Ep 6. Mother's Milk

Notes From the Underbelly season 1 episode 6, titled "Mother's Milk," follows the trials and tribulations of Lauren and Andrew, a married couple who are expecting their first child. In this episode, Lauren decides to start storing breast milk for when the baby arrives.

Lauren, who is a perfectionist and always prepared, wants to make sure she has everything ready for when the baby gets here. She decides to start pumping her breast milk and storing it in the freezer. Andrew thinks it's a little too soon to start doing that but goes along with it anyway.

Lauren invites her friend, Julie, over to help her with the process and to give her some tips. Julie, who is a mother of two, has been through this before and is happy to help out. Lauren is determined to pump as much milk as possible, so she can have a substantial supply in case of emergency.

As Lauren is pumping, she starts to feel uncomfortable and exposed. Julie explains that it's a natural feeling and recommends some privacy shields to help. Lauren is skeptical at first, but Julie assures her that they work wonders.

Meanwhile, Andrew is struggling to find a gift for Lauren on Mother's Day. He asks his friend, Eric, for advice, but nothing seems quite right. Eric suggests that he add something personal to a gift to make it special. After some back and forth, Andrew takes Eric's advice and decides to put together a scrapbook of their journey to becoming parents.

Back at the house, Lauren is becoming obsessed with her breast milk supply. She's constantly checking it, worrying that she's not pumping enough, and even bringing it to work with her. Her co-worker, Cooper, walks in on her breastfeeding in a supply room and is surprised to see it. Lauren is mortified and tries to make an excuse, but Cooper assures her that it's natural and not to be ashamed.

As Mother's Day approaches, Lauren becomes more anxious about the gift she'll receive. She drops hints to Andrew, but he's too busy working on the scrapbook to listen. On Mother's Day, Lauren wakes up to a beautiful breakfast in bed and a heartfelt card from Andrew. She's overjoyed and feels loved and appreciated.

Later on, Lauren receives a surprise gift from her mother-in-law, Barbara. She's hesitant to open it because of Barbara's previous disapproval of her marriage to Andrew. However, inside is a necklace with the word "mother" on it. Lauren is moved by the gesture and feels that Barbara is finally accepting her as part of the family.

In the end, Lauren realizes that the most important gift she's received is her role as a mother. She accepts her body's changes and embraces the journey that's ahead. She's ready to be a mom and looks forward to all the challenges that come with it.

Overall, "Mother's Milk" is an emotional and heartwarming episode that touches on the struggles and triumphs of becoming a new parent. It shows the importance of support from friends and family and highlights the unconditional love that comes with motherhood.