The Follow-Up: Overcoming Percentile Anxiety

In this Follow Up episode, I’m opening up about something I’ve counseled countless parents through yet still had to face myself: the emotional weight of percentiles. After my daughter Vera was born, a mix of postpartum complications, exclusive pumping, and constant worry about her petite size pulled me into a spiral I didn’t see coming.

This episode walks through that experience with honesty and compassion. I share what feeding looked like in those early weeks, how comparison added pressure, how anxiety shaped her feeding behavior, and the turning points that helped me step back into a steadier perspective.

Most importantly, we revisit what matters far more than the number on a chart: the big-picture signs of a thriving baby. If you’ve ever left a checkup feeling shaky or second-guessing yourself, this conversation is for you.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What percentile anxiety actually sounds and feels like for parents

• How postpartum complications and exclusive pumping layered into worry

• The comparison trap and why it hits so hard in early parenthood

• How anxiety can accidentally shape feeding behavior (and how to reset)

• The real indicators of healthy growth beyond the chart

• When to seek support for both your baby and your own mental health

• Why you are not failing your child, even when the numbers feel scary

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