Meet a Mom Monday! Meet local mother of four, Hillary Sadler, RN, MSN, IBCLC, and founder of the early momming and lactation brand, Baby Settler. After experiencing first hand struggles with feeding and sleep, Hillary set out on a mission to help other moms embrace their own unique journey through motherhood – no matter what that looks like. As a feeding specialist, she’s been arming her growing Baby Settler community of more than 74,000 women with the evidenced-based tools and resources they need to confidently navigate feeding, sleep and all things newborn. Hillary has great insight to share on the biological link between feeding and sleep as well as how moms can prioritize their own health and well-being alongside baby’s. Read more about Hillary, her life as a mom of four, her number one question asked by new moms and why having support for expecting moms and postpartum moms & families is so important!
Where are you originally from and how long have you been in Charleston, SC?
I was born in eastern North Carolina and moved to Mt. Pleasant when I was in 10th grade. I’ve been here for 20 years now. A lot of my family lives in the area, and it’s been extremely helpful to have family close as we’ve grown our family.
Tell us about your family.
I’m a mom of four. My oldest is 12 and my youngest turns two on July 15th! (today!). I was a boy mom then my third was a girl, and we decided to be surprised by our last baby who ended up being a boy. My husband and I have been together since I was 17 years old, and we’ve been married for more than 15 years.
One thing people would be surprised to know about you?
Before I was a nurse, I was a professional horse trainer. I was the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) head coach for the Ashley Hall Equestrian Team for two years.
What’s your favorite thing about raising a family in Charleston?
It’s such a beautiful place. We enjoy the sun, water, and salty air. I could live without the bugs though!
Tell us about your business, Baby Settler and when & why you decided to start this business!
I went into nursing as a labor and delivery nurse at a local hospital. Over the years I started seeing a lot of my friends come in and deliver their baby and then head home with so many unanswered questions and no one to guide them. So, I became their “go-to” resource for information. I realized there was a huge gap in support for parents during the first six-12 months of their baby’s life especially related to feeding and sleep.
So, in May of 2020 (at the start of COVID!) Baby Settler was born. It started as a side-gig aimed at helping moms navigate early motherhood and quickly turned into a full-time thing when I realized how many women needed this information. By the end of 2020, I was doing in-person consults but I had also published my first book and created an online video course guide for parents so they could access information outside a 1:1 consult.
At Baby Settler, we really ‘fill in the gap’ that pediatricians and OB/GYNS don’t fill for a new mom with evidence-based guidance. We are feeding specialists (think: lactation consultant without a chip on her shoulder about formula) and we are experts on the connection between feeding and sleep.
Because it’s true what “they” say, this season can suck you dry (literally and figuratively). But it doesn’t have to. Your baby can thrive. You can sleep. Your relationships can evolve. You just need truth at your fingertips.
Why is this type of support so important for expecting moms and postpartum moms & families?
New moms have to wade through a ton of conflicting advice. At Baby Settler, we’re like their non-judgy nurse friend who helps them sort through it all so they can make more confident decisions, faster.
Tell us more about your Guides and 1:1 support you offer to your Moms / Parents?
Internet searches can create a lot of stress for new moms! That’s why we created the guides; it’s all things early-momming, vetted and organized, in one searchable place. Here’s what that means: It’s 3 a.m., and your mom-brain tells you it’s time to panic about x, y, or z. Instead of scrolling Google, you can open our app and simply: – Search: type in any pregnancy or postpartum topic, like birth plan, sleep schedule, breastmilk storage, tummy time, PPD, or poop. – Scan: browse a guide or video that we’ve developed with a ton of evidence-based research and real-life experience. – Sleep: with whole-picture clarity (and no preaching!), you can rest assured in whatever decision you make for your family.
With our 1:1 consults it’s our mission to empower families with evidence-based knowledge and support during the early feeding journey and beyond. Baby Settler is a team of registered nurses, Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultants, and nurse practitioners who care about the whole mother and child. We meet with you to help define your goals and create a plan to accomplish success as it relates to navigating feeding, establishing a routine, and setting your baby up to be an excellent sleeper.
At Baby Settler, you’re like their non-judgy nurse friend who helps them sort through it all so they can make more confident decisions, faster. Can you tell us one of the #1 questions that is asked by new moms and how you would answer it?
Q: How do I get my baby on a sleep schedule?
A: Many factors come into play when it comes to your baby and sleep. A well-meaning friend might share a “foolproof schedule” with you. But the truth is, you don’t want your life being trapped by your baby’s schedule. Your baby is constantly changing! Babies go through growth spurts, developmental leaps, teething, illness, you name it. You’ll go on vacations, visit your neighbors, stay with your parents—and you’ll need the confidence to know what to do without referring to your book, app, or manual every time something happens outside of your “schedule.” When you understand the ‘why,’ you can establish a routine you are comfortable with rather than a schedule you hope you can stick to. During infancy, one of the purposes of a routine is to help organize your baby’s sleep pockets, facilitate quality playtime for developmental opportunities, give their little belly some “rest time” between feeds to help support their immature GI tract and to help you plan your day. This is possible because there is a flow to your baby’s day that you can count on. It helps you to be in tune with what your baby really needs when they are crying but unable to verbalize it. It allows you to get some quality sleep, which, in turn, helps you to be a better parent. Having a routine is not about adhering to a rigid, unrealistic schedule that is more stressful than if you had just followed your baby’s cues.
Do you offer any new parent classes? How can someone learn more?
Yes! We offer a monthly prenatal breastfeeding class (the first Wednesday of each month) in our Mt. Pleasant Office. We also offer a weekly “New Mom Meet-Up” on Tuesdays from 10 a.m.-noon (it’s a drop in; come any time) where one of our nurses from Baby Settler will be there to answer quick questions and let you know if a 1:1 consult would be more beneficial. Both classes are totally free. You can go to our website, BabySettler.com, or @babysettlercharleston IG account to learn more.
Tell us more about your work/life balance within motherhood.
I will preface this by saying I’m always learning, growing, and improving in this area. I don’t think we ever really “arrive” because as we figure out one season, our kids get older and their needs change. So, what might work for me right now might not work for me in five years. But I’m committed to “check-ins” with myself and really asking myself how I’m feeling in this season… and if it doesn’t feel right, then I pivot. Here are some tangible examples. 1. No work email on my phone. 2. “Inbox when ready” on my emails so I don’t get distracted. Example: When I see an email I feel like I have to respond right then..and it steals a lot of my mental energy to ignore it. 3. Google Calendar – I live by this. I color code different things. For example, meetings are in red. My clinical days are in yellow. My nanny is in grey. This way, I’m able to quickly see what I have going on and know if I can take on more or not. 4. Asana 5. I don’t Micromanage. I have built a team that loves what they do and we try to work in our zones of genius. I have intentionally brought people on board who are better than me at the things they do, and they love what they do.
Who has most influenced you to be the mom that you are today?
If I had to pick one person, I would say it’s my husband. He allows me to dream big but he’s always reminding me to slow down and not take for granted the days that are in front of me.
One thing you wish someone would have told you about motherhood?
Joy and overwhelm often coexist. I’ve found this to be a constant over the last 12 years of being a mom.
What advice would you share with a new mom or other moms?
Try to drown out the noise as best you can. Everyone wants to help moms and babies. Find some credible expert accounts you can follow if you’re on social media, but don’t follow too many. Be sure to seek in-person support from local experts. Lean on your family and friends (especially if they are moms themselves) for support during those first few months. You are not meant to do it all.
We love supporting local businesses – favorite places in Charleston to…
Have Dinner with Family: Home-team BBQ Mt.Pleasant
Have a Date Night: Maison (downtown)
Spend time together as a Family: The beach
Outside Activities: Fishing, Boating, Bike Rides, Walks
Grab coffee: Harbinger Cafe (downtown)
