Postpartum Mom in mesh underwear - Postpartum Essentials

6 Postpartum Essentials You’ll Want To Have

By Christie Collbran | September 2, 2024

Whether you are a first-time mom or not, the postpartum period can always surprise you. It is helpful to have an idea of what postpartum essentials you may need during this time. You might have ambitious plans for your maternity leave or high expectations for yourself as a new mom.  While it’s perfectly fine to…

Postpartum Red Flags, Mom with newborn baby on her chest

Is This Normal? 5 Postpartum Red Flags To Keep In Mind

By Christie Collbran | February 25, 2024

The postpartum period is a magical time.  You’re somewhere between recovering from a battle wound and falling in love all over again. Think: Love Actually meets Saving Private Ryan. So much love. So much pain. Sleep is basically a mythical creature and the days seem to string along like an unraveling ball of yarn.  You’re…

Mom holding baby, parenting challenges, do I hate being a parent?

“Do I Hate Being a Parent?” 3 Helpful Ways to Shift Your Mindset

By Christie Collbran | January 21, 2024

Being a parent has its challenges.  There’s no way around it.  While it has beautiful moments, there are equally ugly moments. Being pushed past your limits at times, you may want to quit.  Sometimes, you question yourself and ask: “Do I hate being a parent?”  A simple internet search reveals many people feel burnout when…

Baby items - pregnancy after loss

Pregnancy After Loss

By Christie Collbran | October 28, 2023

Losing a baby through miscarriage or stillbirth is one of the hardest things any parent will ever go through. When I was pregnant with my 2nd child, I went into preterm labor at 17 weeks. Having made it to the 2nd trimester we had already announced the pregnancy to friends and family. My husband and…

Woman embracing another women in a therapy group, recovering after a traumatic birth experience

Recovering from a Traumatic Birth

By Christie Collbran | October 16, 2023

Childbirth is a powerful and transformative event, but sometimes the experience can be traumatic. Things don’t always go as planned and the feelings you have during and after the birth can be emotionally challenging.  On a personal level my first baby’s birth was very difficult and I experienced a degree of PTSD afterwards. I worked…

Pregnant couple sitting with a laptop and a postpartum plan

Do You Have a Postpartum Plan?

By Christie Collbran | September 25, 2023

You’ve got your birth class done, your hospital bag packed and your car-seat safely installed! Have you considered what happens once you are home with your baby in your arms? Do you have a postpartum plan in place?  You may have heard a lot of talk about birth plans and much less discussion about a…

baby-blues-or-postpartum-depression

Baby Blues or Postpartum Depression?

By Christie Collbran | June 11, 2021

You waited 9 long months, with friends and loved ones around you. As your belly grew, and clothes needed to be replaced, your joy and anticipation climbed each day. You allowed yourself an extra treat once in a while (the cravings hit often) and the nursery purchases were so much fun. How could this get…

Postpartum Depression and Doulas

I’m Not Depressed – Why Do I Need a Postpartum Doula?

By Christie Collbran | January 8, 2016

Are postpartum doulas for people with postpartum depression? Postpartum doulas are not postpartum depression doulas. Postpartum doulas support women after the birth of a child, with or without postpartum depression. From the Merriam-Websters online dictionary: postpartum: adjective | post·par·tum  \ˌpōs(t)-ˈpär-təm\ 1. Relating to or happening in the period of time following the birth of a child. It…