New Baby | New Parent Support | Life Beyond Birth

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Nourishment and Nurture
for new families...

So! You're going to have a baby, or you've just had one. Congratulations! Birth is the beginning of an amazing adventure.

As you enter into this new phase of your life, it is important that you take care of your baby, yourself and your partnership.

At Life Beyond Birth, I am on a mission to ensure babies are born to calm, confident, connected parents. I offer support in the form of postpartum meal preparation, in-home or virtual assistance with breastfeeding and newborn care, integration of your birth experience, and handling postpartum depression.

Take a look around and get in touch with any questions! So glad you are here!

Molly

MAA, Mother, Postpartum Caregiver,

New Parent Guide, Sacred Window Chef

Virtual

Coaching

1:1 online support for new parents

Helpful Articles

Valuable guidance for expectant parents

In-Person Support

Let Molly support you post-birth

✨I'm delighted to announce that I will be at the @wnc.birthandparenting.expo on Aug 29th sharing info about nourishment for postpartum recovery, how amazing postpartum support is, and more!✨ ✨I've been caring and cooking for new parents since 2009, and took a step back in 2022 when our surprise baby joined our family. Now that she is 4, I am recommitting myself to the work of supporting other new moms, babies, and families. ✨. ✨Come see me and all the other wonderful folks in our area who are working to make the perinatal time sacred in WNC✨. #lifebeyondbirth #wncbirthandparentingexpo #postpartumdoula #sacredwindowcooking

My sweet client had a surprise cesarean birth and so I cooked up a storm at her house and packaged up portions for friends to deliver to the hospital so that she could be well nourished right away! #postpartumchef #sacredwindow #lifebeyondbirth

The big bro in the family I’m cooking for came home from the library with his dad as I was preparing food in the kitchen. While washing his hands in the bathroom, I heard him say, “Did Molly make the Mexican casserole again? I can’t wait to eat it!” Nothing like being toddler-approved…melts my heart. 🫠❤️

It’s the season of pumpkin and warming spices!
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Coconut flour & pumpkin pancakes are all the rage.
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Find the recipe on my blog.
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#lifebeyondbirth #pumpkin #pumpkinpancakes #autumnvibes #postpartumnourishment

I am thrilled to have an article published in the Fall 2021 issue of Pathways to Family Wellness!
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Not just any article, it’s a bold one illustrating how our societal norms and the physiologic needs of new mothers are misaligned.
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Get a copy of this magazine; it is full of so much wonderful information.
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You can also read this piece on my blog!
https://www.lifebeyondbirth.com/post/perinatal-mood-disorders
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#lifebeyondbirth #pathwaystofamilywellness #pmads #pmadsupport #postpartum #postpartumdepression #postpartumanxiety #collectiveresponsibility #newmom #mothers
#rootcause

Autumnal blessings to all the mamas! #lifebeyondbirth #ritual #revillage #circleofwomen #blessings #ceremony #newmama #fourthtrimester #sacredwindow

Baked goods anyone? Gluten free pumpkin blueberry bread and lactation cookies for a hungry mama to eat with one hand! Recipes on the blog….#lifebeyondbirth #nutritiousanddelicious #glutenfreerecipes #healthyhappymum #newmama #postpartum #postpartumdoulasdothat #pumpkin #lactationcookies

Soups and stews! So great for getting lots of nutrients, AND being gentle on the digestive system (that’s slowly finding its way back to normal after being displaced by a growing baby!) Hearty vegetable soup, Healing sweet potato stew & Coconut milk stew, Butternut squash soup! Recipes on blog…#lifebeyondbirth #soup #soupseason #newmama #gentledigestion #nutrientdense #digestionsupport

My client is a flower farmer! I left her with a week’s worth of food, delightful aromas, and infant massage tips; she sent me home with a beautiful bouquet! So grateful ❤️ @sunbird_blooms #lifebeyondbirth #bloomingbaby #postpartumdoula #reciprocity #autumncolors @sunbird_blooms

As the last tropical storm blew through the mountains in western NC, this client got to hunker down with Mexican casserole, ginger fried rice, coconut milk stew and quinoa, and lactation cookies…Yum! #lifebeyondbirth #wellnourished #hunkeringdown #newmother #fourthtrimester #sacredwindow #nourishedmama #abundance

I wish there were more curiosity flowing in the world today.
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There are so many polarizing forces around viruses, vaccines, school choices, dietary preferences, political affiliations, religious beliefs, global policies, climate change, etc
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Do you feel it too?
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What if we all just got a bit more curious?
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What’s behind those opinions and beliefs?
What if there is no TRUTH as an absolute, but many truths that make sense for each person, each family?
Can we hold all that? How do you, or I, hold all that?
Does it have to be heavy? THAT heavy?
As an expectant or new parent, where does your curiosity lie in bringing a new life into the world at this time?
What makes YOU feel most joyous and alive right now?
What else are you curious about?
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A mediation on curiosity is part of the first lesson in Life Beyond Birth 101 (my signature online course for expectant parents). It’s a great way to set the tone for the adventure that awaits, both in the course and in life as a parent.
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If you are curious to know more about what we cover in the course, scroll through this feed to the videos I made about each lesson in LBB101. Be in touch with any questions or reflections! We start Sept 7, 2021 (link in bio).
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I have found a lot of ease, softness, and connection in noticing when I’m about to go down that well-worn path towards judgement and choosing curiosity instead. AND I don’t always notice and allow for that choice in paths…‘Progress, not perfection’ is a mantra I’m enjoying lately!
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How can you incorporate more curiosity in your day? It might just change the world…
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#lifebeyondbirth #curiosity #preparingforbaby #bekind #wereallinthistogether #postpartum #4thtrimester #sacredwindow #curiositynotjudgement

Life Beyond Birth 101!
Sept 7-Nov 3, 2021
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This course for first time expectant parents (or couples who want their 4th Trimester to be completely different from a past birth/postpartum time).
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We cover everything you need to know/understand/integrate to be prepared for the 4th Trimester.
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🌟Respectfully feed, soothe, care for, and bond with your new baby
🌟Access the magic of nutrition for recovery from birth, and breastmilk production
🌟Intentionally create a community of support (even amidst a pandemic)– it takes a village!
🌟Understand postpartum mood disorders, and the messages they convey
🌟Understand the ways that relationships change when a baby is born
🌟Conquer common breastfeeding challenges
🌟Mindfully prepare in body, mind, and spirit for birthing your baby and your parent-self
🌟Create a plan for sleep, so that you never run on empty
🌟Bond more deeply with your partner as you traverse the rite of passage to parenthood
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I constantly see new families falling off the same cliff that the families before them fell off! It’s a cliff of exhaustion, chaos, and lack of support.
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It seems that falling off that cliff has become an expected part of new parenthood!
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I am here to say it doesn’t have to be that way. If you, or someone you know, is expecting a baby in mid-November or beyond, all the info can be found through the Life Beyond Birth 101 link in the bio.
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Please DM any questions or to learn more!
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#lifebeyondbirth #postpartumprep #prepared #sacredwindow #newbaby #learningparenting #4thtrimester #mindfulparents

I’m delighted with my little garden harvest. It helps me feel like a good mother when I’m stocking up!
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Last Halloween, my family and I moved to a tiny cabin in the NC mountains that we’ve owned for 16 years, but never lived in full time…in fact we’ve been renting it out to other people.
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So, there are 4 of us in 600 square feet, and the lack of space forces us to keep life simple. I’ve gotten lots of inspiration from re-reading ‘Little House on the Prairie‘ with my daughter. I’m finding I enjoy keeping life simple in this way.
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I’ve grown the first garden I’ve had since moving to Spain in Aug 2018, and it’s mighty satisfying to serve up goodies from it!
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Tomato with basil and balsamic, and canned: applesauce, dill pickles, dilly beans.
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I look forward to having these jars in the winter time to allow us to taste a little of this summer.
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What are the small things that help you feel like a good mother these days?
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#lifebeyondbirth #homecanning #tomatoes #dillybeans #goodmother #kitchengarden #feedingthefamily

Ritual and gathering with women feeds my soul. I believe every mama is lifted by having a community of support and witnessing.
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I recently gathered with some amazing women in my community to share and be seen, mark the fertility of the new moon, create beauty in a mandala of flowers, and share a glorious feast. My heart is full!
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Ritual and ceremony are lost arts in our society. The potency of gathering with others to mark any transition is profound. It doesn’t have to be an elaborate production, simplicity and presence are the best ingredients.
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If you are pregnant and curious about bringing ritual into your life, download my FREE guide to creating a Mama/Couple Blessing Ceremony so that you feel lived up going into the birth and postpartum journeys.
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…and I’m cooking up a new guide for welcoming and blessing your baby at the end of the 4th Trimester… when they fully arrive earth side. Stay tuned!
✨#lifebeyondbirth #ritual #womengathering #mandala #ceremony #blessing #gratitude #sacredpregnancy #sacredpostpartum #summersisters #abundance

What do you love about wearing your baby?
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There are so many benefits to baby wearing! I loved it with my own kids and delight in opportunities to wear clients’ babies. I often wear babies while cooking, so their moms and dads can shower or nap.
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Baby wearing:

🌀Calms and attunes the nervous systems of both the baby and adult!

🌀Gets the oxytocin flowing, so we all feel great!

🌀Allows the adult to get things done with 2 hands while still attending to the baby!

🌀Helps the baby’s vestibular system orient itself through the adult’s movement!

🌀Feels like a long-lasting hug!

🌀What else????

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I remember at the blessing ceremony I had before giving birth to my daughter, I said the thing I was most looking forward to was the feeling of her trusting weight on my chest. There really is nothing like it!
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On the blog: Read my “Confessions of An Oxytocin Junkie”

#lifebeyondbirth #babywearing #babywearinglove #oxytocin #postpartumdoulasdothat

Happy Father’s Day!
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There’s nothing like becoming a parent to help you grow, right?
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Dads are stepping up in big ways, and doing deep work to show up for their families.
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Learning how to be present, let go of the small stuff, and be emotionally available to their kids…a lot of this is unique to this current generation of fathers. Rock on with your bad selves, dads!
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I painted this rock for my dad today. He grows beautiful flowers - lots of dahlias! I hope this little message of growth delights him when he’s out in the garden.
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(We gave my husband a waffle maker😉)
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Read more about celebrating and empowering fathers in my most recent blog- link in bio!
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#lifebeyondbirth #fathersday #growth #grow #thingsthatmakeusgrow #parenthood #fatherhoodrising #paintedrocks #newfather

Hey everyone!
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Next week some wonderful events are coming to the interwebs to raise awareness, normalize, learn/teach about perinatal mood disorders. You don’t have to be local to attend. Join us!
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#lifebeyondbirth #pehnofwnc #perinatalmentalhealth #postpartumdepression #postpartumanxiety #awareness #symptomsaremessengers #youarenotalone #climboutofdarkness #supportmatters #notyourfault #climbout #climboutasheville

Breakfast Tostadas
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A few weeks after birth, when digestion is stronger and breastmilk is flowing, many mamas find they are incredibly hungry!
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The baby isn’t taking up so much space in your abdomen anymore, and the stomach can expand- this is when you’re truly ‘eating for 2’!
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Breakfast tostadas are a delicious and nutrient dense solution to the need for calories and fuel for healing.
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Simply layer tortillas (I usually use corn), refried beans, sautéed veggies, cheese or nutritional yeast cheese sauce (recipe on my blog), and a fried egg! Top with salsa, guacamole, or cilantro! Enjoy...
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#lifebeyondbirth #breakfast #tostadas #breastfeedingmama #postpartum #postpartumeats #ravenous #feedthemama

Soothing newborns can be tricky business
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Here’s something I recently shared on my blog:
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“We cannot prevent all discomfort or disappointment for our children; life inherently includes suffering. What we CAN do, though, is be present with them through it, assuring them that their feelings are valid and the world is responsive to their needs. This presence requires us as adults to regulate ourselves so that we can hold space for our babies as they cry/share. After all, don't we all need periodic assurance that we are safe and loved?

“When a baby cries, we are quick to check certain boxes:

* Are they hungry? Give them a breast or bottle!
* Have a wet or dirty diaper? Change the diaper!
* Feeling tired? Give them the breast or swaddle or rock/bounce them
* Feeling over-stimulated? Move to a different environment, or grab the swaddle!
* Too hot or cold or gassy? Strip them down, bundle them up, do a belly massage!
It is great to check in with these needs, and meet them, AND there is more...which might explain why many babies go on crying even when all these boxes have been checked.”
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Read more on my blog “What does your baby’s crying mean?”
https://www.lifebeyondbirth.com/post/baby-s-crying-mean
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#lifebeyondbirth #crying #newborn #healthyattachment #newmama #postpartum

Pumpkin coconut flour pancakes!
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Delish, nutrish, and that fiber is so helpful with pooping!
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#lifebeyondbirth #pumpkin #pancakes #postpartum #postpartumeats #pospartumjourney #postpartumdoula #sacredwindow #fourthtrimester

BOUNDARIES have become a buzzword in recent years, and with good reason. In mainstream culture, most people do not have a felt-sense of where their desires end and another person’s needs begin. It is a skill that many of us must teach ourselves well into adulthood. Once you understand the importance of boundaries for emotional self care, there is no turning back. Clearly defining those lines for ourselves, and then expressing those lines to others, becomes paramount. And postpartum boundaries are no exception.
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Over my years of working with new families, I have come to believe that the 3rd and 4th Trimesters are a time of great opening; opening for birth, to the parenting journey, to trusting your body and intuition, to a new identity. In this special time, and state of being, it can be very hard to hold boundaries, and others may need to do that for us.
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My latest blog explores this theme. Read more by clicking on the ‘blog’ link in the bio or going directly to https://www.lifebeyondbirth.com/post/boundaries
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#lifebeyondbirth #boundaries #postpartumboundaries #selflove #healthyfamily #postpartumjourney #vulnerability

A little while back I got to spend some time with an old friend/colleague who had a baby! Even though she’s had 2 other babies and been a birth doula and massage therapist for years, she’s graciously welcomed support from many. It’s beautiful to witness. This is how it’s done!
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Her sweet husband gave her a special ‘mother bowl’ in which I served up ‘hug in a bowl’ while we chatted and admired her lovely little girl.
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Thank you @michelerosagee for being who you are and sharing your oxytocin bubble with me on a rainy spring morning.
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#lifebeyondbirth #postpartum #postpartumdoula #doulafriends #huginabowl #motherbowl #newmama

Hello! Happy Monday. I’m feeling joyful after spending the morning cooking for a lovely young family in the valley where I live...setting them up for deep nourishment in the week ahead! Gaaah, I love my job💚 How are you setting yourself up for the coming week? Coconut milk stew (aka hug in a bowl), stewed fruit, Mexican casserole, Indian butter chicken, and healing sweet potato stew!
#lifebeyondbirth #nourished #postpartum #postpartumdoulasdothat #postpartumnourishment #huginabowl

This most recent blog about the root causes of Perinatal Mood Disorders came pouring out of me recently.

I have to share the truth that I know in my bones through working with families for a decade, and from my own journey with anxiety.

Feel free to share it too!

We need this shift in perspective to create a more healthy society. Can moods be disordered? I believe all moods bear messages.

Link in bio to ‘blog’ or go to: https://www.lifebeyondbirth.com/post/perinatal-mood-disorders. #lifebeyondbirth #perinatalmentalhealth #postpartumjourney #postpartum #postpartumdepression #postpartumanxiety #nomeasureofhealth #newmomstruggles #newmom #newbaby #mood #pmads #pmadsupport #wereallinthistogether

Mama is in the shower; we’re just happily snuggling, co-regulating, and chopping some veggies over here.
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#lifebeyondbirth #postpartumjourney #postpartumdoulasdothat #newbornbaby #newmama #sweetbaby #oxytocin #support #ashevillefamily

The Spring round of Life Beyond Birth 101 starts next week.
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If you register today, you will receive two awesome bonuses:
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💚One hour Private Coaching call with me ($100 value)
💚One Birth Story Healing session ($125 value)
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Not only will this 9-week course prepare you for all things fourth trimester, you will have these bonuses to support you when you’re in the midst of it!
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Link to course info and registration in bio.
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#lifebeyondbirth #postpartum #pregnancy #prepared #4thtrimester #earlybird #newbaby #newmom

You could read a book or take a 2-hour class that covers the basics of infant care, but we all know we learn best when we are in relationship - with ourselves, our partners, our peers, and a mentor.
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This course is uniquely situated to meet those needs and prepare you for a calm, confident, connected beginning of your baby's life.
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The postpartum period is so hidden, and it is time for us to honor the HUGE transition to parenthood, the recovery and reinvention process that follows birth, and the intuitive and respectful ways newborns ask us to relate with them.
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Join us for the Life Beyond Birth 101 adventure which will allow you to greet your baby with calm confidence & deep connection.
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Link in bio.
Early bird gifts expire tomorrow, 3/15/21.
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#lifebeyondbirth #deepconnection #preparednotscared #pregnancy #postpartumjourney #4thtrimester #sacredwindow #newbaby #nourished

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