Aglow Sleep

When life gives you lemons, make Chardonnay.
🍋
I’m no fan of self-medicating with wine buuuut I am a fan of knowing when you deserve kindness, temporary escape, and spontaneous self care.
🍋
Long story short: child’s prescription + labor shortage = closed pharmacy 🤬. labor shortage = RUDE pediatric admin > frustrated, fed up, expletive fest in the pharmacy parking lot and lots of mad mom vibes.
🍋
So, taking a sun splashed moment at to imagine Paris (or Los Angeles or just life before COVID) and enjoy Chardonnay and a fun project.
🍋
It’s a lot better, mamas, but it ain’t over. Take care of yourselves and each other.
🍋
Give me a shout if you’ve had a COVID life moment this week!

Digging in to food allergies and breast feeding today!
🤓
My job includes keeping an eye out for BIOLOGICAL reasons a baby CAN’T sleep well. I don’t diagnose but I can help a family identify concerns that should be reviewed by their pediatrician or another qualifies health professional. Isn’t it great to know someone’s on your team?!
🤓
Thank you .to.feed for the EXCELLENT webinar for the Gentle Sleep Coach community!
🤓
A couple highlights?
•top 8 infant allergens - wheat, eggs, cow’s milk, soy, peanuts, fish and shellfish, tree nuts like almonds

•best starting strategies for parents of an allergic breast feeder - remove obvious response inducing foods FOR THE PARENT (gives YOU gas, itchy mouth, rash), drink 100oz of water per day, reduce stress.
🤓
If you need help wading through sleeplessness and making a plan that’s gentle for you and your baby reach out! We can look at allergies, support your breast feeding journey, and recruit the help of other experts for any challenges you’re facing if needed. We are a strong community committed to living, sleeping, and feeling aglow!
[email protected]

Anyone else been deep in the transition from school year to summer?
☀️
Or some deeply personal projects?
☀️
Raising my hand for all of the above. My energy’s been focused on client calls and supporting families by phone, zoom, and email and taking good care of myself and my family. I REALLY appreciate you still being here, ready for shares to support and inspire you!
☀️
Let’s get back to it.

What would make your bedroom a sanctuary?
•less clutter
•more color
•a plant
•new bedding

Simple adjustments can have delightful impacts on how you f e e l about sleeping in your space
•fewer electronics
•dimmable lights
•shades for deep darkness
And all of the items mentioned above! See the article linked in our bio for ideas to create your own sleep sanctuary.

Before we dive in. A photo I found today and want framed in MY bedroom. Vintage image of my babes taken by the talented
🌙
Surrounding yourself with objects and images you love is part of making a bedroom a power space.

Cheers to good sleep!
🥂
A glass of wine, a cold beer, a sophisticated cocktail. Lots of messaging (and advertising) will tell parents to wind down the day and escape our stress with alcohol. But how does alcohol effect our sleep?
🍺
Alcohol appears to help you sleep because is does make you drowsy and even induce sleep. But overall it is a sleep disruptor, especially in the second half of the night.
🍷
Drinking =
⬇️ total sleep time
⬇️ REM sleep
⬆️ night waking
🍸
All of the above lead to feeling less rested and resourced to be your best self.
🍹
Part Pooper? Naaah, just reminding you and me to weigh the cost benefits of habits and behaviors in terms of our sleep and our relationships - to family, work, and self. Sleep supporting habits of exercise, eating, and, yes, even drinking, are part of our work together when you embark on sleep coaching!
🥛
Here to help you live aglow.

A beloved client shared this photo of how she’s making diffusing part of her daily rituals.
🌹
Self-love
Self-care
🌹
The Roam Diffuser pictured charges on a base but can move wherever you need it. Headed to check emails and write a novel? Take it to your desk. Headed to read a book before everyone gets home? Plant it on the coffee table. Bedside, kitchen, bathroom counter when you get ready for the day.
🌹
Combined with stimulating or soothing essential oil blends Roam is a powerful tool for caring for your mind and mood
🌹

Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulator
☕️
It blocks the adenosine receptors in the brain. Adenosine is a neurotransmitter that promotes sleep and feeling ‘sleepy’. Normally adenosine builds up in the brain the longer we are awake. Caffeine blocks adenosine’s signal that you are tired and “tricks” the body into feeling awake and energetic.
☕️
It prolongs the time it takes to falls asleep, reduces total sleep time, and negatively impacts your perceived sleep quality. It can also worsen pre-existing insomnia and sleep-disordered breathing or sleep apnea.
☕️
The effects of caffeine remain in the body for 4-6 hours depending on an individual’s metabolism. Drinking a caffeinated beverage in the afternoon can impact your night time sleep.
☕️
Try confining your caffeine consumption to the morning. Essential oils can act as effective afternoon stimulants. Peppermint curbs cravings and increases alertness when inhaled - perfect for controlling an afternoon urge for chocolate and coffee.

Melatonin is a hormone your body produces naturally. It plays an important role in falling asleep. Melatonin helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle by signaling your body that bedtime and sleep is approaching. The release of this hormone is regulated by exposure to natural light or its absence.
🌕🌖🌓🌒
When the sun goes down and night falls, your pineal gland produces more melatonin. This link between darkness and melatonin is why it’s recommended to
• get outdoors during the day and into natural light
• keep your bedroom dark
• avoid artificial light exposure from, say, your phone, tablet, laptop, or tv before bed and in your bedroom - it can negatively impact your body’s production of melatonin and your ability to fall asleep.
🌗
While melatonin is promoted as a “natural” sleep aid, consider the impact of adding hormones to your body at potentially inappropriate doses or times. Also be aware that melatonin is not FDA approved and therefore not monitored - the dosage or ingredients listed on the bottle are not guaranteed to match the pill.
🌔
Melatonin IS potentially beneficial for
• jet lag
• circadian rhythm disorders
• shift work
when prescribed with the help of a qualified health professional.
☀️

Sleep, good food, sunshine, education, health, deep love.
☀️
Covering our basic needs is not always easy. But the reward for doing the work to prioritize them, be available for them, and demand them for each other is enormous.
☀️
We want to see you aglow! We want everyone to have access to what they need to live aglow.
☀️
While we work with families and individuals to get the great sleep to live a great life, we also support providers and organizations working to fill other needs.
•prenatal care
•birth services
•family and child counseling
•housing security
•food security
•postpartum mental wellness
☀️
Tag a provider or organization you love!