Sarah Hardy Walsh, ND IBCLC
(506) 804-2246
Text for Appointment
Our culture has set new mothers up to constantly feel like we're failing or falling behind.
The 'Good Mother' Myth
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Do any of these feel familiar? (Reflect on podcasts, social media posts, moms groups, stories and advice you've heard...)
​Good mothers birth their babies _______________ (naturally, vaginally, at home, without pain meds...)
Good mothers feed their babies ______________ (breast milk, organic foods, primal, gluten free...)
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Good mothers have babies who self soothe and sleep _____________ (through the night, 2-3 hour naps, in their cribs, without any help...)
From early in our lives, we were taught to be independent, to do it all ourselves and make sure it’s done just right.
This generation of mothers is used to striving, finding answers quickly and excelling in being good.
The good daughter. The good student. The good worker. The good business owner. The good partner. The good friend.
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And now, the good mother.
Guess who defines 'a good mother'?...
It's not the mothers! Our Western culture tells us (in a variety of overt and sneaky ways!) that only certain ways of mothering and experiences of motherhood make us 'good'.
Good mothers are selfless, organized, productive and dedicated to mothering 24/7 but they also make time for self care and ensuring their families have clean, tidy, screen-free homes.
Good mothers cherish every minute and love motherhood.
Good mothers never feel frustrated, angry, envious, impatient, regretful, resentful or bored.
Good mothers never long for their lives pre-motherhood.
It's an unwinnable game, with standards that no human can attain.
Mothering is a wild, stressful, joyful, miserable, exciting, raw, revolutionary ride.
Striving for the perfection built into “the good mother” only results in coming up short…followed by guilt, shame and burnout.
Why didn't anyone tell me?
Early motherhood is only about sleepless nights, feeding a baby and figuring out normal baby behaviour, right?
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Nope.
In our culture, it's also about questioning. So. Many. Questions.
...Why is this so different than I expected?
...Why do things keep changing?
...Why can't I figure out what's going on?
...Am I doing enough?
...I keep hearing it takes a village to raise a baby – where the f*&% is that village?”
And, while you're all caught up in the thoughts running through your mind, you're…
…missing out on nourishing connection with your baby and the moments of joy that are available
…craving predictability and structure (in a season of life that's unpredictable and constantly changing)
…spending valuable time and energy looking outside of yourself for the answers, when so much of what you need is inside you!
Matrescence: The journey of becoming a mother.
This experience is so common. That's because, as we navigate the tasks of early motherhood – the feeding, the sleeping, the caretaking – while carrying the load of our culture’s definition of a good mother, there’s even more unfolding under the surface – in body, hormones, nervous system, mental processes, emotions, identity, values and relationships.
How we look, think, feel, relate and who we are – it all changes.
It’s no wonder mothers are feeling overwhelmed,
anxious, exhausted and disconnected (from themselves,
their children, their needs and the support they crave).
We’ve all been given an impossible task – do it all on our own,
figure it all out, hold it all together.
All. The. Time.
While on the inside, it feels like we're completely unravelling and alone.
Most support available through this time focuses on the 'how-to' of feeding, sleep and maternal-infant health.
Over time though, I’ve learned that when we only focus on the how-to, we miss all of what’s unfolding in a new mother’s internal world – the shifts in body, mind, emotions, identity, values and spirit and the ways that these shifts, along with a lack of inner resources and energy, can create obstacles for health and wellbeing.
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Nourishing rest, steadiness and predictability, during a season of life where change is a constant companion, expands our capacity to navigate the hard things and bolsters our resilience to respond and adapt with more calm, confidence and energy.
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That's why I've created Well Rooted Matrescence. It's a space where you can find reliable information on a variety of topics related to feeding, sleeping, caretaking and beyond, alongside practices for nourishing rest and resilience for the inner journey that's unfolding and a private community to connect with along the way.
Well Rooted Matrescence
is for YOU if...
...you are a pregnant or new mother (child(ren) three and under) and if one or more of the following feels true for you:
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Early mothering hasn’t been what you expected
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You’re used to excelling in your career but this early mothering gig feels like a constant challenge
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You thrive with a plan and schedule. Going with the flow and being with the uncertainty of early mothering feels terrifying or just plain impossible
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You naturally and easily give more than you receive
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You’re used to caring for and tending to other people’s needs before your own. Sometimes it’s hard to even know exactly what you need and when you do know, asking for support feels super uncomfortable.
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You’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious (or both) during your first few years of mothering
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It’s feeling harder to keep it all together as each day passes
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You’re tired of striving to figure it all out, constantly looking for answers outside of yourself (from friends, family and local or online experts)
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You’re ready to be open to new learning, to nourishing the connection with your inner wisdom and to exploring what’s unfolding in your inner world during this transformative journey into motherhood
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You’re craving to be held by a nourishing, supportive community of mothers and a knowledgeable, caring guide
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Who and what is holding new mothers?
Who and what is supporting them to feel rested, resilient and resourced as they traverse one of life’s most impactful transitions – one that calls them to deepen more fully into who they truly are, how they desire to mother, who they long to be connected with and what they’re here to do in the world – all while nurturing a tiny human?
Mothering was never meant to be done in isolation. Our bodies and nervous systems are programmed to mother with others! It's vital to be a part of an ecosystem of support. When we come together and hold space for one another, our nervous systems have the opportunity to co-regulate in connection and we increase every person's capacity to learn, grow and heal.​​
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Well Rooted Matrescence contains resources to support you in cultivating an aligned community of support, within our private, online space (away from social media!) and in your life.
Expand Knowledge with Reliable Information
+ Inner Connection
We have incredible amounts of information at our fingertips, 24/7. It may feel reassuring to have plenty of resources online. And it may feel overwhelming. Both experiences can co-exist.
Amidst all of the uncertainty that early mothering presents, it's easy to turn to Dr. Google for answers and to head down the never-ending rabbit hole of the internet.
Do you have ways of knowing that what you find is reliable?
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How do you discern whether the answers are based on good quality resources?
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What if the answers you find don't feel right for you and your family?
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How does it feel to dig through piles of information when you're exhausted?
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The value of accessing reliable information while nurturing the connection with inner guidance (Inner Wisdom) is immeasurable. It allows us to gather answers to our questions and have a way to check in with ourselves to ensure those answers were the right ones for us and our families.
In Well Rooted Matrescence you'll find a customized, growing resource library (reliable information) along with practices for supporting (re)connection with your unique Inner Wisdom.
Inside Well Rooted Matrescence
you'll find...
Our private, online community, away from social media, where...
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you'll have opportunities to connect and share with other women, journeying through this incredible, messy, magical, difficult life transition,
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all questions about matrescence are welcome and
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all experiences of mothering are held, with love and compassion
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Guidance and practices for...
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nourishing rest, resilience and healing
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cultivating the support you need
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A library of pdf guides, videos and audios on a variety of topics...
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labour and birth preparation
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postpartum healing
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breastfeeding
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normal infant sleep
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solid food introduction
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maternal health
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infant health
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making informed choices and
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so much more!​
Enhanced support.
Office Hours with Dr. Sarah
Optional added support is available weekly during live, online group sessions, facilitated by Dr Sarah.
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short, recorded education time focused on a relevant topic
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unrecorded group discussion, sharing and strategy
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we'll celebrate what's working, chat about feeding, sleep and mothering challenges that members are experiencing and explore supportive strategies for resolving them​
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Hey there! I'm Sarah.
I believe that for children, families + communities to be healthy + well, mothers need to be healthy + well.
And, for mothers to be healthy + well, they need to be held by a nurturing, supportive community + be connected with their Inner Knowing, so that they feel more rested + resourced.
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And, when they feel more rested + resourced, they expand their resilience and capacity to break free from the stories + beliefs of what mothering 'should' be, in a world filled with unpredictability + uncertainty.
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I'm looking forward to supporting your journey in Well Rooted Matrescence.