Hello Postpartum

Listen in on Dr. DiGrado (Alex) as she explains the difference between a pelvic floor that is too loose or too tight and common pelvic floor issues in postpartum – you might be surprised.

020 | Alexandra DiGrado of Boston Pelvic Floor Therapy

What is the pelvic floor, and why is it important to postpartum mothers?

This is a question many new mothers should be asking. Unfortunately, there isn’t much information about the importance of pelvic floor health for those who have just given birth.

In this episode, I chat with pelvic floor therapist Alexandra DiGrado about this topic.

The pelvic floor supports our bodies in so many ways and, if not properly supported, can lead to many concerns for postpartum mothers and beyond.

Alex highlights the importance of pelvic floor support, the signs that you may need to support yourself, and how you can advocate for yourself to seek the help you need.

About Alexandra DiGrado:

Owner of Boston Pelvic Physical Therapy. Alexandra is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with advanced training and certification in pelvic floor rehabilitation through Herman and Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute.

She is Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner Certified (PRPC) with over ten years of experience as a physical therapist and pelvic health expert.

Alexandra founded Boston Pelvic Physical Therapy because she’s passionate about decreasing the stigma around seeking help to heal your private parts and offering people of all genders a safe and holistic way to achieve a healthy pelvic floor and core.

Topics Covered:

1:17 | Pelvic floor therapy
7:26 | Advocate for mom
10:54 | What is the pelvic floor?
14:12 | Signs of tightness
21:01 | Top tip for pelvic floor
31:34 | Final question
33:15 | The importance of rest

Additional resources

You can connect with Alexandra on her website for additional resources. Check out Alexandria’s online pelvic floor class pelvicfloorproject.com.

Other articles you might enjoy

• What to Expect: Pelvic Floor Issues in Postpartum
• Downloadable Guide: Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
• Bengkung Belly Binding: What It Is and Why You Need It

Listen in as a Motherlove marketing specialist and postpartum doula, Brooke, chats with us about c-section recovery essentials, tips you need to know, and the one thing that can make your recovery that much smoother. It’s a must-listen.

Brooke Nielsen of Motherlove

There is a lot to know when recovering from a c-section (and birth in general). With so many postpartum products on the market, sometimes it’s tricky to know what’s both quality and effective, all without compromising ingredients.

That’s where Motherlove comes in. A company founded on natural products to help support them in pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood.

This week, I chat with Motherlove’s marketing specialist, Brooke Nielsen, about how you can best prepare for c-section recovery.

• What to buy
• What to ask for
• How to feel empowered

As a c-section mom herself, Brooke shares insight into her own postpartum recovery, with advice on things she wished she did to prepare and some fantastic products that can help support you in your own journey.

About Motherlove Organics

Kathryn Higgins, Motherlove’s founder, grew up in a Mayo medical family from Rochester, Minnesota, who were avid gardeners in love with flowers and plants.

After moving to the Rocky Mountains, she became passionate about the uses of plants in the meadows and forests surrounding her mountain home in Northern Colorado’s Rist Canyon.

She began incorporating the wild plants into her daily life for food, medicine, and teaching others.

Not able to find herbal products to support her pregnancy and birthing experiences, she began making her own—and sharing them with other women. These creations in the early 1980s became the seeds for Motherlove® products.

Today, our products are sold in hospitals, pharmacies, natural food stores, and specialty retailers in nearly 20 countries.

Even though you’ll see the company’s familiar blue bottles on the shelves of the nation’s biggest retailers, their family still makes their products the old fashioned way, with love, from their family to yours.

Topics Covered

1:13 | What is Motherlove?
5:03 | C-section talk
11:36 | 3 Tips for c-section recovery
16:42 | Favorite Motherlove products
22:29 | Process and celebrate
31:36 | Feel empowered
36:15 | A mother is born
41:45 | Final question for Brooke

Additional Resources

Our Motherlove C-Section recovery essentials

C-Section Recovery Cream
Rhoid Balm

Motherlove discount code

Don’t forget that you can save 15% on your entire Motherlove order with code HELLOPOSTPARTUM15 at checkout. Shop now.

Other articles you may enjoy

• Our Founder’s Birth Story: Hopeful for a VBAC
• C-Section Wound Care: What to Know

Listen in as Carley chats with a physiotherapist about common pelvic floor issues in postpartum, how they affect not only our daily lives but our sexual nature, health, and wellbeing. 

There are a of things about postpartum that many women are never told about. These things could be common, but that doesn't mean it's normal.

Pelvic floor is not something that 'just happens' with becominga mother.

Women physiotherapist Taryn Gaudin talks about what pelvic floor is and how it can affect women in their postpartum recovery. Taryn brings the cause and complications of pelvic floor to light, sharing her knowledge in the many ways it can affect a women's life both in postpartum and in the future.

If you are experiencing difficulties in your postpartum recovery, I hope this episode helps inspire you to take action in your recovery journey.

About Taryn Goudin:

Like so many women, throughout my lifetime I had constantly ignored, criticised, and buried parts of who I am, and now in this new phase of my life, I had a deep desire to reconnect with those parts of me. I believe my body was calling for me to soften – to become more kind and gentle with myself, and to tune into myself on a physical, emotional, and spiritual level.

I began to rebuild the foundations of my mind-body connection, firstly by agreeing to listen to my body. I began tuning in to my body and asking how it felt and what it needed. To describe my journey is challenging because, like life itself, it was dynamic. There was no linear path. There were surges of growth, followed by long pauses of integration, huge a-ha moments, and lengthy periods of confusion. I spent a lot of time feeling like I was getting nowhere. The entire time though, I allowed myself to follow the thread of possibility, letting each clue lead to the next, and over time I began to understand my rhythm, my body, my nature, and what I needed to nourish my whole self. I learned the art of slowing down, and practising self-compassion. I began embracing all of myself, particularly the softer, slower, and simpler feminine aspects that I had suppressed for such a long time. I began cultivating a lifestyle and working with women in a way that was completely unique to me.

Topics Covered:

1:53 | Pelvic floor & sensuality
5:22 | Reconnect with your body
9:38 | Pelvic floor in depth
17:06 | More proactive approach
24:00 | Taryn's story
30:43 | Final question

Postpartum hunger is real, and it’s trying to tell you something. Listen in as Kim Perez, a functional nutritionist, shares what it means to deeply nourish and care for yourself after birth. It’s not what you may think.

017 | Kim Perez of Root and Branch Nutrition

In this episode, I talk with nutritionist Kim Perez about identifying postpartum depletion symptoms during the postpartum time. Kim specializes in working with women during their motherhood journey, from conception to postpartum.

She highlights some significant factors surrounding postpartum nutrition and some simple tips on how you can help support your health without fancy diets and expensive meal prep.

About Kim Perez

For years, I tried to do everything to such unattainable standards that I lived in a constant state of exhaustion. Little rest, restrictive nutrition, and intense exercise routines led to hormonal imbalances and fatigue—a lifestyle that just wasn’t sustainable.

Even when I did everything “right,” I still struggled to feel good. I needed to replenish and rebalance my body, and planning for pregnancy was the reality check to heal.

Even armed with knowledge and awareness of what my body needs to thrive, some days, I struggle. I don’t have the perfect diet. I like wine. I eat chocolate.

I deal with stress (sometimes not well). It’s a big-picture kind of journey that doesn’t end with one tough day, but it’s hard to do this alone.

Through all of my experiences, the good and the bad and the downright tough postpartum seasons, I realized that so many women—especially moms—wrongfully believe they can’t feel amazing again.

Topics Covered

1:48 | Signs of postnatal depletion
3:14 | Nourishment
9:32 | Quieting the nutrition noise
13:45 | Breastfeeding weight myths
16:51 | Go-to food groups
22:38 | Blood sugar
27:49 | Coffee and fat
31:34 | Pick your battles
36:55 | Magnesium power
43:08 | Keep asking
44:39 | Final question

Additional Resources

You can connect with Kim at rootandbranchnutrition.com for more information and additional resources.

Use code “HELLOPP” gets 10% off any of Kim’s educational resources, such as:

• The Fourth Trimester Guide
• Postpartum Weight + Body Image Workshop

Learn about her 1:1 services or her 12-week program, Nourished Roots.

More postpartum nutrition resources

• Ranked: The Best Meal Delivery Services for Postpartum
• Six Stress-Free Nutrition Tips for New Moms
• What Nutrients Do Postpartum Women Need? A Closer Look

Listen in to an honest and raw conversation with three moms who became parents in the middle of a pandemic. They share their strategies for coping, navigating, and feeling more connected during this truly, well, unprecedented time.

Episode 16 | Sarah Goodman and Mira Lax of Eva Mental Health

Pandemic pregnancy and birth. It is our new reality. And while living the last two years in this new way of life, it does not make becoming a mom any easier.

How do we find the support we need during these unprecedented times?

Mira and Sarah of Eva Mental Health share their stories of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum during the beginning of the pandemic.

Through their experience, they’ve nurtured a way for moms to connect, share and support other women in their motherhood journey. Because while having a baby might look different today, knowing you’re heard and supported can make all the difference.

More about Sarah and Mira:

Mira is a mother, writer, and marketing strategist who creates, curates, and collects high-quality content.

She has experience with online and offline marketing, corporate writing and editing, branding and rebranding globally, strategic partnership development, and large-scale event planning.

Sarah Goodman, MSW, RSW, is a mother, a registered social worker, and a passionate supporter of mothers at all stages of their parenting journey.

She intimately understands that becoming a mother is hard. Many stressors can make you feel alone and overwhelmed, from trying to conceive to loss, pregnancy, and motherhood.

As someone who became a mom during the COVID-19 pandemic and experienced loss prior, Sarah quickly understood the importance of support throughout the journey to motherhood.

Sarah is passionate about providing quality support to women in their most vulnerable moments. When so much is asked of you, Sarah’s goal is to help mothers feel validated, supported, and cared for.

Topics Covered:

1:01 | Becoming a Covid-19 mom
4:23 | Facing the risks
11:26 | Coping and navigating
18:48 | Eva services
29:25 | I "should" be happy
32:36 | You’re allowed to complain
41:43 | Final question

Additional Resources

To learn more about Mira and Sarah, go to evamentalhealth.com for additional information and resources.

Other postpartum pandemic resources

• A Therapist's Guide to Pandemic Parenting
• Coping During a Pandemic? This New Mom Turns to Cooking
• Identifying Postpartum Rage and How to Deal

As mothers, we're in tune with what our children need, but are we listening to our intuitive voice with ourselves? Listen in as Zo'e describes what she believes it means to be an intuitive mother and shares her personal stories of growth.

  015 | Zo'e Cole of The Aloha Mamatog

Becoming a mother is far from simple. With it comes challenges most parents do not prepare for well.

But it's not impossible to overcome.

Zo'e Cole is a photographer who specializes in capturing the precious memories of motherhood, from pregnancy to postpartum. Zo'e and I dive into what it means to be an intuitive mother.

Turning into yourself and putting yourself first can be a huge mountain to overcome, but Zo'e's tips and insight grant us simple ways to help guide us in being seen and heard.

No two mothers are alike, and the path may look different for each of us, but it's a path each of us takes in realizing our worth in our role as a mother.

Meet Zo'e Cole

Zo'e is the happiest when churro'd in warm sand by the sea. She is a motherhood story photographer serving in Orange County, CA. Growing up in San Clemente, She began her photography journey shooting surfers from afar. Although she's shooting different stories these days, the surf, sand, and stoke are still in her aesthetic style.

She fell in love with maternity and newborn memories long before becoming a mother myself, but becoming a mama made her truly envelop herself in all the ups and downs of motherhood—from conception to postpartum.

After her daughter's birth, Zo'e's purpose was solidified. She knew she wanted to change her birth narrative to something that she's empowered and created to do. When she started witnessing and photographing more births, Zo'e knew she had the honor of fulfilling that desire for other mothers, too.

She invokes passion, focus, and talent, photographing mothers and their loved ones during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

Topics Covered:

2:19 | The meaning of intuitive motherhood
14:31 | Survival brain
20:04 | Is that really what you need?
30:39 | Each child is different
35:45 | Educating yourself
38:12 | Social media
40:35 | Being seen and heard
44:59 | Final question

Additional resources

You can learn about Zo'e and connect with her at thealohamamatog.com for additional resources.

More articles on intuition you might enjoy

• Use Your Motherly Intuition to Make Postpartum Easier
• 10 Tips for Giving Birth with Confidence
• Five Steps to Advocate for Yourself After Birth

Asking for help, setting boundaries, and receiving support can feel paralyzing in postpartum and beyond. Here’s an honest conversation around how to do just that.

014 | Caitlin Morris of Coaching with Caitlin

But many of us struggle with finding our voice in, not only in asking for help but knowing what kind of help we actually need.

In this episode, I chat with life and health coach Caitlin Morris about how women living up to society’s standards for what it means to be a mother needs to shift.

From real-life experience, Caitlin touches on all the things surrounding support in postpartum. Setting boundaries, knowing when to say no, and breaking the stigma of mom guilt are just some of the topics we cover in this episode.

Support shouldn’t stop after you bring a baby into this world. I hope this episode helps you find your voice, ask for help and give yourself the grace and support you deserve. Because trust me, you’re not alone.

Meet Caitlin Morris

Hi! I’m Caitlin. I’m a wife, mom, friend, coach, trainer & fitness instructor. Like you, I also know how easy it is to put everyone else before myself.

To be honest: Motherhood has been all of the beautiful things I thought it would be. It has also been unexpected and challenging in ways I didn’t see coming.

Since then, I’ve become a personal trainer behavior change specialist, learned to set boundaries and say no, prioritized workouts, my time, and self-care. I’ve also had a second baby and started two different programs as a life coach & health coach.

I’m still learning as I go, but now I know: you don’t have to do it alone. And it doesn’t have to take you years as it did for me.

The more time I spend working with other clients and even just other moms, other women in the wellness space, I’ve realized a few things: There’s power in sharing our stories, in learning our struggles are our own but that we are not alone. There’s power in vulnerability, asking for help, and choosing to step into our possibility.

Just because it’s a part of our day to take care and support others doesn’t mean we have to come last.

It’s so important to me to help women in this way because I believe if we can create the time for ourselves, we can give so much more to others and the world around us.

Topics Covered

1:31 | Why it’s so hard to ask for help
4:46 | Backstory to taking up space
10:47 | Asking for Help
17:41 | Adult to Adult Boundaries
26:33 | Handling difficult emotions
31:21 | What I wish I knew about postpartum

Additional resources

You can connect with Caitlin on her website for additional help and resources.

Other articles you might enjoy

• Four Tips for Sharing the Domestic Load After Birth
• Identifying Postpartum Rage and How You Can Deal
• Five Steps to Advocate for Yourself After Birth

Mom guilt.

It’s something all moms struggle with, and not just in postpartum. It can affect our entire lives raising kids. While this is an entirely normal feeling, it’s essential not to fall too far into the trap that mom guilt can create for us.

How do we shift away from mom guilt without feeling like a bad mom?

Kelsey Mizell is a licensed professional counselor specializing in prenatal and maternal health. In this episode, we talk about the social stigmas surrounding mom guilt and how we can break away from the standards put on mothers everywhere.

Kelsey’s advice and strategies focus on being worthy, not perfect. We talk about the importance of being in tune with your emotions, knowing when it’s okay to ask for help, and giving how to give time to yourself finally.

Meet Kelsy Mizell, LPC

Kelsey is a Licensed Professional Counselor and specializes in Perinatal and Maternal Mental Health. She helps women and mothers to feel connected with themselves and confident in their motherhood. She provides virtual counseling services through Georgia and Florida.

Kelsey is married with a two-year-old and two dogs. She enjoys drinking too much coffee and spending time outside with family and friends.

Topics Covered

1:38 | The reason for mom guilt
8:23 | How to flip societies expectations
12:22 | Mom guilt is about…
18:22 | The duality of emotions
28:29 | Shifting focus
31:48 | Being worthy, not perfect
34:15 | Final Question

Additional resources

You can connect with Kelsey Mizell at likeamothercounseling.com for additional resources.

Articles on navigating motherhood

• Having a Motherhood Identity Crisis? How a Postpartum Plan Can Help
• Identifying Postpartum Rage and How You Can Deal
• Tips for Overcoming the Pressure to Be a Perfect Mother

What is a VBAC?

Most women don’t know about their options when it comes to delivery. VBAC stands for vaginal birth after cesarean. This procedure gives mothers a chance to experience a vaginal delivery if they have had a c-section in the past.

So, how do you know if you’re a candidate for a VBAC?

Morgan Miller is a full-time midwife specializing in helping women prepare for birth. Through her experiences working with mothers, she gives us a look at her role in the lives of expecting mothers and how to prepare your body and mind for a VBAC. Morgan is a wealth of information, giving some incredible insight on delivery and how to self-advocate.

I hope you enjoy this episode, and it gives you the courage to talk to your doctor or midwife about your options for delivery.

Meet Morgan Miller

Passionate about pregnancy and reproductive care, Morgan has over seven years of experience caring for people throughout their reproductive cycles. She was a full-time midwife at the Bend Birth Center in Oregon for over five years before relocating to Maine to establish SOFT CORNER.

Dedicated, kind, and considerate, Morgan doesn’t think twice about running that extra mile for her clients. She has a fierce enthusiasm for what she does and supports the vision of fundamental reproductive rights and the highest-quality reproductive care available to everyone.

Topics Covered

1:33 | Not attempting a VBAC
4:54 | Self-advocate
10:38 | Preparing for a VBAC
22:06 | Fight or flight
25:57 | The role of a midwife
30:43 | Where to find info on midwifery in your state
36:32 | Definition of progress
44:32 | Final question

Additional Resources

You can connect with Morgan Miller on her website at softcornermidwifery.com. You'll also find additional information and resources.

More resources on birth

• Five Steps to Advocate for Yourself After Birth
• How to Prepare for a Successful VBAC
• 10 Tips for Giving Birth with Confidence

Most new mothers are not prepared for what postpartum will bring.

Yes, a new baby means a new chapter in your life is beginning, but for a lot of mothers, it's less like a new chapter and more like a new book. Postpartum recovery comes with a lot of surprises for families and, even with support, it is a constant struggle growing accustomed to, not only a newborn, but a new way of life.

In this episode, I chat with postpartum doula Gigi Vera Vincent about navigating the rough waters of postpartum. Gigi was inspired to become a postpartum doula after her own struggles with postpartum depression and identity loss. She talks about what the roll of a postpartum doula is in helping parents set realistic expectations and understand that there is no one mold you need to fit when it comes to parenthood.

There is so much societal pressure that does not support a healthy postpartum recovery. We hope, though Gigi's experience and advice, that you feel supported and heard in your motherhood journey.

Meet Gigi Vera Vincent

Gigi a postpartum doula, newborn care specialist, non-toxic educator, mother to three toddlers, including twins, and a wife to her high school sweetheart.

As a former teacher, she brings realistic, evidence-based, and actionable advice (and LOTS of handouts.) I empower families, so once baby arrives, they can focus on resting and bonding instead of researching or stressing.

She's here to streamline the newborn learning curve and guide birth parents, partners, and other family members. There isn’t ONE way to have and raise a little human. Gigi's here to assist parents as they find THEIR way so that they can thrive in the fourth trimester and beyond.

Topics Covered:

1:47 | One thing you wish
3:22 | Comparing other cultures
9:32 | Fitting the mold
15:39 | The roll of a doula
21:48 | What can come up during postpartum
27:35 | Realistic expectations
32:32 | The path to postpartum doula
35:44 | Something you wish you knew about postpartum
43:29 | Connect with Gigi

Women are more career driven than ever.

The pandemic effected a lot of families. With lay-offs, furloughs, and thousands of workers going remote, the landscape of career-driven women has changed dramatically. With companies pushing for employees to return to the office, many women are feeling the pressure.

But the pandemic is far from over and flexibility is more important than ever when it comes to taking care of our families.

Lauren A. Tetenbaum, LMSW, JD, PMH-C, former attorney and founder of LAT Counseling, dives into the power of women in the workplace. In this episode, we talk about the pressures women are feeling from their employees to work like your not a parent. it's so important to, not only advocate for equality in the workplace, but also to know your rights and be confident that your employers understand that we don't stop being parents in the workspace.

I hope this episode inspires you to make a change for yourself and for for every working parent out there.

Meet Lauren A. Tetenbaum, LMSW, JD, PMH-C

Lauren A. Tetenbaum, LMSW, JD, PMH-C is an advocate and therapist specializing in life transitions affecting millennial and young women.

A licensed social worker, and former attorney with a decade of experience in the legal industry including as a coach to working parents, she is also the proud mama of two young kids. Intensively trained in perinatal mental health, Lauren currently uses her experience, empathy, and emotional intelligence to empower others through psychoeducational parent support groups and counseling and consulting services. 

She is actively involved in numerous efforts benefitting at-risk families in her native New York and abroad, including as a Postpartum Support International helpline volunteer, 2020 Mom Ambassador, and mentor with The Mom Project. 

Learn more about her mission to support working, new, and aspiring parents at www.LATCounseling.com or on Instagram @thecounselaur.

Topics Covered:

2:35 | Setting mothers up to fail in the workplace
6:04 | Navigating tough parenting decisions
12:44 | Parenting out loud
17:20 | Know your rights
19:32 | FMLA
29:17 | Working like you're not a parent
32:37 | Ask for what you deserve
34:38 | Wish you knew about postpartum

Expecting comes with more than just a baby.

As a new or multi-mama, you may have fallen victim to societal pressures surrounding both pregnancy and motherhood. How to eat, how to sleep, how to change a diaper, how to encourage crawling or eating solid foods, how to breastfeed...the list is endless.

While the intentions behind them may be good, falling short of these expectations can put a lot of unwanted stress on us as mothers. We may think we are doing things wrong or aren’t good mothers because we are falling short.

Take a breath. You’re doing fantastic.

Meghan Van Metre, the voice behind The Stressfree Mama, is here to put those pressures put on us by society to bed. In this episode, we dive into the natural person you should be listening to on your motherhood journey, yourself.

Getting clear of the fluff will help you listen to that inner voice and help remind us that there are no two mothers on the same journey. Meghan is a great advocate in tapping into our motherly intuition regarding parenting, self-care, and trusting ourselves.

Meet Meghan Van Metre

I’m Meghan Van Metre, and my passion for helping mamas was sparked by my own experience of having a baby. I vividly remember that dreaded two-week wait, saying goodbye to the body and identity I once knew while pregnant, and my-oh-my, those postpartum hormones were REAL!

Topics Covered

1:39 | Moving into the postpartum space
3:03 | FInding your intuition
5:50 | Listening to your intuition
9:28 | Mothering in masculine vs. feminine energy
15:58 | question one thing
19:19 | Essential work
22:29 | Advice for postpartum moms
29:28 | Isolation
37:00 | Changing your style
40:55 | What you wish someone told you about postpartum

While I was going through the usual ups and downs of motherhood, I realized how little support there is for a mama’s mental health and how much pressure there is to do things a certain way. Stress shouldn’t rob a mom of the most beautiful time in her life, which is why I am here.

I’m based in California and work with women across the world. I live with my baby girl Mylo, husband Matt, and mini Goldendoodle Cody. Outside of life coaching, I love to send snail mail and spend time in Lake Tahoe.

Additional Resources

You can connect with Meghan Van Metre on her website thestressfreemama.com where you can find additional information and resources.

It can be hard to ask for help.

As a new parent, knowing what you need can be challenging to figure out. As much as it is hard to ask for the help we need from our loved ones, it is also hard to know when to say enough is enough.

Setting boundaries are so important in more ways than one.

Women’s health expert and Motherhood advocate Alissa Alter helps set the tone in how new mothers everywhere can find their voice in setting boundaries and keeping them.

Alissa uses her own life experiences to grab the boundary bull by the horns, giving us her best tips and advice on the importance of setting limits with your family members and supporters when it comes to your first steps into motherhood.

This episode was so fun, and I hope Alissa’s witty banter will help you create those boundaries - and stick to them - that much more inspiring.

Meet Alissa Alter

Alissa Alter is a Women’s Health Expert & Motherhood Advocate and the author of Unstuck: From Understudy To The Study Of Your Undercarriage.

She uses movement, mindfulness, and good ol’ fashioned education to help mamas and mamas-to-be stop suffering in silence so that pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum can be healing and empowering stages of life.

She received her Pilates certification through Romana’s Pilates at True Pilates New York and founded Pilates For Your Privates in 2017. She also holds certifications in ELDOA, workshops with The Hospital For Special Surgeries, Physical Therapists, OBGYNs, Pediatricians, Yoga, Reiki, and ballet.

Alissa has taught workshops in NYC, New Jersey, and internationally and remains committed to being a lifelong student of the human experience.

She graduated from Skidmore College with a dual degree in Spanish Language & Literature and Dance Performance & Choreography and has been touring the United States with musicals since she was three years old.

Topics Covered

2:05 | Importance of boundaries
5:47 | Navigating your family of origin
19:20 | Did you masturbate today?
21:00 | Baby steps
29:17 | Burn out
36:21 | Weighing your options
39:38 | Postpartum experience

Extra resources

On her website, you can learn more, explore resources, and connect with Alissa Alter. Visit now.

More resources on setting boundaries

• New Baby? Six Tips for Setting Boundaries with Family
• How to Set Boundaries After Your Baby is Born

We are not immune to grief.

Losing a child, no matter what stage of pregnancy or motherhood, is something we cannot begin to understand how to navigate. 1 in 5 women will experience pregnancy loss.

That is one too many.

Certified Perinatal Mental Health practitioner Megan MacCutcheon, LPC, PMH-C, helps explain the stages of grief and what mothers experiencing loss can do to help heal and navigate the challenges loss can bring.

Megan is an avid supporter of women during pregnancy and postpartum. She uses her insight and guidance to help mothers struggling with these difficult times find the light amongst what can feel like endless darkness.

While we cannot prevent pregnancy loss, let's give it a voice and help women worldwide find their voice.

Meet Megan MacCutcheon, LPC, PMH-C

Megan MacCutcheon is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Perinatal Mental Health practitioner who helps overwhelmed moms find a sense of balance while raising young children.

As a busy mom of three, Megan knows that motherhood is a juggling act. She loves teaching tools and strategies to help moms de-stress and embrace self-care so they can better navigate challenges associated with parenting.

She is passionate about spreading awareness regarding the various common perinatal mood and anxiety disorders women can experience and enjoys supporting moms through healing and finding fulfillment in their journeys.

Megan also specializes in helping women and young adults build self-esteem and has published four books on the topic.

Topics covered in this episode

3:10 | Physical effects after loss
14:18 | Advice for women experiencing loss
2:17 | Postpartum after loss
5:15 | Stages of grief
11:15 | How to open up
14:30 | Getting pregnant after a loss
22:23 | Support
31:13 | Tidal wave
32:35 | Unprocessed grief
37:07 | What can you do with grief?
43:04 | About Postpartum

Extra support resources

On her website, you can learn more, explore resources, and connect with Megan MacCutcheon, LPC, PMH-C. Visit now.

Resources on grief after pregnancy loss from Megan

• Perinatal Mood or Anxiety Disorder (PMAD) Guide
• Mom's Toolkit for Stress Management
• Stress Stoppers to Keep You Sane
• Pregnancy Loss Statistics + Resources for Support
  

Explore more resources on pregnancy loss

• Navigating the Physical Recovery of Late-Term Pregnancy Loss
• Healing from Pregnancy Loss During COVID-19
• A List of Supportive Pregnancy and Infant Loss Resources

Late-term pregnancy loss.

It's a subject that so many understand and yet, aren't sure how to navigate. One in four pregnancies results in loss, and while this statistic seems glaring when you first encounter it, we never think it will happen to us. But there's a chance. And if that chance does happen, how do we get through it? What physical and emotional toll will it take? Will it be impossible to overcome?

Take a breath because nothing is impossible.

Ashley Derderian Sousa, RN, IBCLC, shares her experiences being right alongside mothers during such a difficult, and for some, unexpected time. Ashley truly believes that a loss is a loss, and no one should undermine the impact it has, nor the time it takes to heal from it. Her insight and personal attachment to this subject expose the anxiety, isolation, and physical toll losing a child can have.

No one should tell you how to mourn, and Ashley is here to remind everyone who has or is currently experiencing a loss that you are not alone.

Meet Ashley Derderian Sousa

Ashley Derderian Sousa, RN, IBCLC, is a registered nurse and a board-certified lactation consultant with 12 years of experience, spending the past 8 of those years providing care as a labor, delivery, and postpartum nurse and lactation consultant.

The first four years of her career were spent in the Medical Intensive Care Unit, which provides Ashley with a wide range of medical experience. Her compassionate and caring personality offers the ability to foster connection with the women, men, and families she works with.

She has a passion for learning and sharing her knowledge with others and is the proud owner of gansettgal. The Gansett Gal is a business catered towards educating and empowering mamas everywhere by providing fun education, private nurse consultations, postpartum support, lactation services, and more.

Raised and now living in Rhode Island, Ashley is a world traveler and previously lived and worked in New York City. She is also an avid runner, lover of the beach, and foodie! Most importantly, she is the lucky momma to a perfect little lady, Grace.

Topics covered in this episode

3:10 | Physical effects after loss
14:18 | Advice for women experiencing loss
19:19 | Impact of delivery during covid
21:55 | Suggestions around labor/delivery
26:08 | Questions to ask
30:39 | The effect on your partner
40:26 | Personable loss
46:57 | About postpartum

Covid-19 brought forth many challenges.

With those challenges comes obstacles we never thought we would face alone. Infant loss doesn't take a back seat to troubling times. For mothers who have experienced this during the pandemic, the feelings and emotions have never been more substantial and more isolating.

Between postpartum depression, anxiety, PTSD, and a looming sense of isolation, this episode talks about the power of being acknowledged and seen in your experience.

Trust that you're not alone.

Dr. Veronica Eyo, LCSW, talks about how to navigate these chapters of your life. Every person grieves differently, and Dr. Veronica's knowledge of finding support and healing on your terms can help break down the walls of singularity that infant loss can build around us.

Acknowledgment and support are something mothers don't always receive. Understanding the impact that this could carry for mothers is something Dr. Veronica understands, and her strategies to help those heal from it are the first step toward acceptance.

Meet Dr. Veronica Eyo

As a licensed clinical social worker, Dr. Veronica is honored to be a part of that outside help for you. She has years of experience treating adults and couples that struggle with trauma, depression, anxiety, life transitions, relationship conflicts, parenting skills, social skills, and grief and loss.

She specializes in working with mothers (new and seasoned) as they navigate their motherhood journey and managing symptoms of perinatal mental health. Her approach to therapy is a collaborative, client-centered approach using various evidence-based interventions, including cognitive-behavioral therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy.

She obtained her Master's and a doctoral degree from the University of Southern California. 

Dr. Veronica strongly believes the client/therapist relationship is the most critical part of therapy. Therefore, she offers a free 15-minute phone consultation to help determine if she is the right fit. Learn more about her work.

You can expect her sessions to be an empathetic, non-judgmental space that allows you to be vulnerable as she provides support, guidance, and structure. Her goal for your sessions is to work collaboratively to facilitate change in your life and accomplish your personal growth goals. 

Topics covered in this episode

3:36 | Navigating loss in isolation
6:48 | What you're up against
14:15 | If you think about it, it's valid
17:23 | How to support
20:06 | Boundaries during covid
25:42 | One small step
29:24 | Re-integrating life after loss
38:24 | No one way to grieve
41:25 | It's okay to ask for the help you need

Postpartum is defined as the period after delivery.

But postpartum doesn’t end at 6-weeks. What’s left behind runs deeper than the scars from a c-section or an episiotomy. Your body is recovering from some of the most intense trauma it has ever faced, and that comes with so many changes to your physical wellbeing.

This is why listening to your body is important because sometimes the issue isn’t just a lack of sleep or not eating right. Sometimes it’s something else.

Dr. Alissia Zenhausern of NMD Wellness of Scottsdale focuses on the importance of trusting your instincts in postpartum recovery. Only you can advocate for your wellness, and Dr. Zen gives her expert advice on hormone health, what questions to ask your healthcare physician and how to make sure you are in the know with your health.

Dr. Zen is a firm believer in healthy moms raising healthy and happy babies. Educating yourself in hormone health and knowing your body inside and out is the first step in changing the perspective around postpartum health.

Meet Dr. Zen, MND

Dr. Alissia Zenhausern, NMD (Dr. Zen), is a leader in naturopathic medicine. She is the founder of NMD Wellness of Scottsdale, a premier naturopathic clinic focused on your fertility journey.

Whether you want a family now or don’t want to miss your chance in the future, Dr. Zen and her team provide a comprehensive approach to your health to optimize your preconception, fertility, and postpartum experience.

Dr. Zen provides integrative care options that put you back into the driver’s seat of your health.

Initially from Geneva, Switzerland, Dr. Zen believes in the power of naturopathic medicine and has helped hundreds of women get pregnant naturally. She also works in conjunction with your other fertility team members, including your gynecologist, OBGYN, REI, and endocrinologist, to provide a custom approach to your health.

Dr. Zen emphasizes the importance of getting to the root cause of your hormonal imbalance, whether you suffer from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Endometriosis, Luteal Phase Defect, or recurrent miscarriages.

Topics covered in this episode

2:04 | Hormone support
5:22 | Getting your levels checked
11:20 | What to advocate for while breastfeeding
19:38 | Broken system
25:12 | Baby #2 infertility
31:15 | Adrenal fatigue
39:42 | Providers want to help
4203 | Connect with Dr. Zen

What is a traumatic birth?

This sounds like a heavy question. Traumatic birth isn't always just labor and delivery gone wrong. It can be anything a mother experiences that leaves a long-lasting impression on their mental and/or physical state during and after birth.

So many mothers experience this and, for most of them, the trauma is disregarded and left untreated.

Talking with Sharmon Reddington of Mum Well, this episode focuses on the societal stigma surrounding birth trauma. She shares her personal story and how she overcame the pressures of putting her trauma aside to embrace and heal from it.

In our mission to change the perspective around postpartum health, birth trauma plays a significant part. Taking care of our mental health and actively seeking help in our recovery is the first step to becoming better parents and moms.

Topics covered in this episode

1:54 | The definition of traumatic birth
7:55 | Sharmon's birth trauma experience
14:05 | Downplaying our emotions
17:51 | A message to mothers
21:21 | Postpartum support with birth trauma
30:50 | What for you is good?
35:33 | What you wish you knew about postpartum

Extra resources

You can learn more, explore resources, and connect with Sharmon at mumwell.com.

More mental health resources

• What Is a Traumatic Birth? Here Are The Steps to Heal
• Struggling to Adjust to Motherhood? It’s Okay to Not Be Okay
• A Free Mental Health Checklist for New Moms

Breastfeeding. But at what cost?

It is pushed on new mothers before, during, and after pregnancy. But what if breastfeeding isn't an option for you? What if it's too painful or having a severe effect on your mental health? Or you just don't want to.

Despite popular belief, it's okay not to breastfeed.

Talking with Mallory Whitmore of The Formula Mom, we're here to move that stigma to the sidelines and give mom's the confidence and support in their decision to formula feed their little ones. This episode is all about self-advocating and helping those mothers struggling with their decision to find some peace of mind.

Topics Covered

1:43 | Her experience with breastfeeding
5:30 | Mom's health
6:57 | "I don't want to breastfeed"
12:50 | Formula feeding challenges
16:30 | Baby-friendly hospitals
22:45 | Baby-friendly advice
33:05 | Everything is allowed
34:21 | What she wishes someone told her about postpartum

Extra resources and special offers

Mallory is offering 10% off her formula feeding resources such as the Formula 101 Handbook, the Fast Track Formula Finder, the All-Access Formula Index, and my consult bundle with code HELLO at checkout.

Head to theformulamom.com for more details.

Free formula feeding guide

Join over 10,000 parents who have claimed their Free Formula Guide to help make more informed, confident feeding decisions.

More formula resources

• The Must-Know Basics of Preparing Formula for Your Baby
• Breast Reductions and Its Affect on Breastfeeding: One Mom’s Story
• Difficulty Bottle-Feeding Baby? These Tips Will Help

Prepare to be unprepared.

Having a baby is a huge, life-changing experience. If you were anything like me, you read all the baby books, researched all the best clothes, best bottles, best toys, the best everything to welcome the new life you are preparing to bring into the world. Becoming a mother is exciting and nerve-racking all at the same time.

But things don't always go as planned, right? And no matter how many books I'd read or research I'd done, no one could have prepared me for what would happen after birth. Postpartum is not what you read in the baby books; it is rarely discussed and barely recognized. But this time is everything.

I created this podcast to shine a light on postpartum. For women to share their stories, advice, and experiences and for moms struggling or who have struggled during postpartum never to feel alone or unsupported.

By sharing my experience and others, I hope to give a voice to those who feel like they don't have one. To recognize, embrace and support mothers throughout their life after delivery.

0:53 | The Hello Postpartum journey

1:42 | My little breech baby

6:07 | Moments leading up to delivery

8:29 | My postpartum period

10:13 | New mothers in postpartum

11:09 | Postpartum never truly ends

12:31 | What to expect on this show

14:40 | My ask for you, listener