Feeding your little one doesn't have to be so fear-based... or complicated.

I sit down with Alexandra Spitz from New Mom School to talk about how to make life better for moms and their babies.

Dr. Whitney talks with Sascha Mayer from Mamava about her innovative business that helps support moms have a positive breastfeeding experience while they’re at the airport and many other public arenas. They also chat about how companies like this can r  eally help make a difference in the number of women that choose to breastfeed past those first few weeks after their baby is born.

If you’re expecting a baby, you’re probably feeling a mix of emotions. As much excitement as it can create, there are a lot of preparation steps that may make you feel overwhelmed. Within the first year, raising a baby can cost anywhere between $20,000 to $50,000 according to a source on Healthline . Whether that is more or less than you expected, it’s still impo  rtant to plan out your finances ahead of time. Consider these money management tips to ease money-related stress, and allow yourself to enjoy your new bundle of joy: Watch How Much You’re Spending One of the most important financial tips when it comes to preparing for a little one is to stay organized, and properly tracking your spending. Watching this closely allows you to notice when you may be spending too much, or where you could spend more. Through the use of a spending tracker app or even a notebook, you’ll have an accurate representation of your leftover funds and how much of them are available to put into a savings account (or use to splurge). The more you hold yourself accountable, the easier it is. Having this control over your finances gives you a healthier relationship with it and a clearer understanding on where you stand financially. Reassess Your Finances Before the baby arrives, it’s crucial to reassess your financial standing. Doing so allows you to understand the “big picture” from how money is flowing in and out of your household. If you are a type-A personality, use a spreadsheet to stay organized and track information in real time or at the end of every week If spreadsheets aren’t your thing, consider speaking with a financial planner who can take the heavy lifting and guesswork off of your plate. When you reassess your finances, look at your balance weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly so you can better understand how much money you're making and spending in a specific timeframe. While you do this, you should also factor in and jot down the amount of funds in your savings account and your emergency fund (if you have one). Once you have all crucial payments written down (mortgage, credit card payments, loans, car payments, groceries, etc.), develop a separate section that includes these extra “splurging” costs you may want to take into consideration. This can consist of subscriptions to various services, like a gym membership, beauty subscription boxes, streaming service, etc. This will give you an idea of the unneeded spending you may be making each month. While you assess your finances, evaluate your debt-to-income ratio. You can find this percentage by calculating your total debt payments, such as mortgage, car payments, credit cards, etc., by your monthly gross income. If your percentage is 36% or lower for your debt-to-income ratio, you are considered to be in good standing. This is important to keep in mind when reassessing your finances for a new baby because lenders will often look into this before providing you with a loan to ensure you have the income to support payments for it. Set Attainable Goals If you are looking to have a better relationship with your money now that you’ll have an infant to pay for, set financial goals for you and your partner. Setting financial goals will help give you a roadmap and allow you to track your financial progress. Having these goals is also a great way to hold yourself accountable when it comes to your money. Think to yourself about if this purchase overall benefits you, your family, and if it’s worth it. Your credit score can directly impact your financial future. So, maybe one of your goals could be to make credit card payments on time. If this is a goal for you, take a look at the due dates for bills and credit card payments. Mark those down and hold yourself accountable to due dates so you don’t get late fee charges. Track them in your phone calendar so you get alerts and reminders prior to when they're due. Another goal you could set would be ways to contribute to your savings or 401k accounts whenever you get a paycheck. Maybe you put more in your account at the beginning of the month and less at the end due to payments that you have to make. Evaluating ways you can contribute to your savings and 401k are great ways to set up your future finances for success. While you are setting goals, think about this: do you need those extra subscription services? Review how much you are spending on each of those services and weigh out whether or not you should keep them or get rid of them. If you have high reaching financial goals, this is something you may want to factor in and consider to ensure you can achieve them. Plan Out Your Finances After you’ve figured out how to track your spending, assess your current finances, and set goals for yourself, it’s now time to map out your finances. This is where you plan ahead for all of the potential expenses that come along with raising your baby. Building your dream nursery can involve quite a hefty payment before the baby arrives, and to top it off, these costs can add up very quickly. To ensure you’re financially ready for these payments, consider looking into a personal line of credit or a credit card to handle the finances associated with minor home improvements and other necessities you need for the nursery and other rooms within your house. Give yourself 2-3 months to prepare the nursery and gather all the must-have gadgets such as a video baby monitor, bottle cleaner, smart car seat, sound machine, baby swings, etc. If the baby comes early, you’ll want to make sure you are ready for anything. While planning out your finances, pre-baby arrival is very important for financial success. Speak with your partner about what monthly expenses you both expect to make once your child is finally here. Being on the same wavelength and having the same expectations will allow you both to hold each other accountable and can give you comfort about where your finances will go. Prepare for Post-Parental Leave If you and your spouse work a full time job, it’s imperative to think about maternal and paternal leave and what your plans are for after it ends. For most parents, there are two main options; an at-home nanny who will care for your child from the comfort of your own home, or a daycare center. To make sure that you can trust the individuals responsible for your baby, don’t be afraid to schedule an interview, or a phone call with the provider. Do your research and read reviews to make sure that other parents have had a good experience with whoever you choose to hire after parental leave is up. This is also a good time to talk to your boss about how they can accommodate you and your family. With a lot of companies adhering to a remote culture, you could have the opportunity to do the same and work from home to be with your child more. Whatever you decided to do, just your instinct as a parent and communicate with other family members to ease nerves and stress. Leaving your baby after bonding with them for 3-4 months is not easy. Be patient with yourself while you’re transitioning back to work. Consider Contributing to Your Child’s Future Even though the baby hasn’t been born yet, start thinking about how you’re going to contribute financially towards your child’s future . Different ideas could be to start a college fund, invest in a trust fund, or contribute to a savings account dedicated to them and their needs only. All of these are great ways to support your child financially for the future once they become an age where they are more independent. Remember, educating your children at a young age about sustaining money habits is a great way to ensure they have healthy financial habits later in life. Having these financial plans in place before your baby arrives is a great way to prepare for life as a new parent. Having your finances in order will relieve stress, and make you feel comfortable and confident about how you’re handling your money.

Key Takeaways: One of the hardest things for moms during the pandemic is that “it takes a village” was still true, but it was a lot harder to actually have a village. If you are experiencing signs of PPD, don’t wait until your doctor asks. Even if you feel they can’t help you, they can refer you to someone who can. Women feel much more out of control of their lives in the midst of this pandemic than they did 2 years ago. Learning to find out what you really want to say yes to will let you say no to the things that are only going to drain your time and energy. INSIDE THE EPISODE:

Paid maternity leave was wiped off the table in favor of things like getting a check for $12,500 if you buy an electric car...you just have to be wealthy enough to afford it. Currently there’s ZERO federal paid family leave. Some states and companies choose to pay for it, but that still leaves millions of Americans with nothing. “Sure,” you might think, “that sucks. But it’s not like everywhere else in the world is doing any better.” Not so much.

If you saw a book or an article promising you “5 steps to fast success as a working mom,” would you pick it up, would you click on it to read it? There’s no right or wrong answer here, but if most of us are being honest with ourselves, we’d probably dive deep into that content promising that instant gratification we crave daily. At Modern Mommy Doc, we’re not about those kinds of mommy manuals, which is why Dr. Whitney’s new book coming out tomorrow takes an entirely different trajectory. The Working Mom Blueprint: Winning at Parenting Without Losing Yourself doesn’t subscribe to the idea that “doing it all” is really possible, nor should it be the goal that working moms strive for. But rather, The Working Mom Blueprint offers practical help for simplifying life as we know it and creating a foundation that allows us to succeed. As Dr. Whitney shares in the book, “It won’t make you a superhero, able to do anything and everything in your 24-hour day.” And the most important message that she sends throughout is: You can’t do everything if you want to do anything well. Success, after all, can be defined in so many ways—and too many of us waste our time trying to figure out what that should look like in our own lives. Of course, scrolling through our social media feeds can fog up our lenses and make us feel as though we’re lightyears behind where we should be when, in reality, this is so far from true. How we view success is very personal and success metrics vary greatly depending on you and your children's life stage because priorities change. It's not static, but ever evolving. Tuning out all the noise isn’t easy, but it’s a first step in the right direction towards defining success as a working mother.

When was the last time you actually took a day off—not just from work, but from everything that is weighing on you, like the laundry items on your to-do list (which probably includes laundry), all of the stress and the chaos, and the overwhelming feeling of walking in the opposite direction on a treadmill going way too fast? Like Dr. Whitney puts it in her newest book which comes out May 11 , The Working Mom Blueprint: Winning at Parenting Without Losing Yourself : “It’s technically my day off today, but it sure feels like my day on.” This is the predicament so many of us fall into—and it’s certainly no surprise considering how many things we’re tirelessly trying to balance all at once: raising little humans, working full-time, taking care of a household, maintaining a thriving romantic relationship, etc., all while attempting to care for ourselves while we’re at it. Our newly defined “Modern Motherhood” has become a rather unattainable uphill battle at best. We’re being led to believe that doing it all is possible, when the reality is that it most certainly is not, especially if we’re being encouraged to keep our sanity intact. In Dr. Whitney’s new book, she shares an excerpt from sociologist Caitlyn Collins, author of Making Motherhood Work: How Women Manage Careers and Caregiving , who discovered in her research that American moms seem to have it the worst when it comes to trying to balance work-family conflicts. She found that American moms see it all as their fault—as a personal problem—when, in reality, structural problems and cultural norms are to blame. “I want American moms to stop blaming themselves. I want American mothers to stop thinking that somehow their conflict is their own fault, and that if they tried a little harder, got a new schedule, woke up a little earlier every morning, using the right planner or the right app, that they could somehow figure out the key to managing their stress. That’s just not the case.” As it turns out, working harder at mothering, and “doing it all” is overrated and exhausting. It burns us out, making us anxious, frazzled, and resentful. As Dr. Whitney shares, “You can’t do everything if you want to do anything well—there are trade-offs and benefits to every decision that you make and you’ll have to make some tough decisions as a working mom about your priorities if you want to actually enjoy anything.” It’s becoming increasingly clear that it’s not American moms who need to change, or who need to do more, but rather it’s a system failure. The U.S.'s narrative needs to change, and perhaps the immense burnout brought on by the burden of a pandemic and the lack of infrastructure in place to help parents through this dark and difficult time put an even greater spotlight on this. The message that’s being sent for moms to do more needs to be repositioned entirely and that’s what you’ll learn in The Working Mom Blueprint : how to approach motherhood with perspective and intention and how to make room for the most important things in life—the things that make you you , for the things that give you joy. So how do we balance our home and work lives? One constant that’s not going to change is that there are 24 hours in a day. So how do we establish a work and at-home routine that allows us to get what we need to get done while still being present and experiencing joy in our day-to-day life? Here are some of the tips Dr. Whitney shares in The Working Mom Blueprint: 1) Decide how far you want to lean in. Sheryl Sandberg gave all moms hope and inspiration when she encouraged us to “lean in,” but just how far should we lean in before our balance feels off kilter? Perhaps having a perfectly balanced work and home life doesn’t exist. “No you cannot have it all, but you can have more than you ever thought possible if you intentionally choose to live your life on the basis of what’s most important to you and according to what you value most,” Dr. Whitney says in The Working Mom Blueprint . 2) Ask for alternative schedules. Can your work schedule give and take even a little bit to better accommodate your at-home life? What about starting 1 hour later and ending 1 hour later—or starting 1 hour earlier and ending one hour earlier. Maybe this way you can have that 5:30 PM family dinner you struggled to put on the table prior. 3) Say no—protect the time you have. So many of us are “yes” people. We want to be everything to everyone and do everything for everyone. But is that even possible? Hardly. Make your choices wisely and in the favor of what works best for you and your family.

Wow, Mama, you made it through. You survived the last 12 months with dignity, grace and your sanity still intact. We’re pretty sure there’s no greater accomplishment considering everything you’ve had to deal with amidst, you know, a global pandemic! Needless to say, you deserve every single item on your wish list and some this May 9th as consolation for the blood, sweat and tears you put into making sure your household ran smoothly through it all. (Also, can you even believe that we’re back at Mother’s Day again, with so few celebrations in between this and last year!?). Luckily, the chances that you can actually host a Mother’s Day get-together this year is much higher thanks to vaccines being officially available country-wide to everyone ages 16+. Can we get an amen for that? But no matter how you choose to celebrate, we at Modern Mommy Doc hope you take the time for yourself, even in some small way, to acknowledge how amazing you are and how much your family and loved ones are grateful for everything you do (even if they sometimes have a funny way of showing it). If you’re looking for gift inspo to share with those special people in your life looking to celebrate and honor you this Mother’s Day, we’ve got you covered. Enough of the fluff—this year you deserve gifts that give back to you in more ways than one—emotionally, physically and mentally—and that remind you of your worth and value. Here are some of our favorite Mother’s Day gifts for 2021. We hope you have the amazing day you deserve, Mama!

It’s so strange to think that, just 14 months ago, few of us even knew what a “coronavirus” was nor had we ever actually used the word “pandemic” in a sentence. Now, the latter is a daily occurrence and a constant reminder of the chaos that’s become a normal facet of life ever since. It almost feels like that past year and a few months have flown and crept by all at the same time. One thing is most definitely for sure: the pandemic has given us a new perspective on just about everything, from a hug with a loved one to actually having a reason to get dressed and head outside of the house on the regular. As we start to prepare for life post pandemic, what changes from lockdown do you hope remain in post-pandemic life? Last March, my initial reaction to the onset of the pandemic was “ Holy cow—is this real life?” This was quickly followed by immense gratefulness for the simplest of things—my health, the health of my family, the roof over my head, the food in my pantry, the giant stack of toilet paper in my basement… At a time of feeling like there was so much to complain about—namely no longer having access to any childcare and feeling like I couldn’t safely leave my house, let alone scrap together some “me time”—I also felt particularly humbled. What was I really missing in the scheme things, and how beyond lucky was I to be safe, healthy and alive? This swift shift in perspective is something I think we can all relate to. We all started to enjoy the simpler things in life because that’s really all that was left when everything else shut down. We embraced family dinners, even though they only involved the members of our households. We experienced way less pressure to make the most of our weekends and actually embraced sitting on the couch with our Netflix cue lined up. We ordered takeout more instead of cooking because #supportingsmallbusinesses felt more important than ever. Our work environments became more flexible, as we all experienced a greater understanding of each other’s family issues. We adapted to the concept of virtual doctor’s appointments, which actually fit into our work and life schedules much more easily, and also made asking the pediatrician a silly question a non-issue. As excited as I am about life resuming post-pandemic, I do have to admit that there are some changes from lockdown that I hope remain in our new normal.

Mama, it’s finally here! Sleepy, slippered mornings waking up over hot coffee. Winter light dancing across the floorboards. Mittened hands, cold noses, the smell of pine everywhere. Yes, the holiday season is officially upon us. And I think we can all agree that, after the year we’ve had, we need something worth celebrating. This Christmas Eve, you’ll find my family and me making our traditional raclette dinner. (Gooey cheese melted over bread and veggies — what’s not to love?!) And we will greet Christmas morning with panettone French toast as we always do. But some traditions will necessarily change. There’s light at the end of this crazy dark tunnel we call 2020, but the pandemic is still upon us, and so not everything is Christmas-as-usual. With that in mind, I wanted to share a few ideas to help you make this a holiday season to remember. I know, I know — I’m not Oprah. But hopefully this list of family-friendly traditions and gift ideas (for your kids, for new parents in your life, or even yourself) is more attainable and, as a result, even more helpful. There are only so many puppy hoodies you can give away, after all. Parenting Done Right One of the best things about the holidays is how they make it easy to nail it in the parenting department. Cookies, books, decorations — sometimes it’s the simple stuff that kids (and parents) remember most. Here are three pandemic-proof ideas to help you get into the spirit of things: 1. Build a LEGO gingerbread house . You get all the Christmas vibes with none of the gloppy mess! 2. Make Christmas cookies from scratch and decorate them with as many sprinkles as humanly possible. 3. Read a favorite holiday book every day. Ours is When Santa Was a Baby , both for its humorous spin and its heartwarming message. Gifts fo  r Bookworms Light up your little reader’s life with these foolproof page-turners. 1. The Indestructibles series : Perfect for new parents or anyone with a toddler, this line of books combines engaging illustrations and simple themes with “pages” that can withstand virtually anything your little one can dish out. 2. The Pout-Pout Fish : So much of motherhood is spent trying to turn sour attitudes into something sweeter. Let this book do the heavy lifting for once. 3. Chrysanthemum : Standing up to bullies and finding your true self? This book covers all the essentials. 4. The Toot & Puddle series : Friendship and charming illustrations make this series by Holly Hobbie a hands-down win. 5. Strictly No Elephants : This book does double duty with an entertaining story and an important message of inclusivity. 6. The Wonderful Things You Will Be : This lovingly whimsical storyline lives up to the mesmerizing illustrations by Emily Winfield Martin. 7. Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls : Biographies of ballerinas, queens, inventors, and other role models become as fascinating as fairy tales thanks to some clever storytelling. 8. The Rabbit Listened : This sweet story underscores the value of being a good listener. 9. Ada Twist, Scientist : Rhyming text, a strong female protagonist, a celebration of STEM-inclined curiosity — this book ticks all the boxes. 10. The Little Gardener : Persistence is key in this tale of a gardener who learns to believe in himself. 11. Little Peop le, BIG DREAMS box set: Inspiring Writers : What do Maya Angelou, Jane Austen, and Anne Frank have in common? They’re the “inspiring writers” featured in this trio of biographies for kids.

“Is this rash normal?” “Which car seat should I buy?” “Should I be worried that she only eats yogurt?” As a pediatrician, I get asked a lot of questions each day. As an author and a speaker, I get asked even more questions, but those usually fall into a different category. A category that deals with working-mom guilt, co-parenting, and balancing life and motherhood. It is this second group of questions that we all need more answers to, which is why I have just launched a new line of online parenting programs – self-paced “classes” designed to spark simple but transformative change in your life. And it is in honor of these programs that I have decided to devote this week’s blog to some of the questions I hear most often from the creative, exhausted, determined, and real Mamas I have the privilege of seeing every day. 

Have you asked yourself, how can I move forward in my parenting journey? Is it time to level up my relationship, my parenting, or my life? This is about creating the parenting experience you want.

It’s Saturday morning. My little ones and I are snuggled up close and cozy like we love to be. They tease each other, curl up under my arms like birds in a nest, and rest their sweet little heads on my chest as the day starts. This is my favorite moment of the week, the one I look forward to, and want to hold onto as tight as I can. My girls are three and six, hardly babies, but in those idyllic moments I’m thrown back to when they were new infants. I remember the hours of holding and soothing and feeding… those early days when I felt way more overwhelmed by parenthood. Being a new mom hit me hard, in part because I had a particularly sensitive first child and in part because it was all so new. Back in the throes of colic and sleeplessness and tears (or even before they came), I wished that someone had sat me down and gone through “what to expect in the first six months” in a very real, unfiltered way. I also wished they’d encouraged me about what I had to look forward to, both in the newborn period, but also way beyond it. If you’re about to have your baby, you may have everything checked off your registry list, but my guess is you still have some lingering questions about how you’re going to do this thing called motherhood. Here are 8 newborn tips for thriving, not just surviving in the first 6 months with your baby… 1. IT WILL GET BETTER, BELIEVE ME. If you end up with an easy baby, congratulations But, remember, avoid telling other parents how easy your baby is. They will only go home and cry in private. On the other hand, if you have a tough, “hands on” baby, talk about it to other moms. That is the only way to get the support you need. Call your mom or your sister, get to a mommy support group, call Baby Blues Connection, meet up with a friend. Better yet, have the friend come to you. And when you are in the store and some random mom says while gazing at your six-week-old colicky baby, “What a beautiful, perfect angel,” feel free to let your eyes well up with tears. You know, standing there with spit up in your hair and on your clothes, three days past your last shower, that your child is only a perfect angel when asleep. Other experienced moms get that, too, and they are ok with you not being perfect while you wait to see the light at the end of the tunnel. 2. THERE ARE ALWAYS SECOND CHANCES WITH PARENTING. Give yourself a break if you can’t read ten books to your child EVERY DAY once she arrives, if you worry more than you want to or if you don’t do something “right.” There will be times you will plan an outing only to realize you should have stayed in. One day you will scrounge around in your diaper bag while out to lunch and realize you have NO more diapers. Accept your mistake and move on. You will have learned something. You’ll be better at it tomorrow. 3. THERE WILL BE A DAY YOU THINK YOU HAVE IT FIGURED OUT. THEN EVERYTHING WILL CHANGE AGAIN AND YOU’LL NEED TO FIGURE IT OUT AGAIN. As your child develops, the tricks that worked to help her sleep, to entertain her and to help her grow will morph as she does. One day, she’ll love the swaddle, one day later, it’s the sleep sack. The change in preference is not the big deal- it’s the two weeks it takes to figure out that’s the issue keeping her (and you) awake all night. The good news is, as you get to know your little nugget, those transitions will be easier and easier. 4. PLAN SOMETHING GREAT FOR THE 12 MONTH MARK. There are so many ups and downs in the first year of a baby’s life. They are often great and often challenging. I used to think the one-year birthday was a fun time for a party but not that huge of a milestone. I was wrong. It is a big deal because you survived it. Plan a birthday date for you and your partner to celebrate your hard work and, if there’s time, plan a party for your child, too! 5. IF YOUR PARTNER TAKES LONGER THAN YOU DO TO BOND WITH YOUR BABY, DON’T WORRY. IT WILL COME IN DUE TIME. My husband was always loving and in love with our daughter. He played with her and cuddled her every day. It wasn’t until we got past the newborn stage that he told me, “It was when she started laughing and reacting to me that I felt connected to her. That’s when we bonded.” Looking back now, it’s true. About a month or two in, he started asking me to send him pictures when he was at work and I was home with her. He started being sad when she was already in bed by the time he got home and he couldn’t participate in her bedtime routine. He missed her and he didn’t just love her at that point, he liked her, too! 6. MOMS ARE NOT MAGICIANS AND THEY DO NOT DEVELOP A MOM’S INTUITION OVERNIGHT. When my baby was crying at six weeks old and I had fed, rocked, shushed and swayed her for hours with no end in sight, I needed another set of hands to give me a break. Even more important, I needed someone to take over mentally and emotionally for a little while. Two problem solvers are better than one. 7. EMBRACE THE FACT THAT YOU AND YOUR PARTNER PARENT DIFFERENTLY. You and your partner have always been individuals, but, up until now, those differences may have seemed less subtle. As you try to team up and create consistency for your baby, your ideas about the best way to do that might be different some (or most) of the time. You may like different bottles, you may think certain toys are better than others. You may even have a different way of discussing which bottles or toys are the best! I’m a talker. I could hash out my thoughts about child rearing verbally all day long. My husband HAAAATES doing that. He would rather think on his own about it, then have a short session where we try to problem solve. Fair enough, I’ve decided. I save the hashing out for my girlfriends (and my pediatrician) and I keep it short and sweet with hubby. 8. LEARN TO SAY “SORRY” TO YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER. You are going through one of the most significant changes in your life. So is your partner. There will be times you will implode or explode from the stress of that transition. When it happens, figure out if there is something to be learned or if the pot of water just got a little too hot and boiled over. Most of the time, arguments in the early days are a combination of fear (that something will happen to your baby, that you will never be “you ” again, that your baby isn’t as advanced as other babies), frustration and fatigue. Last week in the office, a couple brought their one-month-old for a well child visit. When I asked how they were doing sharing the load of parenting responsibilities, the mom blurted out, “Yes, please, would you tell him to help me!?!?!” She literally clapped her hand over her mouth when she saw the look on her partner’s face. We had a good discussion that day about how normal it is to “blow our tops” as new parents, and to feel like there is genuine inequity as we try to navigate parenting in partnership. The first two weeks, three months, even whole first six to seven months can be tough with a little one. There is so much transition. In the end, though, there is so much joy. I love this quote from Rajneesh. He doesn’t mention fathers, but the same wisdom applies: “The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.” 

Early motherhood was not meant to be attempted alone, in our individual homes, with only the internet and a few books to lean on for guidance. Quite the opposite: early motherhood was meant to be accomplished as part of a village, and a super duper important part of that village is someone who can support you with getting your baby to sleep and feed. Some of my favorite people in that category are doulas and specialists. I love them because they offer expert advice, but also because they are no-strings-attached helpers: they care about your well-being and the well-being of your baby, but their advice is without judgement or obligation. This week, I interview Tiffany Decker, a Mommywise Certified Sleep Coach, and the founder of Birthing Stone Doula, Seattle Sleep Trainer, and Santa Barbara Sleep Trainer. She talks about what parents need to know when it comes to newborn sleep success and about what to expect when you hire a doula. While social distancing precautions are in place, it may not be possible to have a postpartum support person come into your home, but you can work directly with them virtually as well. Find Tiffany: @birthingstonedoula (https://www.instagram.com/birthingstonedoula/?hl=en) www.birthingstone.com (www.birthingstone.com)

Last week on the show, we talked about developing a healthy eating plan for yourself while you’re pregnant and after baby, but what about getting your baby off to a good start with solid foods? Pediatrician, mom, author, and dietitian Dr. Natalie Muth joins us today to discuss how to transition to solids and how to develop a sustainable family feeding and fitness plan! Read Dr. Muth’s Books and Follow Her: How to Raise Heathy Eaters (Www.drnataliemuth.com) Family Fit Plan (Www.drnataliemuth.com) ———————————————— Our Book is Here! (www.modernmommydoc.com/book) is on shelves now and online wherever books are sold. The Bump said: "They say motherhood doesn’t come with a manual, but The New Baby Blueprint, brought to you by the American Academy of Pediatrics, comes pretty close. Author Whitney Casares, a pediatrician and mom of two, walks expectant parents through all the essentials of prepping for baby’s arrival, including what to expect in the first days and weeks, and how to prepare your home, your partner and your brain for having a newborn—all through a relatable mix of humor and practical advice."

You've had the baby, you've taken care of yourself well throughout your pregnancy and now...well, now you're in a body you maybe don't recognize so well and, if you're being honest, don't really like so much. I get it. I've been there. And it took a long time for me to move from seeing my body as something to criticize or constantly work on to seeing my body as a gift – one that brought life into the world and that allows me to do all the things I want to do (like play with my kids and dance and travel (when there's no COVID-19 around)). Body image issues postpartum can contribute to postpartum depression and anxiety, and generally steal the joy from our experience as new moms.

You've done the hard work of having a baby. Now it's time to nourish yourself while you nourish your little one. On the podcast this week, Megan Landrum and Anna Bohnengel, creators of Alavita, an online peripartum nutrition plan for expectant and new mamas, talk about their own eating journeys and how they support moms everywhere looking to optimize their health postpartum and feel good in their own bodies. Find Alavita www.alavitanutrition.com (www.alavitanutrition.com) ———————————————— Our Book is Here! (www.modernmommydoc.com/book) is on shelves now and online wherever books are sold. The Bump said: "They say motherhood doesn’t come with a manual, but The New Baby Blueprint, brought to you by the American Academy of Pediatrics, comes pretty close. Author Whitney Casares, a pediatrician and mom of two, walks expectant parents through all the essentials of prepping for baby’s arrival, including what to expect in the first days and weeks, and how to prepare your home, your partner and your brain for having a newborn—all through a relatable mix of humor and practical advice."

No matter what's going on in the world, new parents need help navigating the early days and weeks with a new baby. The New Baby Blueprint gives them the information, resources, and tools they need to make early parenthood not just tolerable, but successful! It's Already Getting Rave Reviews: "They say motherhood doesn’t come with a manual, but The New Baby Blueprint , brought to you by the American Academy of Pediatrics, comes pretty close. Author Whitney Casares, a pediatrician and mom of two, walks expectant parents through all the essentials of prepping for baby’s arrival, including what to expect in the first days and weeks, and how to prepare your home, your partner and your brain for having a newborn—all through a relatable mix of humor and practical advice." —Ashlee Neuman, The Bump "Dr Casares has written a parenting manual that helps new and experiences caregivers of infants just survive but thrive. Writing in an often humorous conversational style, Dr. Casares comes across not only as a knowledgeable expert on newborn parenting but also as a life coach whose advice is sound, reassuring, evidence based, and inspirational!" —Lewis First, MD, MS, FAAP, professor and chair Department of Pediatrics, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine; chief of pediatrics, University of Vermont Children's Hospital; and editor in chief, Pediatrics "In this internet age of 'experts' giving advice on parenting, Dr Casares, a skilled pediatrician and mother, distills down volumes of information into a single, easy-to-read guide. Her book is honest and practical--a fresh focus on the mother's needs as well as those of the infant. Her candidness about her own struggles with bringing her babies home, combined with her work with countless new mothers in her practice, informs this modern blueprint for the well-being of the professional mother and her family." —Nicole Cirino, MD, reproductive psychiatrist; director, Women's Mental Health Program, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Center for Women's Health; and professor of obstetrics and gynecology and of psychiatry, OHSU "Dr Casares shares her expertise on newborns from her professional role as pediatrician and mom in a funny, practical, and down-to-earth manner. Her book provides the most practical advice for new moms that I have read . . . form preparing for the birth of the child to managing expectations of new moms and sharing her own personal experiences to giving parents-to-be all they need to know but were never told about having a baby. New moms everywhere will find this guide to being a parenting invaluable and refer to it again and again." —Deborah Rumsey, Executive Director, Children's Health Alliance "Pediatricians often get emails, texts, and calls from friends seeking parenting advice from someone with a pediatric medical background. Dr. Casares wrote a book that meets this need! She blends practical parenting tips and medical knowledge in this fresh and fun perspective on parenting. It's a great read for any parent who is interested in the pediatrician-mom perspective!" —Lauren Rose, MD, FAAP, newborn and pediatric hospitalist "A wonderful, practical resource! With both the good sense of a mom who's 'been there, done that' and the seasoned experience of a pediatrician who's helped hundreds of moms navigate the same journey, Dr Casares offers wise guidance and practical tips to parents of newborns. Easy to read, it strikes the right balance between an overall approach to parenting and practical advice on the nitty-gritty details. It's like having coffee with a best friend who, by the way, just happens to be an expert on all things related to new babies and new moms. I can't imagine a better baby shower gift." —Janelle Aby, MD, FAAP, author of The Newborn Book and clinical professor of pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine