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The days after a new baby arrives to the world can be beautiful, busy, and even scary, but what’s true across the board is that everyone needs support. That’s one key takeaway we received from Libby Deutsch and Errin Bald, co-owners of Holistic Family Doulas. I had the privilege of working with HFD before Libby and Errin’s time at the agency, and it was a truly impactful and grounding experience for my family. Here’s what Libby and Errin offered about the impact of postpartum doula support for all families, struggling or not. 1. Broadly speaking, what is a postpartum doula and how can they help new parents, especially the birthing parent? A postpartum doula provides emotional, practical, and evidence-informed support during the tender weeks after birth. While a new baby naturally receives much of the attention, we believe mothers deserve to be nurtured, seen, and cared for as they recover and step into their new identity. Our role is not to take over, but to come alongside families and help create an environment where parents can slow down, rest, and bond with their baby. We support infant feeding, newborn care, household rhythms, emotional wellbeing, and recovery while gently encouraging parents to trust their instincts and find what feels right for their family. When a mother feels supported, safe, and cared for, she is better able to connect with her baby and settle into motherhood with confidence. 2. How can families know if a postpartum doula is right for them? We often tell families that you don't have to be struggling to deserve support. Postpartum doulas aren't just for difficult circumstances — they're for anyone who values entering this season with intention and care. Whether you're a first-time parent, adding another child to your family, recovering from a challenging birth, or simply looking for some more restful sleep, postpartum support can make a meaningful difference. Many parents wonder if they should be able to do it all themselves. But humans were never meant to mother in isolation. We believe every family deserves a village, and sometimes that village looks different than it once did. Postpartum doulas help bridge that gap. 3. The village model of raising children isn't as common as it once was, but the need for community is just as strong. Do you see a shift in thinking around reaching out for help or do families that come to the agency feel stigmatized? We absolutely see a growing shift. More and more families are recognizing that support is not a luxury — it's a necessity. Parents today are often raising children far from extended family while balancing work, responsibilities and endless information. The expectations that are placed on modern parents is immense. At the same time, many mothers still carry guilt around asking for help. Somewhere along the way, we've created the expectation that mothers should instinctively know how to do everything while recovering from birth and caring for a newborn around the clock, while also tending to all of the demands that modern day society has placed on us. We don't believe motherhood was ever meant to look that way. For generations, women were cared for by other women after birth. Meals were prepared, babies were held, and mothers were given space to recover. While the structure of the village may have changed, the need for community has not. Postpartum doulas are one way we can help rebuild that village and remind mothers that they were never meant to do this alone. 4. In relation to question 3, what are the most transformational changes you notice in families who have worked with postpartum doulas? What do you wish naysayers knew about this type of care? One of the greatest transformations we witness is a mother's growing trust in herself. Parents often begin postpartum feeling overwhelmed by outside opinions and pressure. With consistent support and encouragement, we see them begin to quiet the noise and lean into their own intuition. In a noisy and opinion filled world, we think the is the greatest gift of all. For those who are skeptical, we want them to know that when mothers are nourished emotionally, physically, and practically, they are able to show up more fully for themselves, their babies, and their families. We believe caring for mothers is one of the most powerful ways to care for children. 5. If you could impart one piece of advice or encouragement for new parents in the trenches, what would it be? Slow down. Be present with the tender moments in front of you. You and your baby are changing every day. We live in a culture often tells parents to bounce back, figure it out quickly and resume life as normal. But birth changes us. Becoming a parent is a profound transition and it deserves time, gentleness and support. Rest when you can and accept help when it is offered. Trust that getting to know your baby — and yourself as a parent — is a relationship that unfolds over time. You don't have to do it perfectly! You will learn along the way. While it will be challenging at times, it is a beautiful journey. Arguably, the most transformative experience of your life. About Libby and Errin Libby Deutsch is the co-owner of Holistic Family Doulas, a certified birth and holistic postpartum doula and private childbirth educator. Known for her calm, grounded presence, Libby provides deeply mother-led support rooted in trust, education and honoring each family's unique journey. She is passionate about helping mothers feel informed, confident and connected to themselves through pregnancy, birth and the postpartum transition. Her work is centered on a simple belief: when mothers are cared for, families thrive. Errin Bald is the co-owner of Holistic Family Doulas, a certified birth and postpartum doula and educator with over a decade immersed in the study of birth. Her own births — an unexpected cesarean, a VBAC and a deeply healing homebirth after cesarean — continue to shape the empathetic, grounding care she offers families across hospital, home and birth center settings. Her postpartum work weaves together ancestral wisdom and contemporary evidence, including traditional bellybinding, herbal support, Reiki and healing nourishment. She is committed to mother-led care — following each family's lead while nourishing and restoring the mother at the center of it all. -
Trending: Gamifying the Domestic LoadThe struggle to balance household and parenting tasks in a partnership and nurture that partnership is a very real one. This survey by the Pew Research Center confirms what a lot of people feel daily. Maybe a card deck can help balance the load? While not new, the Fair Play card deck, an offshoot of the book Fair Play by Eve Rodsky and the Fair Play Institute, pops up in the news from time to time—even mentioned by celebrities—as a tool to help manage parenting and chores. What started as a spreadsheet listing all of the invisible tasks Rodsky managed in her family has become a card deck with 100 household responsibilities that include cues for planning and how to make things happen. Here’s a sample of the cards in the deck. Do any of these surprise you? Bedtime routine for kids Calendar keeper Adult friendships Cash and bills Cleaning Civic engagement and cultural enrichment Dry cleaning Birth control and family planning Gifts (VIPs) Garbage Marriage and romance Weekend plans It’s not a glamorous gift, but I wonder if this card deck could be something to slip into the care baskets or packages we send to the new parents—and maybe even all the parents and couples—in our lives. In Chicago Parenting News: Here are the items that qualify for the back-to-school tax holiday starting August 7. Parents and teachers worked to rescue salvageable books that were found in dumpsters outside of former Acero schools. Chicago is the ninth most expensive commuting city in the country. There’s a new sculpture garden in Englewood on what used to be vacant lots. Parenting IRL: Are Birth Plans Helpful?From our member discussion board: Did you make a birth plan? Did anything actually go to plan? Many folks who chimed in about the merits of a birth plan generally agree that birth plans aren't really helpful or necessary. Others think birth plans can help you think through some important things, like communicating with your partner and considering interventions. Another common thread? More than a birth plan, having a knowledgeable doula present made all the difference. What’s your take? Subscribe to the NPN Weekly to get more parenting news, trends, and tips straight to your inbox! -
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Trending: The Trouble With Trimester ZeroThe three trimesters in a pregnancy are widely accepted, and more people honor the fourth trimester, but have you heard about Trimester Zero? Apparently, a faction of influencers is giving traction to this movement focused around optimizing your body in the three to six months (and maybe even up to a year) pre-pregnancy. For anyone who’s had a baby, the general concept isn’t so far out. Many medical professionals give general recommendations for prepping the body, including taking folic acid and cutting out alcohol. But Trimester Zero’s emphasis on “training” for pregnancy is toward the goal of maximizing your chances of getting pregnant as fast as possible. The stable of “experts” have driven what the Guardian calls preconception as an industry but without the evidence. Advice includes everything from avoiding scented candles and plastic containers to taking a slew of supplements, eating so-called healing diets, and even watching the sun rise. For many, social media is the source for answers pre-pregnancy and beyond instead of a real-life community. This lack of fertility education and communal knowledge sharing might be the more important thing to focus on—and change... In the spirit of championing postpartum support and community for Chicago moms, we’re bringing back our New Moms Group programming in September. Registration’s open right now! ♥️ Please spread the word to your loved ones, friends, and colleagues. In Chicago Parenting News: It’s official; the statewide cellphone ban has been signed into law just in time for the 2027-2028 school year. CPS furloughs are now off the table as the budget discussion continues. The back-to-school tax holiday starts August 7. Milwaukee’s making an appeal to laid-off CPS teachers. Parenting IRL: Do We Need a College Counselor? Readying your college-bound kids for this educational milestone is monumental—and it might be one some folks want assistance with. One NPN member wonders if a college counselor is necessary, as advised by some, and worth the money. This member’s anecdotal experience is that these advisers might be more costly than helpful. What has your experience been? Have you considered a college counselor? If you hired one, how did it go? Subscribe to the NPN Weekly to get more parenting news, trends, and tips straight to your inbox! -
A question for moms reading this: How much did you know about or prepare for feeding your baby? I had done very little preparation before my daughter was born but had the fortune of working with Juli Billings Walter, IBCLC, and owner of JBW Lactation Services, shortly after our daughter’s arrival. I reached out to Juli again to get her take (excerpted below) about lactation consultant support timing, feeding choice stigma, and the importance of checking in with mental health regardless of the feeding decision new parents make. 1. Would you recommend that expectant mothers add a lactation consultant to their prenatal support team? Or when do you recommend folks start this search process? I would recommend that people get in touch with a lactation consultant before their babies are born because lactation support is now covered by insurance. But there’s a little bit of paperwork that you have to fill out and things that you have to do to approve your benefits and understand what your benefits are before the baby is born. And so the time to do that is when you have a little bit of brain space before you baby arrives, and not when you have crying three-day-old baby in your arms and you’re filling out insurance forms. Whether you think you need lactation support or not, it’s good to, you know, get it in place if you need it … I mean, people get their baby registries going, and, you know, things like that, but you need to know who to call if you’re having trouble and also know who to call if you’re not having trouble. You don’t need to have a ton of trouble to get some benefit from a visit with a lactation consultant after the birth, to just know that things are getting off to a good start. 2. Why do you think there's still such stigma around feeding choices (chest versus bottle), and what can individuals do to shift the conversation? I think that really down deep all moms are just trying to do their best job. And I think that there’s kind of a feeling sometimes of being judged, whether [or not] you’re just imagining that that’s happening to you. But I think sometimes if I decide to formula feed or bottle feed or pump and bottle feed and you’re breastfeeding, it doesn’t mean that I think I’m better than you. Everybody makes a choice. A lot of people are doing things because their first choice didn’t work out, you know, and I don’t think that we need to judge people because you don’t know what shoes people have or have walked in. And some people want to breastfeed, but they have low supplies and it’s not working. Actually, I event want to say that there’s so many different ways to feed a baby or how people want to feed a baby. Right off the bat sometimes I think that there’s a lot of my clients that are like, "I’m pumping and bottle feeding." Yeah, I’m having a night nurse. I want to have my partner to split the load. I want to help people with whatever type of plan they want. I have people who have serious mental health issues or I work with moms who have different medical conditions that if they don’t get enough sleep their medical conditions will spiral. So right off the bat, we need to make a plan for that family to do some type of combination feeding, and we don’t need to judge people. In the grand scheme of life and in the bigger picture of what’s important is that everybody’s feeling good about what’s happening in this family, right? 3. How much of your work involves supporting the mental health of parents going through feeding challenges? Almost all of it. Everybody has a different journey there and everybody feels differently about their journey. One thing that I say to so many of my clients on a daily basis is how are you doing mentally and emotionally? Because I can have a mom who has a 90 percent supply. She has to do a little bit of something, a little bit of supplementation or a little bit of pumping, and she’s just like, this is terrible. Yeah, this is absolutely terrible. And then I can have another mom who makes hardly any milk. She’s pumping her brains out. She’s working so hard. And I’m like, “How are you doing?” She’s like, “This is great. I’m so happy that I can pump ten times a day and make one bottle of milk for my baby.” And I say, then let’s keep going if that’s what you want to do, because I’m constantly checking in on people mentally and emotionally where they are, and I’m trying to say partners too that we cannot let this person slip into the depths of depression over this. So the answer’s more about how is mom doing mentally and emotionally. That’s a huge part of it for me because, again, in the grand scheme of life, if your kid has to get a bottle of formula a day to make everybody feel better in this family, it’s worth it, right? 4. For those returning to work and continuing to breastfeed, what are the most practical steps moms can take to prepare for that transition/schedule? Even though we put so much pressure on women to breastfeed, and you should breastfeed for a year or whatever it is, we don’t support them in that journey. So by the time most people go back to work, most other moms are formula feeding. […] Most of the childcare workers, as wonderful as they are, are not familiar with the difference between breast milk feeding and formula feeding. What I find the hardest thing is that my moms are constantly being undermined and being told by childcare workers that “You're not bringing your baby enough milk. You’re not pumping enough. You’re not doing this enough.” And it’s constant pressure every time these moms go to pick up their babies, because a formula-fed baby will eat much more than a breast milk-fed baby. So I think the biggest thing before you go back to work is to education yourself. Understand how much you’re supposed to be producing. So many of my moms tell me, “I couldn’t maintain breastfeeding when I went back to work,” but really what it was, was misinformation. They were making plenty of milk. They were making the perfect amount of milk for their babies, but the childcare workers kept telling them, “I think your baby’s hungry. I think you’re not bringing enough.” Because the formula [feeding] moms are bringing in gigantic bottles, and the breastmilk-[feeding] moms are bringing in smaller bottles. And when the childcare worker doesn’t understand, they’re constantly giving subtle message to my moms. I have these women who are these high-powered, corporate, amazing, badass women in tears because they think they’re not doing enough. And I always say to them, “Has your doctor ever told you you’re not feeding enough to your baby? But somehow when they go back to work and they’re in this very vulnberable environment, leaving their child with somebody else, you know, they just start [feeling] so much self-doubt. Educate yourself before you go back to work because you will get undermined so fast going after going on a pumping and bottle feeding journey after you’ve been breastfeeding at home for months. It can get unraveled so quickly. […] 5. If you could impart one piece of advice or encouragement to first-time moms struggling with feeding their babies, what would it be? What I want for all moms is to understand how their bodies work. And I feel like most moms do not understand how their bodies work. They don’t understand that. Like, they don’t understand that their milk comes in on the third day after their babies are born. So even sometimes by the time I get out to see people, they’re like, “Well I had to formula feed the whole time I was in the hospital because my milk didn’t come in for the third day." But, it’s like, you and everyone else’s milk on the planet doesn’t come in for three days. But they didn’t know that, so they felt scared and they felt nervous and they were worried about their babies. People don’t understand how much milk a baby’s supposed to be eating. You know, they see moms on TikTok and they’re like, well, this lady has a deep freezer full of breast milk in their living room. I don’t make [enough] for a deep freezer in my living room. It’s like, right, nobody’s supposed to have a deep freezer full of breastmilk in their living room! That’s not what you’re supposed to have. But seeing those things, and when you don’t know how your body is supposed to work, what is normal, and what is baseline normal, it undermines everything. And it scares women and it makes them feel their like their bodies aren’t working properly when everything was just perfect and baseline normal for them. So that's what I want for people: I want to educate you. I want moms to educate themselves about how much milk they’re supposed to be making, how breast milk production works. You know, there’s just so much garbage on the internet where like, for example, people will say, “Oh, well if your baby’s sleeping through the night, you need to get up in the middle of the night and pump.” What are you talking about? Did cave women pump in the middle of the night? No, they just fed their babies. You need to make enough milk for your baby, but you don’t necessarily have to be doing all of these other things. And also understanding that everyone makes a different amount of milk, and the amount of milk you make literally has more to do with happened to you when you went through puberty and your breasts were formed with when you were a young adolescent girl, than it does with what happened to you during your birth. Some people are like, “Oh, I didn’t get the golden hour, so now I don’t make milk.” No, that’s not how it works. Yes, it’s great have the golden hour and all that kind of stuff and get things established. But if you have the capacity to make milk, you’ll be able to make milk, you know? But some people don’t have as many milk-making cells as other people. So [it’s more about] understanding that and how do you manage yourself if you have the largest milk supply on the planet or the smallest milk supply. How do you manage those things? About JuliI am the mother of five and have 12 years of personal breastfeeding experience nursing my own children. I worked as a volunteer leader with the La Leche League organization for 10 years and have been an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant through IBLCE since 2007. I am interested in helping mothers reach their personal breastfeeding goals. -
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Join us at Horner Park playground for a casual Sunday morning gathering. We'll set up 🫧 bubbles, 🎨 crafts, and 🧃juice boxes for the kids. Not an NPN member? No problem! Check in with us and earn one free month of membership, extendable for up to six months! Bring a neighbor, friend from school, relative, or anyone you know who might be interested in connecting with other parents of young children. Directions and Parking The playground is on the northeast corner of the park by the field house, along California Ave, between Cullom and Montrose. Free parking is generally available in the attached parking lot and on California Ave. Look for a picnic table covered in an NPN tablecloth or other NPN signage, Yoona in an NPN t-shirt, or just a blanket on the ground with craft projects on top! RSVPs not required, but encouraged for planning purposes. Tell us you're coming by clicking the green button on the right. (Mobile users scroll down.) Have questions? Email yoona@npnparents.org Cover image credit: Ivan Mudruk -
Trending: Revised Food Allergy Advice Is Paying OffOur daughter has several food allergies, and egg is the most concerning one. I’ve also learned that it’s one of the leading allergies among children in the U.S. I was encouraged to see new research conducted in Australia that shows earlier egg introduction (by 6 months as opposed to 1 to 3 years old) has led to an allergy rate on the decline: from 9.2% to 7.6% in infants given egg by 6 months. And babies with eczema saw an even more dramatic decline from 34.6% to 21.9%. These revised feeding guidelines seem to be making a meaningful decline for egg allergies and peanut allergies too, which might be fading away even more dramatically. Sadly, early introduction of allergenic foods, specifically eggs, isn’t a guarantee that your child will be allergy-free. That’s both comforting and disheartening. A familiar parenting combo, right?! In Chicago Parenting News: Chicago wildfire, or “smoke,” season might be a thing we all need to prepare for throughout the year. The Chicago Public Library has a teen guide to free back-to-school events. Loyola University has plans to convert an abandoned school into student housing. Parenting IRL: Screen Time on Playdates Digging up an old but always-relevant topic from the discussion forum about screen time. The original poster expressed concern about the presence of screens during playdates, specifically video games, and wonders if it’s OK to request no screens ahead of a gathering. Have you ever made an advance request for a screen-free playdate? What’s your advice? Subscribe to the NPN Weekly to get more parenting news, trends, and tips straight to your inbox! -
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Join NPN members for a walk around Horner Park every Tuesday morning from 7:30 to 8:30 AM. Meet in front of the little snack stand (pictured) at Berteau and California. Strollers and dogs welcome! Bring a friend! Everyone is welcome. Horner Park is located at 2741 W. Montrose Ave. There is a free parking lot on California that runs most of the length of the park from Belle Plaine Ave on the south to Cullom Ave on the north. The snack stand where we meet is in the middle, at Berteau and California. For more information, to check for (very rare) last-minute cancellation news, or to ask questions, please refer to this thread on the discussion forum. Need to upgrade your membership to access the forum? Upgrade to a parent membership here. Use code join30off for $30 off a one-year membership. Cover photo credit: Roman Biernacki -
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Connect with other new moms facing similar changes, challenges, and joys that you are experiencing as a new parent. This group is for moms with babies aged 0-6 months. (Go here to learn about the 7-12 month group.) Open to all moms with babies ages 0-6 months, whether this is your first baby or fifth! 🙌 Free with your RSVP 👩🍼Limited to 10 moms 🕰️ Meet for 90 minutes the same day and time each week for 3 consecutive weeks 🤗 Facilitated by NPN staff and mom volunteers 👶 Babies expected and welcome Your RSVP is for one three-week session. To build community and find support, we ask that moms attend the full session (three meetings). Session Information Thursdays, September 10th, 17th, and 24th, 2026 1:00-2:30 PM Bubbles Academy West Town 1308 N Elston, Level 3, Chicago RSVP required RSVP by clicking the green "register now" button to the right (mobile users scroll down) Questions? Email Executive Director Amy Johnson at amy@npnparents.org Thank you to our sponsor: -
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Connect with other new moms facing similar changes, challenges, and joys that you are experiencing as a new parent. This group is for moms with babies aged 7-12 months. (Go here to learn about the 0-6 month group.) Open to all moms with babies ages 7-12 months, whether this is your first baby or fifth! 🙌 Free with your RSVP 👩🍼Limited to 7 moms 🕰️ Meet for 90 minutes the same day and time each week for 3 consecutive weeks 🤗 Facilitated by NPN staff and mom volunteers 👶 Babies expected and welcome Your RSVP is for one three-week session. To build community and find support, we ask that moms attend the full session (three meetings). Session Information Wednesdays, September 9th, 16th, and 23rd, 2026 10:00-11:30 AM WonderPlay & Coffee 3501 W Belmont Ave, Chicago RSVP required RSVP by clicking the green "register now" button to the right (mobile users scroll down) Questions? Email Executive Director Amy Johnson at amy@npnparents.org Thank you to our sponsor Cover image: Dom J -
Perinatal mental health has gained more cultural visibility and acceptance but is a concept that's still largely brushed over. We asked Elle Murphy, a Staff Psychotherapist at Perinatal Mental Health Center of Chicago, to dive deeper with us and widen the conversation about supporting the mental health and wellness of loved ones during the fourth trimester or anytime postpartum. 1. Could you talk a bit about the most common misconceptions you notice around postpartum mental health? One of the most common misconceptions is that postpartum mental health only belongs to those who birth a child, and this is not true. Anyone who becomes a parent is now postpartum: non-birthing parents, parents who adopt, foster, or use surrogacy; these individuals often go underscreened and underserved. Another common misconception is that postpartum mental health struggles only look like sadness; rage, over-functioning, and numbness can all be signs of a person struggling with their postpartum mental health. Finally, there is the harmful idea that if you are struggling with postpartum mental health then you must not be grateful, and that could not be farther from the truth. You can be struggling with your postpartum mental health. 2. If someone notices a friend or loved one struggling in the fourth trimester, what are the most impactful ways folks can help and/or encourage seeking therapeutic support? Show up, and keep showing up. The texts, phone calls, and visits all matter, they remind the person they are not alone. It is difficult to see a loved one struggling; as people, we want to provide a "fix" and be helpful. Showing up is the best way to be helpful during this time. As far as encouraging therapeutic support, if that feels appropriate, a loved one can provide a specific referral to a perinatal-focused practice rather than saying "have you thought about therapy?" saying instead, “If you were thinking about therapy, it can be helpful during this time; here are some therapists that specialize in perinatal mental health." It is just as gentle and takes the task finding a therapist off their hands. 3. What are the most important things couples can do to prepare for relationship changes after becoming first-time parents? As a couple’s therapist, I have the privilege of sitting with couples navigating exactly this. My advice? Start the conversation early. Start with what childhood looked like for you. Who did what in your family growing up? What did relationships look like? That early exposure creates our blueprint we view life through and shows up in parenthood, often without either person realizing it. I encourage couples to talk explicitly about mental load and invisible labor, because resentment around these things tends to build quietly and fast. Decide now how you'll ask for help from each other, not assume it. New parenthood is destabilizing for every couple. Couples who plan and realize the shift is inevitable can meet each other with the vulnerability and curiosity this time calls for. 4. Birth trauma isn't widely discussed; do you see that changing? How can we make it a more natural part of the new parenthood/postpartum conversation? I do see this changing, and I am hopeful this continues to change. I think social media and people bravely sharing their stories is a big reason. I think one-way loved ones, and even providers, can make it a normal part of the conversation is by remaining curious about the birthing person's experience. There are many assumptions as to what an "easy" birth is, and that if your birth is "easy" then you have no trauma and that is absolutely not true. The only person who can define their birth as traumatic or not is the birthing person who experienced it. It is an honor to hear anyone’s birth story, an honor we should sit with, rather than categorize for them. 5. If you could give one piece of advice to expectant parents around mentally and emotionally preparing for new parenthood, what would it be? Wow, really difficult to find just one. In this moment, I would say: grieve the life you're leaving. Yes, grieve. Your life is going to change tremendously, and while that can be incredibly joyous, it also can come with grief for the life you had, because you know you cannot go back. And two things can be true at the same time. Give yourself permission to feel the full complexity of this transition. This transition asks a lot of you. And of course, when the noise in your mind gets too loud, remember that help is available, you are not failing, and you will find your way. Parents just do, and you will. Elle Murphy, MSW, LSW, PMH-C Individual and couple's therapist who specializes and is certified in Perinatal Mental Health. Elle brings clinical expertise, along with her experiences as a birth and postpartum doula to her practice. As a BIPOC therapist, Elle is passionate about culturally responsive care, she understands the unique intersections of identity, systemic barriers, and the perinatal journey. -
Trending: Parenting Changes Dads’ Brains TooAnyone who’s experienced “baby brain” knows that it can be disorienting to forget basic information or not quite feel like yourself. Those sensations are all valid and come with a huge explanation: Pregnancy literally reshapes a mother’s brain. Brain rewiring: Pregnant moms’ brains shed gray matter—about 5% overall. Smarter for motherhood: Expectant mothers’ brains change in the areas that impact empathy and bonding, in anticipation of the work of motherhood. In second pregnancies, those changes become even more fine-tuned. Long-lasting effects: The effects of this brain rewiring can last up to six yearsafter having a baby. Gray matter rebuilds: Mother’s brains rebuild gray matter in the first weeks, months, or potentially years after birth. Pretty incredible! Moms aren’t the only ones who experience a brain reconfiguration in preparation for a baby. New research shows dads’ brains also conduct a bit of “pruning” and gradually reduce gray matter in the first few months postpartum. The loss of gray matter isn’t as substantial as what moms experience, but the changes indicate that fathers' brains change to become primed for caregiving. There are so many questions about the effects of brain changes for postpartum moms. More research could help us learn more about the long-term impacts and the link with postpartum depression, which impacts one in eight women in the U.S. TL;DR: Parents' brains change (maybe even forever) after welcoming children, and that’s astounding. 👋 Are you an expectant or new mom (or do you know one) looking for community? NPN will be (re)launching a New Moms Group this fall. Stay tuned! In Chicago Parenting News: This Chicago-area college exists virtually even after it closed its physical campus in May. Chalkbeat reports that most schools decided to keep their assistant principals even after CPS cut funding. CPS’ budget is in the works for next year, but the Chicago Sun-Times reports that these important school resources will remain untouched. The Illinois Department of Early Childhood will now perform the work done by three former early childhood state agencies. Parenting IRL: Tips to Simplify ParentingThe pressure to do “all the things” as a parent can feel insurmountable at times. This is a topic we’ve been chatting about in this newsletter in recent weeks, and it’s the subject of a forum post that’s resonating with many NPN community members. One parent asks for advice on how to simplify parenting and family life beyond trimming down activity lists. How can you do less while still providing for your children without feeling guilt or FOMO? What do you do about the pressure you feel from your children, friends, or yourself to do it all? Let us know how you maintain balance. Subscribe to the NPN Weekly to get more parenting news, trends, and tips straight to your inbox! -
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Though the school year is coming to an end, NPN playdates will continue through the summer! Join us at Horner Park playground for a casual Sunday morning gathering. We'll set up 🫧 bubbles, 🎨 crafts, and 🧃juice boxes for the kids. Not an NPN member? No problem! Bring a neighbor, friend from school, relative, or anyone you know who might be interested in connecting with other parents of young children. Directions and Parking The playground is on the northeast corner of the park by the field house, along California Ave, between Cullom and Montrose. Free parking is generally available in the attached parking lot and on California Ave. Look for a picnic table covered in an NPN tablecloth or other NPN signage, Yoona in an NPN t-shirt, or just a blanket on the ground with craft projects on top! NPN Summer Playdates at Horner Park 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM - Sunday, July 12 & Sunday, August 9 RSVPs not required, but encouraged for planning purposes. Tell us you're coming by clicking the green button on the right. (Mobile users scroll down.) Have questions? Email yoona@npnparents.org Cover image credit: Ivan Mudruk -
Preparing for birth, especially your first (as with all things parenting), can feel daunting. Birthing education classes are a common recommendation, but has mindful-based birthing been on your or your loved ones’ radar? We spoke with Certified Mindful Birthing and Parenting Teacher, Claire Zawa, about the basics of mindful birthing, and how the skills gained in this practice can translate more broadly into mindful parenting and living. 1. What is mindful-based birthing? Mindfulness as the awareness that arises from paying attention, on purpose, moment by moment, with kindness and curiosity. We are all born mindful. As we grow and move through the world, we often forget that we can do one thing at a time, that we can be fully present, with ourselves and others. So, we can make choices to remember, to grow, to deepen our capacity to be here now. Mindfulness-Based Childbirth & Parenting (MBCP) or Mindful Birthing, is an evidence-based, comprehensive childbirth education class, a parenting preparation class, AND training in the life skills of mindfulness—all-in-one! 2. How do expectant parents know if mindful birthing is right for them? Or is it a fit for anyone? Mindful Birthing is supportive of all birth preferences, options, and outcomes. Classes are non-judgmental, compassionate spaces that honor the unique experiences of family-making process. Whether or not you have prior experience with mindfulness, meditation, yoga, pregnancy, parenting—you are welcome here. 3. What are the core areas of focus in mindful birthing classes/the skills parents can expect to work on? In Mindful Birthing we will: Learn about the anatomy and physiology of labor, delivery and breast/chest-feeding. Practice individual and partner comfort measures. Access physical and mental relaxation. Engage the mind to work with physical discomfort and pain. Increase confidence and courage for the experiences of birth and parenting. Practice prenatal yoga for strength and flexibility. Develop skills for managing stress in pregnancy, parenting and life as it is right now. Build a toolbox of skills to support experiences in birth and parenting. Enhance communication with partner and health care providers. Become more aware of your own approach, priorities and preferences around birth and parenting. 4. How does mindful-based birthing translate to mindful parenting? In class, we talk about “the contractions of life:” [in] labor, of a crying baby, a tantruming toddler, a stressful work situation, a “terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.” The practices we share in class are tools for life. Your baby can be your greatest mindfulness teacher, if you are paying attention. 5. If you could give one piece of advice or encouragement to expectant parents about mentally/emotionally preparing for birth and new parenting, what would it be? Change is the only constant. What if it’s not about good or bad, but instead it’s transformational? Claire Zawa (she/her) is a Certified Mindful Birthing & Parenting teacher, and leads 4 and 9-week classes for expectant people as an Associate Faculty at the Mindful Birthing & Parenting Foundation. She also offers 1:1 private sessions incorporating mindfulness, self-compassion, and habit-change coaching skills to support the entire parenting journey. Mindfulness has been integral in her own experiences of parenting an almost 4-year old. Learn more at www.mindfulbirthingchicago.com -
Trending: The Rise of Home BirthsEarlier this spring I listened to The Birth Keepers, a heavy but captivating podcast series by the Guardian about the free birth trend, which involves giving birth at home without any medical involvement. Emily Oster covered this topic at the beginning of June and was adamant that no one pursue free births. Medically attended home births, however, are a different story. Oster and others point to data that shows more people are turning away from the hospital for births—though with the help of a medical professional at home. In 2019, 1% of births happened at home. In 2023, that number jumped to 3.5%. Home births spiked to a 30-year high during the pandemic. The shift could be a combination of factors, including: The rise of c-sections (again) to approximately 1 in 3 U.S. births. A black maternal mortality rate that’s about 3.5 times higher than among non-Hispanic white women. An increase in the number of certified midwives, with licensing or some sort of regulation in 38 states. While Oster flatly discourages free birthing, she points to the potential benefits of medically attended home births, including fewer interventions. But if transferring to a hospital is necessary, the complications and risk factors increase. Even Oster admits that there’s no right or wrong answer about home births. It’s a highly personal decision, where and how to give birth, and facts and figures only ever tell a fraction of the story. 👋 Are you an expectant or new mom looking for community? NPN will be (re)launching a New Moms Group this fall. Stay tuned! In Chicago Parenting News: This after-school program aims to teach AI literacy to kids with good old-fashioned pen and paper. Thanks to a network of 277 air quality monitors, Chicago can keep an eye on air pollution year-round. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that a quarter-million student loan borrowers in Illinois need new repayment plans. Parenting IRL: Gratitude From Our ChildrenParenting comes with numerous challenges, but this recent post on our forum is a helpful reminder to zoom out and acknowledge the loving, thoughtful things children do to show appreciation. Teaching gratitude is a parenting pillar for many of us, which makes moments like a thank you for preparing a meal or an offer to pick something up at the store all the more meaningful. What do you your kids do to show that they’re thinking of or appreciate you? We’d love to hear from you! Subscribe to the NPN Weekly to get more parenting news, trends, and tips straight to your inbox! -
Our daughter is a little over 3.5, but we spent nearly nine months in her second year of life struggling with sleep. What were we thinking?! That’s something Linda Szmulewitz of Sleep Tight Consultants quickly helped us let go of. She taught us to stop troubleshooting in the sleep-deprived moment, set boundaries, and give ourselves a break. I was happy to have the opportunity to ask Linda five questions about sleep for NPN readers in a similar boat. Here’s what she had to say about sleep training, sleep crutches, and emerging from the newborn sleep trenches. 1. At what age should parents consider sleep training their children and is it ever too early, late, or ill-advised (when potty learning, welcoming a sibling, etc.) to do so? The time to start sleep training is 1) once your child is at an age when they are capable of soothing and regulating themselves. I start working with families at 18 weeks at the earliest. And beyond that 2) when whatever you are doing to help your child sleep is no longer working for you, your child or your family. That is to say that if whatever you are doing is working then far be it from me to say that it is a problem. As far as too late, I work with children until they are 10 years old so these are certainly things that are still changeable into school age years. These sorts of changes don’t necessarily get easier to make though as children get older. As far as timing, it isn’t a great idea to be trying to make changes that require a lot of consistency in the midst of anything that might be disruptive. Potty training could be one of those things, visitors who are going to make consistency hard, an upcoming trip (within the next 2 weeks—especially for toddlers/older children), a move or the imminent arrival of a sibling. 2. What's a sleep crutch, and how can parents determine if they're OK to use for their child/children? A sleep crutch or sleep association is anything you do to or for your child to help them fall asleep at bedtime and then often back to sleep overnight. Some examples of sleep crutches are feeding (nursing or a bottle), holding, rocking or bouncing to sleep. For children who are in a bed, the most common sleep crutch I see is when parents are laying down with their child to fall asleep at bedtime and then again overnight or co-sleeping whether it is at bedtime or throughout the whole night. Newborn babies and children under 4-6 months often need help falling asleep at bedtime. This is normal and to be expected. Often those things that we do to help our children fall asleep will stop working at some point in time. Just like in my answer to the question above, a sleep crutch is never something that is a problem until it is no longer serving you. In some cases, sleep crutches can continue to work as children get older but it will take longer and longer to coax a child into sleep as they have more capacity to stay awake for longer periods of time. In many cases, whatever you do to or for your child to help them fall asleep, they may need that much and more as the night goes on. 3. What's the deal with sleep regressions? Are they fact or fiction or something in between? Sleep regressions are absolutely real. Some children experience more regressions than others. This can often be related to your child’s temperament and how sensitive they are to things that are both changing in their body or things that might be changing in their environment. Sleep regressions most commonly are correlated with periods of developmental change/growth. The big ones are at 4 months (burst of developmental awareness, rolling, growth spurt), 9 months (separation anxiety, learning how to pull up to stand), 12 months (walking), 18 months (language developing very rapidly), 2 years (more language development, words having more power), 2.5/3ish (moving from a crib to a bed). Regressions can also be brought on by travel, illness or teething—times when parents end up not being as consistent as they might be otherwise, especially if these inconsistencies persist beyond when the disruption resolves. 4. What general recommendations do you have for first-time parents, especially when struggling with interrupted sleep and night feedings? In the early months, when you are in the trenches, know that this is normal. Hard, yes, absolutely. I would never minimize how difficult those early newborn days/months can be. It will get better though, both when your baby is at a developmental stage when they are capable of doing more independent soothing and regulation and their brain is developed in a way that enables them to sleep better, but also when they are at an age when you can make more significant changes. Honestly, my strongest recommendation would be to stay away from the internet and social media that makes it seem like you are doing it all wrong and everyone else has these things figured out. And see what kinds of supports you can put in place while you need them. This may be parents taking shifts throughout the night in order to help each parent get some longer stretches of sleep at a time (heads up that the short end of the stick shift is the early morning when sleep is the least consolidated for newborns)—this can be done even if you are breastfeeding, having family or close friends provide respite either at night or during the day to help you recover a bit or possibly a few nights of postpartum doula support. I promise, this is not forever, it can get better! 5. If you could give one piece of life-changing advice/encouragement to parents of children struggling with sleep, what would it be? My advice would be to help your child, at the very least, learn how to fall asleep independently at bedtime. This is often the key to the whole night. About 80% of all children will eventually sleep through the night once they have fallen asleep on their own at bedtime. It can certainly make a big difference. Linda Szmulewitz is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Gentle Sleep Coach. As owner of Sleep Tight Consultants, she has worked for over 15 years with tired families all around the world to teach their children the lifelong skill of sleeping. She also runs The Chicago New Moms Group. -
Parenting IRL: Teaching Teens to Save Money Is teaching financial literacy on your parenting to-do list? It might be top of mind or maybnot, considering that financial literacy among U.S. adults is at a 10-year low. That figure includes Gen Z-ers. One NPN member wonders if other parents of teens also require their kids to save. Do you press your kids to save a certain percentage of what they earn? Did you start earlier than high school? Weigh in! Trending: Modern Parenting Is Tough Modern parenting is tough with a capital T, and probably getting even harder. Why? We’re inundated with messaging that tells us how to parent but rarely get the kind of validating in-person feedback we need when struggling with guilt over missing sporting events, feeling exhausted, or struggling against systems—like the modern work day—that aren’t friendly to parents, especially those with young children. The way parents responded in surveys by Nanit, New America, and Teleflora says it all: Over 70% of parents say they wish they had more time with their kids. More than half of parents think they’re not spending enough quality time with their kids during the work week. Nearly 40% of moms feel guilty about being overwhelmed or distracted. More than 60% of parents say they want more personal time. But almost 70% say they feel guilty about wanting/needing that time to themselves. If those stats speak to you, you’re not alone. And the good news is that experts agree that talking to other parents and trusting your own instincts are powerful tools to block out the noise and focus on what actually works for you as a parent. 👋 Are you an expectant or new mom looking for community? NPN will be launching a New Moms Group this fall. Stay tuned! 🗓️ In Chicago Parenting News:The Chicago Sun Times reports that e-scooters are popular among city teens, but they’re proving dangerous and even deadly. Your rising eighth grader will take a new high school admissions test in October. Chalkbeat has more. Good news for pool-goers: Block Club reports that the city’s outdoor pools will open a week early this summer. Parents in Chicago and throughout the state now have NICU leave. Have you heard Illinois passed a landmark AI law mandating third-party audits and oversight? Before You Go ...We’ll be at Horner Park Playground (near the picnic table area) Sunday, June 28, for a casual playground hang. Stop by for a snack, crafts, and the chance to earn one month—or up to six months—of free membership. Register now or just check in with me on Sunday. Subscribe to the NPN Weekly to get more parenting news, trends, and tips straight to your inbox! -
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Though the school year has come to an end, NPN playdates will continue through the summer! Join us at Horner Park playground for a casual Sunday morning gathering. We'll set up 🫧 bubbles, 🎨 crafts, and 🧃juice boxes for the kids. Not an NPN member? No problem! Bring a neighbor, friend from school, relative, or anyone you know who might be interested in connecting with other parents of young children. ⭐ Stop by and check in with Yoona and earn up to six months of free membership! ⭐ Directions and Parking The playground is on the northeast corner of the park by the field house, along California Ave, between Cullom and Montrose. Free parking is generally available in the attached parking lot and on California Ave. Look for a picnic table covered in an NPN tablecloth or other NPN signage, Yoona in an NPN t-shirt, or just a blanket on the ground with craft projects on top! NPN Summer Playdates at Horner Park 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM Sunday, June 14 - rescheduled due to rain Sunday, June 28 - new date! Sunday, July 12 Sunday, August 9 RSVPs not required, but encouraged for planning purposes. Tell us you're coming by clicking the green button on the right. (Mobile users scroll down.) Have questions? Email yoona@npnparents.org Cover image credit: Ivan Mudruk -
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Rain Check! This morning's playdate has been rescheduled for Sunday, June 28th. See you then! Though the school year has come to an end, NPN playdates will continue through the summer! Join us at Horner Park playground for a casual Sunday morning gathering. We'll set up 🫧 bubbles, 🎨 crafts, and 🧃juice boxes for the kids. Not an NPN member? No problem! Bring a neighbor, friend from school, relative, or anyone you know who might be interested in connecting with other parents of young children. ⭐ Stop by and check in with Yoona and earn up to six months of free membership! ⭐ Directions and Parking The playground is on the northeast corner of the park by the field house, along California Ave, between Cullom and Montrose. Free parking is generally available in the attached parking lot and on California Ave. Look for a picnic table covered in an NPN tablecloth or other NPN signage, Yoona in an NPN t-shirt, or just a blanket on the ground with craft projects on top! NPN Summer Playdates at Horner Park 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM Sunday, June 14 Sunday, July 12 Sunday, August 9 RSVPs not required, but encouraged for planning purposes. Tell us you're coming by clicking the green button on the right. (Mobile users scroll down.) Have questions? Email yoona@npnparents.org Cover image credit: Ivan Mudruk -
Parenting IRL: Venmo and Grad Invites? If you have graduates in your family or social circle, you might have a stack of paper grad party invites on your fridge, in your inbox, or all over your social feeds. But do any of these invites/announcements include a Venmo QR code, like one NPN member recently shared? The original poster is more than happy to give a graduation gift but finds the QR code a bit much. Are paper checks too much of a bother? Do kids not know how to deposit physical checks?! QR codes are everywhere, and I guess they’ve made their way to graduation announcements too. What do you think of this move? Is it something your family has done or would consider? Trending: Mommymaxxing or Team Beta MomIf you’re at all active on social media, you don’t have to look far to find examples of Mommymaxxing. It’s the mom version of the Looksmaxxing trend that has young men focused with perfecting the way they look. Mommymaxxing is all about maximizing motherhood. That means "bouncing back" after birth with ease, seamlessly choreographed sleep and after-school routines, and choosing the ideal extracurricular activities for the college prep pipeline. It’s aspirational and appealing content but unrealistic for many. If Mommymaxxing is all about perfectionism, Beta Mom-ing is the exact opposite. It’s laundry and mess everywhere and feeling OK with that and not planning every detail of the day. And you know what else is a hallmark of a Beta Mom? Asking for help from a trusted support network because you know you can’t do it all alone. Parenting labels are meh for many of us. Chances are you don’t fall neatly in either camp. I know I don’t. But one thing I think we can all agree on is that parenting is plain tough, and we could all use a break from expectations and judgment. In Chicago Parenting News:The Chicago Tribune reports that a cellphone ban was approved by Illinois lawmakers and is anticipated for the 2027-2028 school year. School Board campaigning season begins; Axios has your guide. Teens can join the Y for free this summer. WBEZ spoke with three recent Chicago college grads navigating the tough job market. Before You Go ...Join me at Horner Park Sunday, June 14, for a casual playground hang. We’ll have crafts and snacks. Plus, you can earn one month—or up to six months—of free membership. RSVP to let us know you’ll be there! Subscribe to NPN Weekly to get more parenting news, trends, and tips straight to your inbox! -
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Join NPN for some coffee breaks this summer! Free Coffee on NPN if you are one of the first five to arrive ☕☕☕☕☕ + 1 month free NPN parent membership for everyone who attends (both new and current members), up to 6 free months per person 🫶 🫶 🫶 🫶 🫶 🫶 🗓️ 6 dates 🕙 10:00-11:00 am 📍 La Boulangerie & CO Logan Square, 3129 W Logan Blvd Look for Amy in her NPN t-shirt RSVP is appreciated but not required. 🙌 RSVP for all dates: Thurs June 18 Wed June 24 Thurs July 16 Thurs July 30 Thurs Aug 13 Mon Aug 24 Join us in sharing a mid-morning break together, over coffee. All parents are welcome. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 Cover photo credit: indra projects -
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Free Coffee on NPN if you are one of the first five to arrive ☕☕☕☕☕ + 1 month free NPN parent membership for everyone who attends (both new and current members), up to 6 free months per person 🫶 🫶 🫶 🫶 🫶 🫶 🗓️ 6 dates 🕙 10:00-11:00 am 📍 La Boulangerie & CO Logan Square, 3129 W Logan Blvd Look for Amy in her NPN t-shirt RSVP is appreciated but not required. 🙌 RSVP for all dates Thurs June 18 Wed June 24 Thurs July 16 Thurs July 30 Thurs Aug 13 Mon Aug 24 Join us in sharing a mid-morning break together, over coffee. All parents are welcome. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 -
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Free Coffee on NPN if you are one of the first five to arrive ☕☕☕☕☕ + 1 month free NPN parent membership for everyone who attends (both new and current members), up to 6 free months per person 🫶 🫶 🫶 🫶 🫶 🫶 🗓️ 6 dates 🕙 10:00-11:00 am 📍 La Boulangerie & CO Logan Square, 3129 W Logan Blvd Look for Amy in her NPN t-shirt RSVP is appreciated but not required. 🙌 RSVP for all dates Thurs June 18 Wed June 24 Thurs July 16 Thurs July 30 Thurs Aug 13 Mon Aug 24 Join us in sharing a mid-morning break together, over coffee. All parents are welcome. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 -
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Free Coffee on NPN if you are one of the first five to arrive ☕☕☕☕☕ + 1 month free NPN parent membership for everyone who attends (both new and current members), up to 6 free months per person 🫶 🫶 🫶 🫶 🫶 🫶 🗓️ 6 dates 🕙 10:00-11:00 am 📍 La Boulangerie & CO Logan Square, 3129 W Logan Blvd Look for Amy in her NPN t-shirt RSVP is appreciated but not required. 🙌 RSVP for all dates Thurs June 18 Wed June 24 Thurs July 16 Thurs July 30 Thurs Aug 13 Mon Aug 24 Join us in sharing a mid-morning break together, over coffee. All parents are welcome. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 -
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Free Coffee on NPN if you are one of the first five to arrive ☕☕☕☕☕ + 1 month free NPN parent membership for everyone who attends (both new and current members), up to 6 free months per person 🫶 🫶 🫶 🫶 🫶 🫶 🗓️ 6 dates 🕙 10:00-11:00 am 📍 La Boulangerie & CO Logan Square, 3129 W Logan Blvd Look for Amy in her NPN t-shirt RSVP is appreciated but not required. 🙌 RSVP for all dates Thurs June 18 Wed June 24 Thurs July 16 Thurs July 30 Thurs Aug 13 Mon Aug 24 Join us in sharing a mid-morning break together, over coffee. All parents are welcome. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 -
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Free Coffee on NPN if you are one of the first five to arrive ☕☕☕☕☕ + 1 month free NPN parent membership for everyone who attends (both new and current members), up to 6 free months per person 🫶 🫶 🫶 🫶 🫶 🫶 🗓️ 6 dates 🕙 10:00-11:00 am 📍 La Boulangerie & CO Logan Square, 3129 W Logan Blvd Look for Amy in her NPN t-shirt RSVP is appreciated but not required. 🙌 RSVP for all dates Thurs June 18 Wed June 24 Thurs July 16 Thurs July 30 Thurs Aug 13 Mon Aug 24 Join us in sharing a mid-morning break together, over coffee. All parents are welcome. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
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