Neuroprotective Developmental Care (NDC)
Neuroprotective developmental care is evidence-based support of breastfeeding, baby sleep and cry-fuss problems, and parent mood. It is built on over 15 years of research including lactation science, neuroscience, evolutionary biology, sleep science, attachment psychology and a powerful psychological strategies known as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
NDC practitioners value kindness and a non-judgement attitude and have a passion for help to make a better world, by helping you grow joy in your little one's early life. We value integrity and respect, and believe that if we hold to our guiding values, our families will thrive.
I am proudly accredited in Neuroprotective Developmental Care
Breastfeeding
Gestalt breastfeeding focuses on helping mothers and infants optimise their positional stability (also known as latch) for efficient, pain free milk transfer during breastfeeding, while also nourishing the mother-baby bond.
Gestalt breastfeeding helps with:
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Nipple damage or pain
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Difficulty latching onto the breast
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Fussing and pulling off the breast
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Back-arching at the breast
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Marathon feeds
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Excessively frequent breastfeeds
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‘Windy’ behaviour during or after breastfeeds
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Poor weight gain
Baby sleep
Our baby and toddler sleep program works with your child's biology, not against it. This is the original, genuinely evidence-based alternative to sleep training.
The program helps you re-set your little one’s sleep patterns so that sleep is easy and the nights are manageable, without excessive waking. I will share with you NDC's ground-breaking approach to your child’s environmental and sensory needs, based on the latest neuroscience - which is so essential for healthy sleep.
We protect your emotional bond with your baby and your baby’s secure attachment
Cry / fuss behaviour
If your baby is consistently showing unsettled behaviour, there are ways that we can help you by:
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Guiding your though the 2 tools that we can all access to settle our babies
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Making plans to keep the parenting team strong
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Helping you to think about how best to care for your own needs in the midst of the turmoil
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Exploring responsive parenting principles so you can respond as best you can to babies crying.
Maternal mental health
When we have a baby, it’s normal to find ourselves having to manage a lot of difficult thoughts and feelings. Makaela can offer you a set of simple strategies for taking care of your mental health in the perinatal period, from a new scientifically proven psychology known as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT.
We can guide you though making space for those unpleasant or painful feelings, understand your values and how you can stay aligned with them when times are tough and strategies for moving through those tough times into a place of self-compassion.