In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Margie Davenport, a leading Canadian researcher in perinatal physical activity and a professor at the University of Alberta. Dr. Davenport directs the Pregnancy and Postpartum Health Research Program, where her work focuses on how movement, rest, and recovery affect parents and babies from preconception through the first year postpartum.

We begin by exploring how Dr. Davenport came to this work and why the postpartum period has long been under-researched despite being such a critical time for physical and mental health. From there, we dive into the newly released 2025 Canadian Guidelines for Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour, and Sleep During the First Year Postpartum.

A major focus of this conversation is the relationship between exercise and breastfeeding. Dr. Davenport breaks down what the research actually shows about milk supply, milk quality, infant growth, injury risk, and the long-standing myths around lactic acid and “exercise ruining breast milk.” We also discuss nutrition, hydration, breast support during activity, and practical ways parents can move their bodies without pressure or unrealistic expectations.

We then zoom out to look at mental health and sleep. Dr. Davenport shares compelling evidence that even small amounts of physical activity in the early postpartum period are associated with meaningful reductions in postpartum depression and improvements in sleep quality. Importantly, this episode reinforces that postpartum recovery is not linear, not universal, and not something to rush.

This conversation is a grounding, evidence-based reminder that postpartum care must be individualized, compassionate, and supported at the family and societal level.

Dr. Margie Davenport – University of Alberta Exercise & Pregnancy Program

https://www.ksr.ualberta.ca/exerciseandpregnancy/

2025 Canadian Guidelines for Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour, and Sleep During the First Year Postpartum https://csepguidelines.ca/postpartum/

General Information on Physical Activity During Pregnancy & Postpartum (Health Canada) https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/healthy-living/physical-activity.html

Connect with host Pamela Tessmann

www.brimfamilycare.com

hello@brimfamilycare.com

If you value evidence-based conversations like this and want to support the ongoing work of Brim Lactation & Family Care and the Brimful podcast, you can do so here:

Buy Me a Coffee – Brim Lactation & Family Care https://buymeacoffee.com/brim.familycare

Your support helps keep thoughtful, research-informed conversations about infant feeding, mental health, and family care accessible.

The holidays can be a joyful - and challenging - time for parents of breastfed babies, especially when food reactivity is involved. In this episode, I chat with Dr. Trill from Free to Feed, an expert in supporting families navigating infant food sensitivities.

Dr. Trill walks us through:

• How to identify true food reactivity versus what might be latching difficulties
• What an elimination diet might look like
• Tips for managing your own nutrition and well-being
• Strategies to enjoy holiday meals without stress or guilt
• What to expect long-term This episode is full of evidence-backed, practical guidance to help you feel confident and supported. Be sure to share it with your support people or your friends and family who may be navigating these challenges.

Connect with Dr. Trill:

Website: https://www.freetofeed.com

Social Media: @free.to.feed

Connect with Pamela:

Website: www.brimfamilycare.com

Social Media: @brim.familycare Support The Brimful Podcast:

buymeacoffee.com/brim.familycare

In this episode, Pamela sits down with Alix Meyers, doula and founder of Tenderly, a practice dedicated to supporting neurodivergent families through fertility, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Alix shares her path from a career in marketing to becoming a doula, the journey of discovering neurodivergence within her own family, and how her lived experience shaped the neuro-affirming lens she brings to her work.

Together, Pamela and Alix explore the sensory, communication, and executive-function realities that can shape a birthing or postpartum experience, especially for those who may not yet realize they're neurodivergent. They discuss why so many birthing people don’t receive the support they need, how masking can disguise overwhelm, and how simple shifts in practice can help birth workers provide truly neuro-affirming care.

Alex also shares how virtual doula support can be a powerful accessibility tool, what families can expect when working with her online, and the upcoming self-paced birth planning course she’s creating specifically with neurodivergent brains in mind.

In this episode: • How Alix discovered her path into birth work • Why neurodivergence often goes unrecognized until the postpartum period • Sensory overload, executive functioning, communication differences, and how they shape the perinatal experience • What “neuro-affirming care” actually means • Tips for advocating for your needs with care providers • How virtual doula support creates accessibility for neurodivergent families • A peek into Alex’s upcoming neuro-affirming birth planning course

If you or someone you support is navigating pregnancy or postpartum with a neurodivergent lens, this conversation offers clarity, validation, and tools for cultivating a more supported experience.

Connect with Alex: Website - https://www.lovetender.ly/

Social Media - @lovetender.ly_doula

Email - alix@alixmyers.com

Support Brim Lactation & Family Care: If you’d like to support the podcast and ongoing educational work, you can do so here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/brimfamilycare

More episodes, services, and offerings: www.brimfamilycare.com