I don't know about you, but I always knew, even as a child, that I wanted to be a mom. My dream was to grow up and have kids, create special family traditions, and be a very involved and loving mother. I had hoped that my journey to motherhood would be a smooth one. I knew that my mother experienced some difficulty conceiving my twin brother and me, but I was hopeful. As an adult, when I entered into the career side of the mom-and-baby world, I quickly learned how much more common it is for peop...
Sep 10, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 153
We all know that children are the greatest blessings in life. They truly are. Raising them, however, can be quite a challenge for us parents. We want to protect them, mold them, and encourage them to be the best people they can be. But how do we do that without being too permissive or too authoritarian? Many parents struggle to find parenting methods that work for them and their children, especially when generations before us parented so differently. Maybe you're trying to break family cycles th...
Sep 03, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 152
If you're a working woman with a job outside of the home, you know that having order and a good routine is essential and sets you up for success in work and in life. Once you throw in pregnancy, like navigating morning sickness, fatigue, and all the other things that may come along with pregnancy while working a highly demanding job, it can be quite a challenge. Not to mention figuring out your new path when you become a new mother and balancing your new role with your career. There's definitely...
Aug 27, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 151
Parenting, while wonderful, is tough. Every parent knows that. And while some of the parenting challenges that previous generations faced are still applicable today, there are new challenges we're experiencing that have never been dealt with before. No one knows this better than Mrs. Modern Mom Probs herself, Tara Clark. She has been shedding light (and humor) along the way on what mothers face today since 2017. Her work helps mothers feel less alone and reminds us that we're not failing; we're ...
Aug 20, 2024•58 min•Ep. 150
Motherhood is, without a doubt, the best thing that has ever happened to me. It has molded me into a better, stronger, more loving, and compassionate person. I never knew how much my heart could love until I had children. Motherhood has also made me very tired, a bit more anxious, and even more of an over-thinker and worrier. If you're a mom reading this, I'm sure you might be able to relate to a few of these. While we want to do everything we can for our children and be a good mom, sometimes (o...
Aug 13, 2024•51 min•Ep. 149
As I'm currently watching the Olympics as I write this, I am in awe of all of these incredible athletes. Seeing the greatest in the world compete against one another in their sports is truly amazing. You know what's also amazing? Knowing that some of these competitors are mothers . These women have grown, birthed, and continue to sustain life. And they are Olympians. I have wonderful memories watching the Olympics growing up and one athlete that I have admired over the years is Allyson Felix. Sh...
Aug 06, 2024•16 min•Ep. 148
In my opinion, as soon as you find out you're pregnant, it heightens everything . You become so much more hyper-aware of your surroundings and everything you do because all of those things are no longer just affecting you . . . they are affecting your growing baby, too. And as mothers, we always want to do and provide the very best for our babies. This is why one of the first things we tend to think about is what we are eating. Because what we are eating is also what we are feeding our babies. T...
Jul 30, 2024•58 min•Ep. 147
Today, we're discussing a subject that plays a crucial role in many people's lives: birth control. I had the pleasure of chatting with our guest, Dr. Bana Kashani, about this topic in great detail. Dr. Kashani provided tremendous medical insights and discussed the various forms of contraception, what to expect with each, and debunked some common myths. Birth control isn't just about preventing pregnancy—it's about empowerment, choice, and taking control of your health. Whether you're thinking ab...
Jul 23, 2024•43 min•Ep. 146
This discussion was a good one and about several topics that I am so incredibly passionate about: women's choice of care, midwives, evidence-based birth practices, and better birth outcomes. Dr. Darrell Martin shared so many fascinating stories and talked to us all about his experience advocating for women's choice in healthcare, his support of midwives, and the five key roles of midwives in creating a safe birthing environment. I was smiling from ear to ear throughout our entire conversation be...
Jul 16, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 145
When you and your partner are ready to start your family, it's a wonderful and exciting time! If you are in a cis-hetero relationship, this is when you begin "trying" and hope to see a positive confirmation on your next pregnancy test . But for many couples, it isn't so easy. According to a 2023 World Health Organization report, about 1 in 6 people worldwide experience infertility. This is heartbreaking, and the road to having a child becomes a lot more difficult. Thankfully, there are several t...
Jul 09, 2024•41 min•Ep. 144
Everything changes the moment you find out you're pregnant. Priorities change, lifestyle choices change, and your whole world changes. You realize you are no longer just taking care of yourself. Caring for your baby becomes the priority. You may become protective and think about what you're exposing yourself to, including harsh chemicals and toxins. It's normal during pregnancy for women to rethink the products they're bringing into their homes and how they may affect their growing baby. Our gue...
Jul 02, 2024•56 min•Ep. 143
Many things may change over the years, but something that we want to instill in our kids is that it's always cool to be kind. In my opinion, kindness is beginning to be a lost art in our world. We hear so much negativity and unkind things in the news and media that it's spilling into our everyday lives. Fortunately, we are our children's greatest teachers (and they are ours). We can make a difference in our world by starting at home. Teaching our kids the power of kindness can lead to so many wo...
Jun 25, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 142
Women can experience a lot of discomfort during pregnancy . All of these aches, pains, and changes in our body can also take a toll on our sleep. If we aren't moving around to find just the right position to get comfortable or having to get up to use the restroom again, you can count on our restless leg syndrome or pregnancy insomnia to kick in. With all of these issues, we had to chat with Dr. Ann Kristin Homdrum to learn more. Who is Dr. Ann Kristin Homdrum? Dr. Ann Kristin is a chiropractic d...
Jun 18, 2024•50 min•Ep. 141
A growing body of research shows that social media is designed to be addictive and feed children age-inappropriate content. This is leading to higher rates of depression and loneliness. As a parent, this is heartbreaking news but not surprising. Concerned parents, legislators, and psychology experts are advocating for abstinence – specifically banning social media and smartphone use until kids reach high school age, and understandably so. But while their intentions are good, our guest, Tim Estes...
Jun 11, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 140
Pregnancy is a unique experience for every woman. Even the same woman can have different experiences from one pregnancy to another. Morning sickness , pregnancy insomnia , heartburn —the list goes on. Thankfully, there are things expecting mothers can do to help them through those pregnancy discomforts . A big part of that can be their diet. As our guest today said, "Food is mood," so understanding more about good nutrition during pregnancy can help us have better experiences and good mind and b...
May 29, 2024•58 min•Ep. 139
Having grown up with a sibling (my twin brother, to be exact) who has autism was one of the biggest things that ever happened to my family. In the 80's and 90's, there weren't that many resources available for parents who had kids with disabilities. My parents did the best that they could in raising us, but there were a lot of struggles. Now that I'm a mother myself, I can only imagine all of the days and nights they worried about my brother and his future as they looked for therapies and suppor...
May 14, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 138
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 exper...
Apr 30, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 137
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 major p...
Apr 16, 2024•51 min•Ep. 136
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 intellige...
Apr 02, 2024•49 min•Ep. 135
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 i...
Mar 26, 2024•21 min•Ep. 134
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 co-founders...
Mar 19, 2024•57 min•Ep. 133
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 ...
Mar 12, 2024•22 min•Ep. 132
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 literally w...
Mar 06, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 131
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 we...
Feb 20, 2024•52 min•Ep. 130
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 comb...
Feb 06, 2024•59 min•Ep. 129
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 Ins...
Jan 16, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 128
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 a...
Jan 03, 2024•47 min•Ep. 127
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 native ...
Dec 12, 2023•47 min•Ep. 126
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. After...
Nov 30, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 126
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 I'm c...
Nov 07, 2023•44 min•Ep. 124
