The Holistic Orthodontist

My name is Dr. Catherine Murphy aka The Holistic Orthodontist. I am a dentist and orthodontist by trade,

but helping fellow mommas is my passion...and I recently wrote a picture book about breastfeeding!

Right about now, you may be wondering: 

Why is a dentist writing a breastfeeding book? 

Or... Why a children's book? Isn't this a topic for grown-ups?

Or... I totally get it! WHERE CAN I FIND THIS BOOK?! 

Well, to address those first two questions, I have learned a lot about holistic health during my more than 15 years  as a family dentist and orthodontist in the suburban Chicago area. Specifically, I have seen how the everyday functions of the mouth, head and neck (eating, drinking, sleeping, swallowing, talking and breathing) are a window into a person's overall health. 

If you stop and think about it, many of our kids have challenges that can be traced to the mouth, nose or tongue. And it often starts as early as infancy. My professional training and experience has given me insight into the mechanics of these areas of the body. From a technical standpoint, I could definitely give you loads of factoids about how a baby's mouth and tongue correlates to breastfeeding success... but that's not what this book is about!

This book tells a more personal story. One of my greatest awakenings came when I had the life-changing experience of becoming a new mom. Like millions of other women, I fell in love with my child and was excited about the prospect of bonding through breastfeeding. But I struggled. And struggled. I sought help, but felt let down by the "experts" whose information, products and techniques were simply not helpful.

In the end, I found my way... and later decided to share my journey in hopes that other moms might find inspiration and comfort from it. Paired with heartwarming illustrations, my book captures the sweet, raw emotions of new motherhood with a message of empowerment. It is written in a format that both adults and children can understand, connect with, and appreciate.