The Pivot

Many years ago, a dear friend used an analogy that has become a guiding principle of my parenting philosophy, and I suppose of life in general.  And it’s about burritos.

"Fourth trimester." Do those words make you think of baby snuggles and sweet moments, or do they tap into feelings of insecurity and anxiety? Those first few months are complicated, and they can be a mental health challenge for many of us.  

In the early days of thinking about Fulcrum, a friend from the fashion industry told me this: Great photography can sell bad products, and mediocre photography can sink great products

This mom practiced a modern version of an ancient tradition that prioritizes a mom's rest and healing and emphasizes the importance of leaning on others for support from day one.

Why does the feeding journey suck for so many new moms, and how can we change that?  What specific actions can we take to support moms when they are in the thick of this emotional and physical journey?

Most first-time moms, including me, expect breastfeeding will be natural and easy, yet so often it feels painful, unnatural, and completely overwhelming. Breastfeeding and pumping are hard, and almost every woman I’ve interviewed for The Pivot blog has struggled in some way along her feeding journey.

Postpartum body confidence - an oxymoron? We spent nine months with our bodies taken over by another human, stretched out. If we're breastfeeding or pumping, our body isn’t yet your own. So how can we return to work more confident in our postpartum bodies?

This mom shares her challenges prioritizing her time between work and family, and some sobering realizations about how being an engaged parent at home may limit the career trajectory for so many women.