How Breastfeeding Guilt Breaks New Moms and the Mindset That Heals with Dominique Deslauriers

Planning for a birth that makes breastfeeding easier? Check out my FREE guide on setting yourself up for breastfeeding success:https://bit.ly/los-birthpractice-workbook
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In this heartfelt episode of Lo’s Lactation Lab, host Lo Nigrosh welcomes Dominique Deslauriers, a registered dietitian and new mother, to share her deeply personal journey through the early months of breastfeeding. As someone who is both a healthcare provider and a parent, Dominique offers a unique perspective on the often unspoken emotional challenges that accompany feeding an infant. From solo parenting and navigating postpartum health diagnoses to managing milk supply and transitioning to formula, this episode explores the complex balance between expectations and reality, and how fulfillment can exist without joy.

Dominique Deslauriers is a registered dietitian with a focus on anti-diet, intuitive eating through her practice, Happy Valley Nutrition. A passionate advocate for balanced living, Dominique brings expertise in maternal nutrition and a personal story of navigating feeding challenges as a first-time mom. Her openness about guilt, mental health, and the pressure of “doing it right” creates a powerful narrative that resonates with new parents everywhere.

Expect to Learn

• How Dominique’s early feeding journey started smoothly and changed drastically at five months.
• The emotional toll and guilt that can come with transitioning from breastfeeding to formula.
• Why having a perinatal therapist already in place was a game-changer for postpartum mental health.
• The impact of solo parenting, disrupted sleep, and medical diagnoses on feeding success.
• How nurturing and bonding can transcend methods, whether through breastfeeding or formula.
  
  

Episode Breakdown with Timestamps

• [00:00] – Introduction and Guest Welcome
• [02:29] – Dominique’s Background and Cultural Exposure to Feeding
• [07:08] – Expectations and Preparation During Pregnancy
• [14:31] – The Five-Month Shift: Solo Parenting and Pumping Stress
• [17:28] – Processing Guilt and Finding Support in Therapy
• [20:15] – Health Complications: Epilepsy Diagnosis and Sleep Deprivation
• [22:10] – Transitioning Fully to Formula
• [26:57] – Finding Fulfillment Over Joy in Feeding
  
  

Follow Dominique Deslauriers:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominique-deslauriers-rd-ldn-8237a81a7/
• Company: https://www.happyvalleynutrition.com/

 Follow Lo Nishrosh:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lo-nigrosh-16371495/
• Website: https://www.quabbinbirthservices.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quabbinbirthservices/
  

 Listening Links:

• Apple Podcasts: