Spoil Your Baby

What if the most crucial job we have in motherhood is learning to mother ourselves?
Dr. Gertrude Lyons, a master coach and thought leader, developed the “Rewriting the Mother Code” framework after conducting an in-depth doctoral thesis. Her purpose is to help women rewrite outdated narratives surrounding motherhood, self-worth, and identity. Dr. Lyons was prompted to begin this work after realizing that even as an established coach, she had lost herself in motherhood, stopped mothering herself, and experienced deep regret and remorse. This experience motivated her to investigate what is possible when women put themselves in the picture.
Her doctoral thesis centered on raising women's awareness of the possibility of personal growth and transformative experiences within motherhood. This included challenging personal norms. For example, when facing fertility issues, Dr. Lyons chose to listen to her intuition rather than immediately adopting the full medical model. By tuning in, she uncovered a deep, unconscious fear of being a mother and continuing generational trauma. Addressing this "unfinished business" proved to be a critical part of her healing journey.
Dr. Lyons emphasizes that motherhood, despite being painful or chaotic—described as the “caterpillar to butterfly gelatinous mass period”—is the ripest time for transformation and rewiring. She champions the idea that we all mother (ideas, careers, relationships), and the most important person we need to mother is ourselves.
Key Takeaways
Recognize that the challenging, chaotic early phase of new motherhood is the ripest time for profound personal transformation and rewiring.
Challenge the traditional view of motherhood as pure sacrifice and duty, and instead embrace it as an opportunity for self-realization.
The deepest form of self-mothering is self-actualization and awareness, requiring ongoing internal work to truly know yourself.
We all express "mother energy" by nurturing careers, relationships, ideas, and dreams, not just children.
Approach pain as informative and a natural vehicle for wisdom and transformation, rather than something to numb or simply avoid.


THIS EPISODE REVISITS THE KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM OUR EPISODE 41 - Self-Mothering: Your Most Important Parenting Job feat. Dr. Gertrude Lyons - Go listen to the full episode if you want to learn more.
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Resources
Guest Bio: Dr. Gertrude Lyons is a master coach, podcast host, and thought leader who helps women rewrite outdated narratives around motherhood and identity. She developed the "Rewriting the Mother Code" framework after completing an in-depth doctoral thesis. She offers retreats in Mexico and Ireland, and one-on-one immersive coaching experiences.
References and Resources:
Book: Rewrite the Mother Code: From Sacrifice to Stardust, a Cosmic Approach to Motherhood https://a.co/d/b4MU6hl
Website: https://www.drgertrudelyons.com (includes her TEDx talk)
Podcast: Rewrite the Mother Code with Dr. Gertrude Lyons https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rewrite-the-mother-code-with-dr-gertrude-lyons/id1534581166
Instagram: @drgertrudelions https://www.instagram.com/drgertrudelyons/?hl=en



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FREE GUIDE, "Nurture Your Baby's Stress": https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/nurture-your-babys-stress
FREE GUIDE, "Manage the Stressors & Triggers of Parenting": https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/manage-the-stressors-of-parenting
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Why is breastfeeding often a learned skill that requires a "village" rather than just a natural instinct?
Emma Pickett began her professional life as a teacher before the birth of her own children sparked a deep passion for lactation. She quickly realized that breastfeeding is a continuing line from teaching, as both roles involve helping people reach their goals and feel successful. Emma transitioned from a volunteer breastfeeding counselor to a certified International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in 2011. She has dedicated her career to supporting families and even helping grandmothers who wish they had better support in their younger years.
One of her biggest challenges is navigating a modern society that lacks the "drip-drip" of evolutionary knowledge once passed down through generations. She observes that industrialization has separated families into nuclear pockets, leaving many new mothers holding a baby for the first time without ever seeing someone breastfeed. Emma transformed her approach by viewing breastfeeding not just as a set of statistics, but as a deeply personal goal and a relationship that needs nurturing. She advocates for "responsive feeding" over strict schedules and helps mothers reclaim their intuition. Today, she is a leading voice in maternal support, writing books on toddler feeding and providing a library of resources to ensure every mother feels capable and empowered during her matrescence.
Key Takeaways
Breastfeeding is a learned skill that often requires a teacher, a model, and a safe environment rather than just biological instinct.
We should prioritize responsive feeding by listening to the baby's needs and our environment instead of following strict app-based schedules or clocks.
Preparing during pregnancy means gathering your support resources and finding a lactation consultant you personally click with for the postpartum period.
Modern isolation means we must intentionally rebuild our "village" by including partners and family in our understanding of responsive feeding and milk supply.
The breastfeeding journey can involve winding roads like difficult latches or medical complications, but these can be overcome with the right patient support.

Resources
Emma Pickett’s Website: https://www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com
Emma Pickett’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmapickettibclc

Guests Bio:
Emma Pickett is a certified lactation consultant (IBCLC), author, and holistic sleep coach who has been supporting breastfeeding families since 2011. She was honored in 2022 with the Lactation Consultants of Great Britain award for outstanding contribution to breastfeeding.
Ready to Connect with Greer?
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgreerkirshenbaum
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greerkirshenbaum
FREE GUIDE, "Nurture Your Baby's Stress": https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/nurture-your-babys-stress
FREE GUIDE, "Manage the Stressors & Triggers of Parenting": https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/manage-the-stressors-of-parenting
Order "The Nurture Revolution" Book: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/the-nurture-revolution

How does optimal breathing and jaw development impact your child's sleep, mood, and ability to thrive?

Dr. Shereen Lim, originally a general dentist for 26 years, first delved into the world of sleep apnea due to her husband’s persistent snoring. Her initial focus was on dental devices for adults, but this quickly shifted when she wondered why children’s jaws weren't helped to grow properly from the start. She came across research indicating that palate expansion could reduce snoring and obstructive sleep apnea in children. This led her to pursue early interceptive orthodontics. However, when she spoke to a pioneer in sleep medicine about palate expansion, she was told she was too late, which prompted a critical realization: form follows function. Her attention then shifted entirely to the earliest years of life, focusing on how to ensure a child's tongue and other oral muscles work well to promote optimal jaw development. Dr. Lim stresses that good airway health is defined by nasal breathing 24/7 and optimal jaw development, which serves as the foundation for thriving health and vitality across the ages. She emphasizes that sleep and breathing problems should be viewed as family health issues, often leading to attachment difficulties in infants and behavioral problems in older children, ultimately impacting the entire household.
Key Takeaways
Airway health is defined as promoting nasal breathing 24/7 and optimal jaw development through effective oral function.
Snoring, mouth breathing, and a lack of silence during sleep are signals that airflow difficulties may be present, leading to unrestorative sleep.
Breastfeeding, with optimal latch mechanics, is crucial because it acts as nature’s palate expander, helping develop the jaws forward and wide.
We must consider the outer borders of the airway—the jaw structures—not just tissue removal, to increase airflow and space for the tongue.
Poor breathing quality during sleep can increase the risk of behavioral, learning problems, anxiety, and separation anxiety in children.

THIS EPISODE REVISITS THE KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM OUR EPISODE 45 - Why Nasal Breathing is Essential for Early Development feat. Dr. Shereen Lim - Go listen to the full episode if you want to learn more.
Join The Nurture Neuroscience Practitioner Certification
Join our Program: https://nurture-neuroscience.com/professional-certification-sales-page
Resources
Book Breathe, Sleep, Thrive. https://breathesleepthrivebook.com
Website: https://www.drshereenlim.com.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drshereenlim
Instagram: @dr.shereenlim https://www.instagram.com/dr.shereenlim

Guest Bio: Dr Lim is a Perth, Australia, based dentist with a postgraduate diploma in dental sleep medicine from the University of Western Australia.
She has been involved in the team management of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea for over a decade.
Dr Lim is dedicated to promoting airway health from infancy as an alternative approach to minimize the development of these problems, and is author of the book “Breathe, Sleep, Thrive: Discover How Airway Health Can Unlock Your Child’s Greater Health, Learning and Potential.”
Her work in private practice is restricted to tongue tie management from infancy to adulthood, early interceptive orthodontics and myofunctional therapy.
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FREE GUIDE, "Nurture Your Baby's Stress":https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/nurture-your-babys-stress
FREE GUIDE, "Manage the Stressors & Triggers of Parenting":https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/manage-the-stressors-of-parenting
Order "The Nurture Revolution" Book:https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/the-nurture-revolution

How can building a relationship with your baby during pregnancy transform your experience of birth and early parenthood?
Ivana Lombardo’s journey began after moving from Serbia and raising her family without her original community nearby. She faced the isolation many modern parents feel, navigating her first grueling 40-hour labor. Everything changed during her second pregnancy when she discovered HypnoBirthing, which was a "complete 180" from her first experience. This transformation led her to realize that parents in our high-pressure society don't need more rules; they need customized support to reclaim their inner wisdom. She observed that while many prepare the nursery, they often forget to prepare the actual relationship with their child. Ivana now guides families through prenatal bonding to help them find a stable anchor in the unpredictability of new parenthood. Her work bridges the gap between anxiety and confidence by helping mothers connect with their bodies and their babies before birth. We believe her story shows that when a mother feels truly supported, her baby feels it too, setting a ground-level foundation for lifelong health.

Key Takeaways
Prenatal bonding is simply the act of having a conscious, interactive relationship with your baby before they are even born.
Babies are active participants who can recognize specific songs, books, and family voices they heard during the pregnancy.
Strengthening your maternal intuition during pregnancy helps you navigate the unpredictable chaos of life with a newborn with more confidence.
Research on prenatal bonding shows significantly lower rates of C-sections, postpartum depression, and the occurrence of colicky babies.
Simple daily practices like talking or visualizing your baby can help lower maternal stress and increase essential oxytocin levels.

Resources
Great Beginnings Births Website: https://www.greatbeginningsbirths.com/prenatalbondingba
Great Beginnings Births Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greatbeginningsbirths
Research Paper: Prenatal Bonding (BA) as a Breakthrough in Improving Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum Outcomes

Anne Goertz-Schroth, Dr. Gerhard Schroth, Dr. Raylene Phillips
https://birthpsychology.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Z3sC25KO-1.pdf

Guests Bio:
Ivana Lombardo is a childbirth educator, HypnoBirthing instructor, women's mental health coach, and nurture neuroscience practitioner. With over 20 years of experience, she guides families through fertility struggles, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, helping them trust their own wisdom.
Ready to Connect with Greer?
"Nurture Neuroscience" Website: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgreerkirshenbaum
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FREE GUIDE, "Nurture Your Baby's Stress": https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/nurture-your-babys-stress
FREE GUIDE, "Manage the Stressors & Triggers of Parenting": https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/manage-the-stressors-of-parenting
Order "The Nurture Revolution" Book: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/the-nurture-revolution

How can we bridge the gap between knowing our patterns and actually feeling like ourselves again in early motherhood?

Mariya Garnet brings over 18 years of experience in the wellness industry, blending traditionally trained indigenous practices from the Peruvian Amazon with Western psychotherapy and expressive art therapy. Her journey into somatic and creative work was fueled by a desire to help people bridge the difficult gap between cognitive understanding and the actual felt sense of self. She works extensively with young mothers who are navigating the profound identity shifts and brain structural changes that come with matrescence.

One of the biggest challenges Mariya addresses is "primary maternal preoccupation," where a mother’s attention is rerouted entirely toward her baby, often leading to a sense of lost identity and deep grief. She guides mothers through the "messy" but transformative process of letting go of their old selves while resisting the modern pressure to instantly "get back to normal". Her key transformation involves using somatic practices like bilateral drawing and bilateral stimulation to help mothers reconnect with their bodies and their own physical needs. By reclaiming their senses, mothers can use this window of high neuroplasticity to heal early attachment wounds and break generational cycles. We believe that with the right support, mothers can emerge from this transition more confident and grounded than ever before.

Key Takeaways
Matrescence is a normal developmental shift similar to adolescence that involves real structural changes in the brain and identity.
Primary maternal preoccupation is a biological survival mechanism that reroutes a mother's focus entirely toward her baby's needs.
Simple somatic practices like bilateral drawing or humming can help mothers reconnect with their felt sense of self during postpartum.
Motherhood acts as a mirror that brings early attachment wounds to the surface, offering a unique window for deep psychological healing.
Improving your ability to hold difficult emotions, rather than just trying to feel better, helps widen your nervous system's circle of tolerance.

Resources
Somatic Therapy for Mothers: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/somatic-therapy-directory
Website: https://www.silverowltherapy.ca
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariyagarnet

Guests Bio:
Mariya Garnet is a registered psychotherapist (qualifying) and the founder of Silver Owl Therapy. She is a professional artist and a traditionally trained facilitator with experience in indigenous wellness practices and Western psychotherapy. Mariya specializes in creative and somatic work, helping clients fill the gap between knowing and feeling.
Ready to Connect with Greer?
"Nurture Neuroscience" Website: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgreerkirshenbaum/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greerkirshenbaum/
FREE GUIDE, "Nurture Your Baby's Stress": https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/nurture-your-babys-stress
FREE GUIDE, "Manage the Stressors & Triggers of Parenting": https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/manage-the-stressors-of-parenting
Order "The Nurture Revolution" Book: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/the-nurture-revolution