Laurel Connell, MA, LMFT

New mothers can click the link in my bio to learn more about my class, MotherWell, which is filled with education, body based practices, neuroscience and love.

We all get overstimulated. We all need times in the day when we look away, close our eyes, get some quiet, pause- all ways of giving our senses a break and a reset. Babies and children have a natural way of doing this. One example is when babies are nursing or feeding, they will make eye contact and then look away. Children will come in for touch- a hug and some body contact, and then pull away. We as adults need to do this with stimulation, or sensory input, throughout the day. Our system is rhythmic and needs time to process. New mothers can be flooded with stimulation- visual, auditory and tactile. Often feelings of fatigue, feeling spacey, or overwhelm, can be signs we need a little reset.
Times when we reset can look like getting a few moments alone. Even if it's just going to the bathroom (for you new moms out there). Or it may look like closing your eyes, noticing quiet, lying down...

Find resources of support in the link of my bio...

New mothers can click the link in my bio to learn more about my class, MotherWell, which is filled with education, body based practices, neuroscience and love.

Co Regulation happens with our babies and children as well. This can happen through meaningful connection and touch. Eye contact and face to face play can also assist with building co regulation. Play is so good for us as adults, as play only can happen when we feel truly safe. When we feel in our bodies, it can be an incredibly impactful form of and presence, for both us and our children.

New mothers can click the link in my bio to learn more about my class, MotherWell, which is filled with education, body based practices, and love.

If these posts are helpful, or if you have questions, I'd love to hear from you...

MotherWell, a class for mothers based in science and created with love, the link in my bio...

If this post speaks to a part of you, you may decide to practice this throughout your day. And notice how you feel before, during and after...

My online class for mothers is steeped in ideas and practices like this. It is called MotherWell and can be found in the link in my bio...
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So often, we have a or an in our body and we automatically go up into our head to figure it out. It happens so fast! We live in a culture that values cognition, thinking and figuring things out in our head. I am offering a different way of being. One that supports connecting with our body and finding presence.
Sending love your way!
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With my clients, I talk a lot about pockets. Finding pockets in the day, even if just for 30 seconds, to notice your breath, notice the face of someone you love, to notice your feet on the ground. Sometimes, I use red lights. Whenever there's a red light, I feel my body in the seat of the car. I notice my breathing.
These pockets serve as a time to notice how it feels for our body to settle. It may not stay like that, but just a moment or 2 can serve as a reminder that our body knows how to settle on its own, without our head having to get involved.
MotherWell, my class for mothers on nervous system regulation, mindfulness and compassion. See the link in my bio.
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MotherWell, a class for mothers, based in science and created with love. Nervous system regulation, along with body based skills for coping with challenging emotions and the many changes of motherhood. Link in my bio...

Lovely.
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Coregulation: the process of our nervous system finding safety in the presence of another. Babies depend on this with their mothers, which helps them find regulation and soothing, which eventually leading to self soothing.

This is unconscious, automatic, and it is necessary for our survival. This happens through face to face contact, body language, eye contact and tone of voice, as well as breath. Notice how you feel after spending time with someone you love, trust, or someone who can really make you laugh.

MotherWell, my class on Nervous System health and regulation for mothers can be found in the link in my bio...
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Exhaustion is real. In the first days, weeks, months of having a baby, it is exhausting. The days and nights may blend together, sleep is disrupted and hormones are trying to figure out what they are doing. Our bodies are working hard to heal after birth, our minds are working hard learning this new role of a mother, our hearts are learning how to connect, bond and nurture. We are also integrating the enormity of being responsible for another human being. The exhaustion can be so much harder when your baby is hard to soothe and cries a lot.
Focus on being. Not doing. Move slow. Sleep when you can, even if its just in pockets. Trade off with your partner, working towards getting a 4 hour chunk of sleep when you can. Sometimes this doesn't happen, but it can be good to work towards. This won't last forever, even though it may feel like it is...

MotherWell, my online course for mothers on nervous system regulation, coping with challenging emotions and self compassion. The link can be found in my bio.
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Go easy on yourself. If you just had a baby, you are a baby parent. And, if you have a 3 month old, a 6 month old, a baby who is a year old or a seasoned parent of an older child... You are still a new parent. Yes, you are. You have never before been a parent of this particular child at this particular age. Our kids are constantly evolving and changing as they grow and so do we as mothers. So, again, go easy. Be gentle. Notice how you are talking to yourself. If you are talking to yourself in a way that you wouldn't speak to your child, then it's time to give yourself some love.
MotherWell, my class on nervous system regulation for new moms can be found in the link in my bio... A class blended with science and love, created for mothers by a mother.
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Our body makes Oxytocin in times of rest. Any time that can offer our body restoration only builds on our capacity to handle stress.

See the link in my bio for my class, MotherWell, on nervous system regulation and Oxytocin cultivation for mothers.
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What is asked of us in our lives, and especially in this society, is often too much. In any life transition, especially becoming a parent, we need more rest and connection. It can help to learn about how your body communicates to you in the face of change and stress. In essence, learning your body's own unique language. This can be helpful because it is ultimately what you are doing with your baby. We learn the ways our communicates with us (through their body and nonverbal) and then we respond as parents. We as can learn about our own body and how to listen to ourselves- what our body needs to feel safe, and connected.

Learn about your own body and the language of your nervous system through my 8 week online class for new mothers called MotherWell. See the link in my bio for further information.
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When I was four, my brother was born at home. It is one of my oldest and best memories. It is vivid and I can recall it like it was yesterday. My parents and the midwives made the experience normal, down to earth and like a regular day occurrence, which set the tone for me to feel safe and relaxed. I
was included, told what was happening as his birth unfolded and was then given the very important job of cutting the cord, with some help. I remember this day to be peaceful and loving- I still hold the experience of it in my body.
I believe this set the ball in motion for me to specialize in working with pregnant, new and seasoned mothers. When people ask about my experience, I usually tell them about my years as a doula, childbirth educator, psychotherapist and mother. I rarely talk about this experience, and yet, it was and remains to be the most powerful, next to being a mother myself.
So, my thanks goes out to my mom, dad and sweet brother for offering me this experience that has impacted my life.
And, in the spirit of of motherhood, birth and babies, I have expanded my work outside of my private practice to offering an online class called MotherWell. This class supports the new mother's body, mind and heart through nervous system regulation and compassion. Click the link in my bio to learn more.
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Enough said. :)
Find the link in my bio for resources for new and seasoned mothers...
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I have been reflecting on the idea of “Postpartum”, how traditionally the powers that be indicate that it is 6 weeks. Which to me is crazy. And, I don’t believe postpartum ends after the 4th trimester. I like to give such a longer grace process for women to integrate this enormous life change. I view postpartum as a holistic process that involves not only a woman’s body but her mind and heart as well. In my personal experience as a mother, and my professional work as a therapist, I've found postpartum to be an evolving internal process that changes who we are in the world. There isn’t a set end date, it ebbs and flows, as we grow as mothers and just like our children do as they grow.
This photo of me was past the 4th trimester. And, I'm sure my younger self would say that postpartum was not over and that she still needed a great deal of gentleness, care and support as she found her way...

My MotherWell class for mothers, and gentle meditations, can be found in the link in my bio...
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15 years ago today, my daughter was born. At the time, my son was 3 1/2, so I became a mother of two. She came into the world as a strong, loving soul and continues to live her life in this way. She has taught me a lot about what it means to be a mother and how I can continue to grow as she does. Happy Birthday, sweet girl...
I look back on these photos and wish I had the knowledge I have now about my nervous system, how my body works and how to find regulation within myself in times that feel stressful or too much.
I have recently created an online class called , which focuses on nervous system regulation for new mothers. I created this class for all new mothers out there, whether your is newly born, 6 months old, or even older. This class is also for my younger self, as I wish at the time I had a source of like this.
If you are a new mom, or know someone who is, or someone who is pregnant, please share. Information can be found in the link in my bio...
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Nervous systems love familiar. Nervous systems love certainty. Nothing about new motherhood is familiar or certain. So, be gentle dear one. Be gentle with yourself in the midst of all the changes.

See the link in my bio for meditations as well as information on my online class that supports a new mother's nervous system, MotherWell...
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Yep, we're brilliant. And, to support this brilliance, check out the link in my bio.
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Just like water, our body is continually moving and changing, even when we are still. We are made up of systems that interact, work together and change one another. We are fluid and changeable. Our babies and children model this, as they can change moment to moment. We're not much different. You, as a new mother, or even as a seasoned mother, have evolving and changing needs. Just as your and body is changing, so is your mind and heart. Our nervous system loves when we can be flexible with ourselves with what we may need day to day.
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Anxiety can be a very real part of new motherhood. Changing , learning a new role in your life, lack of sleep- a whole new way of being in your life. This is stressful.

And, if you had chronic stress through pregnancy, a traumatic birth, a painful recovery, breastfeeding challenges, or lack of support, (the list could go on)- any one of those things is enough to send our nervous system into a tailspin.

These are all experiences that can cause dysregulation of our system, as it remains stuck in a survival state, trying to keep us safe.

Our nervous system likes certainty and familiarity. Nothing about new parenthood is that.

I created meditations to ease in the body. See the link in my bio.
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Notice moments of ease. Whether you are by yourself, with your or partner. Notice the sensation in your body that feels easy. Breathe it in. You may notice how good the mind is in looking for what is wrong or what there is to worry about... The mind is really good at this and its job is to look for signs of threat and danger in order to keep us alive. What we are doing here is intentionally bringing our attention to what is right and what is good. And, how our body experiences that.
Connection helps with our sense of . Notice how your body feels after making meaningful eye contact with someone, hearing the loving voice of someone you love, or connecting with your baby's face and looking into their eyes. Feel it.
And, ease is the opposite of . If ease is happening, anxiety is not.

Meditations just for you, in the link in my bio!
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Get to know your exhale. The exhale stimulates our parasympathetic nervous system, the place from within our bodies we want to mother and relate to those we love. The parasympathetic nervous system promotes our own health, growth and healing. As new mothers, our bodies, minds and hearts are growing, healing and learning. So, make friends with your exhale. How does your body feel when you slow your exhale down and extend it? How does it feel when it is shorter and just a few seconds? Be curious on the experience your body has, and how this may affect your and , even if just in the moment.

I created just for you to make friends with your breath as well as find and . See the link in my bio...
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