When Ashley and Gerry welcomed their firstborn, Mason, support from Cleo played an important role in helping them maintain well-being and acclimate to life as parents. Ashley leaned on their Guide for help with sleep, feeding, and making space for her own mental health. When she found their family expanding once again, it was a comfort to know they would have the same support available, not only to help welcome daughter Mia but with whatever challenges they may face with Mason as well.
“There have been so many times where [my Guide] has offered support ahead of a developmental milestone, and I’ve been like ‘oh no, I’ve got it. And then it’s like, ‘no wait, this baby is so different than the first one. I do need you,’” explains Ashley. “You think you know, but you have no idea. I think it’s so important for people if they have the opportunity to utilize Cleo, no matter what number baby it is, to take it.”
I have a Master’s Degree in child development and I don’t know it all. It’s been just as helpful the second time.”
“I have a Master’s Degree in child development and I don’t know it all. It’s been just as helpful the second time.”
Ashley, Cleo member
“I went into the second time around already loving [Cleo] and excited to have the resource again, but not really sure how much I would use it.” As with Mason, Ashley encountered early challenges with breastfeeding, but each child is unique and strategies that worked the first time around weren’t working with Mia.
“When [Mia] was born, from early on we had breastfeeding and latching issues. I got connected with a consultant right away.” Ashley and Mia appeared to make progress, but Ashley went on to learn that Mia wasn’t getting as much as she needed from breastfeeding alone, which was difficult news.
Newborn feeding can be laden with expectations and emotions. The unbiased support from her Cleo Guide throughout the feeding journey not only equipped Ashley with expert guidance and useful tips but also provided equally important validation as a parent.
“I wasn’t sure how the conversation about ending breastfeeding and transitioning to pumping and formula would be received and it was 100 percent ‘you do this as long as you want to do it,’ and just no stigma whatsoever.” As the need to supplement and eventually replace breastfeeding with formula became apparent, Ashley needed help letting go of some of her own biases and Carolynn was there for her.
“As time went on and I ran out of the frozen milk and it was turning to full formula, I reached out and said ‘Can you send me some articles about how good formula is?’ And she sent some great articles about how healthy and normal it is. I always know that I can reach out and say ‘this is really hurting my heart. Help me.’”
Parenting is hard, no matter how you got there
As someone who had previously experienced infertility challenges, Ashley had felt a certain vulnerability in acknowledging the challenges of parenthood and seeking support. “You feel even worse to complain or say that it’s hard. ‘You wanted this, you fought for this, you did so much to become a parent.’ That was really hard, and I kind of felt I would get that response from other people if I vented,” she explains.
In contrast, Cleo has been the support solution Ashley and her family need. “Every response is ‘yes, absolutely,’ just so validating,” says Ashley. “It removes so much stress. We know where to seek support whenever we need it.”