Cara-lee’s story

10 June 2026

When Cara-lee welcomed her third baby, she says that returning to Plunket felt like coming home. Already an experienced mum, Cara-lee thought she had parenting figured out. However, her third child had reflux and a dairy intolerance, making the early months overwhelming. Sleep deprivation was taking its toll until her Plunket nurse suggested what Cara-lee calls a “game changer”.

“My experience with my third baby has been tough in ways I never expected. The reflux followed by a dairy intolerance was something I had never experienced before. The sleep challenges were huge. My little man barely slept. He woke every hour overnight and only did short 20-minute naps during the day. I was exhausted, barely sleeping, constantly feeding, unable to put him down, and overwhelmed by the endless washing from reflux. I honestly looked and felt like a zombie.”

Throughout it all, Cara-lee says her Plunket nurse became an essential source of support, checking in regularly, sharing resources, and making sure her mental wellbeing was never overlooked.

“I remember sitting with my Plunket nurse and explaining how hard the nights had become. He was feeding constantly day and night, and I admitted I was struggling to stay awake overnight from sheer exhaustion.”

Her Plunket nurse suggested using a Pēpi Pod® for safer bed sharing and was even able to drop one off before his next sleep. It allowed Cara-lee to have the baby close and in a safe space.
“It was honestly a game changer. The Pēpi Pod® made overnight feeds and settling so much easier. I could safely settle him beside me and then place him back into the Pēpi Pod®. It helped me get more rest and feel safer during those exhausting nights."

Over time, things slowly began to improve. With support from Plunket, the family worked on sleep routines and wake windows. Pēpi gradually began sleeping for longer stretches of two hours at a time.

Looking back, Cara-lee encourages other parents facing similar situations to ask for help and be honest about how they are coping.

“There were times I needed advice, times I just needed to vent, and times I simply needed to cry. My Plunket nurse supported me through all of it without judgement. She listened, reassured me, and helped me find solutions.”

The experience also taught her the importance of caring for herself alongside her baby and whānau.

“Plunket really helped me see parenting in a holistic way, that I needed to look after not just my baby’s wellbeing, but mine as well. Because if I wasn’t filling my own cup and getting the support I needed, it became much harder to care for everyone else.”