“I feel like a new woman”…

These morning texts give me such joy! When families begin to understand and implement some of the principles of Newborn Sleep Support, the fun has begun! How often do you hear a newly postpartum mom tell you she feels like a “new woman”?

Who knew how fun Newborn Sleep Support would be? What started out as my desire to learn as much as possible about these newborns, their sleep patterns, and how it all works together has become one of my very favorite ways to use math in my life… ha! Seriously, these story problems never get old. Tell that to my Algebra teacher. If only Mr. Ratzlaff had used babies, their feedings, and wake/sleep cycles!

In all reality, what it comes down to for me is another way I can make a difference in a new family’s life. I fully believe in the power of understanding. The more we know, the more we can help. I have found myself wishing I had my own newborn to put down for a nap! It’s kind of like the Infant Massage education offered through SHINE. If only I had my own baby to practice with. And that’s where my husband, Steve’s, support may wane of some of my ideas. I promise—no possible way for the Kaufmans to have more babies until grandchildren arrive. How did we even get to this point? Enough about us—thank goodness for all of you families having babies!

Newborn Sleep Support begins with a conversation. SHINE has been dabbling in Newborn Sleep Support for the last few months with a handful of families. In this short time I believe the 3-4 week newborn is an optimum time to begin implementing a plan of action for laying the foundation of newborn sleep. Many things happen at this stage of a new baby’s life. In lactation, it’s the perfect time to introduce a bottle or pacifier. It could very well be the time a significant growth spurt in baby occurs as well. And? Babies who have made it back to their birthweight with continued weight gain benefit from our understanding of the importance of sleep in their little lives.

Even after our initial conversation (exploration call) before a plan is ever developed, families begin to see glimpses of progress by taking simple tactics we discuss in the understanding of their newborns as it pertains to feedings and sleep.

Once a family and I determine to work together on intentional newborn sleep support, parents will go into data collection mode. The apps that they have shown me are pretty amazing—even detailing down to the minutes and seconds of a breastfeeding. I will typically ask for 24-48 hours of data collection so I can get an idea of what the baby is doing regarding feedings and sleeping. Once I receive the information, that’s when I get to work. The math I’m using has to be such good stimulation for my brain as it takes me a few written plans along with my calculator to complete a feeding and sleeping plan to get started with. The plan is then emailed to the family and we get started.

This is a very important piece of the puzzle which gives me a detailed look at sleeping and feeding patterns.

Another example of what a family sends to me to review prior to creation of the feeding and sleeping plan.

When you have older kiddos and commitments, it’s also important for me to understand what you would ideally like your morning to look like to best tweak things to fit the family schedule.

Another family I worked with, Dad went to work super early and could do a 4a-5a feeding with the bottle. Mom wanted her day to start at 9:00 am so we worked on a plan to accommodate their unique situation.

Schedule will never be a part of the language I use. In the newborn stage, a schedule is the very last way to describe the intention of Newborn Sleep Support. Schedule and Training are the two things that I can not get behind with newborns. I’m not even very interested in that for older babies—-so therefore, I have stayed in my Newborn Lane when it comes to what I offer through SHINE Sleep Support.

In fact, I was unsure of how Newborn Sleep Support could work with my role as a lactation professional. To my surprise, it has been a game changer regarding the education I can now provide for my lactation patients from the very beginning in my work as a hospital lactation consultant. We have the ability to lay the foundation for sleep from the VERY BEGINNING. Amazing.

If I were to describe my specialty as a lactation consultant, it would most definitely be the “newborn” stage expert. The vast majority of my lactation experience prior to opening my private practice would be more than 90% with the “newborn” stage (age 0-3 months). My private practice, SHINE, has been both beautiful and challenging as I have begun to follow families through their entire breastfeeding journeys, expanding my knowledge in flange sizing, pumping plans, infant massage, preemie support, tongue ties, bodywork, introduction of solids, weaning, and sleep support. There is so much more to come after families leave the hospital!

Newborn Sleep Support is quickly becoming one of my favorite services to offer to families. I love that we can work together to find a way to understand our newborns and hopefully get some good night time sleep hours for the whole family while protecting and maximizing a well established breastfeeding relationship.

Beautiful Eloise has mastered breastfeeding and is quickly taking newborn sleep by storm!

I love the understanding this mom has and her recognition of what is needed to be done differently to achieve better sleep at night.

We don’t always get it “right”. There’s much communication that is happening as we work out the specifics and make changes as we need to. Again, it is NOT a schedule, but an understanding with a plan that is held loosely to work around your individual baby.

Newborn Sleep Support includes Two (2) weeks of texting support between the hours of 6:00a and 10:30p. Resources are provided for the everchanging “wake windows” and daytime sleep requirements through the newborn stage. Unlimited email support available up until the baby is 4 months old. At that time, if further sleep support and/or training is desired, I am happy to refer you on to someone who specializes in that area.