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I talk to moms all the time and hear things like: "I didn't do skin to skin and wished I would have." "I didn't hold my daughter for at least an hour after my c-section and I wish I would've demanded it. I didn't even know it was an option at the time..." "My baby was wrapped up like a burrito after she was born. I didn't even see her fingers or toes for a long time." "I didn't get to see my son until nearly 4 hours later. It was ridiculous." "I very much regret not getting to have skin-to-skin time with either of my babies right after birth. I now know they could have stayed with me." In our podcast mini series, we've been talking about a couple of the many ways you can boost your baby's health after birth.  In our new book, we will teach you 8 proven ways to have a healthier baby after birth (skin to skin being one of them). Birth Book #2 is available on amazon.com now.

2 minutes ... that's it ....   ...120 seconds feels like the blink of an eye...   ...poof ... it's already gone ..   But do you know how much 2 minutes can mean to your baby?   Everything.   Did you know 2 minutes can improve your baby's health?   For life.   Doing this for 2 minutes is scientifically proven to help you have a  healthier baby after birth.   The leading medical research centers around the world agree. (the World  Health Organization, the Cochrane Collaboration, and lots more)   So what all can happen in only 2 minutes? Listen to this podcast and find out. 

I read all the pregnancy books, I had all the tests done, I went to all the appointments, I took the birth classes, I talked to all kinds of mamas, I did the hospital tour, the house was ready ... I thought I was ready for my baby ...   I never knew that I completely overlooked the most important part of Jackson's birth.    I haven't really shared this story before ... it still makes me cry (you've been warned). :(   The reason I'm sharing this now is because there's a good chance you are overlooking it too.  

Do you know what one of the most dangerous parts is about having a baby? Whatever you're thinkin' right now...it's probably not it.  It's not even what most doctors, labor & delivery nurses, your bffs who've had 5 babies or your own family members think. It affects your baby's health at birth and impacts them for life. But ... Most moms don't know the most dangerous part about having a baby is actually something that's easily FIXABLE. And you have 100% control over fixing this thing and helping your baby be healthier after birth. It's scientifically proven.   We're starting a brand spankin' new short podcast series to teach you (and anyone you know who's pregnant) how you can easily help your baby be healthier after birth.  

The topic of screening and diagnostic testing is an emotional one and also super confusing! Christie Maier, a board certified genetic counselor,  helps navigate us through the maze of common screening & diagnostic tests that your provider will ask you if you want while you’re pregnant. She breaks them down to talk about what they are, when they are done,  how they do them and what the implications are from doing this testing. You’ll Also Learn: 1.    -The difference between screening and diagnostic testing with examples of each one and how they are used in pregnancy. 2.    -The accuracy of each test. 3.    -Why you may or may not want to consider this type of testing when pregnant.

The normal of pregnancy is that there is no normal. Being in labor for 21 hours or 21 minutes, pushing for 3 hours or 3 pushes, it varies for everybody. Mary Murry, certified nurse midwife at Mayo Clinic fills us in about how trusting your body and its ability to birth your baby is paramount in childbirth. Wondering what is “normal”, is, well normal. But for the instant gratification junkies of this new millennium, info-overload, diagnostic tests and ultrasounds at every appointment are becoming regular mainstays of a first-time pregnant mama’s experience. But this isn’t necessarily a good thing for mamas. Mary shares how you can find balance between being educated about pregnancy & childbirth and becoming a worrier. Plus, find out what Mary says is THE most important thing you should obsess over when you’re pregnant. Hint: it’s not your bra size.

There's a secret that some of the most accomplished, influential, important people in the world know and they use it to help them succeed and reach their goals. And I thought, well hell, mamas are rockstars, they need to know this stuff too.  So I'm here today to pull back the curtain on one of the most influential factors in daily life: thoughts.  During pregnancy & birth- okay, anytime in life, we battle with negative, fearful, anxiety driven thoughts. Today we are not just conquering thoughts- we are harnessing them so they work for us. This is not new-age stuff, this is science. And it works.  After this podcast you will have 2 tools that will majorly help you win this mental game. You will dominate. But it's not just about "winning", it's about learning how the mental game impacts your pregnancy, birth and parenting (and everything else) and how we can learn to make it work for us. How it can help you to have a more relaxing, enjoyable pregnancy. How it can mean an easier, shorter, labor. For real. How it can turn your parenting woes into parenting triumphs. Let's do it.

It happens to even the most unsuspecting- you have your first baby and seem unable to carry out the usual things you did so thoughtlessly before.. ”Shower? What’s that?” “Get dressed? Don’t sweatpants count?”  “Get out of the house?  I don’t even know where my keys are!” Don’t worry you are in good company. It’s normal. As Mollee Bauer tells us, it’s also normal to continue neglecting ourselves as we move forward in mamahood- but it’s not good!  Mollee Bauer, Founder and General Manager of Pregnancy.org is passionate about women taking care of themselves after seeing how much happier families are who have satisfied, rested, mamas at the helm. Self-care doesn’t mean getting expensive professional massages every day (though it can), Mollee gives fabulous, inexpensive, tips for taking care of yourself and tells us what this can look like. She even tells you a great place to start. It’s very do-able! You’ll Also Learn: 1.     Why it matters that you take care of yourself.

After the shock, joy, surprise of being pregnant wears off, what do you need to do during pregnancy? It can be overwhelming at first, but I break it down for you and give you an incredibly important first step to taking during your pregnancy that is often overlooked but will impact your entire childbirth experience. This is a good one! Don't miss it!

It’s important to know what to expect from labor, understanding why your body is doing what it’s doing when you’re in the middle of it and what baby is up to (or hopefully, down to) during the process helps you get rid of fear and anxiety.  Gail Heathcote, certified nurse midwife, takes us through each stage of labor describing what you might be experiencing, how long it could last, and important things to keep in mind.  For example, did you know that drinking and consuming calories during labor is super important? Though many hospitals don’t allow eating during labor, Gail suggests a really great tip for getting the calories and energy but not breaking any rules. 

The word doula means "woman who serves", if you like the sound of that, then you'll love this podcast.  Jenna Anderson, certified doula joins me today and fills us in on what types of birth benefit from a doula (not the answer I was thinking) and how to find the best doula for you. She also gives ideas if a doula isn't in your budget- how to get a doula without spending a lot (or any) money. And of course we cover why a doula will help you (and your hubs). 

Ever wonder exactly what it takes to get pregnant?  Our expert, Dr. Myra Wick is an Ob/Gyn, PhD in biomedical sciences, co-editor of  Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy, Assistant Professor of Genetics and Obstetrics & Gynecology at Mayo Medical School and she's a mom of 4.  Dr. Wick delves into the things that couples should talk about and do FIRST when discussing starting a family.  She teaches us what experts think is the optimal amount of sex you should be having per week… it could surprise (or tire) you!  Plus we discuss: 1. If ovulation kits are worth the money. 2. Why it may be harder for obese, underweight or endurance athletes to conceive (and what can be done about it) 3. Scientifically, why age 35-40 is considered “advanced maternal age”- this one blew my mind. 4. How long couples should try getting pregnant before consulting an expert. Go to www.YourBabyBooty.com/getpregnant for a free fertility chart download, to help you figure out when you're fertile myrtile and when you're not. 

Having a healthy respect for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is extremely valuable. So valuable it might save your baby’s life. Dr. Fern Hauck, one of the world’s leading experts on SIDS teaches you the what, how & why behind the latest research (she is the research) like:  -What causes SIDS? When is your baby most susceptible? -What you can do to protect (baby on back, paci, no soft bedding and more).  -The dealio with baby sleeping in same bed, Co-sleeping, etc.…is it really that big a deal? -What to do if... common scenarios and what to do. 

What are the Best  Positions for Giving Birth? In this podcast, I talk about the best labor positions for giving birth & the best birth positions according to research. These  positions often result in less pain when you're in labor. I also talk about the very important" why" behind it all. I will explain what those labor and birth positions are, so you can use them yourself when giving birth, even (and especially) if you're getting an epidural.

You may realize by now that there are two main approaches to care through pregnancy and childbirth: medical (or allopathic) and integrated, holistic, whole approach. Pat Burkhardt, Ph.D. and Certified Midwife for over 40 years is my guest.  Her background training midwives at New York University gives her plenty of first-hand knowledge and experience as she explains WHY it’s important to consider the differences between these two approaches as you choose the right healthcare provider for you.   Pat also delves into the misconceptions about integrated care that's important to note as well as why mind over matter really does matter, to you and your baby.

Let’s face it, at times we all wonder if we’re freaks of nature. We all wonder if what we’re feeling, thinking, doing & sometimes seeing during Pregnancy, Childbirth & after is “normal”. Even if we’re having number 2+, we’re still chartering our ‘mothership’ into foreign lands & unfamiliar territory.  And it feels downright uncomfortable at times. For lots of reasons. So let’s just keep it real. And thank God for Sarah McKay, cause she’s all about keepin’ it real (she’s really good at making us laugh too :) ). She answers your most embarrassing questions…things like “what’s up with the vaginal discharge I’m seeing while pregs?” or “Snap..I have hair on my nipples!! Why & what do I do? Help!”  The bummer about not getting questions like these answered…they easily turn into little seeds of fear. Then sprout their ugly little heads like a Chia Pet gone bad. Having your baby is too important to let fear own any part of you! 

Everyone knows Cindy Crawford is an icon, supermodel and savvy businesswoman. What you may not know … she gave birth to her 2 kids at home, with no drugs. In this podcast, Cindy shares why she decided to go the unmedicated childbirth route, how she prepared {mind & body} for the challenge of giving birth without drugs & how she overcame the “I don’t know if I can do this” thought ALL of us have {at some point} during birth. You don’t have to want a natural birth to be seriously encouraged & inspired from this podcast. You don’t even need to know if you’d rather have a hospital birth, birth center birth or home birth. This podcast is for anyone who wants to have the best birth experience possible. Cindy is open, honest & shares important insights from her journey to the MotherLand, so you’ll be confident for yours.

Dr. Tami Michele, a mama of 4 and a board certified Ob/Gyn  teaches us about epidurals- what they are, what they do (or don't do) and when to get an epidural (because there is an ideal time to get an epidural while you're in labor but no one ever mentions this and it makes a HUGE difference!) Plus, Dr. Michele explains why epidurals take a bit more planning. Listen in and decide if epidurals are up your alley or not. 

Breastfeeding is natural but it doesn't always feel like it. So many questions come up like “how will I know if my baby is properly positioned” & “how will I know if my baby is eating enough?” and "is this supposed to freaking hurt like hell or is something wrong?" We've got answers for you mama. In this podcast, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) Leah Tribus answers your questions about breastfeeding and explains mysteries like why babies bobble their heads & pull away, which makes it feel like they’re not digging the whole breastfeeding thing.  Leah suggests breastfeeding positions, to help you understand exactly how babies feel super cozy & safe- so they breastfeed more easily. She also gives us specific things to look for so we’ll know if baby is swallowing & eating enough. Don't miss Leah explaining her “dinner, dessert principle.” This podcast will be your breast friend forever. (pun intended).

What if there were easier, faster & less painful ways to labor and get baby outta your womb? And all the research & evidence you want, backs it up? Helloo! Game changer! Well there is. Midwife, childbirth educator & author Barbara Harper teaches us WHY one of the most used positions in childbirth is causing you more pain and making your labor longer and HOW you can achieve a shorter, more comfy birth by doing 1 main thing.