Happy With Baby

Happy With Baby Providing new, expecting, and veteran parents with education, encouragement, and support for their r https://www.happywithbaby.com/links

Catherine O'Brien, MA, LMFT works with new parents and new moms so that they can be Happy With Baby. She loves helping them with this transition to parenthood because so many new parents are struggling to manage their relationships now that baby is here and moms are often struggling with anxiety and depression and feel it is taboo to talk about. She gives them the tools and resources they need to help them feel better as their family changes.

Back in my office, getting ready for what this week brings.
01/13/2026

Back in my office, getting ready for what this week brings.

A new semester, a familiar classroom, and that mix of nerves and hope I feel every time I walk back in.It always feels a...
01/13/2026

A new semester, a familiar classroom, and that mix of nerves and hope I feel every time I walk back in.

It always feels a little emotional.

Every semester reminds me why I became both a therapist and a teacher — because understanding ourselves changes everything.

Grateful and privileged to be here.





01/09/2026

Family advice can feel like love, but when it keeps overriding your decisions, it can quietly strain your relationship.

Feeling torn between your partner and relatives is common for new parents, and it’s not about anyone being “wrong.”

Small, early conversations and clear boundaries make a big difference.

For practical guidance on navigating family pressure while staying united with your partner, watch the full YouTube video: https://youtu.be/7MD3_-WU0XI

12/31/2025

Before your baby arrives, small moments can make a big difference.

Create one tiny ritual of connection: a 10-second hug, a nightly check-in, or a shared moment before bed.

These small anchors help you stay connected when everything feels chaotic after the baby arrives.

For more tips on supporting your relationship and mental health, watch the full YouTube video: https://youtu.be/Fh3XTV9m5WM

12/28/2025

One of the best decisions I ever made was walking into that bar 22 years ago.

I didn’t know it then, but that moment would change everything.

And being loved by you is the best feeling there is. 🤍





Proof that a little sunlight can change everything. ☀️Sunshine + sunglasses = instant mood lift 😎I’ll take it. 💛 ...
12/26/2025

Proof that a little sunlight can change everything. ☀️

Sunshine + sunglasses = instant mood lift 😎

I’ll take it. 💛

Christmas can hold so many things at once.Joy and grief.Magic and exhaustion.Gratitude and longing.Laughter in one momen...
12/25/2025

Christmas can hold so many things at once.

Joy and grief.
Magic and exhaustion.
Gratitude and longing.
Laughter in one moment, tears in the next.

For parents, this day can feel like a lot.

So much pressure to make it special.

So much hope wrapped around tiny moments.

So much invisible work behind the scenes.

If today feels joyful, soak it in.
If today feels heavy, you’re not alone in that.

If it’s a mix of both… you’re very human.

Your kids don’t need perfection.

They don’t need every tradition done “right.”

They need you—your presence, your warmth, your willingness to meet them where they are.

And you deserve that same gentleness too.

Wherever you find yourself today…surrounded by people or craving quiet, celebrating or simply surviving…I see you.

May this Christmas offer you moments of softness.

May you feel allowed to slow down. And may you remember that love isn’t measured by how much you do, but by how deeply you show up.

Sending warmth to you and your family today.

Merry Christmas.

12/24/2025

When you’re exhausted, communication gets harder.

Simple tools like a pause phrase, one clear topic, and short, kind wording can prevent misunderstandings that come from fatigue, not conflict.

These small shifts help you stay connected, even on the days you have very little to give.

Watch the full YouTube video for a deeper breakdown: https://youtu.be/Gq3vbzZ7EFA

12/16/2025

This has been a heavy season and a heavy news cycle.

Violence overseas. Another college shooting. Sudden loss that shakes us.

Even when it’s not happening in our own homes, our nervous systems absorb it.

So if you’re feeling more tired, more emotional, or more on edge than usual, that makes sense.
It’s not weakness — it’s biology.

When stress and grief stack up, our window of tolerance narrows. Everything feels louder and harder.

That’s why this final reminder matters so much:

You’re allowed to do less.

Not as giving up, but as care.

Less pressure. Fewer expectations. More room to breathe.

Take what helped from this series.
Return to these tools when the world feels heavy.

And remember: you don’t need to carry everything to care deeply.

A regulated nervous system is the foundation for compassion — for ourselves, our families, and our communities.

12/15/2025

Holiday stress often shows up in the invisible work behind every task.

It’s not just gifts or dinner. It’s the planning, the remembering, and the managing that no one sees. Instead of asking for help, try asking your partner to fully own one category from start to finish.

It’s a simple shift that brings more fairness, less resentment, and a calmer holiday season for both of you.

Watch the full YouTube video for more tools: https://youtu.be/pN-0ItZMgEg

12/12/2025

Kids don’t learn regulation in isolation — they learn it through us.

Neuroscience shows that children use mirror neurons and social referencing to read our nervous system state.

Our tone of voice, breath, posture, and pace all send signals about safety.

That’s why when we slow down, they often follow.

Co-regulation doesn’t mean being calm all the time.
It means showing what it looks like to return to calm.

This season, co-regulation might look like:
• softening your voice instead of raising it
• kneeling to eye level
• taking one slow breath before responding
• saying, “I’m here — we’ll figure this out together”

Your calm becomes their calm.
Not because you’re perfect, but because you’re present.

Tomorrow we’ll talk about the final piece: permission to do less.

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Sacramento, CA

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+19167189501

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