Does sleep training harm your baby’s attachment… or their brain?

If you’ve ever heard “crying raises cortisol, cortisol is the stress hormone, so sleep training is harmful” and felt completely uneasy about the idea of prioritizing sleep — this episode is for you.

In this 10-Minute Triage, Dr. Kailey Buller slows the fear down and breaks it apart with calm, evidence-based clarity. We’ll cover what secure attachment actually is (and what it isn’t), why cortisol gets misunderstood online, and what high-quality research shows about sleep training and long-term outcomes — including when there’s some crying involved.

You’ll also hear what is associated with harm (hint: chronic stress, severe sleep deprivation, and untreated parental distress matter), why short stress isn’t the same as trauma, and when sleep training might not be the right move right now.

If you’ve been stuck in the exhausted-anxious loop, afraid to make any change in case you “do damage,” consider this your permission to be precise — not dramatic.

Grab the “7 Sleep Training Lies” guide linked here:

https://www.vitalswithdrbuller.com/sleep7

Next up: Sleep training doesn’t have to mean cry-it-out — we’ll talk options and how to choose a method that fits your baby and your nervous system.

Sex and intimacy after having a baby can feel… different. Your body has changed. Your hormones are shifting (especially if you’re breastfeeding). You’re exhausted. Your nervous system is stuck in care-mode. And somehow you’re supposed to just “get back to normal” at six weeks?

Nope.

In this episode, we talk about what’s actually happening postpartum that affects desire and comfort, why there’s no timeline you’re meant to follow, and how pressure—whether it comes from a partner, society, or yourself—often makes everything worse.

We’ll also reframe what intimacy can look like right now (hint: it does not have to mean sex), how to tell when you might be ready to try physical intimacy again, and why pain is information—not something you should push through.

Plus: a direct note for partners—because one of the biggest libido killers after baby isn’t hormones… it’s mental load. Support isn’t “extra.” It’s the foundation.

If intimacy feels awkward, off your radar, or just not worth the effort right now—this episode is your permission slip to slow down.

Bottom line: Intimacy after baby should be guided by pleasure, not pressure. There is no deadline.

Free resources for postpartum recovery and reconnecting are linked here:

https://www.vitalswithdrbuller.com/sex

If this helped, follow the show so you don’t miss the next triage.

One of the most common pieces of sleep advice parents hear is this:

“You shouldn’t sleep train before one year old.”

But is that actually true—and could waiting sometimes make things harder?

In this episode of Surviving Tiny Humans: 10-Minute Triage for Your Baby, Body, and Mind, Dr. Kailey Buller breaks down where this belief comes from, why it persists, and what the evidence actually says.

We talk about:

• Why sleep skills are regulation skills, not advanced cognitive tasks

• How babies begin learning sleep fundamentals from the very beginning

• What can happen when parents delay all sleep teaching out of fear or guilt

• Why gentle, age-appropriate sleep teaching is often easier earlier, not later

• What sleep teaching does (and does not) look like in young babies

• How sleep needs—and appropriate strategies—change from newborns to 4–5 months and beyond

This episode walks through practical, developmentally appropriate approaches by age and explains how consistency, environment, routines, and small pauses can support healthier sleep without harming attachment or connection.

Dr. Buller also shares her own experience navigating severe sleep deprivation—and why, for some families, structured sleep training can be safer and healthier than the alternative.

Key takeaway:

Sleep skills don’t suddenly become “safe” at one year old.

There are ways to support healthy sleep—gently and responsively—much earlier than that.

And sleep training is optional, but sleep deprivation doesn’t have to be the cost of avoiding guilt.

Download the free “7 Lies You’ve Been Sold About Sleep Training” guide linked here:

https://www.vitalswithdrbuller.com/sleep7

And follow the show so you don’t miss upcoming episodes breaking down sleep methods, night feeding, and how to protect connection while teaching sleep.

Should you—or should you not—co-sleep with your baby?

Most parents have heard the warnings: don’t do it, it’s dangerous, never even consider it. But real life doesn’t always match the ideal—and avoiding the conversation entirely can actually make things riskier.

In this episode of Surviving Tiny Humans: 10-Minute Triage for Your Baby, Body, and Mind, Dr. Kailey Buller—physician, mom of two, and author of Surviving Tiny Humans—breaks down what really matters when it comes to co-sleeping, without shame or scare tactics.

We cover:

• How common co-sleeping actually is (even when no one admits it)

• Why “accidental” sleep on couches or chairs can be higher risk than planned co-sleeping

• What safe sleep truly means—and how co-sleeping fits into the bigger picture

• Practical harm-reduction steps if co-sleeping is happening

• How to make safer choices in imperfect, exhausted, real-world situations

This episode isn’t about telling you what you should do—it’s about helping you make informed decisions and avoid riskier setups when reality hits at 3 a.m.

Key takeaway:

Ideal sleep is great when it’s possible.

But when it’s not, the safest available option matters more than guilt or shame.

Because safe sleep isn’t one rigid rule—it’s thoughtful triage.

If this helped, follow the show so you don’t miss upcoming episodes on setting up realistic sleep environments and navigating early-parent exhaustion!

Is breastmilk really better than formula?

And if it is… why does this question feel so loaded?

In this episode of Surviving Tiny Humans: 10-Minute Triage for Your Baby, Body, and Mind, Dr. Kailey Buller—physician, mom of two, and author of Surviving Tiny Humans—breaks down the medical reality, the emotional weight, and the systemic pressures behind infant feeding decisions.

We talk honestly about:

• The actual medical differences between breastmilk and formula

• Why, for most healthy babies, those differences are smaller than you’ve been led to believe

• The most common barriers to breastfeeding—and why they’re usually systems failures, not personal ones

• Why “fed is best” often gets said… but not truly supported

• The benefits and trade-offs of both breastmilk and formula

• Why feeding doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing (hello, combo feeding and expressed breast milk)

This episode also tackles the myth that not breastfeeding is a personal failure—and why praising breastmilk without supporting women (paid leave, access to lactation care, partner support, realistic workplaces) misses the entire point.

Key takeaway:

Feeding your baby is not a morality contest.

You don’t owe anyone an explanation.

Your job is to nourish your baby and protect your family system.

Whether you breastfeed, formula feed, pump, combo feed, or change plans along the way—you are doing your job.

If this episode helped, hit subscribe and join me for the next dose of sanity.

Few parenting beliefs are as emotionally loaded as this one:

You should never let your baby cry.

For many parents, this single idea creates exhaustion, anxiety, and deep guilt—along with the fear that one wrong decision could cause permanent harm. In this episode of Surviving Tiny Humans: 10-Minute Triage for Your Baby, Body, and Mind, Dr. Kailey Buller—physician, mom of two, and author of Surviving Tiny Humans—slows this myth down and triages it properly.

We unpack where this belief comes from, what the evidence actually says, and—most importantly—how to tell the difference between responsive waiting and neglect (because they are not the same).

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why crying is communication—not automatically harm

• The difference between protest, frustration, and true distress

• What research says about crying, cortisol, attachment, and brain development

• Why responding doesn’t always mean intervening immediately

• How pausing—when done safely—can actually help babies learn sleep skills

• Why your own nervous system, tolerance, and values matter too

We also talk honestly about the emotional side of this: listening to your baby cry can feel unbearable, even when something is safe. And no parenting approach should force you to choose between guilt and exhaustion.

Key takeaway:

Crying alone is not necessarily harmful.

But fear, shame, and chronic exhaustion absolutely are.

If this episode helped, download the free “7 Sleep Training Lies” guide for a simple, reassuring breakdown of this myth and the others. You can find it here:

https://www.vitalswithdrbuller.com/sleep7

And follow the show so you don’t miss the next triage -- where we switch gears for a minute to talk about that age old question: is breastmilk superior to formula?

Few parenting topics carry as much confusion, fear, and guilt as sleep training. Is it cruel? Does it harm attachment? Should you avoid it completely—or is avoiding sleep help actually making things worse?

In this episode of Surviving Tiny Humans: 10-Minute Triage for Your Baby, Body, and Mind, Dr. Kailey Buller—physician, mom of two, and author of Surviving Tiny Humans—kicks off a new mini-series called “7 Myths”, starting with the myths that keep parents stuck and exhausted when it comes to baby sleep.

We reframe “sleep training” as sleep teaching—a skill that can be taught in many developmentally appropriate, responsive, and loving ways—and break down what the evidence actually says.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why sleep training isn’t automatically harmful or cruel

• What research says about attachment, brain development, and crying

• Why chronic sleep deprivation matters more than most parents are told

• The difference between responsive waiting and neglect

• Why there’s no single “right” method—and how to find what fits your family

You’ll also hear a practical, no-pressure starting point for what to do tonight—without becoming a sleep expert or making drastic changes.

Key takeaway:

Sleep is not a luxury. It’s a biological need—for babies and parents.

And there is no prize for suffering.

Download the free companion guide “7 Lies You’ve Been Sold About Sleep Training” here: https://www.vitalswithdrbuller.com/sleep7

And subscribe so you don’t miss the next episode—where we dive deeper into the myth that trips parents up the most.

When your baby seems off, it’s hard to know whether you’re dealing with a true emergency… or something that feels scary but can safely wait. This episode is about helping you make that call with clarity and confidence.

In this 10-minute triage, Dr. Kailey Buller—physician, mom of two, and author of Surviving Tiny Humans—walks you through the same simple framework used by paramedics and emergency departments every day: The Primary Survey, or Emergency ABCs.

You’ll learn:

• How to recognize dangerous breathing vs normal baby noises

• What “circulation” means at home (hydration and colour)

• When behaviour changes really matter—and when to trust your gut

• Why inconsolable crying is always a valid reason to seek care

• The key fever situations that should never be ignored

Most importantly, you’ll leave with a grounding checklist to ask yourself in stressful moments:

Are they breathing normally, having wet diapers, and alert and consolable?

If yes—you likely have time to think.

If no—you go to the ER.

If you would like my free, no-thinking-required ABC flowchart you can download it here: https://www.vitalswithdrbuller.com/infant-er-flowchart

Because being cautious isn’t overreacting—and you’re never wasting anyone’s time by keeping your baby safe.

Subscribe so you don’t miss the next triage.

If you're a new or expecting parent wondering what actually matters -- and what you can safely ignore -- you're in the right place.

Parenting today comes with an overwhelming amount of advice: social media reels, late-night Google searches, well-meaning opinions from everyone you know... and somehow the pressure to do everything perfectly (including baking sourdough bread).

In this podcast, physician and mom Dr. Kailey Buller offers practical, evidence-based, guilt-free triage for your baby, body and mind. We'll talk newborn sleep, feeding, postpartum recovery, hormones, mental health, relationships, and the many things that are surprisingly normal -- but rarely talked about.

Most parenting decisions aren't black and white. There's more than one way to be a great parent. And you don't need to have it all together to be a loving, capable keeper of tiny humans.

If you're looking for advice that feels grounding instead of overwhelming, hit follow.

You're not meant to do this alone.

Let's survive these tiny humans -- together.

Newborn crying can feel endless — and when you’re sleep-deprived, it’s hard to know what’s normal and what might be something more.

In this episode of Surviving Tiny Humans, Dr. Kailey Buller breaks down the difference between typical newborn crying (yes, it can be hours a day) and colic, using the classic “rule of threes” — and explains why colic isn’t really a diagnosis so much as a description of how much crying is happening.

We’ll walk through the most common reasons babies cry excessively, including:

• an overstimulated nervous system (and how to use the 7 S’s to soothe)

• reflux (what to look for, and how to troubleshoot)

• an immature GI system (and simple ways to help)

You’ll also learn one of the most practical, low-risk things to try if your baby is colicky or fussy, like reducing cow’s milk protein (not lactose) in your diet or choosing the right type of hydrolyzed formula.

And at the end, Dr. Buller shares one of the only supplements with solid evidence for helping colic .

If you’re in the trenches with a baby who won’t settle, this episode will help you feel less helpless and more clear on what’s worth trying next.

If you want an even deeper breakdown, Surviving Tiny Humans covers colic and troubleshooting in more detail:

https://a.co/d/0hNEhhnH

Resources mentioned: the 7 S’s, cow’s milk protein vs lactose, and the probiotic Lactobacillus Reuteri -- strain DSM 17938.

And don't forget to follow the show so you don’t miss the next triage!

When parents hear “sleep training,” many immediately think one thing: cry it out.

But are sleep training and "cry it out" really the same thing?

In this episode of the Surviving Tiny Humans podcast, Dr. Kailey Buller breaks down one of the most common misunderstandings in baby sleep.

We unpack:

• Why sleep training became synonymous with cry-it-out in the first place
• The difference between extinction, modified extinction (Ferber), and total extinction
• Why night weaning and sleep training are not the same thing
• Parent-present methods like pick-up/put-down, the sleep ladder, and the Sleep Lady Shuffle
• Why some crying is often part of learning—but that doesn’t mean neglect
• How temperament and family capacity matter more than internet opinions

This episode also introduces a flexible, customizable approach Dr. Buller calls the “Block Method”—a simple, developmentally appropriate system that allows you to choose:

• how long you might expect baby to go between feeds
• how much reassurance you provide
• and how much independence you’re ready for

Because sleep training isn’t one rigid method. It’s a spectrum of tools—and some families truly need those tools.

Key takeaway:

Sleep training is optional.

Cry-it-out is one method—not the definition.

And you’re allowed to choose the approach that protects both your baby’s sleep and your sanity.

If this episode helped, take a look at the Sleep Quick Tools linked here:

https://www.vitalswithdrbuller.com/sleep-quicktools

These are easy-to-implement supports that can help

• decipher night wakings
• navigate sleep regressions
• create a sustainable (and fair) overnight plan

Or, for more guidance on what to know and how to start supporting sleep, download the free “7 Lies You’ve Been Sold About Sleep Training” guide:

https://www.vitalswithdrbuller.com/sleep7

And, as always, be sure to follow so you don't miss the next episode!

This is the Season 1 finale of Surviving Tiny Humans — and we're going out with one of the most googled topics in parenting: fevers.

Because at 2am with a sick baby, you don't want to read a medical textbook. You want someone to tell you clearly — does this need the ER or not?

In this episode I'm walking you through everything you actually need to know: what counts as a real fever, what to do about it, when to go in, and when you can manage safely at home. Including a few things that might surprise you.

In this episode:

• What actually counts as a fever vs. a low-grade temperature — and why the distinction matters more than the number
• Why the height of the fever is less important than how your child looks
• Acetaminophen vs. ibuprofen — how they're different, how to use them together, and why ibuprofen before bed might be the move
• The fever rules by age — including why any fever in a baby under 30 days is an automatic ER visit no matter how well they look
• When to go to the ER vs. when an urgent appointment is enough
• The five-day fever rule and Kawasaki's disease — what it is and why every medical student on the planet knows about it
• Ear infections, delayed fevers, and how to recognize when a cold has turned into something else
• My favourite gut-check for telling a virus from a bacterial infection — and why the grosser it is, the more likely it's viral

🔗 Free fever flowchart linked below — print it, save it to your phone, and have it ready for the next 2am moment.

https://www.vitalswithdrbuller.com/infant-er-flowchart

Season 2 returns in September. See you then.

Sleep deprivation doesn't just make you tired — it functionally gives you ADHD. The same executive function deficits, the same working memory gaps, the same inability to start a task you know you need to do. If you've ever walked into a room and immediately forgotten why, congratulations: you're a new parent.

Jessica Lewis — ADHD coach, host of Quick Wins for ADHD Moms, and mom of three — is back for part two of our conversation, and this time we're getting into the practical stuff. The small shifts that actually make the newborn phase more manageable when your brain has basically stopped cooperating.

In this episode:

• Simplifying ruthlessly — the three-step everything rule and why most of what you think you have to do, you don't
• Squirreling supplies everywhere — why having diapers, wipes, and a spare onesie in every corner of your life is actually a strategy
• The minimum standard concept — how to stop cleaning and doing laundry on someone else's timeline and find your own
• Why the moms who look like they have it together are doing the exact same thing you are — just better at hiding it
• Sit-down showers, laundry that stays in the basket, and other permissions you didn't know you needed
• The fear-based marketing that's filling your house with things you don't need — and how letting go of it opens up mental space
• Postpartum depression, ADHD, and why sometimes you don't have the words — and what to do when you don't

This one is part of the Life With a Newborn series — and it's for every parent whose brain feels like it's running forty tabs with no way to close any of them.

🔗 Find Jessica at theadhdmom.com and Quick Wins for ADHD Moms wherever you listen to podcasts.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/quick-wins-for-adhd-moms-short-episodes-real-solutions/id992947956

🔗 Free postpartum scripts and guides linked below — including tools to help you talk to your doctor or partner when you can't find the words

https://www.vitalswithdrbuller.com/postpartum-scripts

🔗 Free download: 7 Sleep Training Lies guide

https://www.vitalswithdrbuller.com/sleep7

We’re on Lie #6 of the 7 Sleep Training Lies series — and this one hits differently.

The earlier lies were about fear of damage. This one is more personal: what if I lose the moments I actually love? The contact nap. The nurse-to-sleep snuggle. The one quiet part of the day where it’s just the two of you.

In this episode I’m breaking down why sleep teaching doesn’t take connection away — it takes obligation away. There’s a big difference between choosing a contact nap because you want it, and holding your baby because there’s simply no other option.

I also want to talk about something nobody really addresses: the difference between a baby who stops crying at night because they’ve learned to self-soothe, and a baby who stops crying because they’ve given up. Those are not the same thing — and knowing the difference matters.

And at the end, I’m sharing two real moments from my own life where I threw the sleep plan out the window — and exactly what I did to get back on track without starting from scratch.

In this episode:

∙ Why sleep teaching adds a skill without taking anything away

∙ Contact naps — when they’re a joy vs. when they’re a trap

∙ The shutdown response vs. genuine self-soothing

∙ Why your bedtime routine is actually your reset button

∙ The two things I did after travel and illness to get back on track fast

🔗 Free download: 7 Sleep Training Lies guide

Nobody really teaches you about formula. You get a crash course in breastfeeding and then if formula enters the picture — whether it’s day two while you’re waiting for your milk, or month two because breastfeeding just isn’t working — you’re standing in the grocery store staring at a wall of cans with absolutely no idea what you’re looking at.

So let’s fix that.

In this episode, I break down everything you actually need to know about formula:

• which one to choose (spoiler: almost any of them are fine)
• what the different types of preparation mean and when they matter
• how to store it safely
• how to clean bottles without losing your mind
• and how to know when it’s time to size up the nipple.

And at the end, we’re talking about paced feeding — a simple bottle feeding technique that reduces gas, cuts down on spit up, and helps your baby start to learn their own hunger and fullness cues. You can use it with formula or expressed breast milk.

No shame. No pressure. Just the information you needed someone to give you a long time ago.

Grab a copy of Surviving Tiny Humans to get all of this (and way more!) to help you survive that first year with your baby. You can find it here:

https://a.co/d/06q6EWNG

Or check out the Formula Flowchart Quick Tool linked below — it walks you through choosing the right formula for your baby in about 30 seconds.

https://www.vitalswithdrbuller.com/formula-flowchart

Breastfeeding can be beautiful, frustrating, painful, confusing, time-consuming—or all of the above in the same 24 hours.

In this episode, we walk through the basics of breastfeeding in a practical, no-shame way, covering:

    •    what a good latch actually looks like

    •    why a shallow latch is painful and often ineffective

    •    how to know if baby is getting enough milk

    •    when sleepy feeding, short feeds, or weight concerns might matter

    •    what to do if you’re worried about low supply

    •    breastfeeding more often vs pumping vs power pumping

    •    galactagogues, supplements, and when to ask about medication

    •    what to know about mastitis and common troubleshooting

    •    whether breastfeeding really helps with postpartum weight loss

This episode is designed to help you understand the mechanics of breastfeeding without spiralling over every feed, every ounce, or every wet diaper.

Free guide here:

https://www.vitalswithdrbuller.com/low-milk-supply-read-this-before-you-panic

Key takeaway:

A painful latch is not something you just have to push through.

Low supply has solutions worth trying.

And breastfeeding does not have to be all intuition and guesswork.

We also talk honestly about the reality that breastfeeding and weight loss are not nearly as predictable as people claim—and why your worth has absolutely nothing to do with what your body looks like postpartum.

If you want an easy-reference tool for supply concerns, check out the free breastmilk supply guide here:

https://www.vitalswithdrbuller.com/low-milk-supply-read-this-before-you-panic

Follow the show so you don’t miss the next triage!

Supplements:

- leafy greens, oats, barley, and nuts

- Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle

- potentially beer (some non alcoholic options include Guiness 0.0, Erdinger Alkoholfrei and Bravus Oatmeal Dark)

If you’re breastfeeding and even considering sleep training, this fear can feel overwhelming:

What if sleep training harms my milk supply?

What if my baby stops nursing?

What if I ruin something that was already hard enough?

In this episode of Surviving Tiny Humans, Dr. Kailey Buller carefully separates fact from fear.

She breaks down:

• The difference between sleep training and night weaning (they are not the same thing)

• How you can teach sleep skills without removing feeds

• What healthy sleep fundamentals look like at different stages of development

• How supply is established—and when longer stretches overnight are safe

• Why reducing unnecessary overnight feeds doesn’t mean harming breastfeeding

• What changes once baby is established on solids

  
  

We also talk about how chronic sleep deprivation affects stress—and how better sleep can improve your breastfeeding relationship.

And at the end, Dr. Buller shares a fascinating fact about breastfeeding moms and overnight wake-ups that explains why this fear feels so intense in the first place.

Key takeaway:

Sleep training does not automatically mean fewer feeds.

Night weaning is a separate decision.

And once breastfeeding is established, healthy sleep and breastfeeding can absolutely coexist.

You don’t have to choose between your baby’s sleep and your breastfeeding journey.

If this episode helped, you’ll find a more comprehensive sleep roadmap linked below—so you can decide what works for your baby, your body, and your sanity.

And be sure to follow the show so you don’t miss the next triage!

Postpartum recovery is messy.

And before we talk about anything else, let’s normalize something important:

adult diapers are elite-level postpartum gear.

In this episode of Surviving Tiny Humans: 10-Minute Triage for Postpartum and Newborn Care, Dr. Kailey Buller—ER and Labour & Delivery physician, mom of two, and author of Surviving Tiny Humans—walks you through what actually matters in those first weeks after birth.

We’re talking about the real basics of recovery:

• What normal postpartum bleeding looks like—and when to seek care

• How long bleeding should last (and when it’s no longer “normal”)

• Passing clots: what’s expected vs. what’s concerning

• Urinary leakage: common but not something you have to live with

• When to involve pelvic floor physiotherapy

• How to survive your first postpartum bowel movement

  
  

And at the end, Dr. Buller shares her top 3 postpartum recovery hacks—simple, practical changes that make those early weeks significantly easier (including a surprisingly effective bed-sheet trick).

Key takeaway:
Recovery is not glamorous.
It is physical, hormonal, uncomfortable—and completely normal.
You are not failing if it feels messy. It is messy.

If this episode helped, check out Surviving Tiny Humans. It's jam PACKED with tips from friends and colleagues to help make the first year postpartum just a liiiiittle bit easier.

12 months. 12 topics. Zero judgement.

https://a.co/d/0dS2OSOo

Turns out, having a newborn gives you ADHD. Not metaphorically. For real.

So for this episode I brought in someone who knows exactly how to work with a brain that isn't cooperating.

Jessica Lewis is an ADHD coach, host of the Quick Wins for ADHD Moms podcast, and a mom of three who was diagnosed with ADHD at 43 after recognizing herself in her son's symptoms. She joined me to talk practical, low-lift strategies that work specifically for the newborn phase — whether you have ADHD or not.

In this episode:

• Why new parenthood is functionally identical to ADHD — and why that actually matters for how you cope
• Protecting your sleep — why it's the highest-leverage thing you can do and how to actually make it happen
• The postpartum registry idea — asking for the specific help you actually need instead of hoping people figure it out
• Pump parts in the fridge — the tip that will save you from washing them after every single session
• Freezer meals, frozen vegetables, and why your toaster oven is about to become your best friend
• How to delegate the tasks that are draining you without feeling like you have to ask awkwardly

This one is part of the Life With a Newborn series — practical support for the phase that nobody fully prepares you for.

🔗 Find Jessica at theadhdmom.com and Quick Wins for ADHD Moms wherever you listen to podcasts.

Infertility affects one in five couples — and yet almost nobody talks about what the process actually looks like, what the testing involves, or what it does to you emotionally while you're in it.

This episode is a little off-brand for Surviving Tiny Humans — and also exactly on brand, because everyone's path to parenthood looks different, and that deserves to be acknowledged.

I'm sharing my own experience with secondary infertility — the particular whiplash of conceiving easily the first time and then not being able to get pregnant again — alongside the clinical side of what investigation and treatment actually look like.

In this episode:

• Primary vs. secondary infertility — what they are and how common they actually are
• What testing looks like for both partners — and why, as usual, the burden falls disproportionately on women
• What the IVF process actually involves step by step — the hormones, the egg retrieval, the embryo grading, the implantation, and the waiting
• The emotional reality nobody prepares you for — including what it feels like when the test is positive one day and negative the next
• The only fertility supplements that actually have evidence behind them — and what to skip
• Practical ways to genuinely improve your chances, including timing of sex and lifestyle factors that move the needle

This one is for anyone who is trying, anyone who has tried, and anyone who just wants to understand what this journey actually looks like from the inside.

🔗 Free fertility supplement guide:

https://www.vitalswithdrbuller.com/fertility-supplement-guide

Recommended Resource: Surviving Tiny Humans

- https://a.co/d/07faXLvV -

This is the third and final episode of the Life With a Newborn series. After 30 days they're technically an infant — and the rest of this podcast is the continuation anyway.

This episode fills in the gaps. The things that don't have their own dedicated episode yet — the neurological reality of the fourth trimester, the practical daily care stuff nobody explains in detail, and the emotional transition that happens around week two when the help quietly disappears.

What we cover:

• The fourth trimester — why your baby's nervous system is still organizing outside the womb and what that means for how you parent in these first weeks
• What your baby can actually see and why your face is the most important thing in their world right now
• Tummy time — when to start, what counts, how to make it more tolerable, and why it's the single most important developmental activity in the first 30 days
• Bath time — how to do it before the umbilical cord falls off, how often, and what you actually need
• Umbilical cord care — what normal looks like, what healing looks like, and what needs medical attention
• Newborn skincare — vernix, peeling, fragrance-free everything, and what not to stress about
• The emotional reality of week two when the adrenaline wears off, the visitors leave, and you're suddenly alone in a quiet house with a baby who isn't giving anything back yet
• The first real smile — what it means, when it comes, and why it changes everything

Surviving Tiny Humans covers everything from the first days home through the end of the first year — the honest, practical guide your discharge papers should have been.

🔗 https://a.co/d/07faXLvV

Recommended: Surviving Tiny Humans

https://a.co/d/07faXLvV

A quick one this week, but still just as practical. This week, we're talking about baby butts!

Okay, not really. But we're talking about diaper rash so... close enough.

We also break down the similarities and differences between the two most common rashes -- diaper rash and eczema -- so yo know how to manage both at home without needing to see your doctor any more than is necessary.

Everything you didn't think you needed to know about diapers (and the fun surprises held within!) ...

Recommended Tools: Surviving Tiny Humans, The Book

https://a.co/d/02plwjbP

In this episode we talk all about:

• baby poops -- colour, consistency, and when to worry
• blood -- when it's normal, when it's not
• constipation -- how to know and what to do
• tips & tricks
• diaper sizes! -- how to tell when it's actually time to size up

Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss a triage!

Guides & Tools:

Safe Sleep Without Shame:

https://www.vitalswithdrbuller.com/safe-sleep

The Nightshift Playbook:

https://www.vitalswithdrbuller.com/nightshift-playbook

You’re home. The nurses are gone. The visitors haven’t arrived yet. Or they have, and somehow that’s also exhausting. And nobody gave you an instruction manual.

The first two weeks are survival mode, and that’s not a failure — that’s just the reality of bringing a brand new human into the world while your body, your hormones, and your sleep are all doing completely different things at the same time.

This episode is the honest guide to what’s actually happening, what actually matters, and what you can safely ignore.

What we cover:

• What the first few days actually look like — day by day, from the sleepy first 24 hours through the Day 3 hormone crash and out the other side
• The only three questions that tell you if things are going okay — and why everything else is noise
• What doesn’t matter as much as the internet makes it sound — the schedule, the bassinet, the bonding timeline, the laundry
• What activities are actually appropriate for a newborn — and why you don’t need a curriculum, classes, or anything that takes more energy than you have
• How to manage the house, the help, and the mental load when you’re running on nothing
• How to split nights with a partner so both of you get a real stretch of sleep

This is Part 2 of the Life With a Newborn series — a stage-by-stage guide through the first year. The real version, not the highlight reel.

For more support, whenever you need it, check out my guides and tools:

Safe Sleep Without Shame:

https://www.vitalswithdrbuller.com/safe-sleep

The Nightshift Playbook:

https://www.vitalswithdrbuller.com/nightshift-playbook

This is the last myth in the series — and it’s the most comforting one. Which is exactly what makes it the most dangerous.

🔗 Recommended Guide: Surviving Tiny Humans

https://a.co/d/00s230an

Some babies do grow out of bad sleep on their own. Sleep naturally improves as babies develop, stomachs get bigger, and circadian rhythms mature. So this one isn’t a flat-out myth. It’s a half-truth. And half-truths are harder to push back on than outright lies — because there’s just enough truth in them to keep you waiting.

The problem is that biology creates better conditions for sleep. It doesn’t teach sleep skills. And there are long-term studies showing that babies who never learn to sleep independently are more likely to struggle with sleep as children AND as adults.

In this episode I’m breaking down the milestone goalposts trap — the loop where there’s always a developmental reason to wait just a little longer — and being honest about what months of waiting actually costs a family. I’m also giving you three specific signs that tell you whether you’re genuinely in “this might resolve” territory, or whether waiting is just making things harder.

In this episode:

∙ Why this lie is so easy to believe — and why survivorship bias plays a huge role

∙ What the evidence actually says about infant sleep and long-term outcomes

∙ The milestone goalposts loop — and how to recognize when you’re in it

∙ When waiting genuinely makes sense vs. when it’s just hope with a due date

∙ Three signs it’s time to stop waiting and do something

🔗 Recommended Guide: Surviving Tiny Humans

https://a.co/d/00s230an

This is Episode 7 of 7 in the Sleep Training Lies series. If you’re new here, start at Episode 4.

The first few moments to hours after having a baby can be a real whirlwind. And we don't do a very good job of giving anyone a heads up about what to expect.

In this episode, we cover the real first 24 hours -- the things that happen before anyone has a chance to give you any instructions.

Resources Discussed:

Surviving Tiny Humans: The Messy Truth About Parenthood and Your Guide to Baby's First Year

Available here:

https://a.co/d/0hmLNIwS

What we cover:

- what's actually going to happen in those first few moments after birth

- the decisions that get made about Vitamin K, erythromycin, and newborn vaccines

- what to expect in terms of bleeding, pain and function

- the emotional reality: shaking, bonding, or lack of it

- what to ask and take before you walk out that door

And, at the end, we discuss the sad but real truth about where our village has gone -- and what to do about it.