Dear Midwife

05/22/2024

It is NORMAL for your baby to wake during the night to nurse. It is only a societal expectation that your baby “should be sleeping through the night.” 😒
Not only is night feeding normal but it is also important to development and breastfeeding, here’s why:
👉🏽 Moms make the most milk at night, so removing milk during this time is critical to milk supply. If milk stays stagnant in the breast it starts to trigger your milk production to slow down.
👉🏽Nighttime feed can deliver a lot of calories especially in older babies who are distracted eaters during the day.
👉🏽Beyond meeting the caloric needs of your baby feeding at night is meeting the emotional needs of your baby too. Remember breastmilk isn’t just nourishment it is also nurturing.
👉🏽Breastfeeding helps mothers and babies get to sleep faster, thank you oxytocin and cholecystokinin (CCK).😴
Co-sleeping, bed sharing, and the side lying breastfeeding position can all be very helpful to managing breastfeeding in the wee hours. Follow your instincts and do what works for you and your family.
How many times does your little one wake during the night?
Photo and text credit Roaring Fork Lactation Care
https://www.facebook.com/roaringforklactationcare/photos/a.528032134000823/1592122600925099/

04/03/2024

I've been serving women desiring natural pregnancies and home births since 1986! Temecula Valley is my current home, giving in depth one on one care in my office and your home, 30 years of walking with women, and supporting normal. Visit my website to book a free consultation or check out my free educational articles: https://www.dear-midwife.com

05/14/2023

05/05/2023

Celebrate International Day of the Midwife!

International Day of the Midwife was first celebrated May 5, 1992, and has since been observed in over 50 nations around the world.

The concept of having a day to recognize and honor midwives came out of the 1987 International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) conference in the Netherlands.

Each year ICM creates a campaign theme to provide a call to action to get involved and highlight midwifery around the world. On May 5th we ask the world to focus on the role of midwives and midwifery.

The International Day of the Midwife is an occasion for every individual midwife to celebrate the many others in the profession and to widen the knowledge of what midwives do for the world. In addition, it is an opportunity for each of us to express our gratitude to the midwives who have personally served our own families.

We are grateful for all of you and the many ways you serve in your community and in the world.

05/05/2023

Happy International Day of the Midwife!

03/02/2023

My name is Anne Sommers and I've been a Midwife for over 25 years. My philosophy is one of non interference with natural birth and informed choice. I believe that babies deserve to be brought into the world with peace, gentleness and love. I also trust in birth and have a desire to protect and nurture mothers throughout the process of motherhood. If a home birth is something you are thinking about, please reach out to me and I will answer any questions you may have.
(951) 461-4779
dear-midwife.com

07/11/2022

We have another interested article for you to check out: "Sleeping babies need mom beside them"

https://www.dear-midwife.com/sleeping-babies-need-mom-beside-them

Throughout human history, breastfeeding mothers sleeping alongside their infants constituted a marvelously adaptive system in which both the mothers’ and infants’ sleep physiology and health were connected in beneficial ways. By sleeping next to its mother, an infant receives protection, warmth,...

06/19/2022

Check out this fascinating article called "Sleeping with your baby" written by Julian Whitaker M.D.

https://www.dear-midwife.com/sleeping-with-my-baby

11/25/2021

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving reminds us that to be grateful is to be successful, loving and happy. Gratitude is the highest energy. So, in appreciation, I’d like to share with readers some local businesses that I have found to be reputable, gracious, fun and honest.

Ultra Steam carpet cleaning. Sun City. They have cleaned my carpets and oriental rugs for years. Todd is super friendly and efficient; Debbie as well. She manages the phone and appointments. Recently I referred them a customer. They sent me a letter and $22 in cash. Phone number is 951 677-5885.

SoCal Auto Style. Wi******er Rd, Temecula. Tires, auto repairs, auto customization. They are honest, reputable and I highly recommend this auto shop. Twice I have gone to Midas Muffler and they recommended I get new tires. I went to SoCal for a second opinion and the mechanics said I didn't need new tires. The sales people do not work on commission. 951 677-8953.

Vacuum Express – Ynez Rd, Temecula. They fixed 2 vacuums for me last week and didn't charge me because I bought them there! 951 694-1090

Galbraith Chiropractic – Margarita Rd. Temecula. After injuring my back in May, I had gone to 5 chiropractors (3 in one office) and I got little to no relief. I've been going to Dr. Murry for a little over a week and have had major improvement. (5 visits). 951 694-1090

Readers: Please forward your recommendations

09/28/2021

https://www.murrietamidwives.com/single-post/wearing-your-baby-an-interview-with-william-sears-m-d

By: Anne Sommers Dr. Sears, a practicing pediatrician in San Clemente, California, has authored several books on parenting, including the Fussy Baby, Creative Parenting, and Nighttime Parenting. At the time of this interview (1988) Dr. Sears was also Assistant Clinical professor at USC and the fathe...

09/02/2021

By: Anne Sommers M.O.M. (Mothers and Others for Midwives) a quarterly magazine was fortunate to interview Dr. Robert Mendelsohn (1926-1988) at the Whole Life Expo in Pasadena, California in 1986. At that time, Dr. Mendelsohn had been practicing medicine for over 25 years; had been the National Direc...

05/24/2021

My daughter is planning a hospital birth. What would you tell your daughter about birth, in or out of the hospital?

05/05/2021

Midwives in written and unwritten history goes farther back than Egypt - sisters helping sisters. In Exodus the “office” of midwife, was mentioned because the Pharoah who felt threatened, wanted to kill the Jewish male babies. And whether the midwives Shiphrah and Purah were Jewish or Egyptian, as protectors of life, they would not conform.

Happy International Midwives Day!

05/10/2020

We at Dear Midwife would like to wish all the moms out there a very Happy Mothers Day. Whether you're about to become a mom, you've just became a mom or have mothered for many years. You're all the same. Strong, brave and blessed to have your children.

03/28/2020

Stream for free, The Business of Being Born.

Though I haven't seen the BOBB video in over 10 years, I know Ricki Lake's documentary made quite an impact then, as it still does now. In fact, I heard from 2 people this week who mentioned how relevant and educational it was to them. I suggest readers take advantage of the free access.

https://www.thebusinessof.life/the-business-of-being-born

As we all struggle to adapt to our changing circumstances during the Covid-19 pandemic, we are looking for ways to empower and support women virtually through "The Business of..." platforms.  The new hospital restrictions banning partners and doulas during labor broke our hearts.  For women birthi...