Healing Breastfeeding Grief – writing the book, developing the therapy

I suffered profoundly with breastfeeding grief when I could not build a milk supply with my first baby. The experience was so shattering and destructive that it took months to recover from. This experience inspired me to research, write and teach about ways to prevent low milk supply and to build a supply in a low-producing mother.

During my ten years as a group moderator, I listened daily to mothers share and vent about the emotional devastation they were going through. I wished with all my heart that I could do more than just listen, though feeling heard is an essential part of healing.

I felt though that there must be a way to help mothers actually heal–quickly and deeply. After all, our baby needs us now. Every week that passes in which we are not able to be present and authentically available is a week too long in those precious first months with our baby.

Where was the therapy that would help? I did not know.

In 2013, a school for hypnotherapy opened in the town where I lived. I actually did not sign up for it–my 21-year-old daughter wanted to study, and I reserved a place for her. When, at the last moment, she decided not to attend, I took her place. I thought it would be an interesting way to spend the summer but I did not expect to actually practice as a hypnotherapist.

Now, I have had several unique opportunities in my life to study and practice different forms of meditation, and I thought this would be a potentially fascinating, complimentary study.

At the end of the summer, I realized though that I had been given a set of therapeutic skills that were beyond anything I had imagined. I had the keys to unlocking rapid and deep change and healing. I would be able to transition mothers out of their negative emotions, out of their sense of loss and failure, and help them re-connect with their positive sense of self as a mother while restoring their joy and confidence.

I felt as though my prayers had been answered. 

I jumped in and started giving sessions. Soon I was seeing beautiful turnarounds.

Click here for a professional review of Healing Breastfeeding Grief.

In 2015, I decided to write a book about what I had learned, a book that in itself could serve as a form of therapy. It would let mothers know they are understood and are not alone, and would give them tools to process and move through their difficult feelings and experiences.

I worked hard at word-crafting sentences so they would convey understanding and compassion. As one reviewer says, “The healing starts on the very first page.”

If you would like to purchase the book, it is available online or per order from your local bookstore.

If you would like to receive hypnotherapy sessions, contact me by email or phone.

Leave me a message briefly explaining your situation.