Dr. Danielle Watson ND
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themotherdoctor
I know it’s not always Merry & Bright, thinking I know it’s not always Merry & Bright, thinking of you all 🤍
The time after birth is so little talked about. Ne The time after birth is so little talked about. New moms step into postpartum with very limited knowledge or resources on how to care for themselves. Every time I post there is a flood of moms that say they wished they’d known this before they had their baby. The reality is that postpartum is hard. There’s a lot happening physically, mentally, emotionally & relationally. But being blindsided instead of prepared is harder. When we look at the research, there are evidenced-based strategies to help you through your postpartum recovery, by laying a foundation during pregnancy. Want to know more? Link in my bio for 30% off the 5 Day Postpartum Prep Masterclass starting December 5th Love to see you there!
So you’ve dreamed about breastfeeding your baby. So you’ve dreamed about breastfeeding your baby. You knew that this was what you wanted. You pictured these adorable snuggles. You’d read about the bonding you could have with baby. And then your baby latched & it’s like this dark cloud came & sat over you. And you realize, that every 2-3 hours this intensely negative feeling is going to come visit you as you nurse your babe. Follow @themotherdoctor for all things motherhood or if you need individual advice, let’s get you in for an in-person or virtual assessment! This reaction is called D-MER or the dysphoric milk ejection reflex. We do not educate near enough about this for how frequently I hear moms mention it. It’s hard to describe—this fleeting negative feeling as soon as your milk starts to flow. It’s a physiologic reaction, rather than a psychological one. Important distinction: this is not a perinatal mood & anxiety disorder. This is not the same as postpartum depression, where low mood persists throughout your day. This feeling only comes with let-down. This is a switch up on what is supposed to happen with our hormones that control breastfeeding. In order for prolactin to be released to stimulate the production of milk, we need a drop in dopamine, as dopamine inhibits prolactin. & that drop occurs when oxytocin is released to signal to eject the milk at let down. Dopamine is a ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitter (brain chemical). So in moms with D-MER, this drop in dopamine is felt as an intense negative feeling. This dark cloud persists until dopamine levels begin to stabilize, as prolactin rises & milk production is accomplished. Good news is that this does get better with time! Most moms who experience D-MER report it’s gone before 3 months postpartum. There isn’t much that has been researched to be effective for D-MER, but generally having support is important. I find knowing a name for this weird feeling in itself can be comforting. Did you experience D-MER? Share with pregnant & new mommas to give them a name for this feeling!
‘It takes a village to raise a child’ I thin ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ I think our definition of ‘village’ has changed just a tad. So much changes when you become a mom. Your relationship with yourself, with your partner, your family & your friends. We need to re-work this definition of ‘village’ for the modern mom cuz it’s not the same as it used to be. And oh man has it ever changed in the last few years. In the Mama Circle, we’ll begin navigating those challenges & changes with a supportive community of other moms that are in the same time of life. You'll learn to build your village & communicate your needs to those in it. Because support is critical for a healthy postpartum recovery. Sometimes it’s family, sometimes it’s older kids in daycare, sometimes it’s a friggen cleaning service. Like do what you gotta do! 🤷🏼‍♀️. Wanna join our first round of the Mama Circle? Class link is in the bio—only a few seats left!
While I was pregnant, I had iron-deficiency anemia While I was pregnant, I had iron-deficiency anemia. I had to supplement with a high dose of iron & have my levels assessed regularly. We knew that low iron could be dangerous for my growing baby. At my 6-week check-up, I was pale, exhausted & depressed. After getting the most cursory all clear, I asked if we should check my ferritin again. My midwife said, “oh no! Doesn’t matter, baby’s out now!” I left the appointment feeling defeated. I’m lucky that I had eight years of post-secondary, unlike most moms I didn’t have to turn to Dr. Google to fill in the gaps in care. I advocated for myself to have my ferritin re-tested, began supplementing with a therapeutic dose. But I know that many moms don’t have access to or support in getting postpartum care—that takes into account how MOM feels too. And I think part of that will come as we talk about our health postpartum differently. Instead of us brushing off our symptoms & just dealing with it—we need to be honest with one another about how we feel. In the Mama Circle, a class for new moms, we’ll be chatting about YOUR health in week 4 of our program. Real, honest conversations to normalize & understand how new moms feel in the first year postpartum. It’s half sold out for this first session. Don’t wanna miss out? Tag your mom friend & join with her 🤍🤍
Research is still emerging from the past few years Research is still emerging from the past few years but the preliminary studies of how we’ve been feeling show this: DOUBLING in the amount of mothers reporting mood issues during pregnancy & postpartum. I’ve started the Mama Circle as a group of new moms supporting & learning from one another in a safe space guided by a postpartum expert. And it’s no wonder moods have worsened, with the financial stressors, relationship stress, fears, added work load, changes to our maternity leaves, childcare waitlist, lack of access to our perinatal appointments ........I wish I could stop but I could probably list more But, there are a few things the research is identifying as being helpful: one of the most important being support. Support can come in so many different ways. But having the support of other moms in the same time of life as you AND a professional to guide you, is incredible. Moms supporting moms is what the Mama Circle is all about. We could probably make things a lot easier for new moms if we chatted about the realities of the fourth trimester. Not horror stories or anything that starts with ‘just wait...’. Another study done in 2008 looked at mother’s expectations vs their experience. From it, they identified some areas where moms were wanting more help: among others, a top being more info on practical, emotional & relationship changes. So if you need evidences-based, real ways to support yourself with your health & mood postpartum—Week 3 of the Mama Circle will include a chat about our mood after having a baby. Real talks. Safe space. Professional to guide you. Want in? Register on my profile for our first Sudbury class 🙌🏼🤍
‘My hormones are STILL all over the place!’ ⠀⠀ New moms get warnings all the time for how ‘hormonal’ they’re going to be postpartum. But we don’t talk about what’s REALLY going on—which is why I’ve created the Mama Circle starting next week. In our community, we’ll chat about what’s going on, how you’re feeling & how you can support yourself through this Because here’s the thing: your hormones aren’t jumping around in the postpartum time! We hear all the time that they need to ‘balance’ out or calm them down...but that’s not how it works ⠀⠀ While you’re pregnant, up to the delivery of the placenta, your hormones (estrogen, progesterone, CRH, testosterone & cortisol) are sky-high. We call this ‘supraphysiologic’ levels. After the delivery of the placenta, your hormones take a nose-dive. Yup, your hormones just ghosted you. They aren’t erratic, it’s just that this drop is the single greatest change to any humans hormones across the lifespan...ever! ⠀⠀ The cool thing is that after about 2 weeks, women’s brilliant bodies adjust to this. If you’re someone who’s sensitive to these changes, or more is going on (thyroid health, PPD, nutritional deficiencies etc), you may find your mood is erratic. Current research doesn’t support a direct link from our hormones to our mental health postpartum. Estrogen, progesterone, the HPA-axis, oxytocin, breastfeeding, serotonin, BDNF, circadian rhythm, seasonal changes, immune system changes, thyroid health, psychosocial support and nutritional levels all play a role—but likely none in isolation! So yea, there’s a lot going on here—and to get through it, you need a community of mommas on your side So next time someone tells you that you’re going to be hormonal after childbirth, fill them in! They’ve actually dropped off & chilled out 😉 ⠀⠀ Have you joined the Mama Circle yet? We start next week Thursday! Tag a mom friend that needs to hear this 🤍
At the end of the day, mothers and their babies ma At the end of the day, mothers and their babies matter. Your birth story is unique to you & your child. You deserve to share it in a safe space where others validate what was beautiful & what was hard for you. Because how you give birth & how you feel about it matters. How you recover, how you feed your baby and how you are supported matter. ⠀⠀ Becoming a mother is a major life transition. How you feel during this is integral to not only your health but your baby’s health as well. ⠀⠀ This common saying diminished not only mother’s experience, but it’s also completely untrue. ⠀⠀ Did you have a safe space to share your birth story & talk with other mothers that are ‘in it’? The Mama Circle is a six week community of new mothers, guided by Dr. Danielle Watson, ND. You’ll enter a safe space where you can share about your experiences, while learning about this beautiful but challenging time from an expert in postpartum care. We meet weekly on Thursdays to engage in conversation & learning, creating community in early motherhood. Local in-person & virtual (anywhere) session starts next Thursday November 3rd. Register at the link above under the section ‘Classes’ 🤍 Tag your mom friend that’s joining you!
I remember throughout pregnancy, tracking changes I remember throughout pregnancy, tracking changes in an app. I would excitedly check to see what sort of fruit my baby was that week. Then post-birth, my app stopped telling me about my changes & told me exclusively about my little one. And I still loved these updates, but given my education, I was shocked to see that other moms wouldn’t know about all the incredible changes. There’s no app though to track the fruits as your uterus returns to its original size, but your body is no less incredible. We weren’t meant to experience these changes alone. Imagine this instead. You grab your best mom friend & head to a supportive group of other new mothers to share your experiences while finding the support & wisdom to get through those early months.Both of you have your babies with you but you get a moment each week to focus on yourself. You feel safe & validated in your new motherhood journey. You know what to expect & are able to tap into your own voice as you navigate the first year of motherhood. You enter a safe space where you can share about your experiences, while learning about this beautiful but challenging time from an expert in postpartum care. The Mama Circle is a six week community of new mothers, guided by Dr. Danielle Watson, ND. We meet weekly on Thursdays to engage in conversation & learning, creating community in early motherhood. Bring your babies to the Sudbury or Virtual group & don’t do this time of life alone! Limited seats available, so register today! Can’t wait to meet you
Your breastmilk content changes throughout the day Your breastmilk content changes throughout the day & night providing baby with some signals about the world around them. While baby is in utero, there’s not a lot of cues about nighttime vs daytime—but it’s possible that our breastmilk helps teach them something about their new world. Follow @themotherdoctor for information on postpartum & pregnancy! Some research looked at this “Chrononutrition” or nutrition for our biological clock. One study published in 2013 in the Journal Of Biomedicine, found that morning breastmilk contains higher levels of cortisol & adrenaline—the wakefulness cues our own bodies use. Since infants don’t make their own melatonin initially, our breastmilk provides them with both melatonin (the sleepytime hormone) and tryptophan, the precursor (or maker) of serotonin ( a feel good brain chemical). Nutrition also changes throughout the day, with magnesium, zinc & potassium highest in the mornings, iron peaking around noon, vitamin E in the evening. It also seems that immune components are higher in the day than at night, with antibodies & white blood cells showing up higher in studies samples. If you’re a pumping momma, label your breastmilk with the time of day (as well as the date for food safety), to try to hack these natural changes. Otherwise, feed on demand, as your tiny baby asks for it. Your little one will slowly learn sleep & wake cycles with a little help from you! Tag & share with a mom friend that would want to hear this! Did you label your milk?
At some point, the saying ‘sleep when the baby s At some point, the saying ‘sleep when the baby sleeps’...has to happen. Let’s call it sleep training for moms 😉 Follow @themotherdoctor for all things motherhood! Postpartum insomnia is quite common. But it so often gets brushed into the ‘diagnosis of motherhood’, as I keep repeating on here 😂😉. Moms are told that’s it’s normal for them to not sleep or to be tired—so we often ignore this. But, if baby is sleeping & you’re still not, we’ve got some work to do. There’s a lot of factors that can exacerbate or cause insomnia. Postpartum mood disorders may cause you to sleep more or less. The changes that happen to your hormones in the postpartum time & the changes to your circadian rhythm (your sleep clock ⏰) can also lead to insomnia. Postpartum thyroid issues or even nutritional depletion from pregnancy & breastfeeding could also mean less sleepy time. Speaking with a therapist & getting an assessment by your naturopathic doctor are both important places to start. Sleep hygiene (aka dark room, comfortable temp, no electronics before bed etc) is also critical—and something we often fall out of the habit doing during baby’s infancy. When I first started practicing, I had a patient who was already a grandmother tell me that her insomnia started when she’d first had kids (her kids were like 30 now). We got her sleeping pretty easily with naturopathic care. But she’d been told for decades that moms are just always tired— please don’t wait 30 years! Need momma sleep support? Tap on my profile for your assessment 📆
As your milk begins to flow, so can the tears. . As your milk begins to flow, so can the tears. . Those initial postpartum days are intense. Your body has done a lot (to say the least). Follow @themotherdoctor for more motherhood info! . When your milk ‘comes in’, usually around day 3 postpartum, your body is also going through some rapid hormonal changes that can contribute to those ‘baby blues’. Your body is producing elevated levels of the hormone prolactin, in order to breastfeed. When prolactin is high, dopamine—a brain chemical that makes us feel happy—is decreased. At the same time, by day 3 postpartum, our estrogen & progesterone have gone from SKY HIGH during pregnancy, back down to a baseline. That’s the most rapid shift in anyone’s hormones across the lifespan. . Oh and you’re sleep deprived. And the adrenaline rush of birth has worn off. As your milk comes in, you may find yourself feeling more emotional. You may feel elated one moment, so in love with that precious newborn. You may cry over how beautiful your baby is or how hard new motherhood is. You may feel angry, or just plain tired. With the ‘baby blues’ we FEEL it all. This is a time of intensity. . If you feeling low or sad is the only feeling you’re having, you should bring that up to your healthcare provider. While it’s normal to have pretty intense feelings for the first 2 weeks, postpartum depression or anxiety (or another PMADs) can also happen. Don’t forget to ask for help momma! . Tag or share with another mom that needs to hear this! As always, virtual or in-person appointments available in Ontario 🇨🇦
Pregnant? Need help? Link above to join the 5 Day Pregnant? Need help? Link above to join the 5 Day Postpartum Prep Masterclass at 35% off 🤍 Start thinking about your postpartum recovery BEFORE you give birth! Stitched with @shesjustmac
Those early days can be so intense 🤍 it’s bea Those early days can be so intense 🤍 it’s beautiful, it’s messy, & it’s hard. Stitched with @annalee15 from Tiktok 🤍
If I had a nickel for every time I had a patient c If I had a nickel for every time I had a patient come in, who had been written off as ‘just a mom’ for months, only to come in & find out that it was their thyroid or their iron status 🤯🤯 Listen, being a mom is exhausting. I definitely feel that having two little kids myself. But when you come into my office & present with these concerns, I’m going to look at your case the same way I do with any other patient. Never has a busy man walked into his doctor’s office & told them he was exhausted, losing his hair, gaining weight while trying to diet & feeling depressed —and been told he was a FATHER & should just get used to it. You deserve proper postpartum & motherhood care. Hang out with me on Instagram @themotherdoctor or tap on my profile if you’re in Ontario for an assessment 🤍. I’d love to meet you! Tag a mom friend that needs this info!
How’d you do on this quiz? Postpartum burnout How’d you do on this quiz? Postpartum burnout & depletion is more common than we think. I find in my practice it’s the moms that are the most on top of things normally, the type As, the high achievers, successful in their careers that are hit the hardest by this Moms are being told that all their symptoms are ‘normal’ & written off as part of motherhood. It’s reinforced in our society at all levels. Then when their baby turns one & they return to work, they just don’t feel like themselves, can’t do things like they used to… Early motherhood is a LOT. It’s a huge stress & a huge maternal investment (of time, of energy, of nutrients, etc). That’s part of why we see these symptoms. But that doesn’t mean that we have to ´just live with them ‘. As an Nd who’s seen hundreds of new moms in my clinical practice, I have the supports to get you feeling like yourself again. So, How many of these questions did you answer yes to? Because being a mom isn’t a diagnosis & you deserve the care you need Click on my profile to get yourself in for a postpartum assessment (virtual or in-person) if you’re experiencing new symptoms after having a baby.
What else would you add? ⬇️ Follow @themother What else would you add? ⬇️ Follow @themotherdoctor for all things motherhood. Postpartum & pregnancy care on my profile 🤍 (Ontario)
There’s an acronym you learn in school to help w There’s an acronym you learn in school to help with a patient intake. ‘Location, onset, duration, radiation, intensity....’ It helps organize your questioning around a patient’s concerns. When I first started practicing, I saw a lot of menopausal women. And when I got to that second question ‘onset’, I couldn’t believe how frequently I’d hear “since I had kids”. 50 year old women with insomnia/anxiety/low libido/heavy periods/ weight gain/back pain/leaking when they jumped etc …all since they’re kids were born 25 years ago. Then they’d quickly rush to shrug & day, 🤷🏼‍♀️ ‘well I was a mom, of course I had ____’. They’d also heard from everyone in their lives that this was just the norm. Husbands, friends, sometimes even healthcare providers had written off their symptoms since they’d entered motherhood. I didn’t accept that motherhood alone was the reason. I found anemia in the mom who was exhausted & had hemorrhagic periods. I found low vitamin D in the mom with poor mood. I found undiagnosed anxiety in the mom with insomnia. This played out time & time again. There was a reason for her symptoms, just the same as any patient who entered my office. So I’ve made it my goal to change the dynamic in healthcare. First time moms need to know what’s normal, what’s not & when to seek help. As I always say, ‘Being a mom is not a diagnosis’ and as healthcare providers, we shouldn’t stop our investigations there. Mothers deserve better care. Give me a follow & hang out on Instagram for lots of content on pregnancy & postpartum or book in for an appointment & get personalized care to get you feeling 😘🙌🏼
An old post, but a good one 🙌🏼 Follow @them An old post, but a good one 🙌🏼 Follow @themotherdoctor for all things motherhood 🤍 The current research calls for comprehensive postpartum care that begins with anticipatory guidance during pregnancy, creates a postpartum care plan inclusive of a multi-disciplinary healthcare team to manage your postpartum recovery & more than ONE appointment postpartum. Is that the kind of care you received? You need care outside of your OB/midwife relationship. They’re amazing, they do so much for us. But your needs go beyond that. Seeing a healthcare provider like a pelvic floor physiotherapist, clinical psychologist/psychotherapist, naturopathic doctor, doula, lactation consultant, massage therapist, chiropractor, etc can make your recovery that much easier. This is what I do. I love helping my in-person or virtual patients access the postpartum care they need to recover. If you’re a clinician & you want to update your postpartum care, my continuing education course walks you through how to add this into your practice. This info isn’t available elsewhere, it’s a new paradigm of care ✨✨ Let’s change the dynamic in healthcare so it’s more supportive of new mothers Drop a 🙌🏼🙌🏼 below if you agree!
Picking a prenatal that’s right for your pregnan Picking a prenatal that’s right for your pregnancy can be confusing for many new moms. Follow @themotherdoctor as we chat about common prenatal vitamins! *disclaimer #1: this is not to be misconstrued as personal medical advice. We can chat generally, but 1:1 advice is always best done by appointment with your healthcare provider. I don’t know you or your health history *disclaimer #2: a prenatal is better than no prenatal, we can discuss pros & cons but we still need to know that pregnancy/labour/postpartum/breastfeeding take a substantial maternal investment & you need your nutrients. What I like about Materna is that it’s easily available to purchase, backed by the SOGC & contains the dosage of folic acid recommended by health Canada. All good things! Cons of materna: In many of my patients, we need different forms of the vitamins either for absorption/usability or for what’s indicated for their health needs. Let’s take a few examples: P5P, a form of vitamin B6 is well researched for preventing morning sickness when taken in divided doses. Materna contains a different, not necessarily bad form of B6 that hasn’t been researched the same. I like to prevent morning sickness AND get my patients their prenatal—better bang for their buck. But, if you don’t experience morning sickness, then maybe not as needed 🤷🏼‍♀️ Another example: research shows us that selenomethionine can help prevent postpartum thyroiditis. Materna contains a different form of selenium. In my patients at risk for the development of postpartum thyroiditis or other thyroid issues, we prioritize prenatals that contain selenomethionine. See how this is a nuanced discussion? As a consumer, it’s very hard to know what prenatal is best for your health needs. Asking your ND, RD or family doctor/OB/midwife is a good place to start. It can depend on your health history, family history & current symptoms 🤍🤍 I don’t back on prenatal for all my patients & I don’t financially benefit from the sale of a specific company. But I DO love seeing my patients thrive! As always, hang out on insta for free general info on pregnancy & postpartum, or come see me for an appointment for individual advice ☺️
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