Spoil Your Baby

How can building a relationship with your baby during pregnancy transform your experience of birth and early parenthood?
Ivana Lombardo’s journey began after moving from Serbia and raising her family without her original community nearby. She faced the isolation many modern parents feel, navigating her first grueling 40-hour labor. Everything changed during her second pregnancy when she discovered HypnoBirthing, which was a "complete 180" from her first experience. This transformation led her to realize that parents in our high-pressure society don't need more rules; they need customized support to reclaim their inner wisdom. She observed that while many prepare the nursery, they often forget to prepare the actual relationship with their child. Ivana now guides families through prenatal bonding to help them find a stable anchor in the unpredictability of new parenthood. Her work bridges the gap between anxiety and confidence by helping mothers connect with their bodies and their babies before birth. We believe her story shows that when a mother feels truly supported, her baby feels it too, setting a ground-level foundation for lifelong health.

Key Takeaways
Prenatal bonding is simply the act of having a conscious, interactive relationship with your baby before they are even born.
Babies are active participants who can recognize specific songs, books, and family voices they heard during the pregnancy.
Strengthening your maternal intuition during pregnancy helps you navigate the unpredictable chaos of life with a newborn with more confidence.
Research on prenatal bonding shows significantly lower rates of C-sections, postpartum depression, and the occurrence of colicky babies.
Simple daily practices like talking or visualizing your baby can help lower maternal stress and increase essential oxytocin levels.

Resources
Great Beginnings Births Website: https://www.greatbeginningsbirths.com/prenatalbondingba
Great Beginnings Births Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greatbeginningsbirths
Research Paper: Prenatal Bonding (BA) as a Breakthrough in Improving Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum Outcomes

Anne Goertz-Schroth, Dr. Gerhard Schroth, Dr. Raylene Phillips
https://birthpsychology.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Z3sC25KO-1.pdf

Guests Bio:
Ivana Lombardo is a childbirth educator, HypnoBirthing instructor, women's mental health coach, and nurture neuroscience practitioner. With over 20 years of experience, she guides families through fertility struggles, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, helping them trust their own wisdom.
Ready to Connect with Greer?
"Nurture Neuroscience" Website: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgreerkirshenbaum
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greerkirshenbaum
FREE GUIDE, "Nurture Your Baby's Stress": https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/nurture-your-babys-stress
FREE GUIDE, "Manage the Stressors & Triggers of Parenting": https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/manage-the-stressors-of-parenting
Order "The Nurture Revolution" Book: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/the-nurture-revolution

How can we bridge the gap between knowing our patterns and actually feeling like ourselves again in early motherhood?

Mariya Garnet brings over 18 years of experience in the wellness industry, blending traditionally trained indigenous practices from the Peruvian Amazon with Western psychotherapy and expressive art therapy. Her journey into somatic and creative work was fueled by a desire to help people bridge the difficult gap between cognitive understanding and the actual felt sense of self. She works extensively with young mothers who are navigating the profound identity shifts and brain structural changes that come with matrescence.

One of the biggest challenges Mariya addresses is "primary maternal preoccupation," where a mother’s attention is rerouted entirely toward her baby, often leading to a sense of lost identity and deep grief. She guides mothers through the "messy" but transformative process of letting go of their old selves while resisting the modern pressure to instantly "get back to normal". Her key transformation involves using somatic practices like bilateral drawing and bilateral stimulation to help mothers reconnect with their bodies and their own physical needs. By reclaiming their senses, mothers can use this window of high neuroplasticity to heal early attachment wounds and break generational cycles. We believe that with the right support, mothers can emerge from this transition more confident and grounded than ever before.

Key Takeaways
Matrescence is a normal developmental shift similar to adolescence that involves real structural changes in the brain and identity.
Primary maternal preoccupation is a biological survival mechanism that reroutes a mother's focus entirely toward her baby's needs.
Simple somatic practices like bilateral drawing or humming can help mothers reconnect with their felt sense of self during postpartum.
Motherhood acts as a mirror that brings early attachment wounds to the surface, offering a unique window for deep psychological healing.
Improving your ability to hold difficult emotions, rather than just trying to feel better, helps widen your nervous system's circle of tolerance.

Resources
Somatic Therapy for Mothers: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/somatic-therapy-directory
Website: https://www.silverowltherapy.ca
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariyagarnet

Guests Bio:
Mariya Garnet is a registered psychotherapist (qualifying) and the founder of Silver Owl Therapy. She is a professional artist and a traditionally trained facilitator with experience in indigenous wellness practices and Western psychotherapy. Mariya specializes in creative and somatic work, helping clients fill the gap between knowing and feeling.
Ready to Connect with Greer?
"Nurture Neuroscience" Website: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgreerkirshenbaum/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greerkirshenbaum/
FREE GUIDE, "Nurture Your Baby's Stress": https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/nurture-your-babys-stress
FREE GUIDE, "Manage the Stressors & Triggers of Parenting": https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/manage-the-stressors-of-parenting
Order "The Nurture Revolution" Book: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/the-nurture-revolution

How can the way your baby learns to move today shape the way they learn about the world for the rest of their lives?

Amy Matthews and Sarah Barnaby are the co-founders of Babies Project, but their path into this work didn't start with being parents themselves. Amy began her career in dance and theater, always curious about the "underpinnings" of how adults move and use their bodies. Sarah grew up in a very athletic family and spent years in gymnastics and yoga before looking for a deeper way to connect movement with the mind. They eventually met through their training in Body-Mind Centering and realized that working with infants offered the most satisfying way to explore the foundations of human development.

They often see parents struggling with the "modern parenting" trap of keeping babies in containers like car seats or strollers for too long. They also noticed that many parents feel huge stress about hitting milestones on a strict timeline. Their key transformation was moving away from a "fixing" mindset to one of pure curiosity. They teach that we don't need to "teach" babies how to sit or walk. Instead, we should provide an environment where they can safely explore "horizontal life" and even practice falling to build resilience. By using gentle techniques like the "baby ball" hold, they help parents settle their babies and trust in their child's natural ability to navigate the world. We believe this perspective offers a beautiful way to slow down and truly see what our babies are capable of.
Key Takeaways
Learning to move is actually learning to learn, which influences a baby’s lifelong ability to engage with and understand their surrounding world.
We should focus less on the exact timing of milestones and more on the rich quality and curiosity of the movement process itself.
Falling is not a failure but a vital skill that helps infants build physical resilience and trust in their own bodies.
Spending time in horizontal positions on the floor helps babies bond with the earth and feel supported by gravity on all sides.
Holding a baby in the "baby ball" position helps them orient to their midline and creates a settling baseline for their nervous system.

Resources
Babies Project Website: https://www.babiesproject.org
Preparing for Caring Resources: https://www.babiesproject.org/preparing-for-caring
IDME Training Information: https://www.bodymindcentering.com/program/infant-developmental-movement-education
Sonder Movement Project: https://www.sondermoves.com/idme

Guests Bio:
Amy Matthews, CMA, IDME, BMC Teacher, RSMT/RSME, has been teaching movement since 1994. She is a Body-Mind Centering® Teacher and an Infant Developmental Movement Educator. She co-authored the best-selling book Yoga Anatomy and serves as a Program Director for the School for Body-Mind Centering.
Sarah Barnaby is a certified BMC Teacher and Infant Developmental Movement Educator (IDME). She is trained in the Newborn Behavioral Observation (NBO) system and is a post-partum doula. She teaches developmental movement to people of all ages, from infants to elders, in New York City.
Ready to Connect with Greer?
"Nurture Neuroscience" Website:https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/drgreerkirshenbaum
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/greerkirshenbaum
FREE GUIDE, "Nurture Your Baby's Stress":https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/nurture-your-babys-stress
FREE GUIDE, "Manage the Stressors & Triggers of Parenting":https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/manage-the-stressors-of-parenting
Order "The Nurture Revolution" Book:https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/the-nurture-revolution

Are you feeling conflicted because your mothering instincts feel right, but everyone around you insists you are doing it wrong?
Amanda Hadfield, who was previously working as a veterinary nurse, started maternity leave looking for self-discovery and a complete career change. While pregnant, she knew she was looking for something else. She faced a major challenge during this time: she felt deeply conflicted because everything she was doing felt right in her heart, yet she was under immense pressure from family, friends, and health visitors who told her she was mothering incorrectly.
Her path changed when a mother at her breastfeeding group recommended The Nurture Revolution by Greer Kirshenbaum. The book changed everything for her. When she received a newsletter announcing the certification program, she knew 100% that this was the path for her, manifesting getting into the limited spaces.
Amanda became the world's first Nurture Neuroscience Practitioner to certify. She launched her first circle in March 2025, initially expecting only two mothers but welcoming eight. The impact was profound, providing mothers with a space to be nurtured and find healing from issues like birth trauma or difficulty bonding with their baby. Amanda also experienced significant personal growth, moving from being "terrified" before her first class to gaining the confidence to lead circles and workshops. Her group fostered deep connections, with the first block of mothers continuing to meet up every week, forming a tight-knit group.

Key Takeaways
Up until the age of three, your primary role is to spoil your baby with affection, attention, and protection.
When women gather in person, magic happens, creating a supportive sisterhood and community that lasts a lifetime.
The Nurtured Presence practice is highly emotive, centering on four questions that affirm to your baby, "I see you, you are enough".
Inner child work involves holding your baby but answering the four natural questions as if you were addressing baby-you.
Ambivalence can be practiced by holding two rocks to help you really feel two conflicting emotions at the same time.

THIS EPISODE REVISITS THE KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM OUR EPISODE 38 - Boosting Confidence Through Nurtured Presence feat. Amanda Hadfield - Go listen to the full episode if you want to learn more.

Join The Nurture Neuroscience Practitioner Certification
Join our Program: https://nurture-neuroscience.com/professional-certification-sales-page

Resources
Amanda Hadfield is the world's first Nurture Neuroscience Practitioner to certify in the certification program. Her business is North Star Nurture. She runs in-person circles every Wednesday at 9:30 AM in the Glencore Center in Scotland. Amanda also offers sleep consulting and is planning to team up with another practitioner, Gabrielle, for parental regulation support.
Amanda Hadfield´s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandabennison
Amanda Hadfield´s Website: https://northstarnurture.com
Amanda Hadfield´s Instagram: @north.star.nurture https://www.instagram.com/nurtured.mom.nurtured.baby

Ready to Connect with Greer?

"Nurture Neuroscience" Website:
https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/drgreerkirshenbaum

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/greerkirshenbaum

FREE GUIDE - "Nurture Your Baby's Stress":
https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/nurture-your-babys-stress

FREE GUIDE - "Manage the Stressors & Triggers of Parenting":
https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/manage-the-stressors-of-parenting

Order "The Nurture Revolution" Book:
https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/the-nurture-revolution

Why is "normal" infant sleep so often labeled as a problem needing medical intervention?

Gabrielle Ferrara began her professional life dedicated to mental health counseling and social work, holding a Master’s in Social Work and licensure as a clinical social worker in both New Jersey and Florida. She initially planned to return to her full-time therapy job after having her son, never anticipating motherhood would completely uproot her career path. When her son’s personal sleep journey began to get "a little hairy" at four months old, she discovered Greer's work. Listening to the resources gave her the language and the tools to quiet the intense pressure and noise she was receiving about sleep training, allowing her to trust her intuition about what her baby needed. This transformative personal experience motivated her to enroll in the first cohort of the Nurture Neuroscience practitioner program. She saw this as an opportunity for self-education and to be among other like-minded professionals and parents with similar values, with the hope of translating the knowledge into a professional career.

In her consults, she found her primary job was offering education and reassurance to parents who constantly ask, "Is what my baby doing normal?". Her own path has been challenging, as her son has nearly every medical red flag or sleep disruptor, including reflux, oral ties, low ferritin, and snoring. She has faced significant pushback from the medical system, which often promotes a medicalized behaviorist approach, prescribing "self soothing" even when physical symptoms are present. Gabrielle emphasizes that for families facing complex sleep issues, responsive co-sleeping or bedsharing is often the only way to get enough sleep to function. She uses her combined therapeutic and personal experience to help parents navigate these complexities and balance their child's medical needs with their nurturing needs.

Key Takeaways
The majority of consult work involves reassuring parents that their baby’s needs and behaviors are developmentally normal.
We must reject the overwhelming mainstream messaging that sleep training is the only viable solution for infants.
It is crucial to normalize the grief parents feel when the reality of infant sleep doesn't match cultural expectations.
Some families rely on responsive co-sleeping or bedsharing as the only practical solution while addressing underlying health issues.
Parents need support to stand confidently in their attachment-based choices against external pressure and medical pushback.

THIS EPISODE REVISITS THE KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM OUR EPISODE 47 - Trust Your Instinct: Quieting the Sleep Training Noise feat. Gabrielle Ferrara - Go listen to the full episode if you want to learn more.

Resources
Gabrielle Ferrara is a Nurture Neuroscience Practitioner and Consultant. She holds a Master's in Social Work (MSW) and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in New Jersey and Florida.
Website: https://www.gabrielle-ferrara.com
Instagram: @nurtured.mom.nurtured.baby https://www.instagram.com/nurtured.mom.nurtured.baby

Ready to Connect with Greer?

"Nurture Neuroscience" Website:
https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/drgreerkirshenbaum

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/greerkirshenbaum

FREE GUIDE - "Nurture Your Baby's Stress":
https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/nurture-your-babys-stress

FREE GUIDE - "Manage the Stressors & Triggers of Parenting":
https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/manage-the-stressors-of-parenting

Order "The Nurture Revolution" Book:
https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/the-nurture-revolution