Mama Hive

Did I get on my soapbox a little bit for this episode? Maybe?  But then is that also what it always feel like when I do solo episodes? Yes. Informed consent is SO important (and our legal right as patients!) yet not always given. I love seeing the narrative around this start to shift and I think it is important to keep talking about it. We often have to be our own advocates and advocates for our children so this episode is dedicated to understanding what informed consent is and isn't. Thanks for tuning in! If you have 10 seconds to spare please drop 5 stars in Apple Podcasts and give a review-- it really helps me out!Oh, and find me on over on Instagram!

Today is part 3 of our little dive into primitive reflexes. Today I broke down the spinal galant, TLR, and STNR reflexes and what they tie into! Reflexes are not the only piece of the puzzle-- but they are definitely a foundational piece. If you haven't listened yet, you can find Part 1 here and Part 2 here. Don't forget to follow along over on Insta and it would mean the world if you took 10 seconds to drop 5 stars in Apple Podcasts!

Is your kid in fight or flight constantly? Are they hypersensitive? Do they have BIG reactions to small things? It could be their MORO infant reflex! Dive deeper into primitive reflexes with more info about the moro, palmar, and rooting reflexes-- what they are and what they impact when they are retained beyond babyhood! Don't forget to follow along on Instagram--I love new friends!

First things first... I had a cute little baby guest with me on today's episode so enjoy the cute baby sounds in the background. It’s a quick little episode to breeze through. This episode is a (very) basic and broad overview of primitive/infant reflexes. I'll be breaking these down and talking about these more in depth over the next few weeks. Reflexes are the foundation for so much of our development, yet they're hardly ever talked about it. So let's talk about them! If you haven't already, pop on over on iTunes and rate and review (it takes just a few seconds)! It's the best way to help this podcast grow and helps me reach more people. And don't forget to follow along on Instagram-- and thanks for being here!

One of the first things to do when you find out you're expecting is to call the doctor, right? But HOLD THE PHONE! I mean literally, hold it and call your local OB (or three), and then also call a couple of midwives, a birth center, and maybe even a doula or two! Give them a good interview and take the time to find the best provider for the birth and care that you want (and deserve). While you're here, it would be SO helpful to go rate my podcast (especially on Apple Podcasts). Thanks so much, it means the world!Also, don't forget to follow me on Instagram where I share all sorts of good stuff!

Katie Tall, an educator and mom to three littles shares her tips for fostering a love of reading in your kids, how to encourage reluctant readers, and how reading impacts the development of our children. Katie is one of the kindest and most genuine people I know-- and an expert on reading to top it off! She describes creating a print-rich environment and even shares her tips for finding good books at the library and some of her favorite children's book authors. And of course... no episode would be complete without a little plug for minimizing the technology in our lives. Katie shared: "Just as much as our children, we as adults need to continue to read and research and dig into text outside of our screens." You can find Katie on Instagram: @bridge_the_gap_booksDon't forget to follow @ofbrainsandbabies for all sorts of great content! And, if you liked this episode, please rate and review in iTunes! Thanks for tuning in.

I somehow managed to get my husband in the hot seat again to share Olivia's birth story. It was so different than Beckham's (and I feel like their little personalities are reflected in their births) but absolutely beautiful. She is seriously a little angel baby and we are so grateful to have her here, safely earth side, with us. We had Amy of Epoch Films there to capture it all and it is a video I will cherish forever.The video is linked here. Don't forget to follow along over on instagram @ofbrainsandbabies for more content!

I managed to wrangle my husband into the guest seat for today's episode! I might be (slightly) biased but I think he's pretty great and so is the birth story of our son, Beckham. It was a precipitous (aka super incredibly fast) labor and delivery-- which was not at all what either of us were expecting. From my first contractions my total labor was only about 3 hours and we ended up delivering in the spare storage room at the birth center, which rarely happens. It was a whirlwind in the absolute best way. If you want more, follow @ofbrainsandbabies on Instagram! Thanks for tuning in!

Do you ever know someone who is so wise you wish you could steal just a tiny portion of their brain (in a completely non-creepy but totally flattering way?)... enter Dr. Rebecca Jackson. Dr. Jackson is a child development expert and graduated with her Doctor of Chiropractic in 2001. She continued her studies with extensive post-graduate education in the areas of chiropractic pediatrics, nutrition, functional neurology as well as neuro-behavioral disorders of childhood. In addition to owning and operating her own Brain Balance centers, she is the VP of Programs & Outcomes and a mother to two children. Every time I have had the pleasure of learning from her I walk away armed with a better understanding of human development and tools to set my kids up for success.Find more of Rebecca on instagram: @drrebeccajackson

This week, Collin Kartchner passed away unexpectedly. And, while social media can be a funny place, I (like many others) truly felt saddened by this loss. And that is because Collin was DOING GOOD. He wasn't just talking about or thinking about it-- he was living it every day and made it his life's mission to help save children from the dangers of smart phones. I have been sitting for a few days thinking about this loss and my heart and prayers truly go out to his family. This episode is my small offering to carry on the beautiful legacy that he built. The work he was doing is still needed. We need warriors like Collin. I am going to do my best to help continue his fight and strive to #SAVETHEKIDS.Links that you need to know about: Collin's Podcast: https://www.collinkartchner.com/podcastCollin's Ted Talk: https://youtu.be/uMb0wqTqE_4

Herbal medicine is something that I have just started learning more about so I was beyond pumped when I connected with Shelley. And I will tell you what, she did not disappoint! Shelley is a clinical herbalist who specializes in women's health who has gone as far as China to study how herbal medicine can be a tool for treatment. I left our conversation feeling reassured in trusting that we know what is best for our bodies and WE get to be in charge of our own health. Find Shelley at: https://shelleyswapp.com/ and on Instagram @shelley_integrative_herbalistIf you enjoyed this episode (which you will, pinky promise) please share! Send it to a friend or share via social media (and don't forget to tag us!)

I am a FIRM believer in getting help from an IBCLC if you need it. It can be a complete GAME CHANGER to get professional help!If you're not sure where to start... enter Anna! Anna Burch is an IBCLC and RN who has always felt called to help women and began to specialize when she noticed a gap in women's care surrounding breastfeeding. Her goal is for moms to feel empowered and confident with breastfeeding. You can find her on instagram @prenatalinsightsor on her website: https://prenatalinsights.com/Use code mamahive10 for 10% off of her Breastfeeding Basics Online Course

Brene Brown (all hail the queen!) says: "Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing we will ever do." This rings true for about a thousand things in my life, one of them being breastfeeding. When I entered motherhood I didn't expect to have a "story" around breastfeeding- but I do! We all do! And we need to share them- they are powerful and beautiful. My biggest takeaways from our journey thus far (and *woof* has it been a journey at times) is that 1- You are not alone! There are other mothers who know what you are feeling and going through. 2- There are so many professionals who rock and are there to help you!3- You are not broken if you are having struggles with breastfeeding. Your body is rad.

Wow wow wow! I have followed Lauren's work for a couple of years now but I love her even more after sitting down to pick her brain-- she is a wealth of knowledge and has SO MANY wonderful resources! Lauren Pace is a child behavior coach and child development specialist. She follows a positive behavior support model and has so many tools for parents to use. We talk about behaviors- and how our kids behaviors is a form of communication. As Lauren says: "All behavior is communication. The behavior is either communicating a missing skill or a need." Find Lauren on instagram @xolaurenpace or at xolaurenpace.com.

You know those mothers that just seem to "get it"? Like they just seem to have a grasp on motherhood that you don't quite yet... where every word they say you're like "Amen!" and "Preach, girl!"? Well, that's Mari for me. I have left every conversation we have ever had feeling edified. When I first had the idea for this podcast I KNEW that Mari had to be a guest, especially because I love the views and thoughts she has regarding adoption. Today we talk, not only about adoption and all that she has learned the process, but also about the importance of finding your tribe in motherhood. Enjoy! And if you like what you hear don't forget to hit "subscribe" for future episodes. Thanks for tuning in!

Hey friends! To round out the month of July- which I dedicated to all things nutrition- I wanted to share our experience with Baby Led Weaning- and why we are lifetime fans!When I first found out I was going to be a mom, I started researching ALL. OF. THE. THINGS. and food was a huge part of that. When I found Baby Led Weaning it made complete sense to me - from a developmental as well as a practical standpoint. There are so many awesome resources out there to make BLW a smooth transition for you and your family. I'll be sharing as many of those as I can over on my Instagram page @mamahivepod so don't forget to follow me over there!If you enjoyed this episode don't forget to subscribe for future episodes and/or drop a rating-- it means more than you know!

Today I chat with Jared McDonald, who has worked in the health and wellness industry for over a decade. He began his journey working with kids and teenagers and now works primarily with adults.Jared was a HUGE mentor to me when I was starting my own nutrition journey almost a decade ago so I KNEW I had to have him on the show to share his knowledge. He shares some of his best tips for finding success with making dietary changes and how to navigate it all- even when it seems overwhelming! If you learned something new or found something insightful- then please drop a 5 star review and share the episode with your friends and family! Can't wait for you to listen-- and ENJOY!You can find Jared over at https://jaredmcdonaldreboot.com/webinar-video-page40459995?fbclid=IwAR3ll1sJ9E6dsPvoM3nK4JEg6eZxotxoRsniahs06Y4_yA7E7hbAmGH4cjk

When I first started eating organic 10 years ago, I started to look into why buying organic was even necessary. As the years have gone on, I've only taken my dive deeper and woah! the history behind the need for organic food is nuts. Today I dive into some of the history around glyphosate and the organic eating movement. I also share a few thoughts for where to start- and why it matters for our kids. If you like what you heard don't forget to leave a rating and review! And follow along on Instagram @mamhivepod for more fun content!

Today's episode is a GOLD MINE of information from Karalynne Call of @just.ingredients. Get ready to take some notes or practice memorizing information because you will want to remember everything she shares!We discuss Karalynne's own health journey, where to start when making changes, why foods today aren't the same as they used to be, hormones, and detoxing. Karalynne shares practical tips that will INSPIRE you to make changes TODAY. If you aren't already, follow her @just.ingredients on Instagram. And, while you're there don't forget to follow @mamahivepod for more insights as well as other tips and resources-- all about NUTRITION for the month of July!

"Nutrition month! Nutrition month! Nutrition month!"- What I am currently chanting, because...For the entire month of July we are going to dive into all things NUTRITION! This episode discusses why we should even care about what we eat-- for ourselves or for our kids. I am a firm believer in eating more real foods and have seen the positive impacts in my own life as well as in the lives of thousands of families that I have worked with. In this episode you'll get a small preview of what is to come this month. So stay tuned and follow along @mamahivepod on Instagram and Facebook for some exciting guest speakers, resources, and other helpful info!

Feeling like your family is forever camped in front of the TV? Jen, a mom of 5 amazing kids, shares practical tips for having a successful SCREEN FREE SUMMER. Jen and her family are embarking on their 5th screen free summer as a family. She shares some insights about what has worked for their family and the positive impacts they have seen. I am so excited for you to hear from Jen! Follow her and her family on their journey at @tutusandjerseys on Instagram. Don't forget to follow @mamahivepod on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for more goodies, discussions, and helpful tips!

Technology is all around us-- and we ALL consume it. But, what is it doing to our kids brains? This episode dives into some specifics about how screen time is changing the brains of our kids-- and not in a good way. Technology may be important, but our kids brains are more important. Plus, we discuss some practical tips for cutting down screen time. Enjoy! Don't forget to follow @mamahivepod on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for more goodies, discussions, and helpful tips!

Welcome to The Hive! We are going to dive into some brain basics-- and how they impact you and your kids.