Embrace & Nurture

•A THANK YOU POST•

As I continue processing everything, I’m in awe of what our bodies can do. Women are truly amazing.

I knew the birth I wanted (assuming everything went smoothly and baby and I were safe), but I didn’t fully believe that my body (and mind) could do it.

So I found the best, most supportive team I could have asked for. was our doula AND photographer, and I’m incredibly grateful for her care, advice, and the way she prepared me mentally. She helped me understand what to expect and gave me tools to feel ready. During labor, she was so in tune with me. She always knew exactly what I needed, even when I couldn’t put it into words.

One of her recommendations was . I took their hypnobirthing course and listened to their guided meditations on repeat (both leading up to and during birth). I can’t recommend it enough!

She also suggested . All of their midwives have been amazing. So respectful and nonjudgmental of every decision we made.

During labor, I felt so supported and informed the entire time. The team allowed me to lead, move at my own pace, and follow my rhythm without pressure. They made me feel safe the entire time.

Now, I look back with a huge smile, feeling like I had a truly positive experience. Thank you all so much!

And of course, these beautiful photos are something we’ll treasure forever. Thank you for capturing these moments so perfectly. ❤️

Our sweet little girl has arrived. 🥰

We are going to spend some time getting to know each other, building trust and showing her what true love and feeling safe means.

We love you so much already, little girl, and can’t wait to see what you have to show us too ❤️❤️

I am currently on maternity leave, but will continue to post around here. If you are interested in my approach and would like to be notified as soon as I return, please feel free to register to my priority list (link in bio) and you will be the first to know. I will be back to working before you know it! 😊

Around 3–4 months, it’s quite common for sleep to get harder. There’s so much happening developmentally, and overall sleep needs are shifting too.

When you put it all together, it can turn into very frequent night wakings and that heavy, desperate feeling of not knowing what to do.

This example is proof that we can support and improve sleep while keeping connection and normal infant development at the core, without resorting to separation or leaving babies to cry.

This couple was incredibly attuned and responsive to their baby. They followed the small, intentional steps we talked about, and it was amazing to witness the progress they made in just a couple of weeks. I am so proud of the work they put in!

If you’re looking for connection-based support that protects your bond with your baby while also improving sleep, let’s connect. .and.nurture

I’ll be going on maternity leave very soon, but I’ll be back before you know it. Add your name to my priority list (link in bio), and you’ll be the first to know when I return so we can start working together right away 🤍

When we look at human history from an anthropological standpoint, evidence suggests that humans have predominantly slept in social groups. Across cultures and throughout evolutionary history, infants typically slept close to a caregiver to support feeding, protection and survival, and physiological regulation.

The idea that babies should sleep alone in a separate room is a relatively recent Western cultural practice that became more common over the last 200 years.

Professor Helen Ball highlights that close mother–infant sleep has been the historical norm, and that solitary infant sleep reflects cultural values rather than biological necessity.

Professor James McKenna’s research has shown that when breastfeeding mothers and babies sleep in proximity, they influence one another physiologically with lighter, more synchronized sleep, more frequent breastfeeding, and mutual regulation of breathing, heart rate, and temperature. Infants also experience constant sensory signals (parental breath, warmth, and movement) that regulate their physiology and guide their early neurodevelopmental systems.

When practiced intentionally and safely, proximity during sleep can support breastfeeding and maternal responsiveness.

As adults, many of us sleep with a loving partner. Research suggests that bedsharing among adults can improve perceived sleep quality, strengthen emotional bonds, and reduce stress (Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2020).

So I ask myself why there is this belief that infants and young children should be moved into a separate room, when many of us (not everyone) enjoy sleeping with a partner. And why we are surprised when babies and young children call for us in the middle of the night.

I know bedsharing is not for everyone, and I deeply respect that. Safety, individual circumstances, and parental well-being matter enormously.

But it’s worth acknowledging that solitary infant sleep may reflect modern cultural norms more than our evolutionary biology.