As we discussed last week, becoming a mom generally prompts lots of advice. But nothing can really prepare you for the experience. This week we will explore those things we wish we knew before we became mothers.
Nothing prompts advice from strangers like a pregnant belly or a new baby. This week we will share some of the best wisdom and the worst advice we have received as mothers.
There are a lot of things we grow up believing about mothers. This week we will take a look at those ideas and decide if they are true.
We will be saying goodbye to our moms and babies born in the summer of 2016. Previous CONNECTED graduates are welcome to attend. Please bring an appetizer or dessert to share as we take time to wish these mothers good luck on their next stage of motherhood.
Let's be honest, sometimes shopping for our babies is more fun than caring for our babies. There's just so much stuff... and we feel like we need all of it. But the truth is babies haven't changed much in the past thousands of years, yet it seems that baby registries continue to grow. So what do you ACTUALLY need when you get home from the hospital? And what will you need as the months go on? What is the one thing you couldn't live without as a new mom? Lets use our collective wisdom and make a list for our pregnant moms.
Where does your baby sleep at night? Or maybe a better question is where does she wake up in the morning? Keeping our babies safe while they sleep can be a confusing and exhausting task for new parents. There is a lot of information and differing opinions about the best place for your baby to sleep. This week we will have an honest conversation about keeping your baby safe over night so that you can get some sleep as well.
"Is your baby sleeping through the night yet?" It can be hard to have to admit to every person who asks this question that no, your baby does not sleep through the night. The real question is: should she be sleeping all night? If not yet, when does this generally happen? This week we are talking about infant sleep. We will discuss what is normal, what is not and when to expect it to get better.
I found this great article that give evidence-based solutions to many sleep problems.
Babies can't talk. You may have noticed this. But they do communicate. This week we will discuss what your baby is trying to tell you. Babies use their states (wakefulness/sleep) and cues to tell us what they need and when they need it. The more tuned in you are to your babies cues the easier life will be for you and your baby.
If you have ever compared your baby to another baby around the same age (you know you have!) you may have noticed that all babies are different. Some babies will sleep through anything, while others will wake if you attempt to open the door to check on them. Some babies will hang with mom all day running errands just taking in the sights. Others may freak out the moment they see the carseat. Have you been wondering why your friend's baby is so much "easier" than yours? It is not something they are doing right or you are doing wrong. It's called temperament. And we all have one. It is an important part of who we are as humans. It dictates our preferences, our attitudes, our personality. And it is present more or less at birth. This week we will discuss temperament, both your babies and yours. You may find more understanding for what makes your baby tick.
It can be an uncomfortable topic for some, but most people have questions and concerns about sex during and after pregnancy. This week we will spend some time sharing stories and asking questions. And if you're shy, it is a good time to just sit and listen. You might get your questions answered as well!
This week Dr. Clark will be our guest speaker and she will talk about options for contraception postpartum and answer all your questions to help figure out what is the best choice for you.
Moms aren't the only people struggling when baby comes home. Dads and coparenting partners can also have a hard time, especially if mom is already having a hard time. Sometimes they want to know how to help and what to do, but they don't know where to start. This week we will go over a helpful handout that can be very informative for the Dad who wants to help but doesn't know how.
Who are you now? Babies bring with them a lot of change: physical change, change in roles, change in relationships. In fact, you may start wondering what has stayed the same since baby came. This week we will talk about how you see yourself now versus before you were pregnant. What parts of your life are better and what do you miss?
It is not only moms who get postpartum depression. So do dads, and its common enough to have its own name: Paternal Postnatal Depression. Have you noticed changes in your partner since baby arrived or even since you've been pregnant? This week we will talk about paternal depression, its symptoms and how you can help.
A secure attachment is important for children to grow up emotionally stable and empathetic. And in most cases, secure attachment happens on its own without effort. There are situations, however, that make attachment more difficult to establish. This week we will be discussing how maternal mental health can interfere with attachment and how to manage these issues before it becomes a problem.
During pregnancy and postpartum the main focus is on everything new coming in to your life, but this time is also marked by loss. There are some losses directly related to the birth of a baby that can be difficult to adjust to. And there are losses from your past that strangely seem to pop up again during this time. This week we will discuss the experience of loss in the midst of becoming a mother and how it can affect us and our relationships.
Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) effect about 20% of mothers. This week we will go over the risk factors, symptoms and prognosis for this group of mental health issues. We will dispel some common myths and talk about what can provide relief and what will make symptoms worse.
Let's say goodbye to our moms and their babies born in Spring 2016. Bring an appetizer or dessert to share with the group.