Living Life in Bloom

Resting Lying on the floor in front of a fan Daydreaming Staying home Going on adventures and ignoring the housework Eating ice cream with abandon Taking up space Not knowing for sure Crying Longing Laughing Wishing for fall Wishing summer would never end Drinking lemonade, with sugar Saying no Saying yes even when you're unsure Changing your mind Going slow Feeling everything Feeling lost Staring out the window  Letting things percolate Taking long lunches Reading a book Ditching the book you were reading and selecting something more delightful instead It's all okay You are okay

Your body, spirit and family are undergoing huge changes with pregnancy and childbirth! It’s important to take care of your mental and emotional health. Resources are available to help support you. Tending to your mental and emotional health can include focusing on nutritious foods, hydration, rest, and bonding with your family – including your baby (both before and after birth), other children, and your partner. It can include moving your body to help feel flow and connection, connecting in a parent or friend group, meditating or practicing breathwork, creating art, and listening to music. Sometimes it can include working with specialized professionals such as a mental health therapist, a psychiatry provider, or a spiritual/religious leader. This blog post focuses on signs that specialized help might be needed. It provides links to resources to help identify and respond to mental health conditions in the perinatal period. Here are some signs that might mean you or your partner need ad...

 In September of 2023, the Duluth News Tribune published my opinion piece:  Those with substance-use disorders need support without judgment . I'm including a visual of the piece here. Substance misuse in our communities is here and real. Avoiding the topic or couching these challenges in shame and stigma hurts rather than helps. Supporting families with love leads to healing. Substance misuse, along with associated medical conditions called substance use disorders (SUDs), have social, medical/biological, behavioral, and spiritual components. SUD is often closely tied to mental health conditions and trauma. When substance misuse or SUD impact mothers and birthing people, the stigma and shame is complicated even further with the intense societal expectations about how women and birthing parents "should" behave to be "good" caregivers.  But here's the thing: families are interconnected. Punishing or judging keeps these real health imbalances in the darkness an...

Meatloaf and mashed potatoes are nutrition-dense foods – filled with protein, vitamins and minerals, fats and especially love. A healthy postpartum is just like a home-cooked meal. Here are three tips to start your life with a new baby (or babies!) the right way. Eat and drink when the baby feeds: Whether you’re nursing or not, your body has high nutrition needs after giving birth. You’re recovering stretched or injured tissue, restoring iron and other nutrients lost during childbirth. To make sure you’re getting enough nourishment and fluids to recover your amazing body – and to make milk if you’re breastfeeding – drink and eat when the baby feeds. You can keep water bottles near your favorite spots to feed baby – and ask your partner and family to supply you with a plate of nibbles. Consider nutrient-rich meals and snacks that include cheese or yogurt, whole grains, and fruits and veggies. Include nuts and proteins like fish, beef, and eggs. Drinking fluids like coconut water and bo...