At the end of the third trimester, most expecting moms are over being pregnant and are beyond ready to meet their baby. If you're expecting or have had a baby, you can probably relate. Something else that the majority of these women will tell you is that even though they are so excited to meet their babies, they are also a bit afraid of labor and birth. We get it! Childbirth is unpredictable, and the unknown can be scary. We all want a healthy mom and baby, and a safe, positive childbirth...

Are you someone who has a sweet tooth? Do you get cravings for something sweet throughout the day or in the evening before bedtime? If so, I can completely relate. I get sugar cravings, and when they hit, the cravings are strong. And this happens to kids, too! As parents, we sometimes use sweets to show love, appreciation, and sometimes even bribery. I know I have. These cravings can start young. Sugar is also hidden in our foods, and it doesn't have to be advertised or regulated. It's a...

One of our greatest roles as parents, in my opinion, is to teach our children how to be independent, good human beings. While academics are important, are we (society) putting enough emphasis on basic life skills and emotional intelligence? I'm not sure. I think that life skills can often be misunderstood as "chores." However, life skills are independence skills and organizational skills. There's more to intelligence than just IQ. There's EQ (emotional quotient, also known as emotional...

Just a few weeks ago, I had a birth doula client who asked me if she would really know when labor was starting. This question surprised me because she was pregnant with her second child. Her first childbirth experience was an induction, but she knew what contractions felt like. However, the more I thought about this question, the more I realized many expecting moms have asked me this, "Will I really know when I'm in labor?" So, I thought it would be a good time to review the signs that labor...

If you have a new baby, you have probably heard of Moms On Call. Maybe you've heard of their books, their courses, their apps, or their consultants. Either way, it's no surprise that you have because they have helped over 1,000,000 and counting moms and dads across the world parent with confidence. As someone who has been in the mom-and-baby industry for over a decade, I even remember hearing some of my first clients talk about how they were reading Moms On Call. So, these two women...

I can't believe we first launched this podcast in 2018, and this is my very first solo episode! We have been playing around with the idea of incorporating solo shows into our podcast for a bit. Now that this is my first one, I am super excited to hear what you guys think about it. Because my career background is heavily tied around birth and my work as a doula, I thought "How to Choose the Right Doula for You" would be a great first solo episode for me to share my thoughts and advice with all...

Are you a mother who feels stretched thin and exhausted? Maybe you can't remember anything, and you're feeling lonelier than ever before? If you're saying yes to yourself after reading these questions, you just might be experiencing "mommy burnout." Our guest today is an expert on this topic, and she is sharing her tips on navigating and reclaiming your life while raising healthy and happy children. Today's guest is Dr. Sheryl Ziegler, a psychologist, author, speaker, and mother. She...

Welcoming a new baby into the world and becoming a parent are some of the greatest gifts in life. As soon as you see those two pink lines on your pregnancy test and the moment you hold your baby in your arms, life is never the same again. And just as your baby is learning about you and this new world, you are also learning about this new baby and your new role as a mother. There are highs and lows and twists and turns, but it is the most worthwhile ride of your life. Dr. Sears knows this very...

Feeding your new baby can come with its challenges. You may think that breastfeeding your newborn will come naturally, and for some, it does. However, for many others, it isn't so simple. Breastfeeding is a skill that both mother and baby must practice and learn together. Then, once they have figured out their feeding rhythm, it's time to introduce a bottle, and mothers are left unsure how to do it properly so as not to halt their breastfeeding journey. They wonder how they can successfully...

Safety is at the top of every parent's mind. We always want to do everything we can to keep our little ones safe, but sometimes, we don't know where to start. There is so much to consider. Car seat safety, babyproofing, safe sleep, and more! Luckily, we have Sarah Haverstick, a baby and child safety guru, answering all of our questions. She's sharing what every parent needs to know about baby safety. Who is Sarah Haverstick? Sarah Haverstick is a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician...

While pregnancy is a miracle, there are times when it can be uncomfortable and not so glamorous. People hear about morning sickness and swollen feet, but not necessarily about pregnancy complications. Pregnant women need to know what is normal and abnormal in pregnancy so they can know what to look for regarding any concerns. One of the first tips today's guest shared on this episode is choosing a primary care provider you like and trust. Having a good relationship with your doctor or midwife...

Planning a trip and traveling to Disney World or Disneyland with kids is extremely exciting but, at the same time, can be very overwhelming. There is so much to do and think about. What should you reserve? What do you need to pack? How can you find the best deals? That's why we're chatting with Sarah, today's guest, to give us the scoop on all the best tips and tricks to make your next Disney vacation with the kids just as amazing as you imagined! Who is Sarah Huff? Sarah Huff is a SoCal...

With November being National Adoption Month, we’re thrilled to end the month chatting with a guest who knows this topic extremely well, Becky Fawcett. We talked about all things adoption with Becky in this episode. We discussed her personal adoption journey, the adoption process people need to know, costs, and much more. Who is Becky Fawcett? Becky Fawcett is the founder and president of Helpusadopt.org, an equality-based organization that seeks to reduce the financial burden of adoption....

Now that my daughter is two-and-a-half years old, I am approaching when I need to potty train her. From my years of experience working with families, I know that each child is different, and potty training your child might look a bit different from how I potty train mine, and that's okay! Potty training can be a challenging process for some children and smooth for others. I was lucky enough to have an easy experience with my son, but I am preparing for anything with my daughter. That's why...

The holidays are upon us! This means creating special memories, holiday parties, and delicious food. If you're the one who is hosting the holidays this year, or you need to bring a dish or two to a party, it can be daunting to know where to start. Maybe you want to make a tasty but healthy dish. And perhaps you want to make something kid-friendly so everyone can enjoy. Today, we have a special guest on the podcast, The BakerMama, who is answering all of our questions and is serving some...

Childcare is a huge decision to make when a family has a baby. Will they utilize childcare or have a parent stay home with the baby? And if they choose to send their little one to daycare or use some form of childcare, which ones are available to them in their area? How much do they cost? There are lots of things and questions to consider. Today's guest knows this well and wanted to create a better option for families, so she did! Britt Riley is chatting with us about childcare in the U.S....

We've all heard stories about birth. Maybe you've heard your own birth story from your parents. And if you are pregnant or have children of your own, you have definitely heard several birth stories, even from strangers! Some of those stories are good, and some are not so good. Unfortunately, it seems like the not-so-great and even scary birth stories are the ones that are told the most. As a doula who helps families have better birth experiences, this breaks my heart. What we hear can form a...

Many women experience it during their pregnancies . . . it's pregnancy cravings. Over the years, I've heard from hundreds of my clients about their pregnancy cravings. I've had women tell me they craved fruit, a particular flavor of ice cream, cheese, protein, french fries, and even some strange pregnancy cravings. We wanted to learn more about what causes these pregnancy cravings and why they can be so different from woman to woman and from pregnancy to pregnancy. Joni Davis is joining us...

While being a parent is one of the greatest joys in life, it can also be overwhelming and exhausting. There is so much to keep up with that parents can often identify as chaos coordinators. From scheduling doctor appointments, play dates, extracurricular practices, preparing meals, cleaning the house, managing all of the big emotions from our little ones, and much more, it can feel like our lists never end. At times, the chaos can be all-consuming. However, if we want to create calm for...

The anticipation of having a baby is often regarded as a joyous event in the life of a couple, and yet the transition to parenthood usually involves profound transitions and challenges in the couples' intimate relationship. Further complicating things, the perinatal period is when women are most vulnerable to mood and anxiety disorders, with perinatal depression being the number one medical complication of the postpartum period. Thankfully, a brief intervention has been developed to...

Our bodies go through so much during pregnancy and postpartum. Our hormones fluctuate like no other time in our lives, which can all take a significant toll on mothers. Actress and entrepreneur Ashley Greene Khoury knows this firsthand as a new mother to her daughter, Kingsley. Even before becoming a mother, Ashley became highly passionate about being a reproductive health advocate after her own pursuit of a pharmaceutical-free lifestyle (including hormonal birth control). Through her...

Returning to school can be a lot for the whole family — not just for the kids but also for parents. You have to adapt to a new schedule; your kids get new teachers, they may have to make new friends and more. It can be a lot. And while change can be good, it can also be challenging. Our podcast guest, Kelly Smith, is an expert in her field, and she is sharing some helpful tips and mindfulness activities for kids to make the back-to-school transition better and easier for everyone.  Who is...

When you have a child, you realize that you'll be preparing three meals a day, seven days a week, for the next 18 years for each of your kids. That can be a bit overwhelming to think about for any parent. Thankfully, our guest today, Chef Catherine McCord, knows this all too well as a mother of three. We are excited to have her as our guest on this episode because she is sharing her experience, tips, and tricks to make the age-old question, "What's for dinner?" much easier for us all.  Who is...

About to have a baby? Expecting moms often think about everything the baby will need, but what about you — the mother you are becoming? Preparing for motherhood and your postpartum time is imperative. It's a transformative time — mind, body, and soul. And there is a lot to think about and consider when preparing for your new life with your baby. This is why we are grateful to chat with Anne Wanlund and Stef Werdmuller on today's episode to dive deeply into the postpartum period, including...

During pregnancy, we wait nine long months (some more, some less) to meet our precious babies. Then, once our babies enter the world, our world is truly never the same. Everything is about the baby. And everyone begins asking about the baby. Yes, the baby is extremely important, but what about the mom? Our guest today, Becky Vieira, is saying, "Enough about the baby!" She wants to bring more attention and support to new moms, and we're chatting with her all about it. Who is Becky Vieira, aka...