Appreciating Mothers
Appreciating Mothers by Lenore Kilmartin I have been thinking about mothers on Mother's Day, the day that is meant to make us feel appreciated, and reflecting on the experiences of the women I know who are mothers. My work is with mothers; expectant mothers, birthing mothers, postpartum ...
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The Mothering Group
The Mothering Group by Lenore Kilmartin The mamas and babies have arrived. I hear them chatting with one another. Their laughter and conversation wafts through the house. I smell the aroma of fresh coffee. I look out the window and see cars parked in the driveway and up ...
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The Holiday Season
The Holiday Season by Lenore Kilmartin It's the holiday season – and that means parties, dinners, formal functions. Unfortunately, many of these are not very baby-friendly. What's a breastfeeding mama to do? Many people will tell the mother: just pump and leave a bottle of your milk ...
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Skin to Skin
Skin to Skin by Lenore Kilmartin It surprised me to see the intensity of labour my birth client was experiencing. She seemed to have skipped early labour altogether and moved quickly into the active phase. Her young body was responding beautifully to contractions. She was 19 ...
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New Mothers are Vulnerable
New mothers are vulnerable... by Lenore Kilmartin They are tired, recovering from birth, learning about their babies. They are being stretched personally and emotionally in ways they could not have imagined before becoming mothers. So why do family and friends think that ...
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What Mothers Really Need
What Mothers Really Need... by Lenore Kilmartin I heard you before I saw you. I was in the frozen food section and your cry was coming from the other side of the store. At first I tried to ignore you. Checking off my grocery list...apples, crackers, almonds...but it was ...
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Postpartum Intimacy
Postpartum Intimacy... by Lenore Kilmartin Recently, I was teaching a class to new parents, helping them to understand the benefits of sharing sleep with their babies; benefits such as enhanced attachment, better sleep for the whole family, improved breastfeeding. I knew it would happen at ...
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Dear Mother in the Park
Dear Mother in the Park... by Lenore Kilmartin You will never know how glad I am to have spent time with you today. I haven't met anyone like you before. I hope you didn't notice me staring at you. I wasn't meaning to be rude. In fact, just the opposite. ...
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The Nap
The Nap... by Lenore Kilmartin I've been waiting for this all morning...the moment when you finally rub your eyes, yawn and lay your head on my shoulder. With a sigh of relief, I carry you upstairs already anticipating the feel of our comfy bed with you snuggled close to my body, ...
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Breastfeeding Simplified
Breastfeeding Simplified... by Lenore Kilmartin. How did something so natural become so complicated? We give birth, our bodies produce breastmilk, and our babies grow and thrive while nursing at our breast. The process hasn't changed since the beginning of time. But something seems to have ...
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Judgment
You're up before the birds start singing, baby bright-eyed and ready to begin the day. It's been a rough night...frequent feedings and disturbed sleep. The hours loom ahead. You absolutely love this little bundle of baby but sometimes it's lonely. Days seem ...
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Being Present
Life is busy. Especially for mothers of young babies. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed and frustrated at the chores, errands, phone calls, appointments and small tasks that require attention but seem impossible to get to. Many of us come to mothering straight from ...
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Birth-day Celebrations
It's Canada's birthday today. So much to be grateful for... we live in a beautiful, welcoming, baby-friendly country and breastfeeding is embraced by the majority of new parents. Sure, it's not perfect, and there is lots of room for improvement (breastfeeding rates decrease ...
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Babies and Time
Babies and time... by Lenore Kilmartin Dishes are piled high and items are scattered about the house...a sweater here, a receiving blanket there. Dust gathers on the coffee table. A cup of coffee and half-eaten bagel sit forgotten, cold and unappetizing. Bills, ...
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Baby, what makes you cry?
Baby, what makes you cry? I am right here, in the other room, steps away from you. Mama hasn't left you. But you don't know that, do you? You think that I have disappeared, and that I may never come back, permanently gone from you. Without me, your world ...
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Postpartum Reality
Postpartum Reality by Lenore Kilmartin How can any first-time mother possibly know what the postpartum period will be like? There really is no way to mentally prepare for the change a new baby brings. No book, no class, no friend can truly describe the reality of life with a ...
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Learning to Mother Through Breastfeeding
Learning to Mother Through Breastfeeding... by Lenore Kilmartin After months and months of preparation, anticipation and some trepidation, you’ve done it! You’ve birthed your baby. You’ve welcomed your little one into the world and you are beginning your mothering journey. You gaze ...
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Motherhood Lessons
Motherhood Lessons... by Lenore Kilmartin “Being a Mother is not about what you gave up to have a child, but what you’ve gained from having one.” ~unknown Old houses work fine…so do used cars, second-hand clothes, inexpensive foods like beans and lentils, dented tins, bruised apples and ...
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Hey baby
Hey baby… by Lenore Kilmartin Hey, sweet baby of mine, its you, me and the moon shining brightly through the window…I look down at your chubby face, your brow furrowed, nursing at my breast, eyes closed, starfish hands, and I can no longer remember life without you even though ...
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