Episode 81: An Announcement, A Break and Happy Holidays!

Dear Listeners,

I have some both exciting and a little bit sad news to share with you in today's episode.  First, the exciting news is that we are expecting our second child due in April.  We are both excited and nervous to be taking this journey all over again.  My daughter will be 4 in February, and I started this podcast over 3 ½ years ago when she was just a couple months old.  It’s truly been a labor of love.

Now, for the a little bit sadder news. In an effort to practice what I preach and really slow down during these last months of pregnancy and the newborn phase, I have decided to take a 6 month break from the podcast.  This is the last episode that will be in your feed for a while.  I hope to come back with renewed vigor next summer, and with more stories to share from my own second newborn phase!

Until then, there are 80 episodes in the archive - all still available on iTunes - of wonderful stories of all the good and hard things about the postpartum period. I would love if you share them with your friends and family.  Wishing you all the best for the holiday season and the early part of 2018 – and please remember to take the time for yourself, even in the smallest of ways.  Thank you, as always for listening.

So much Love,

Kellie

Episode 80: Babies with Food Intolerances and Allergies with Michelle Beckner

Today it was so fun talking to Michelle Beckner! Michelle is a mom of two who is passionate about real food and educating new and expecting moms on how to stay happy and healthy so that they can raise happy and healthy babies. She was working as a chemical engineer and pregnant with my second child when she decided to go back to school to become a certified nutrition coach in 2016. Since then, she's taught courses on starting solids and how to be a Calm Mom. Now, she mainly work with breastfeeding moms with babies who have food allergies and intolerances. She has breastfed both of my babies through food allergies. With everything she's learned, she's made it her mission to educate new and expecting moms of the signs of allergies as well as educate and support moms who need to eliminate dairy and other foods from their diet.

In her episode we chat about:

• Birthing a business and a baby all in the same year!
• Balancing a business, another part time job and a move all in the postpartum year
• Her experience with food allergies and intolerances with her own children
• The complications of so many different opinions on how to manage allergies with babies
• How she can help breastfeeding moms with with allergies
• Her experience switching to midwifery care mid-pregnancy
• The importance of educating ourselves about our birthing options and care providers
• The challenges of having the second child and the work multiplying
• Disposable plates and utensils for your friends who are newly postpartum!

You can find Michelle on Facebook @mlbfamilywellness or on her website here. If you are a dairy free mama then check out her Facebook group Dairy Free Breastfeeding: Surviving & Thriving! 

You can find this episode wherever you listen to podcasts or you can stream it here.

This episode of the postpartum podcast is sponsored by Aeroflow Breastpumps.  Aeroflow helps you navigate qualifying for a breast pump through your insurance. Just because its covered, doesn’t mean it’s easy. Let Aeroflow handle the bureaucracy so that you can enjoy your baby. Go to aeroflowbreastpumps.com/postpartum to learn more.

***

As always, please consider subscribing and leaving a review on iTunes here. Your reviews really help the show out because they allow it to be more visible so that we can reach more moms. 

Do you shop on Amazon?  Use this link and do your shopping as you always would and the show will get a teeny tiny kickback. 

Thank you SO much for your support!

You can find Michelle on Facebook @mlbfamilywellness. If you are a dairy free mama then check out her Facebook group Dairy Free Breastfeeding: Surviving & Thriving!

Episode 79: "Making it through the 'ring of fire,' going light, and being generous with ourselves." with Rebecca Egbert of The Mother Love

Today I SO enjoyed chatting with Rebecca Egbert. Rebecca was a practicing midwife for nearly 10 years and is now the Founder and CEO of The Mother Love, a company building inclusive technology and connected communities to improve women’s health. Often told she has the energy of 7 people, hard work is part of her cellular body. After starting many businesses, she committed deeply to her entrepreneurial and innovative spirit deciding to take a giant leap away from clinical care, into the health education and tech world. With a hint of intuition and playful communication, Rebecca and her team create fun, accessible and actionable self-care tools that are designed to be used, most importantly, and shared to grow healthy women, strong families, and create connected communities. She loves her people and places deeply, and does a lot of things that might make you think she’s nuts in her little spare time. I so appreciated her real and honest approach and I know you will love this episode!

In her episode, we chat about:

• Her interest in healthcare at a young age
• How she saw a hole in the postpartum care arena from her experience as a midwife
• How she chose to become a CPM instead of a CNM
• How she transitioned from a practicing midwife to an entrepreneur 
• Her research into what postpartum women most need
• How Little Mother's Helper came to be
• The importance of women supporting other women
• The importance of nurturing your relationship with your partner before birth
• The break and space needed after the baby is born - limit your visitors!
• How this year was the year of "slowing down" for a lot of people
• What's next for The Mother Love...venture capitalists and more!
• And SO many other wonderful things!

Be sure to check out Little Mother's Helper here!

You can find this episode wherever you listen to podcasts or you can stream it here.

This episode of the postpartum podcast is sponsored by Aeroflow Breastpumps.  Aeroflow helps you navigate qualifying for a breast pump through your insurance. Just because its covered, doesn’t mean it’s easy. Let Aeroflow handle the bureaucracy so that you can enjoy your baby. Go to aeroflowbreastpumps.com/postpartum to learn more.

***

As always, please consider subscribing and leaving a review on iTunes here. Your reviews really help the show out because they allow it to be more visible so that we can reach more moms. 

Do you shop on Amazon?  Use this link and do your shopping as you always would and the show will get a teeny tiny kickback. 

Thank you SO much for your support!

Episode 78: Don't Do It On Your Own with Bianca and Natasha of bebo mia

Today I so enjoyed chatting with Bianca Sprague and Natasha Marchand of bebo mia inc. Bianca is a birth doula and lactation educator and has supported hundreds of families through their pregnancy, birth and postpartum periods. She feels particularly passionate around maintaining the family's relationships and mental wellness. As a queer woman she advocates for inclusive language in the birthing space. She lives in Toronto with her spouse, Alana, and their daughter, Gray. Natasha is a pre & postnatal fitness professional and birth doula. After a long fertility journey with her first daughter, Natasha has positioned herself as a fertility expert. She specializes in working with families with a history of try to conceive through their pregnancy and postpartum period. Natasha lives in Toronto with her husband, Chris, their 6 year old daughter, Sadie, and just gave birth to her second daughter in September. bebo mia inc is a training & mentorship organization for women in the maternal health field, including pregnancy/birth professionals, childbirth educators & parenting specialists. They offer comprehensive skills, business support & community care through an innovative online structure that spans a global market. 

In their episode we chat about:

• bebo mia's origin story
• Why they have some focus on fertility in their business
• Inclusive gender language when it comes to birth work
• How they feel like they did the opposite with their postpartum experiences that they tell their clients to do and what they would've done differently
• The challenge of working in this field and people "expecting us to be really good at this"
• Postpartum planning and asking for what you want
• Their birth stories and Natasha's thoughts about her upcoming C-Section
• The importance of setting yourself up for a positive postpartum experience
• Their differing experiences with postpartum as Natasha is more social and Bianca more introverted
• Postpartum struggles with a spirited high needs baby
• Letting moms experience whatever they experience postpartum
• Don't do it on your own!!
• And more!

You can find this episode wherever you listen to podcasts or you can stream it here.

This episode of the postpartum podcast is sponsored by Aeroflow Breastpumps.  Aeroflow helps you navigate qualifying for a breast pump through your insurance. Just because its covered, doesn’t mean it’s easy. Let Aeroflow handle the bureaucracy so that you can enjoy your baby. Go to aeroflowbreastpumps.com/postpartum to learn more.

***

As always, please consider subscribing and leaving a review on iTunes here. Your reviews really help the show out because they allow it to be more visible so that we can reach more moms. 

Do you shop on Amazon?  Use this link and do your shopping as you always would and the show will get a teeny tiny kickback. 

Thank you SO much for your support!

Episode 77: "Stay off of Google, Trust your Instincts and more helpful tips" with Carole Kramer Arsenault, author of Newborn 101

Today I enjoyed chatting with Carole Kramer Arsenault, RN, IBCLC. Carole has devoted her career to infant and pregnancy care, and worked for many years as a delivery nurse, including at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She founded and runs Boston Baby Nurse, a home health agency offering specialized support to families with babies. She lives outside Boston.

In her episode we chat about:

·      Her work as a labor and delivery nurse and how that played a role in her birth and postpartum stories

·      How she came to start Boston Baby Nurse and what services they offer

·      Why she decided to write Newborn 101 and what readers can expect to get out of it – it’s like a pocket Postpartum nurse for you to take home!

·      The importance of trusting your instincts during the postpartum period and avoiding getting too caught up in the fear-based perspective of Google searching

·      Slowing down during the early postpartum weeks

·      Lowering our expectations of our postpartum bodies.

·      And so much more!

Be sure to check out Boston Baby Nurse and get yourself a copy of Newborn 101

You can find this episode wherever you listen to podcasts or you can stream it here. 

This episode of the postpartum podcast is sponsored by Aeroflow Breastpumps.  Aeroflow helps you navigate qualifying for a breast pump through your insurance. Just because its covered, doesn’t mean it’s easy. Let Aeroflow handle the bureaucracy so that you can enjoy your baby. Go to aeroflowbreastpumps.com/postpartum to learn more.

***

As always, please consider subscribing and leaving a review on iTunes here. Your reviews really help the show out because they allow it to be more visible so that we can reach more moms. 

Do you shop on Amazon?  Use this link and do your shopping as you always would and the show will get a teeny tiny kickback. 

Thank you SO much for your support!

Episode 76: "Support is Key" with Betsy Schwartz of Birth in the Know

Today I so enjoyed chatting with Betsy Schwartz. She is a pioneer and a visionary. She began her career in 1991, working for one of the oldest postpartum doula services in the country. In 1994 she established Tenth Month Doula Services, the first of its kind in South Florida. Betsy is a founding member of the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services, where she served on the Board for two years. Her most recent accomplishment is the creation and publication of Down the Canal – The Game of Birth. She also offers online courses for birth workers. Betsy continues to pioneer in Citrus County Florida where she is actively involved in community collaboration as part of the Citrus Committee of the Florida Healthy Babies Initiative. Betsy holds a master’s degree in management of human services. She was a DONA postpartum doula trainer for fourteen years, and before that a CAPPA trainer. Betsy is a certified postpartum doula, a Reiki Master and a yoga enthusiast, and is active in transformational work through Gratitude Training.

In her episode we chat about:

• Why she was called to be a Postpartum Doula after her first birth
• How she came to create "Down the Canal: The Game of Birth"
• The best way for parents to be informed and take responsibility for their choices
• Her two very different birth experiences
• Her goal of sharing and teaching Reiki to Birth Workers and Pregnant Couples
• How lovely the postpartum period is for forcing us to slow down
• Navigating her second postpartum during the grief of losing her father
• Sleep challenges
• Our soap box about maternity leave in this country not being long enough
• The disservice we do moms by telling them they should be "doing it all"
• Redefining self care
• And more!

Be sure to check out Betsy's work and the "Down the Canal Game of Birth" here. 

You can find the episode wherever you find your podcasts or you can stream it here.

This episode of the postpartum podcast is sponsored by Aeroflow Breastpumps.  Aeroflow helps you navigate qualifying for a breast pump through your insurance. Just because its covered, doesn’t mean it’s easy. Let Aeroflow handle the bureaucracy so that you can enjoy your baby. Go to aeroflowbreastpumps.com/postpartum to learn more.

***

As always, please consider subscribing and leaving a review on iTunes here. Your reviews really help the show out because they allow it to be more visible so that we can reach more moms. 

Do you shop on Amazon?  Use this link and do your shopping as you always would and the show will get a teeny tiny kickback. 

You can also support the show by becoming a patron on Patreon.  No donation is too small, for as little as $1 per episode, you can make a huge difference for the show.  Click here to learn more. 

Thank you SO much for your support!

Episode 75: "Change is the only Constant" with maternal health consultant, Arianna Taboada

I so enjoyed chatting with Arianna Taboada. Arianna is a maternal health consultant who works with experienced entrepreneurs who are becoming first time mothers, helping them customize their maternity leave plan and return to work. She is deeply committed to providing on-going, multi-faceted support that meets the professional, physical, mental, social, and emotional needs of entrepreneurs as they babyproof their business and navigate new motherhood.

Prior to her consulting practice, Arianna worked on maternal health issues for over a decade as a health educator, a social worker in a mental health clinic, a reproductive health researcher, and a yoga therapist. She draws from her expertise as a maternal health professional, combined with her experience as a business owner and mother, to provide highly personalized services so expecting entrepreneurs have the tools and information they need to make decisions and take action when it comes to balancing their business with a new baby.  In her episode we covered so many topics but they included:

• How she got into the work that she does
• How she saw the need for helping entrepreneurs navigate maternity leave
• Midwifery care having a re-birth in Mexico
• The amazing difference between postpartum care in midwifery versus obstetric care
• The WHO recommendations for postpartum visits
• Tools to use for planning out your postpartum period and filling in gaps that may be missing in your support system and care.
• Building the muscle of asking for help and how her postpartum period looked
• The reality and perhaps taboo topic of it not being all happy sunshine and rainbows in both pregnancy and postpartum
• The benefit of not building back up to her same workload after baby
• The importance of social support during postpartum
• How her maternal health coaching works - spoiler - it's all online and you can access her from anywhere! :)
• Learn more about her services at http://www.ariannataboada.com/ 

You can find the episode wherever you find your podcasts or you can stream it here.

This episode of the postpartum podcast is sponsored by Aeroflow Breastpumps.  Aeroflow helps you navigate qualifying for a breast pump through your insurance. Just because its covered, doesn’t mean it’s easy. Let Aeroflow handle the bureaucracy so that you can enjoy your baby. Go to aeroflowbreastpumps.com/postpartum to learn more.

***

As always, please consider subscribing and leaving a review on iTunes here. Your reviews really help the show out because they allow it to be more visible so that we can reach more moms. 

Do you shop on Amazon?  Use this link and do your shopping as you always would and the show will get a teeny tiny kickback. 

You can also support the show by becoming a patron on Patreon.  No donation is too small, for as little as $1 per episode, you can make a huge difference for the show.  Click here to learn more. 

Thank you SO much for your support!

Episode 74: Minisode - Summer Break and iTunes Review Giveaway!

Apologies friends, it's been radio silence over here!  My plan was to take a break from the podcast during this busy month of August and reset in the Fall starting mid-September. But then I got super sick and was unable to record this minisode to let you all know my plan! I will be back September 12th with a brand new interview episode and I have some fab guests lined up for the fall.  In the meantime, I am running my semi-annual iTunes ratings & review giveaway! Just Leave a Rating & Review on the Podcast between now and September 11th and you'll be entered for a chance to win the above prizes! And maybe some fun treats along with what's pictured above! :)  Good luck!

Again click HERE to leave your review!

***

Do you shop on Amazon?  Use this link and do your shopping as you always would and the show will get a teeny tiny kickback. 

You can also support the show by becoming a patron on Patreon.  No donation is too small, for as little as $1 per episode, you can make a huge difference for the show.  Click here to learn more. 

Thank you SO much for your support!

Episode 73: "You Can Do Anything, But You Can't Do Everything" with Dr. Erica Zelfand

Today I so enjoyed chatting with Dr. Erica Zelfand. She is a family physician specializing in integrative and functional medicine. After graduating from medical school, completing a midwifery apprenticeship, and finishing a family practice residency, she then completed four additional years of post-doctoral training in pediatrics under the tutelage of Paul Thomas, MD, the author of the acclaimed book The Vaccine-Friendly Plan. She sees patients of all ages in her family practice in Portland, Oregon, and is deeply committed to a patient-centered, root-cause-oriented, nature-honoring approach to healing. 

In her episode we talk about:

• The benefits of having a family physician
•  Postpartum Fatigue, why, how and what to do
• How the plethora of options makes it harder for new moms
• The benefit of starting pregnancy in a non-depleted state
• Anemia is common after childbirth
• Ferritin Test, CBCs and other important postpartum testing
• How to best get your iron levels up
• Our constant state of stress and how social media affects it
• Emphasis on Blood Sugar Levels
• Herbs for the 4th Trimester and adrenal fatigue: rhodiola, ashwaganda, schizandra, licorice and B Vitamins
• Hypothyroidism and Hashimotos
• The importance of a mindfulness practice
• Explanations of thyroid testing and what you need to check for imbalances
• Simplicity Parenting
• And More!

Learn more about Erica's work and practice here.

You can find the episode wherever you find your podcasts or you can stream it here.

This episode is sponsored by audible.com.  Audible makes it easy to listen to all of your favorite books.  They are offering listeners of this podcast a FREE audiobook and 30 day trial.  Go to audibletrial.com/PostpartumPodcast to get your free book now. 

***

As always, please consider subscribing and leaving a review on iTunes here. Your reviews really help the show out because they allow it to be more visible so that we can reach more moms. 

Do you shop on Amazon?  Use this link and do your shopping as you always would and the show will get a teeny tiny kickback. 

You can also support the show by becoming a patron on Patreon.  No donation is too small, for as little as $1 per episode, you can make a huge difference for the show.  Click here to learn more. 

Thank you SO much for your support!

Episode 72: "Right now, you are in the season of needing help, but eventually you'll be the one giving it. It's all a circle." with Kate Turza, Postpartum Doula

Today I so enjoyed chatting with Kate Turza. Kate is a mom of 3 and postpartum doula. After navigating difficult postpartum periods with each of her children, she realized that there needs to be better support for new moms. She began her postpartum doula training when her youngest was 3 months old, and has been practicing for over 2.5 years now. She moderates an in-person new mom support group in her area, as well as a Facebook group for new moms, she's also created a directory of professionals in her area (East End Parent Support).  She's also on the board of a non-profit, Long Island Birth Network, which provides education, support, and resources for expecting and new families in her area. 

In her episode we chat about:

• The challenge of having 3 kids under 4 when she had her 3rd
• How you're always tired once you have kids
• Consider negotiating bring baby with you back to work if you can
• How we don't have enough maternity leave
• How she decided to become a postpartum doula
• Breastfeeding challenges from a retained placenta
• An overview of what Postpartum Doulas do
• How a Postpartum Doula should be called a "Fourth Trimester" Doula
• The challenge of not dwelling on our decisions
• The importance of knowing where your postpartum support is in your area
• The importance of non-judgmental support just for you
• The importance of checking in
• And so much more!

Enjoy!

This episode of the Postpartum Podcast is sponsored by ICON UNDIES. Did you know that 1 in 3 women experience little bladder leaks when they run, jump, sneeze, or laugh? This is especially true for new moms. But because of Icon, You don’t have to worry!  Their undies feel like a regular, beautiful pair of underwear, but can hold up to 6 teaspoons of liquid without the bulky, bunchy plasticy feel of a pantyliner.  Icon is also offering listeners of the podcast $5 off your order with code postpartum at checkout. 

Today’s episode is also sponsored by Ecocentric Mom. Pregnancy & new motherhood are the most thrilling times in any woman's life. - but they can also be the scariest. We're overwhelmed with information about what products are safe & effective for ourselves and our babies. Ecocentric Mom helps you navigate those choices by delivering monthly discovery boxes of products to help you care for yourself and your growing family.  Each month subscribers receive organic, natural or handmade products and lifestyle accessories chosen just for your stage of motherhood - from pregnancy to postpartum and beyond. Podcast listeners are invited to use code POSTPARTUM10 to receive a 10% lifetime discount on your subscription.

You can find the show wherever you find your podcasts, or stream it here.

***

As always, please consider subscribing and leaving a review on iTunes here. Your reviews really help the show out because they allow it to be more visible so that we can reach more moms. 

Do you shop on Amazon?  Use this link and do your shopping as you always would and the show will get a teeny tiny kickback. 

You can also support the show by becoming a patron on Patreon.  No donation is too small, for as little as $1 per episode, you can make a huge difference for the show.  Click here to learn more. 

Thank you SO much for your support!

Episode 71: "Whatever you're feeling, it's OK and it's normal" with Emma Shaffer

Today was a special day because I got to chat with my best friend from childhood, Emma Shaffer. Emma is a part time marketing consultant as she makes a career change into teaching Elementary School and is a single mom of 1. She, like myself, grew up in Truckee, CA and now lives and works just across the state line in Reno, Nevada. Emma is one of the strongest mothers I know, and I am so fortunate to be able to do this whole parenting thing with her, so I’m so excited to share her story with all of you!

In her episode we chat about:

• Being a single mom juggling school and work during postpartum
• Being induced just a day or two before her school semester started
• Juggling staying in college when she was postpartum with Otto
• The challenges of exclusively pumping
• The benefits of a flexible school schedule with little babies
• Her experience with Postpartum Anxiety around 9 months
• Struggling to connect with her baby for the first couple months and the feelings of not being able to share this with other people
• Grandma El's Diaper Cream
• And so much more!

This episode of the Postpartum Podcast is sponsored by ICON UNDIES. Did you know that 1 in 3 women experience little bladder leaks when they run, jump, sneeze, or laugh? This is especially true for new moms. But because of Icon, You don’t have to worry!  Their undies feel like a regular, beautiful pair of underwear, but can hold up to 6 teaspoons of liquid without the bulky, bunchy plasticy feel of a pantyliner.  Icon is also offering listeners of the podcast $5 off your order with code postpartum at checkout. 

Today’s episode is also sponsored by Ecocentric Mom. Pregnancy & new motherhood are the most thrilling times in any woman's life. - but they can also be the scariest. We're overwhelmed with information about what products are safe & effective for ourselves and our babies. Ecocentric Mom helps you navigate those choices by delivering monthly discovery boxes of products to help you care for yourself and your growing family.  Each month subscribers receive organic, natural or handmade products and lifestyle accessories chosen just for your stage of motherhood - from pregnancy to postpartum and beyond. Podcast listeners are invited to use code POSTPARTUM10 to receive a 10% lifetime discount on your subscription.

You can find the show wherever you find your podcasts, or stream it here.

***

As always, please consider subscribing and leaving a review on iTunes here. Your reviews really help the show out because they allow it to be more visible so that we can reach more moms. 

Do you shop on Amazon?  Use this link and do your shopping as you always would and the show will get a teeny tiny kickback. 

You can also support the show by becoming a patron on Patreon.  No donation is too small, for as little as $1 per episode, you can make a huge difference for the show.  Click here to learn more. 

Thank you SO much for your support!

Episode 70: The importance of Birthing Choices and Community with Lori O'Donley

Today it was such a joy to talk to my dear friend Lori O'Donley! Lori is a public affairs specialist for the US Air Force, has a master's degree in communications, served in the Air Force herself for 4 years and is mom to two kids. Lori and I met when we were both starting that master's degree program when she had just had her second baby.  She is someone I will always have to thank for the career path I ended up on because of her encouragement to look into my birthing options when I was pregnant with my daughter. Lori is such a light, enjoy!

In her episode we chat about:

• The importance of knowing your birth options
• Her difficult postpartum period with her first child
• The unkind care she received in the hospital during her first birth
• The amazing difference when she had a midwife for her second
• The importance of knowing what to expect from your body during birth
• How much she loved Birthing From Within for Birth Preparation
• Starting a grad school program when her daughter was 3 weeks old
• The importance of giving new parents space and time to bond
• Scary Mommy for your sanity!
• And more!

This episode of the Postpartum Podcast is sponsored by ICON UNDIES. Did you know that 1 in 3 women experience little bladder leaks when they run, jump, sneeze, or laugh? This is especially true for new moms. But because of Icon, You don’t have to worry!  Their undies feel like a regular, beautiful pair of underwear, but can hold up to 6 teaspoons of liquid without the bulky, bunchy plasticy feel of a pantyliner.  Icon is also offering listeners of the podcast $5 off your order with code postpartum at checkout. 

ICON is also giving away THREE pairs of Icon Undies to one lucky winner this month for Mother's Day! Enter to win at the Rafflecopter Giveaway below!

You can find the show wherever you find your podcasts, or stream it here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***

As always, please consider subscribing and leaving a review on iTunes here. Your reviews really help the show out because they allow it to be more visible so that we can reach more moms. 

Do you shop on Amazon?  Use this link and do your shopping as you always would and the show will get a teeny tiny kickback. 

The podcast is also sponsored by Audible.com.  To get your FREE audiobook and 30-day trial, please go tohttp://www.audibletrial.com/postpartum   

You can also support the show by becoming a patron on Patreon.  No donation is too small, for as little as $1 per episode, you can make a huge difference for the show.  Click here to learn more. 

Thank you SO much for your support!

Episode 69: "It's a Sign of Strength to Ask For Help" With Lori J. Isenstadt of the All About Breastfeeding Podcast

Today I had so much fun chatting with Lori Jill Isenstadt of the All About Breastfeeding Podcast.  Lori is an internationally board certified lactation consultant and has spent much of her adult life working in the maternal health field. Once she became turned on to birth and became a childbirth educator, there was no stopping her love of working with families during their childbearing years.  Lori became a Birth doula and a Postpartum doula and soon became a lactation consultant.   Lori founded her private practice, All About Breastfeeding where she meets with moms one on one to help solve their breastfeeding challenges.  Her membership site, All About Mothering, which just launched on April 1st, 2017, helps moms navigate their journey from pregnancy through their postpartum days. She is an international speaker, book author and podcast host. Not to mention, she is mom to 3 grown children.  

In the episode we talk about:

• The challenges of being a childbirth educator already when birthing her second child
• How her career in birth work evolved over the years
• Why she decided to start the All About Breastfeeding Podcast
• The importance of educating society about breastfeeding
• How important it is to talk about the things no one else does when it comes to birth and breastfeeding
• Her new educational membership website, All About Mothering
• The importance of not comparing birth and postpartum stories
• Her experience with polyhydramnios with her third baby
• Her incredibly quick labor with her third
• The intense details that we remember about our birth stories, even decades later!
• The sweet moments throughout the first year
• and More!

This episode of the Postpartum Podcast is sponsored by ICON UNDIES. Did you know that 1 in 3 women experience little bladder leaks when they run, jump, sneeze, or laugh? This is especially true for new moms. But because of Icon, You don’t have to worry!  Their undies feel like a regular, beautiful pair of underwear, but can hold up to 6 teaspoons of liquid without the bulky, bunchy plasticy feel of a pantyliner.  Icon is also offering listeners of the podcast $5 off your order with code postpartum at checkout. 

ICON is also giving away THREE pairs of Icon Undies to one lucky winner this month for Mother's Day! Enter to win at the Rafflecopter Giveaway below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can find the show wherever you find your podcasts, or stream it here.

***

As always, please consider subscribing and leaving a review on iTunes here. Your reviews really help the show out because they allow it to be more visible so that we can reach more moms. 

Do you shop on Amazon?  Use this link and do your shopping as you always would and the show will get a teeny tiny kickback. 

The podcast is also sponsored by Audible.com.  To get your FREE audiobook and 30-day trial, please go tohttp://www.audibletrial.com/postpartum   

You can also support the show by becoming a patron on Patreon.  No donation is too small, for as little as $1 per episode, you can make a huge difference for the show.  Click here to learn more. 

Thank you SO much for your support!

Episode 68: "Once You've Had a Baby, You're Always Postpartum" with Samantha Montpetit-Huynh of Bellies Inc.

Today I had a wonderful conversation with Samantha Montpetit-Huynh. She is the mother of two beautiful girls, a certified pre and postnatal exercise specialist with over 15 years experience and the co-founder of Bellies Inc., the creators of the AB Tank Complete System, the most comprehensive, holistic system that combines restorative exercises and abdominal wrapping to help women build core confidence from pregnancy through motherhood.

In her episode we chat about:

• The myomectomy she had in her 20s and how that affected her births
• Learning that she could have had a VBAC with her second if she'd know and how she processed that experience
• Her work with diastases recti and pelvic flood disfunction
• How we force moms back into regular life and exercise RIGHT after birth
• The need for a pelvic floor physical therapist
• How our bodies will never be the same as they were pre-baby
• What services Bellies Inc offers both for prenatal and postpartum
• How France does postpartum pelvic floor therapy differently
• Painful Sex after birth is common but not normal
• The increase in prolapse in younger women because they are rushing back into fitness without restorative exercise
• Tips for supporting your body both during pregnancy and postpartum, including their Core Confidence Program.
• Her own hysterectomy and how she rehabbed her core after that
• and more!

This episode of the Postpartum Podcast is sponsored by ICON UNDIES. Did you know that 1 in 3 women experience little bladder leaks when they run, jump, sneeze, or laugh? This is especially true for new moms. But because of Icon, You don’t have to worry!  Their undies feel like a regular, beautiful pair of underwear, but can hold up to 6 teaspoons of liquid without the bulky, bunchy plasticy feel of a pantyliner.  Icon is also offering listeners of the podcast $5 off your order with code postpartum at checkout. 

You can find the show wherever you find your podcasts, or stream it here.

***

As always, please consider subscribing and leaving a review on iTunes here. Your reviews really help the show out because they allow it to be more visible so that we can reach more moms. 

Do you shop on Amazon?  Use this link and do your shopping as you always would and the show will get a teeny tiny kickback. 

The podcast is also sponsored by Audible.com.  To get your FREE audiobook and 30-day trial, please go tohttp://www.audibletrial.com/postpartum   

You can also support the show by becoming a patron on Patreon.  No donation is too small, for as little as $1 per episode, you can make a huge difference for the show.  Click here to learn more. 

Thank you SO much for your support!

Episode 67: "There is no Always or Never - Listen to Your Baby" with Batya Sherizen, AKA Batya the Baby Coach

Today I enjoyed chatting with Batya Sherizen, AKA Batya the Baby Coach.  Batya is mom to 5 kids, and a child sleep expert.  She has been helping parents help their babies sleep for over a decade.  She offers one-on-one coaching - no matter where you are in the world! - free trainings and has even created a free gentle guide to baby sleep that you can find here: http://batyathebabycoach.com/postpartumpodcast

In her episode we chat about:

• Parenting 5 children!
• Living in Israel for most of her postpartum periods
• How she became a Child Sleep Coach
• The midwifery model of care in Jerusalem 
• The importance of listening to your own body during pregnancy
• How her fourth baby turned footling breech during labor and ended in C-Section
• Her top tips for infant sleep issues and parents facing sleep deprivation
• And More!

This episode of the postpartum Podcast is sponsored by ICON UNDIES. Did you know that 1 in 3 women experience little bladder leaks when they run, jump, sneeze, or laugh? This is especially true for new moms. But because of Icon, You don’t have to worry!  Their undies feel like a regular, beautiful pair of underwear, but can hold up to 6 teaspoons of liquid without the bulky, bunchy plasticy feel of a pantyliner.  Icon is also offering listeners of the podcast $5 off your order with code postpartum at checkout. 

You can find the show wherever you find your podcasts, or stream it here.

***

As always, please consider subscribing and leaving a review on iTunes here. Your reviews really help the show out because they allow it to be more visible so that we can reach more moms. 

Do you shop on Amazon?  Use this link and do your shopping as you always would and the show will get a teeny tiny kickback. 

The podcast is also sponsored by Audible.com.  To get your FREE audiobook and 30-day trial, please go tohttp://www.audibletrial.com/postpartum   

You can also support the show by becoming a patron on Patreon.  No donation is too small, for as little as $1 per episode, you can make a huge difference for the show.  Click here to learn more. 

Thank you SO much for your support!

Episode 66: "Nice Doesn't Mean Competent" - Choosing Your Care Providers Wisely With Brooke Lonergan

Today I had so much fun chatting with another one of our local Sacramento doulas, and friendBrooke Lonergan of Birthlight Doula . Brooke is a birth and postpartum doula trained through DONA and certified by Heart and Hands. She is also Rebozo certified, a Lactation Consultant Assistant and has doula support training with Hypnobabies. She fell in love with birth and the prospect of being a doula through supporting women in my life who courageously ventured into parenthood. Watching them develop, transform and stand in the uncertain world of child bearing and rearing has inspired and shaped my experience of our culture and life. She is also a devoted woman, daughter, sister, wife, mother and ultimate birth nerd who embraces, explores and loves life. As a doula, she partner with parents to listen, educate and empower them to make the necessary decisions and create experiences that serve their unique needs & desires throughout their pregnancy, birth and postpartum times. In her episode we chatted about many things, including:

• How an unexpected heart surgery caused her to turn her life and career upside down
• The realities of doula work - it's not as glamorous as we think!
• How having her own baby changed and enhanced her doula work
• The importance of choosing your maternal healthcare providers wisely
• How just "seeing what happens" during birth is really a false statement
• The beauty of knowing that sometimes there is more to learn from our kids than to teach them
• The importance of remembering this is a season
• The importance of following your own instincts
• Find YOUR people
• And so much more!

This episode of the postpartum Podcast is sponsored by ICON UNDIES. Did you know that 1 in 3 women experience little bladder leaks when they run, jump, sneeze, or laugh? This is especially true for new moms. But because of Icon, You don’t have to worry!  Their undies feel like a regular, beautiful pair of underwear, but can hold up to 6 teaspoons of liquid without the bulky, bunchy plasticy feel of a pantyliner.  Icon is also offering listeners of the podcast $5 off your order with code postpartum at checkout. 

You can find the show wherever you find your podcasts, or stream it here.

***

As always, please consider subscribing and leaving a review on iTunes here. Your reviews really help the show out because they allow it to be more visible so that we can reach more moms. 

Do you shop on Amazon?  Use this link and do your shopping as you always would and the show will get a teeny tiny kickback. 

The podcast is also sponsored by Audible.com.  To get your FREE audiobook and 30-day trial, please go tohttp://www.audibletrial.com/postpartum   

You can also support the show by becoming a patron on Patreon.  No donation is too small, for as little as $1 per episode, you can make a huge difference for the show.  Click here to learn more. 

Thank you SO much for your support!

Episode 65: "Temper Your Expectations and Voice Your Needs" with Jolie Ankrom of Brim Papery

I so enjoyed chatting with Jolie Ankrom, aka @becomingjolie, on today's episode! Jolie is a small business owner of Brim Papery, an online stationery shop that specializes in hand lettered products. She works out of home in Columbus Ohio with her husband and two children. When she's not working, she loves to go out on walks, cook, and thrift. You can follow along with her life on Instagram at @becomingjolie where she discusses food, feminism, family, and feelings. Lots of feelings.

In her episode we talk about: 

• Her transition from teaching to owning a small business
• Struggling with the decision to put her second child in daycare sooner than her first 
• Expectations when it comes to birth  - there's no one right way!
• Both of her birth stories & her experience with prodromal labor
• The importance of voicing your needs after having a baby
• The importance of communication with your partner as parenting continues to evolve
• How babies force you to slow down
• The season you are in now is now the same as the one you are coming out of or going into - SO true!
• And more!

Enjoy!

This episode of the postpartum Podcast is sponsored by ICON UNDIES. Did you know that 1 in 3 women experience little bladder leaks when they run, jump, sneeze, or laugh? This is especially true for new moms. But because of Icon, You don’t have to worry!  Their undies feel like a regular, beautiful pair of underwear, but can hold up to 6 teaspoons of liquid without the bulky, bunchy plasticy feel of a pantyliner.  Icon is also offering listeners of the podcast $5 off your order with code postpartum at checkout. 

You can find the show wherever you find your podcasts, or stream it here.

***

As always, please consider subscribing and leaving a review on iTunes here. Your reviews really help the show out because they allow it to be more visible so that we can reach more moms. 

Do you shop on Amazon?  Use this link and do your shopping as you always would and the show will get a teeny tiny kickback. 

The podcast is also sponsored by Audible.com.  To get your FREE audiobook and 30-day trial, please go tohttp://www.audibletrial.com/postpartum   

You can also support the show by becoming a patron on Patreon.  No donation is too small, for as little as $1 per episode, you can make a huge difference for the show.  Click here to learn more. 

Thank you SO much for your support!

Episode 64: Midwifery Care, Sleep & The Little Things with Chelsea Fredlund of Placerville Midwifery

Today I so enjoyed chatting with local midwife, Chelsea Fredlund.  Chelsea is a Licensed Midwife and Certified Professional Midwife at Placerville Midwifery. Her practice offers full-scale midwifery care for women who choose to birth at home, including prenatal visits, home birth, and postpartum visits. She also offers Birthing from Within childbirth education classes for clients and other families planning a natural childbirth in or out of the hospital.  She is mom to one 4 ½ year old girl named Mariah and currently lives in Placerville, CA with her daughter and husband.

In her episode we chat about:

• How nice it can be to come in and out of birth work while parenting young kids
• Having her partner home for 3 months after birth
• Her process of going from being a doula to a midwife in recent years
• The importance of nutrition and exercise during pregnancy
• Nursing challenging
• Shifting your lifestyle around sleep
• A "good" baby is not a sleepy baby
• The difference between midwifery (particularly home birth midwifery) care and hospital care
• Ways that you can use a midwife both for prenatal and postpartum, even if you plan to birth in a hospital
• The importance of emotional support around your own parenting decisions during postpartum
• Be ready to shift expectations!

This episode of the postpartum Podcast is sponsored by ICON UNDIES. Did you know that 1 in 3 women experience little bladder leaks when they run, jump, sneeze, or laugh? This is especially true for new moms. But because of Icon, You don’t have to worry!  Their undies feel like a regular, beautiful pair of underwear, but can hold up to 6 teaspoons of liquid without the bulky, bunchy plasticy feel of a pantyliner.  Icon is also offering listeners of the podcast $5 off your order with code postpartum at checkout. 

You can find the show wherever you find your podcasts, or stream it here.

***

As always, please consider subscribing and leaving a review on iTunes here. Your reviews really help the show out because they allow it to be more visible so that we can reach more moms. 

Do you shop on Amazon?  Use this link and do your shopping as you always would and the show will get a teeny tiny kickback. 

The podcast is also sponsored by Audible.com.  To get your FREE audiobook and 30-day trial, please go tohttp://www.audibletrial.com/postpartum   

You can also support the show by becoming a patron on Patreon.  No donation is too small, for as little as $1 per episode, you can make a huge difference for the show.  Click here to learn more. 

Thank you SO much for your support!

Episode 63: "It's All Just a Season" with Jessica Turner of The Mom Creative & The Fringe Hours

Today I had a great time talking with Jessica Turner of The Mom Creative, author of The Fringe Hours: Making Time for You and creator of the Stretched Too Thin E-Course for Working Moms.  Additionally, she is an an award-winning marketing professional and freelance writer. She has been featured in numerous media outlets including The Today Show, O Magazine, Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens and Inc.com. She and her husband, Matthew live with their three young children in Nashville, Tennessee.

In her episode we talk about:

• How she juggles 3 kids, working full time and her side creative projects
• Her experience with bed rest and tiny 6 week maternity leave with her first
• Her Book, The Fringe Hours and how she released it 6 weeks after her third child was born
• The importance of self care!
• All of the good and hard things are both just a season. Changes are fast and real in the first year.
• Don't forget about your spouse/partner!
• How meal trains can support more than just your physical nourishment
• Tips for going back to work for working moms, specifically
• And of course, the importance of making time for yourself in the long run.

Check out one of Jessica's great blog posts on how busy moms find time to read. 

Sign up for the wait list for her e-course for working moms, Stretched Too Thin!

This episode of the postpartum Podcast is sponsored by ICON UNDIES. Did you know that 1 in 3 women experience little bladder leaks when they run, jump, sneeze, or laugh? This is especially true for new moms. But because of Icon, You don’t have to worry!  Their undies feel like a regular, beautiful pair of underwear, but can hold up to 6 teaspoons of liquid without the bulky, bunchy plasticy feel of a pantyliner.  Icon is also offering listeners of the podcast $5 off your order with code postpartum at checkout. 

You can find the show wherever you find your podcasts, or stream it here.

***

As always, please consider subscribing and leaving a review on iTunes here. Your reviews really help the show out because they allow it to be more visible so that we can reach more moms. 

Do you shop on Amazon?  Use this link and do your shopping as you always would and the show will get a teeny tiny kickback. 

The podcast is also sponsored by Audible.com.  To get your FREE audiobook and 30-day trial, please go tohttp://www.audibletrial.com/postpartum   

You can also support the show by becoming a patron on Patreon.  No donation is too small, for as little as $1 per episode, you can make a huge difference for the show.  Click here to learn more. 

Thank you SO much for your support!

Episode 62: "Don't put timeframes on your OWN Postpartum healing" with Kimberly Johnson of Magamama

Today was such a great conversation with Kimberly Johnson of Magamama.  I had heard Kimberly speak on another podcast and I loved her shared passion for helping and supporting new moms, so I knew I had to have her on!  Kimberly is a yogini nomad, bodyworker, doula, postpartum women’s health specialist, and single mom to 8 year old, Cecilia. She is the creator of Magamama. Magamama is a community and resource hub for new moms who want natural, empowering solutions to the physical pain and emotional madness that can accompany childbirth.  In her episode we chat about:

• Her experience giving birth to her daughter in Rio de janeiro
• Her experience with a severe birth injury and how hard it was to find the help she needed
• How she traveled the world to find out how other cultures approached postpartum
• The meaning of "Magamama"
• How we need to flip the script on the idea of women having "low libido" 
• How we as women never seem to put ourselves first
• How trauma is "too big of an experience for your nervous system to digest"
• The importance of a Postpartum Plan
• How to find practitioners that specialize in this sort of postpartum recovery help. Check out Bellies Inc, Wild Feminine.
• The Closing of the Bones ceremony within Mexican culture
• And more!

This episode of the postpartum Podcast is sponsored by ICON UNDIES. Did you know that 1 in 3 women experience little bladder leaks when they run, jump, sneeze, or laugh? This is especially true for new moms. But because of Icon, You don’t have to worry!  Their undies feel like a regular, beautiful pair of underwear, but can hold up to 6 teaspoons of liquid without the bulky, bunchy plasticy feel of a pantyliner.  Icon is also offering listeners of the podcast $5 off your order with code postpartum at checkout. 

You can find the show wherever you find your podcasts, or stream it here.

***

As always, please consider subscribing and leaving a review on iTunes here. Your reviews really help the show out because they allow it to be more visible so that we can reach more moms. 

Do you shop on Amazon?  Use this link and do your shopping as you always would and the show will get a teeny tiny kickback. 

The podcast is also sponsored by Audible.com.  To get your FREE audiobook and 30-day trial, please go tohttp://www.audibletrial.com/postpartum   

You can also support the show by becoming a patron on Patreon.  No donation is too small, for as little as $1 per episode, you can make a huge difference for the show.  Click here to learn more. 

Thank you SO much for your support!