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Parenthood For everything pregnancy, baby and toddler! SAVE THE DATE
Sept 30th - Oct 1st Join us at the Enercare Centre, Toronto.
How to Navigate the Baby Journey
WITH DANAE MERCER RICCI Mediaplanet chatted with Danae Mercer Ricci, a health journalist and self-love advocate, about her fertility and pregnancy journey, lessons learned in postpartum, and more.
What advice would you give to individuals or couples who are currently navigating the fertility process? People will tell you not to stress, but you’re going to stress. And they’ll tell you not to overthink it, but you’ll do that, too, because it’s something you want in such a deep way. So, I’m not going to say those things. Instead, lean into your partner to support you, to hold space for your emotions, and to help you feel secure even if you yourself are struggling with all the big feelings. And if you’re doing this alone, while I’m not in a space to speak to that journey, I have infinite respect for you. You’re so powerful to have made the decision you have.
How has your experience influenced your work as an advocate for fertility, pregnancy awareness, self-love, and motherhood?
Read the entire interview with Danae at healthinsight.ca.
Women are incredible. I used to think I understood this, but fertility and pregnancy have given me a whole new appreciation of the immense strength women hold inside. It’s not just the strength required to give birth, but also the strength to navigate a miscarriage, or a stillbirth, or month after month of peeing on a stick hoping to see two positive lines, or being a single parent, or trying to breastfeed but being unable to, or
going night after night without sleep while trying to keep a tiny crying human alive, or speaking about postpartum depression, or living with your heart outside your body because you love your tiny child so much.
How did your perspective on life and your own body change throughout your pregnancy and postpartum period? I loved being pregnant. Where I struggled was after giving birth. I really wanted to breastfeed. And I had milk. But my right breast became so inflamed with mastitis that the milk wasn’t coming out. I ended up with really high fevers multiple times, and had to do antibiotics. I felt so hopeless that I couldn’t feed my baby. I had to stop breastfeeding. It was crushing, and for a while I couldn’t even look at my boobs. I was just so angry with them. I ended up speaking with a few wonderful consultants, including Dr. Sharon Silberstein (breastfeedingdoctor.co.uk). She helped me understand that my feelings were valid. And that it’s better to honour what we’re feeling instead of trying to shove those emotions down. It’s been several months since I stopped breastfeeding, and I feel like myself again. I’ve learned a lot — mostly about being gentle with my body. Pregnancy involves so many big changes all at once. And sometimes we have to release the reigns and just be soft with the shifts as they come.
Postpartum Sleep: Are You Thriving Or Surviving? Discover how sleep trainers provide solutions beyond "Cry It Out" and promote holistic sleep strategies for thriving families.
S Ashley Lohse Founder & Consultant, Strong Beginnings
Ashley Lohse
leep is essential to human survival, some adults wear sleep deprivation as a badge of honor. However, you won't find any new parent bragging about their child's lack of sleep as being a parenting win! In fact, sleep deprivation has a profound effect on every member of the family and is one of the leading causes of postpartum depression in new mothers, impacting as many as 1 in 7. In young children it presents hyperactivity, hard-to-settle, irritability, colic-style symptoms, difficulties feeding, and exhibiting separation anxiety.
Exasperated by the Instagramworthy demands of parenthood, it's no coincidence that parents are seeking sleep solutions for their family in the form of sleep trainers. Contrary to belief and some bad press, learning how to fall asleep and stay asleep isn’t all, “Cry It Out”. Sleep training really refers to the process of teaching parents how to better understand their baby's needs and implement strategies that allow for a child to learn the skill of falling asleep. For some, this comes easily and doesn't require much intervention —
for others, it’s simply not the case. What is important Need Sleep? Book a call with one of our professional Sleep is that when parents are Consultants today. at the end of their rope and need help, they This article was sponsored by have a solution. One Strong Beginnings. that builds their confidence, gives them clear guidance, and resolves the problem with a holistic approach, considering their child’s development, temperament, and overall well-being. We want families to THRIVE not survive with their current sleep situation.
8.97”
Publisher: Taskeen Afshan Business Development Manager: Karim Jooma Country Manager: Nina Theodorlis Production Lead: Michael Taylor Creative Lead: Kylie Armishaw Web Editor: Christina Morgan Digital Media Coordinator: Kristen Neals Digital Traffic Strategist: Karm Rathod All images are from Getty Images unless otherwise credited. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve The Toronto Star or its editorial departments. Send all inquiries to ca.editorial@mediaplanet.com.
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