What inspired you to start Mother Nurture Prenatal and Postpartum Wellness?
I created Mother Nurture because I am passionate about supporting new and expectant moms in experiencing their maternity season to its fullest. After having my children (Julia, age three, and Ethan, 21 months) I experienced first-hand the incredible richness, as well as the equally incredible demands on mothers throughout the childbearing year and beyond. I also became aware of a virtually universal unmet need among us for personalized, mother-centered integrative care for the body, mind and spirit in the weeks and months preceding and following child birth. As an energy balancing bodywork therapist, DONA-trained postpartum doula and certified infant massage instructor, I specifically designed my offerings to meet this need by joining the gentle, healing properties of massage and energy therapy with my training and experience consulting with new moms. Replenish your cup and own your maternity experience!

I was checking out your services online, Baby Massage? We need a little more info on that one…
Baby massage is an amazing bonding activity to share with your baby, which supports his or her neurological development and healthy weight gain, and guess what– it will relax both of you! I first learned this engaging, therapeutically based sequence of massage strokes when my daughter was a newborn and I was desperate to find something to *do* with her, other than feed her and change her diapers. Our regular massage sessions ended up offering so much more than a fun playtime activity! I became comfortable decoding the mystery of her nonverbal cues, and massage gave me a proven soothing tool for remedying witching hour fussiness, as well as gas and constipation. As baby grows, massage can be integrated into a calming bedtime routine to help your family get the best night’s rest possible. My now three-year-old still enjoys massage (and gives them to me!) as a relaxing way to reconnect after a long day. Baby massage is emotionally rewarding and empowering for caregivers, and is beneficial for all babies, including preemies and those with special needs.

Do you have any go-to advice for new Moms?
My go-to advice for new moms is to make a plan for getting specialized support that honors this unique season, whether its your first or your fifth baby! Ask your sister to help stock your freezer with casseroles, make time for regular prenatal exercise and massage, and schedule a restorative postpartum visit from a professional doula. Making space for getting the self-care you need will be the best prescription to help ensure a maximally peaceful and enjoyable transition into parenthood!