As you prepare for the upcoming holidays, here are a few gentle reminders and practical tips to help you and your little one stay peaceful, connected, and full of Christmas joy this season.

1. Keep Connection at the Center
​Your little one may not understand what makes the holidays special — but they do know what makes you feel special to them. Extra gatherings can be exciting but also overwhelming for babies and toddlers. Try to hold onto a few “anchors” of connection each day — a quiet cuddle before guests arrive, a short walk outside, or singing a familiar song together. Even just slowing down for eye contact and smiles communicates love and safety in the midst of the bustle.

3. Keep Nursing Simple and Centered
​If you’re breastfeeding, the holidays can bring both blessings and challenges. Changes in schedule, diet, and stress can affect milk supply, and family gatherings can sometimes stir up mixed feelings about nursing in public or around relatives. And a secret that many moms don't realize is the busy-ness of the season can trigger an unexpected return of fertility! Guess how I know that?! Yes; her name is ....

Remember: you are nourishing and comforting your baby — a truly beautiful and tender act of love. Try to carve out calm, private moments to nurse - if privacy feels best for you - or proudly feed your baby wherever you’re both comfortable.

If you’d like some extra encouragement, join one of ouor upcoming mothers' support groups as we discuss “Nursing Your Baby Through the Holidays."

🕊️ We’ll share practical tips, laughter, and support for making this season nurturing for you and your baby. Both of these groups currently meet online, so you don't even need to leave the house!

• St Croix Mamas' Group: Open to every mom who wants connection and encouragement as we hold space for peace as we head into one of the busiest seasons of the year.
• Catholic Nursing Mothers’ Group: This group is specially for Catholic mothers and includes prayer, Scripture, and reflection, under the patronage of Our Lady of La Leche.

4. Keep Expectations Gentle
No one — not even the most organized parent — can do it all. This year, let “presence” be your gift. Your baby doesn’t need perfect decorations, fancy outfits, or gourmet meals. They need you — peaceful, present, and full of love. If things get loud or messy, smile and remember that these are the moments that will become stories someday. A baby’s giggle at the dinner table or a sleepy snuggle by the tree is worth more than the best Instagrammable house!

Wishing You a Season of Peace and Connection
​May this holiday season be filled with joyful gatherings, calm mealtimes, and deep connection with your little one — body, mind, and spirit. Whether you’re signing, nursing, or simply soaking in baby cuddles by the twinkling lights, you’re doing beautiful work as a parent.

What part of the holidays are you looking forward to sharing with your little one the most? Comment below and let us know!

We had been hoping for and planning to try for another child -- so the news I was pregnant was welcomed by both of us -- but I share this story to let you know that holiday weaning -- and an unexpected holiday-conceived baby -- aren't just theories for me!

A mere two months prior to that positive pregnancy test, when our oldest child turned two years old, I had visited my doctor to let her know that my fertility (both menstruation and ovulation) had not yet returned. Due to my prior history of infertility, she had advised that we begin to investigate possible causes. However, I had done nothing more than talk to the doctor when we conceived our dearly loved second child. Surprise! What happened?

After giving birth, a breastfeeding mother has two different hormonal "sides" that can be imagined as the two sides of a scale. On one side, she has breastfeeding hormones that promote lactation (and tend to suppress ovulation) -- and on the other, reproductive hormones that promote ovulation, and which may lead to another pregnancy. While the timing of her return of fertility varies from woman to woman, and even from baby to baby by the same mother (due to many different factors) the general principle is that frequent and unrestricted suckling at the breast is the most important factor that keeps the breastfeeding hormones side of the scale "heavier," resulting in continued natural suppression of fertility.

What factors contribute to this unexpected holiday-related return of fertility? Here is a partial list:

• changes in the nursing and sleep routines caused by the typical busy-ness that often accompanies the holidays, including the extra cleaning, cooking and shopping, decorating, etc.
• extra celebrations and parties, when a mother may delay or completely skip feedings
• well-meaning relatives who may keep the baby or young toddler busy and distract him or her from nursing or may even feed the baby (with or without the parents' knowledge)
• feeling awkward or embarrassed to nurse the baby in new situations or around different people
• new people, blinking lights, and experiences that distract baby or toddler from wanting to nurse, or cause shorter feedings than usual

If, like my husband and me, you are hoping for another baby, then just pay attention to your signs of fertility and enjoy making your holiday baby if the signs point to being fertile!

However, especially if your baby is under a year old, you may want to protect your breastfeeding relationship, discourage weaning, and delay making a new baby until later in the future. In that case, you definitely want to do what you can to avoid changes in your usual nursing and sleeping routines as much as possible. This may not be the year to host holidays and celebrations! Keep your meals and preparations simple, and maybe even skip some of this year's parties. Remember, you need to maintain your normal routines as much as possible, so that baby's frequent suckling at the breast remains as consistent as possible. At the same time, be vigilant to observe and record your signs of fertility, so that if you do detect any changes that indicate fertility, you and your husband can still celebrate, but in less intimate ways.

If a more detailed discussion of how to protect your breastfeeding relationship during the holidays, how to interpret your signs of fertility, or how to understand the return of fertility after birth would be helpful to you, contact me (Christelle) to book a free online, phone, or in-person consultation. As a certified breastfeeding counselor and fertility educator, I can help!

For Catholic breastfeeding mothers, "Navigating the Holidays as a Breastfeeding Family," and the unexpected return of fertility are the discussion topics of our online Catholic Nursing Mothers' Group in November. Reach out if you would like to join us for this free online breastfeeding support group!