Nurse Courtney

Nurse Courtney Here to make motherhood feel less lonely. Helping you through pregnancy, breastfeeding, sleep and toddler years. Building something incredible for you!!!

Please tell me I’m not the only one who STILL gets these 😂My babies are well and truly out of the baby stage, and every ...
10/14/2026

Please tell me I’m not the only one who STILL gets these 😂

My babies are well and truly out of the baby stage, and every now and then I will be sitting there minding my own business when…

WAS THAT A KICK?!?! SURELY NOT!

For a split second, my brain goes straight back to pregnancy.

These are called ‘Phantom Kicks’ and mamas can report feeling those familiar fluttering, popping or kicking sensations after pregnancy, sometimes many years after their baby has been born!

And no, it doesn’t mean there’s a secret baby in there (I mean… unless there genuinely could be??).

We don’t actually have a definitive explanation for exactly why they happen. Things like normal abdominal muscle movements/gas/digestion may may feel similar and trick your brain into thinking they could be kicks!

And I think that’s what makes them so WILD, right?!

You spend months noticing every tiny little ‘POP!’ that apparently your brain does NOT forget that sensation easily.

Mine certainly hasn’t. 😂

Did you experience phantom kicks? How long ago did you have your baby?!

And remember, if you are currently pregnant, keeping tabs on your baby’s movements is incredibly important! That’s why The Mama Years app contains a kick counter - so you can easily track your little one’s kicks, rolls and movements at a moment’s notice. Launching soon!

Nobody truly prepares you for how strange that first week can feel after you’ve given birth.Even after having three babi...
10/13/2026

Nobody truly prepares you for how strange that first week can feel after you’ve given birth.

Even after having three babies, I found that first week completely unexpected with my fourth little one.

I remember there being moments in those early days where I’d think, surely I’m the only person who feels like this?

You’re not, Mama - I promise!

There can be so much joy in that first week, but joy does not cancel out tears, vulnerability, overwhelm, exhaustion or that feeling that you’ve been completely cracked open by what just happeed.

Your job right now is not to be good at postpartum. It is to recover, get to know your baby and let yourself be cared for, too (yes, Mama - YOU matter too!)

And a gentle but veeerrrrry important note: emotional ups and downs can be common in the early days after birth (up to 80% of new parents will experience the ‘baby blues’ - but you never need to dismiss how you’re feeling as “just hormones” or “just exhaustion”.

If you’re feeling persistently down, low or sad, or intensely anxious or overwhelmed. Or even if you feel worried about your thoughts or how you’re coping, please know you are not alone Mama. Please reach out to your Doctor, Midwife or other healthcare provider and let them know how you’re feeling.

You deserve support just as much as your baby does 🩷

How do I know how much milk my bottle-fed baby needs?! 🍼Whether you’re bottle feeding formula or expressed breast milk, ...
10/12/2026

How do I know how much milk my bottle-fed baby needs?! 🍼

Whether you’re bottle feeding formula or expressed breast milk, knowing how much Bub needs can be tricky - our babies all have different appetites! It’s understandable that you’d be mindful too - formula can be expensive, and you absolutely don’t want to be wasting pumped milk!

How much does my baby need?🤔

As per the images above I recommend making up the following amounts in accordance with your baby’s age:

〰️ Day 1: ~30ml/1oz 2-3 hourly
〰️ Days 3-7: ~45-90ml/1.5-3oz 2-3 hourly
〰️ After week 1: ~60-90ml/2- oz 3-4 hourly
〰️ 1 month+: ~120ml/4oz 4 hourly
〰️ 6 months+: ~180-240ml/6-8oz 5x daily

Now I know all those numbers can be overwhelming, Mama. Just keep in mind, these amounts are purely averages. The amount your baby takes can vary from feed to feed - breastfed babies often have less.

I always recommend following your baby’s lead with how much they need. If your little one wants more, that’s absolutely fine! If they’re spilling a lot, it might mean they need a bit less, or for their feeds to be paced a bit more. Some babies will have feeds closer together, others will have feeds spaced more apart.

At The Mama Years, we teach you how to trust those amazing instincts you have as a Mama. You are the expert on your baby 🩷

If they’re growing well, generally settled and having plenty of wet and dirty naps, then they’re likely getting all they need. Check in with your healthcare provider for any concerns.✨

Are you a bottle feeding mama? How much does your baby feed a day?

Track and analyse your baby’s feeds (and output 💩) in my NEW app ‘The Mama Years’ - Launching soon!

Nothing really prepares you for what postpartum recovery is actually like.There’s so much focus on “getting back to norm...
10/10/2026

Nothing really prepares you for what postpartum recovery is actually like.

There’s so much focus on “getting back to normal” - but normal doesn’t really exist in the way it used to, anymore.

Some days you’ll feel more like yourself.

Other days, you’ll be struggling to find yourself in the mirror.

But one thing I can tell you for sure is this: you are worthy of patience, grace, time and support.

You’re the first person to put your hand up when people you care about need help. But at this time, I need you to do the same for yourself.

Be patient and kind to yourself.
Accept help when it’s offered.
Ask for it when you need it.
And lower the expectations you have for yourself.

You’re recovering and adjusting to the biggest transition you’ve experienced yet - all while getting to know this brand new little human in your arms.

This community has grown with me through my own motherhood.And now I’m giving something back to you to grow with you thr...
10/09/2026

This community has grown with me through my own motherhood.

And now I’m giving something back to you to grow with you through yours.

Introducing The Mama Years The Mama Years App - growing with you through motherhood

Created by a baby nurse and Mama - The Mama Years is unlike any other baby app - giving you all-in-one support from your cycles, ovulation and fertility, through your pregnancy, birth, and life with your baby.

Made for the years that change EVERYTHING.

Available soon on Apple & Google.

Tag a Mama who NEEDS this ⬇️

We need to talk about the Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) of contraception.In simpler terms: Using breastfeeding as ...
10/08/2026

We need to talk about the Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) of contraception.

In simpler terms: Using breastfeeding as a contraceptive.

The way this “works” is that hormones associated with breastfeeding can temporarily suppress ovulation and therefore delay the return of your menstrual cycle and period.

And if you don’t ovulate… you don’t get pregnant.

This method is thought to be up to 98% reliable, but only IF very strict criteria are met:

✔️ Your baby is under 6 months old.
✔️ Your periods haven’t returned.
✔️ You are fully breastfeeding - no formula or other drinks or foods.
✔️ Your baby breastfeeds regularly, day and night.

Source: Australian Breastfeeding Association

Once your baby starts sleeping more than 6 hours without feeding overnight, and once they start to have formula, food or drinks, or once your period returns, it’s highly recommended you look into other forms of contraception if you wish to avoid pregnancy.

For me personally, the LAM method was irrelevant as I’m one of the unlucky ones whose period returned within the first few months postpartum despite exclusively breastfeeding on demand. This means I would have ovulated well before my baby was 6 months old. This happened all 4 times for me!

Just something to keep in mind if you are not open to the idea of a surprise pregnancy - I would personally use another method of contraception too. Always check with your healthcare provider what’s safe to use when breastfeeding - some hormonal methods might not be recommended.

Ever wondered why your pump volume is NEXT LEVEL first thing in the morning... and then often a lot less by the evening?...
10/07/2026

Ever wondered why your pump volume is NEXT LEVEL first thing in the morning... and then often a lot less by the evening?

NO, your milk is not running out.

NO, your breasts aren’t empty.

NO, your supply hasn’t suddenly dropped.

Your first pump of the day has the benefits of your milk making hormones having been at their highest overnight. This is why engorgement is most common in the mornings.

A smaller pump in the evening doesn’t mean anything is wrong. The best indication of your supply is your baby. Are they producing plenty of wet and poopy nappies?

Are they generally content? Sleeping well? Growing and gaining weight as expected?

That’s the best measure.

I totally understand feeding anxiety though, both as a Mama myself and as an IBCLC. That’s why in my new app ‘The Mama Years’ - launching soon - you can track your baby’s feeds, growth and nappies. I always find it helps to give you an idea of your baby’s overall patterns rather than fixating on one single thing.

I think there’s a misconception that because I’m a sleep consultant, my babies must have slept perfectly and I followed ...
10/06/2026

I think there’s a misconception that because I’m a sleep consultant, my babies must have slept perfectly and I followed all the “rules”.

Absolutely not 😂

Yes, I’m a sleep consultant. I’ve spent years studying paediatric sleep.

But I’m also a mama of four very different little humans and honestly, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned on this journey is that sometimes motherhood is simply about doing what works for you and your little one/s in that season.

This is actually what has shaped so much of how I support families now.

I don’t believe good sleep comes from obsessing over every nap, wake or minute on the clock. I believe in understanding your baby, noticing their patterns and then finding a rhythm that works for your family.

And it’s exactly why I’ve included a sleep tracker in my new app, The Mama Years 🤍

Not so you can obsess over whether your baby slept for 37 minutes instead of 45… I don’t want you ever staring at graphs wondering what you’ve done “wrong”.

I created The Mama Years FREE sleep tracker so that you can zoom out and start to see the bigger picture when it comes to your little one’s sleeps.

Track to understand, not to obsess. 

The Mama Years is coming soon, and I cannot wait to show you what we’ve built 🩷

Your cycle is giving you information alllll month long 👀Too many of us don’t start tracking our menstrual cycles UNTIL i...
10/05/2026

Your cycle is giving you information alllll month long 👀

Too many of us don’t start tracking our menstrual cycles UNTIL it’s time to start trying for a baby.

But, this isn’t the only time that cycle data can be useful!

Sure, you might be trying to fall pregnant… but tracking your cycle might help you avoid pregnancy, if that’s what you prefer.

Or maybe you simply want to understand your body better and start noticing what’s normal for YOU!

I actually tracked my period waaaay before babies were even on my radar 😂 Because sometimes you just wanna know whether your period is going to show up for the wedding, date night, holiday or big weekend you’ve been looking forward to.

You’ll find your very own personalised cycle tracker inside The Mama Years app - launching soon!

Whether you’re tracking, trying, pregnant or navigating life with a baby, it’s all there in one place 🩷

TTC and wondering how your conception month might line up with your due month?!Save this little cheat sheet for later 🤍J...
10/04/2026

TTC and wondering how your conception month might line up with your due month?!

Save this little cheat sheet for later 🤍

Just remember, it’s a guesstimation only. Your actual due date is calculated based on your pregnancy dating and may shift along the way. It’s also important to know that a due date is not a deadline. Lots of things can shift along the way… and the only one who truly knows when your baby is going to be born is… your baby!

And remember if you’re currently trying, The Mama Years is launching soon to help you track your cycle, ovulation and fertility window so you can get to know your own patterns - not just relying on averages!

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