-D (look it up, if you must)- that almost kept me from pursuing my dreams.

I wasn’t going to let a few tummy troubles hold me back. So I hired the best clinical holistic nutritionist around, spent two years getting my digestive system back in order. My gastroenterologist told me I would never truly get better, and only medication would control my symptoms. To their bewilderment, I got better through a traditional foods based diet, a few simple supplements and absolutely no medical intervention necessary.

The body never heals in isolation, so soon after healing my digestive issues I became pregnant with my now four year old daughter, Sage. An unexpectedly complicated pregnancy led me to the realization that so many of the foods I had been eating for years were actually causing me more harm than good. In many ways the food pyramid should be turned on it’s head and we all have unique needs—there is NO one size fits all. Despite years of education and multiple degrees in food, I had no idea what to eat.

But things were different now. I was not only a girl with a desire to eat healthy and share it with others—I was a mother. I am a mother. And what I eat, what I share with my child, will have lasting effects on her biology. The meaning behind holistic; mind, body and soul, suddenly had a whole new importance. My greatest desire for my daughter was that she never had to struggle like I did: with confusion around food, with restriction and disordered thoughts, with body dysmorphia, digestive distress or overwhelm about what to order at a restaurant, and that she just knew, intuitively, what felt good. Real, whole foods, the ones that feel good, to her.

The years following Sage’s birth led me down paths I never would have imagined back when I first started nutrition school so many years prior; finding a love for fitness and competing in a fitness competition (never again) that led me to a certification in exercise nutrition; which taught me there is more than one type of body to consider when giving nutrition recommendations. Late nights spent diving deeper into the research on nutrition beyond what was conventionally taught in nutrition school or even holistic nutrition school; into the importance of gut health, hormone balance and nutrient dense foods. Later developing a system and philosophy I refer to as your beautiful balance. A place where nourishment is paramount and restriction is nonexistent; where dieting is a figment of past mistakes and real, whole foods—in a balance that works for only you (always with room for treats) is the only rule. I learned mindfulness around food and how to eat intuitively. I learned how to plan my meals and prep ahead so my family always had healthy food on hand—a skill I learned as a chef and had never implemented for our family. A long-sought after diagnosis taught me that I wasn’t crazy and the complications of my previous pregnancy were not in vain; I had a hormonal imbalance that has no cure, except, you guessed it, changing the way I eat.

Against all odds, I was able to conceive again, naturally, with absolutely no complications, my now 6- month old; my second daughter. Holistic nutrition isn’t a certification that hangs on my wall, in fact, my degrees and certifications lay neatly in a stack in the back of my file cabinet, and I rarely reach for them. What I do goes so far beyond what anyone could label me; holistic nutritionist, chef, health coach, real food educator.

I am a mother, and my greatest desire is to share with other mothers that nutrition doesn’t need to be complicated. That real health IS possible, for you and your family, through real food, without needing to get caught up in numbers or unrealistic ideals. Putting nourishing food on the table, healing your own health and being the example of balance for your kids can come as second nature; with a little practice and a whole of love.

For more fantastic blog posts, sign up to receive the momunity newsletter.

For the love of lactation consultants

He walked out the door. There I was with my sweet newborn, all alone, with all my prepped meals, my trusty dog, and a bunch of comfy blankets. The cloth diaper station was ready. I had all I needed right? It was 7PM, we had just gotten home from the hospital, after a whirlwind 36 hours delivering, and recovering from childbirth. My labor was less than 4 hours at the hospital, so truly it was mostly fending off nurses so I could sleep, and eating. A lot of eating.

3AM rolls around and I’m pacing outside my house. How the hell did I muster the energy to pace in the first place? I felt like death, I’m topless outside, pacing. I can still hear my son screaming inside for more milk that just won’t come. I did all the right things, I used lanolin, and coconut oil, I wore loose tops, I fed him on demand, rotating breasts. Why wasn’t this working? Why am I bleeding? Why am I in so much bloody pain? What is wrong?!

So naturally, I did what I always do when theres a problem: I turned to Facebook. In every mom’s group I was in, which was far too many to count, I started posting about the dilemma: baby won’t stop crying, it’s too painful to nurse, I’m bleeding, and home alone. I was met with a whirlwind of support, of loving “it’s going to get better”’s, “just power through”’s. What I didn’t expect to be met with was “this is normal!” This is normal?… No it’s not. My bleeding nipples are not normal. No book, no blog, no parent said this happened! Breastfeeding was supposed to be easy, natural. Why does it hurt so much!! I’ve got three appointments scheduled somehow in the morning with lactation consultants. It was time to sleep, or at least attempt to. I let him latch one more time, curling my toes, and biting my teeth as he attempted to drink from traumatized nipples.

At this point, I think most people would have given up. I typically see a challenge, one that’s clearly failing, and I say “nope screw that.” It often doesn’t lead to success, but I do learn a lot.The next day we had an appointment with the pediatrician, who was useless, and pushed formula. I told her that I have several appointments with lactation consultants, I’m doing fine, I just need support. We went across the street to a local mom who was also somewhat useless, barely taking a look, yet wanting to be a CLC out of her brick and mortar shop. What she did provide? A space for me to vent about the damn pediatrician.

Off to the LC at WIC. She led me into a room, me still jittery from caffeine, lack of sleep, adrenaline. She showed me a couch and said “We’re going to be here till this doesn’t hurt, and you can nurse again.” Those words still make me cry. She inspected my poor traumatized nipples, inspected my son’s mouth. He had slight ties, but it was also clear I had a lazy latch issue going. He was dragging down on my nipples, causing trauma, and open wounds. Y’all… You have never known pain until you have nipple trauma with a hungry cluster feeding newborn. I looked at her and told her all that happened the night before. The “what did I get myself into”’s, the “I can’t do this”’. She looked at me and said “those feelings are absolutely normal, but I know, given all that you’ve told me, that you’re strong. You’ll challenge yourself to push through this, and I will be here when the going gets tough.” We sat on that couch for 5 hours, until we were nursing tolerably. We practiced different nursing holds that supported my hungry, cluster feeding newborn, and talked about this lovely transition I had somehow barreled through.

It was the first time I felt supported, listened to, and cared for as a new mom, only 48 hours after giving birth. Two years later, her words continue to echo with any challenge I face, as I continue to nurse my toddler. She has gone on to start her journey as a CLC, still supporting clients through WIC. I will forever be grateful for all she taught me, but most importantly for listening to my needs, and my goals, and helping me achieve them.

Breastfeeding is not glamorous, it is natural alright. It is harder than many adults can imagine.Having to put aside your needs in the moment several times a day to lend your body to another being. It is the first sacrifice we as parents begin to make on a daily basis of putting our child’s needs first.

For more incredible stories, sign up to receive our newsletter.

A place where moms come first!

What is momunity? Why now?

These are some questions I have received over the past year of embarking on this adventure to create a website and community dedicated to new and expecting moms. A little over a year ago I had my second son and I struggled to find the support and care I needed with both pregnancies and postpartum. In the US, everyone focuses on making sure the baby is healthy but what about moms? You cannot have a healthy baby, family or society without putting the focus on the health and wellness of moms first. We as mothers tend to put ourselves last while tending to the needs of our children and family – momunity is on a mission to change that.

I wanted to create a place where moms’ needs came first and they could easily find the care and support they need in their local community with the click of a button. We are currently available in RI and expanding to broader New England. In the coming months my blog will be a mix of stories from other moms, clinical articles on proven care and support, interviews with local providers, best mom lifehacks, and some adventures of being a momprenuer.

Please take a look at the website and find & book classes and events that are happening in your area like yoga, childbirth classes, support groups and so much more.

Looking for something and can’t find it – reach out to us at [email protected] or through the contact us link on the website.

Link to PBN article

Stay up to date by subscribing to our newsletter.