Mothergood®

Has breastfeeding always been so hard? Have women always been shamed for not being able to breastfeed? Emily Kearney dives into the history of breastfeeding, why it matters, and the shame surrounding it. 

How do we prevent our children from becoming victims of child abuse? While we as parents would rather just not think about it, the reality is that at least one in seven children in the United States experience child abuse. But, we as parents can do a lot to prevent it. Consent educator and child abuse prevention specialist Rosalia Rivera discusses how to educate our children about body safety, boundaries, and consent along with how we as parents can minimize opportunities for abuse. She also talks about how to keep an open line of communication with our children to talk about these matters so that if they find themselves in a bad situation, they can tell us parents so that we can get them out of that situation. Although most of us think of abuse happening at the hands of a stranger, Rosalia also explains that a lot of abuse happens between children or by a trusted adult, who gain access to children by grooming. She gives many tips on what to look out for in order to avoid children getting into these situations, how rape culture affects everything, how to teach our kids about secret safety, and shares invaluable resources, plus must more.

Do you want to earn money by doing something you are passionate about, all while raising children? Elise Crawford Gallagher, founder and CEO of Ringlet Studio, discusses how she helps women-owned businesses succeed and women become financially independent. She talks about how she herself has been able to manage running a business as a mom. She also discusses how there is a space for every woman to earn money while pursuing her passions. Financially, she chats about how success is not measured by accolades, but by financial freedom balanced with how you want motherhood to look for you, and how a new wave of feminism helps define that.

Every mom knows about the dreaded first time having sex after having a baby. Most women are inappropriately told by healthcare practioners, family, and friends, to "grit and bear it." Some moms also continually struggle with the ability to experience pleasure during sex after having a baby. What if it didn't have to be so bad? Dr. Tayyaba Ahmed, D.O., a New York City based pelvic pain physician, talks about all things sexy in this episode. She discusses why many women should not do kegels, how most women with painful sex have a pelvic floor that is too tight or too loose, the two most important aspects of pelvic floor rehabilitation, and what next steps to take if pelvic floor physical therapy is not enough so that all moms can experience pain-free and enjoyable sex after babies. You can find Dr. Ahmed on Instagram at @drtayahmed.

Want to raise a little scientists? Or, at least want your child to be well-rounded and have fun learning STEM? Kay Yang, Mechanical Engineer and Inventor, chats about how to get your children interested in STEM activities and make the activities approachable for all moms. She also pays particular attention to how to get young girls interested in STEM, given that most STEM activities are presented in a way that caters to boys. And, she talks about how to get both boys and girls channel their particular passion into a STEM activities.  Kay founded Tinker the Robot, which is a subscription STEM activity service for kids that can be found here: www.tinkertherobot.com/

Thinking of a home birth? Should you have one? Dr. Candace Howe, a board certified Obstetrician/Gynecologist and partner at HM Medical, chats about the appeal of home births and how you can have an empowered hospital birth. You can find out more about Dr. Howe's practice by clicking here and Hoag Hospital by clicking here. Watch the VIDEO BY CLICKING HERE

What role does the intellectual life play in the lives of mothers? Too often mothers are reduced to their emotional life which – while beautiful – does not encompass all that we are. Rachel Bulman chats about how we as mothers are more than how we “feel”, and while we are learning the value of our emotions – and of the freedom required to actually feel happiness, sadness, joy, or anger – we must not allow ourselves to be reduced to them alone. Amidst the craziness of motherhood, Rachel gives practical tips on how mothers can challenge themselves to think deeply, to be moved intellectually, to ask questions and keep looking for answers. 

Have you experienced an unplanned pregnancy?  What would you do if a friend confided in you that she was pregnant and it was not expected?  Alexa Hyman, founder of Back in February, shares her difficult, yet beautiful and inspiring, journey through an unplanned pregnancy and how motherhood is the best thing that has ever happened to her.  She talks about how to support a friend who has an unexpected pregnancy, how to create a space for negative feelings while still remaining positive and hopeful, tips for working moms and single moms, and how to support those who are navigating motherhood alone.

Do you want a big family? Or, do you want a smaller family but would like to implement some handy tips and tricks that big families have learned? Adele Collins shares her wisdom and practical advice for having more than the average size family.  She has seven children—six plus one on the way.  Adele shares the joy and beauty of having a big family, along with the struggles and negativity. Now, this episode isn't meant to promote a big family for every single family—many families have financial, health, fertility, or other reasons for having a small family. Every family size is absolutely beautiful, whether big or small. This episode on big families is important because they are definitely a segment of our population that often gets a lot of negativity and bashing and are not always supported, so this is a way to support big families and show that big families are beautiful as well. It's obviously must more "socially acceptable" to have the average 1.9 children that most Americans have. This episode also encourages moms out there who maybe want a big family, but feel negative societal or familial pressures to not have one when they really want one. If you are a mom listening and never intend on having a big family or can't, that is 100% ok too! For those who don't want to or can't have big families, Adele shares some tips she has learned from having a big family that also apply to families of every size. So, whether you have one child, 10 children, or even no children because you are struggling with infertility, you will find this episode both inspiring and filled with practical tips you can implement in your families.

Is your child a picky eater? Are you frustrated with meal time?  Is your child always hungry and asking for a snack?  Do you want your child to have a healthy relationship with food and a healthy body image both as a child and adult?  Pediatric dietician Ashley Smith shares the best practical tips on how to properly feed your children, how to approach meal time, how to incorporate more variety and healthy foods, plus many more. Her tips are applicable for parents of children of all ages!

All women have an innate desire to be mothers, and all are meant to be mothers in some capacity. All women are called to be spiritual mothers, even if that does not entail being a biological, adoptive, or foster mother. Sister Stephanie Baliga, the Running Nun, talks about her journey to becoming a nun and how every woman is meant to be a spiritual mother. She also discusses how every woman's spiritual journey is so unique to her and how has still continued to incorporate her passion, running, into her vocation. She chats about how hard it is, even as a nun and teacher, to stay present to small demanding children. And, she gets deep about why we as women are obsessed with perfection and the desire to be the "perfect" mom, plus so much more.

Ever wonder how military moms juggle motherhood with military life? Ali Denning chats about why she joined the military, how she handles having three children (plus, one on the way!) with a demanding job, the positives/negatives of military life, and how civilian moms can best support military moms.

Do you find yourself constantly Googling every parenting question? Do you feel overwhelmed by all the information that is out there? Are you confused by all the conflicting opinions? Or, do you feel drained by endless comparison on social media? If so, don't worry! You are not alone. There is nothing wrong with you. If you're a millennial facing these experiences, this is what Dr. Christine Sterling is calls the Millennial Parent Problem. In this episode Dr. Sterling breaks down the four main elements of the Millennial Parent Problem. We also chat about practical steps to overcome it. And, we chat about how we can begin to feel more confident and more calm when it comes to parenting in the modern age. You can learn more about Dr. Sterling at her Instagram @drsterlingobgyn.

What are developmentally appropriate expectations in children? Why do we expect children to act like adults when they are toddlers? Developmental psychologist Dr. Amber Morabito discusses ways our children communicate with us with their behavior, how can we better understand behavior as communication, how we can reframe the notion of the "strong willed child," how to install grit in our children, plus much more.

The Labor Nurse Mama is back to talk all things VBACs, C-Sections, and the fear of birth. Trish Ware, a labor and delivery nurse with over fifteen years of experience, talks about why some women end up with medically unnecessary c-sections, how c-sections are life-saving, myths about VBACs, how women can make the best choices to get the best shot at having a VBAC, how to be proud of their body and not feel like a failure no matter what kind of birth they have, and how to minimize fear in the labor and delivery room.

Yoga isn't just an exercise to do at a studio, it's something you can incorporate into your busy daily motherhood life. April Lovett of Unfold Yoga chats about how to the benefits of yoga and having a community, especially in the prenatal and postpartum period. She also talks about how incorporate breathing techniques, mantras, and small exercise throughout your day. Enjoy a free yoga class and/or 15% April's courses by using the code "mothergoodco" Watch Yoga Video By Clicking HERE Watch Video Podcast By Clicking HERE Join April's Virtual Yoga Studio By Clicking HERE Visit April's Website By Clicking HERE

Did you know that there is so much more to potty training than just not wearing a diaper? Quiara Smith, pediatric pelvic health occupational therapist, talks all things toilet training, including how can you teach your toddlers good bowel and bladder habits, what is the right age to potty train, what to do if your child struggles with constipation, what to do if your child have FOMO while playing and does not remember to use the restroom, how to get your child to feel the urge to pee and poo, plus so much more! WATCH VIDEO OF EMILY & QUIARA CHAT HERE  

Are you struggling to find the time to take a shower or other basic necessities while having young children? Are you having a hard time communicating with your spouse what kind of help you need from him, as well as actually getting that help? Licensed marriage and family therapist, Catherine O'Brien, chats about why self-care after baby is so important, how to make time for that self-care, how to better communicate with your spouse so that you can get that time, how to communicate effectively so that you and your spouse can work as a team, plus much more. WATCH VIDEO OF EMILY AND CATHERINE CHATTING BY CLICKING HERE Click here to join Happy With Baby Facebook Community (not affiliated with Mothergood)

Do you want to play with your baby or toddler in a way that promotes their development? Pediatric Physical Therapist Dr. Danielle PT, DTP chats about purposeful play—simple activities you can do with your baby/toddler for each age range. She also discusses the many ways you can have your baby do tummy time, ways to prevent improper development, how to practice gross motor skills to prepare for potty training, plus much more! CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO OF THIS EPISODE CLICK HERE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD

Scientist and mom Margaret McEachran shares her postpartum story of being diagnosed with postpartum hypertension twice, after experiencing completely normal pregnancies. Most pregnant women are familiar with preeclampsia and monitored for it, but postpartum hypertension is not effectively monitored to the extent it needs to be in women's healthcare. We hope this episode raises awareness to this important aspect of women's healthcare. WATCH VIDEO OF EPISODE HERE: https://youtu.be/v_aNDIb0WV0

How do you make your dreams a reality while having kids? Emmy Award winning filmmaker Crystal Avila Floeder chats about how she has continued to make films while having two children under two years old, and is currently in the process of launching her own film production company. Her documentaries have appeared on Amazon Prime, and she filmed her latest documentary while 8 months pregnant. Crystal shares practical tips on how she is able to be both a present mother and make time for her filmmaking.

Do you struggle with keeping your temper in check while parenting? Deborah Davis, parenting coach and author of How to Keep Your Daughter From Slamming The Door, discusses practical tips for parents to better control their own emotions when faced with testy tantrums. Deborah is an award-winning author, speaker, and coach with over three decades of experience in middle and high school education. Founder of The Awesome Mom Tribe and a mother herself, Deborah now applied her experience in education to coaching parenting skills. Armed with a sense of humor, a B.S. in Education from the University of Massachusetts and a M.Ed. in Supervision from Emory University, she provides guidance and encouragement from moms to help them foster positive and healthy relationships with their families. 

How do feminism and motherhood go hand in hand? Leah Libresco Sargeant talks about the shortcomings of mainstream feminism, which accepts the premise that women and children are stuck in a zero-sum game, and proposes an alternative kind of feminism that acknowledges the humanity of both babies and women. Aspects of this other feminism Leah discusses include: how an important aspect of feminism is to not pretend babies are manageable, how we should value care work, how women are excluded from medicine, plus more. WATCH THE VIDEO OF LEAH AND EMILY CHATTING HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLO2VZ_tzao  Join Leah's Substack discussion HERE: https://otherfeminisms.substack.com/ 

Ever wonder how difficult raising twins is? Try quadruplets! Justina Kopp chats about her surprise when she and her husband found out they were expecting quadruplets, what her pregnancy was like, what her delivery was like, and like with toddler quadruplets. Her advice is also applicable for moms with singles as well, so you won't want to miss our conversation.

Is meal planning not your jam? Are you tired of throwing away unused food? Culinary artist Ally Hieronymus (@amhieronymous) shares tips and tricks on how to make meal planning super easy, delicious, and fun. She also shares some of her most favorite recipes. Here are the recipes mentioned for reference: Chicken & Dumplings  Adapted from Martha Stewart’s Everyday Food  1 whole rotisserie chicken, meat taken off the bone, shredded  4 cups chicken stock or water  Salt and pepper  1 stick (8 tablespoons) cold  butter  1 onion, diced  3 carrots, diced  1 stalk celery, diced  2 medium potatoes, diced  1 1/4 teaspoons dried thyme  1 2/3 cups plus 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour  1 cup partially defrosted frozen peas  2 teaspoons baking powder  3/4 cup whole milk  Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrots, celery, potato, and thyme. Cook, stirring, until onion is translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup flour; cook 30 seconds. Gradually stir in broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and simmer 2 minutes. Stir in chicken & peas. Season with salt and pepper. Meanwhile, whisk together remaining 1 2/3 cups flour, baking powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 3/4 teaspoon pepper. Cut in remaining 4 tablespoons butter. Stir in milk until dough holds together. Drop 8 heaping spoonfuls of dough on top of chicken mixture. Cover and simmer until dumplings are cooked through, about 12 minutes.   Beef Stroganoff  Approx 2lbs cubed stew meat  salt and pepper  1 24 oz box mushrooms, sliced  1 32 fl oz box beef stock 8 oz condensed mushroom soup (my favorite is from Trader Joe’s) 1 cup of red wine (wine you would drink)   Season meat with salt and pepper Brown meat in heavy bottomed pot like Dutch oven  Remove meat Cook mushrooms  Remove from pot  Set aside  Make roux with 4 TBSP butter and 4 TBSP flour, cook to med brown color  Add stock, soup, wine. Whisk until smooth  Crockpot preparation  Add browned meat and cooked mushrooms into crockpot insert  Add stock mixture  Cook in crockpot for 8 hrs on low  When the meat falls apart, it’s ready!  Serve over buttered egg noodles    Chili  2 pounds of ground beef  1 tsp smoked paprika 1/4 tsp chipotle powder  2 cans of black beans, drained and rinsed  1 28 oz can diced tomatoes  Salt and pepper  1 cup frozen sweet corn    Optional:  Frozen diced butternut squash  Frozen spinach  In heavy bottomed pot, brown the beef. Once browned, season with paprika, chipotle, salt and pepper.  Add beans, tomatoes. Cover and let simmer 20 mins.  10 mins before serving, add corn and other add in’s.  Serve over rice or put in a tortilla for a burrito    Apple Cider Cake Mix Donuts  1 white cake mix  1 tsp cinnamon  1 egg  1 cup or 2 pouches of applesauce  1/4 cup melted butter  1/4 cup milk (or apple cider or water)    Mix all ingredients together  Bake at 350F in greased donut pan  5-7 minutes or until donut springs backs to touch  On wire rack with sheet pan, brush each donut with melted butter, both sides  Coat with cinnamon sugar topping  Cinnamon Sugar Topping  1 stick of melted butter  1 cup granulated sugar  2 TBSP cinnamon  Baked Oatmeal  4 cups rolled oats (3 cups rolled 1 cup steel cut)  1 1/2 cup milk (sub almond milk, coconut milk, etc) 6 eggs  1 cup sugar  2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt   Add mix ins:  Chopped nuts  Dried fruit like raisins or chopped dates  Frozen berries (layer the batter and berries so it doesn’t turn grey)  2-3 mashed bananas  1 cup pumpkin purée  2 chopped apples  Greased 13x9 brownie pan  Mix together all ingredients  Add mix ins  Bake at 350 for 35-40 mins or until firm 

Do you ever wonder how motherhood has looked since the beginning of time?  Emily Kearney and Melissa Wetzel chat about how Motherhood has changed and taken may different forms throughout centuries and how the concept of “stay at home mom” is a recent/modern/privileged phenomenon, in order to help reduce mom guilt for mothers who feel like they do not do enough for their kids or spend enough time with them, etc. They take a look at ancient history of motherhood, how it evolved in modern times, and mom shame. Research mentioned in episode: New York Times Opinion piece, “Early Motherhood has always been Miserable” by Jessica Grose: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/09/opinion/sunday/babies-mothers-anxiety.html Washington Post Opinion piece “A brief history of how we think about motherhood: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-brief-history-of-how-we-think-about-motherhood/2016/05/06/a8a1af86-12df-11e6-81b4-581a5c4c42df_story.html Britannica Encyclopedia entry on “Women in the Workforce” https://www.britannica.com/topic/history-of-work-organization-648000/Women-in-the-workforce “Hunter-Gatherer Women” entry in the Anthropology Oxford Research Encyclopedia: https://oxfordre.com/anthropology/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190854584.001.0001/acrefore-9780190854584-e-105)   “Women’s Work in Ancient Egypt” Encyclopedia: https://www.ancient.eu/article/1058/womens-work-in-ancient-egypt/  Oxford University Press’s Academic Insights for the Thinking World, entitled “11 things about women in Ancient Israel you probably didn’t know” https://blog.oup.com/2016/10/women-ancient-israel/ Women in the Middle Ages: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_the_Middle_Ages 

Ready to shop for your "mom car?" Want to know what kind of car is best for your family in the future? Kelly Stumpe, aka the Car Mom, discusses what features to look out for in a mom car, how to choose a mom car that will grow with your family, what to consider when trying to fit one or more car seats in a car, how to negotiate the best deal, her top new and used mom cars, plus more. If you want to pick out the best car for your family, then you can't miss this episode. You can find Kelly on Instagram at @the_car_mom and join her extremely helpful Facebook group as well by clicking here. 

Want to learn about alternatives to hormonal birth control? Want to learn more about the fifth vital sign, your period? Dr. Jolene Brighten, author of Beyond the Pill, is a prominent leader in women’s medicine and the emerging science of Post-Birth Control Syndrome. In this episode, she talks all about periods, why millennials are rejecting hormonal birth control (HBC), the risks versus benefits of being on HBC, how HBC shuts down your hormones, alternatives to HBC, plus more.

Do you have an identity outside of motherhood? If not, is that something you desire? LaWann Moses chats about how finding an identity outside of motherhood enriched her life and made her a better mother.

Do you want to start your own business or side hustle? Priscilla Huerta started The Little Catholic, an artisan online jewelry shop, almost three years ago, and has been very successful. She shares her tips and tricks on how she created a successful online business, how she was able to transition to working for herself full-time, plus more. 

Want to know all the labor and delivery essentials? Labor and delivery nurse, Trish, shares all of her wisdom about giving birth. We chat about what you should pack in your hospital bag, what to expect during triage, the most common interventions and their risks/benefits, pain management, inductions, how your partner can best support you during delivery, various pushing positions, what to expect during a c-section, VBACs, plus more! Whether you are a first time mom or fifth time mom, you will learn so much and enjoy this episode.

Actress Ashley Bratcher, who plays the lead role in Unplanned, talks about her journey to motherhood, balancing motherhood with being an actress, and living with bipolar disorder. She explains why she chose life amidst and unplanned pregnancy in her own life. She also is transparent about the struggles of having a demanding career while being present for her son. Finally, she chats about why she views her bipolar diagnosis as a blessing, and how she manages it in her life.

Gut health is so important to overall health, and most do not know that know pelvic floor physical therapy can help with. As mothers, many of us deal with constipation at some point in our motherhood journey whether it is during pregnancy, early postpartum, or it has been a lifelong issue. Dr. Betsey shares actionable steps can we take to help ease constipation and improve gut health. Maintaining proper gut health ultimately can lead to better labor, delivery, recovery, and overall well-being as well. Link to Dr. Betsey Caldwell's Birth Class: The Push Lab Use code "Mothergood" for $20 off Dr. Betsey's birth class! Steps to Ease Constipation: Set yourself up for success. Use a squatty Potty. We want knees higher than your hips. For centuries, humans defecated in a squat position. That seems very caveman-esque, but it’s the truth. That is because our body’s were anatomically designed to defecate in a squat.  Click here to see what squatty potty looks like WHY - We need to activate our parasympathetic nervous system - the rest and digest NS  Slow down the process. Don’t Rush a BM. I know as moms we can have multiple kiddos screaming at us when we are trying to relax to have a bowel movement. Try keeping special toys in the bathroom that they ONLY get to play with when you need to poo. That should give you 10 minutes! Try to respond to the urge to defecate within 10-15 minutes if you cannot respond immediately. IF we consistently ignore the urge, overtime, our body will stop sending us signals. Pay attention to your urges! Don’t ignore the urge. Make sure you sip and do not chug.  For some of us, smoothies and carbonated drinks including sparkling water can worsen constipation. Drink half your bodyweight in ounces of water daily.       5. Pay attention to stress. I know we are living in a very stressful world right now but not only will managing our stress levels help us strengthen our immune system to fight off any virus or illness we get entering into flu season, it will also help regulate our bowel movements. When I say MANAGE stress levels what I actually mean is learning how your body internalizes stress. Which leads me to my last tip...       6. Stop Gripping your muscles to cope with stress.  For example, do you grip your jaw, your shoulder blades, your belly muscles, your glutes (butt muscles) or your pelvic floor? When we do these compensation patterns, we are internalizing stress and it can actually slow gut transit Dr. Betsey Caldwell's Bio Betsey Caldwell is a Doctor of Physical Therapy who specializes in pelvic health and women's health. After consistently hearing from her patients, "why didn't anyone teach me about my pelvic floor sooner?" she has made it her mission to spread pelvic health awareness and education on social media. Unafraid of talking about all things bowel, bladder, and sexual health related...Betsey believes that we become the best version of ourselves when we are equipped with the knowledge about our changing bodies during every stage of motherhood!   Betsey received her BA in Psychology at Aquinas College before making the move from Michigan to California to obtain her Doctorate Degree in PT. She is also a pregnancy and postpartum exercise coach, helping women run, jump, and lift without pain or leaking!   She is a mama to Noah and wife to James. When she isn't chasing her one year old away from the dog food bowl (again), she loves healthy cooking and hiking. Betsey is a firm believer of imperfectly showing up to try your best and giving yourself grace through the many struggles of motherhood.   Ready to say YES to living your best pelvic floor life? Follow Betsey on Instagram @drbetseypt and join her private Facebook group for moms of ALL ages (link in her IG bio).    These show notes may contain affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. 

Is it possible to be healthy while growing your family and career? Bett Lucas says "yes!" and shares her experience. She is a busy mom of six and works full time as a Vice President in the energy industry. She has won numerous awards for her leadership and charitable projects. She shares her practical tips and secrets on how she stays healthy while being both a professional and mother.

Do you need wisdom on how to make it through a difficult season in life? Speaker and author Mary Lenaburg tells the heart-rending story how caring for her severely disabled daughter affected her self-image, her marriage, her family life, and her faith. With audacious authenticity about the challenges we all encounter, Lenaburg shares her struggles with control, blame, exhaustion, fear, acceptance, self-sacrifice, trust, choosing joy, and much more.

Emily Kearney, founder of Mothergood, shares her postpartum story and why it lead to the founding of Mothergood. She shares her unique postpartum struggles, how she navigated the wild west that is postpartum to find physical healing, plus a hilarious and embarrassing story from her current pregnancy. Mothergood was founded two years ago as a positive, yet authentic, place for mothers to become the best mom versions of themselves and navigate the world of motherhood. Most mommy places are so judgmental. And, that is why it is so important to have Mothergood, a judgment-free space within the context of evidence-based research, to grow to your full potential as mother.

Have you known a woman who had an abortion or almost considered having one? Mother and daughter, Martha and Kiki Rocha, share their vulnerable and personal story of how Martha had two abortions prior to Kiki and almost aborted Kiki. Martha explains why she found herself in a situation where she did not feel like she had a choice, but to abort. At the very last moment, Martha chose life and ultimately, motherhood, and discusses why it was both a difficult and easy decision at the same time. Kiki shares how the knowledge of her mother's story has impacted her life.

Is it possible to pursue your dreams while being a mother? Lisa Canning, life coach and author of The Possibility Mom, says, "yes!" Although, as Lisa discusses in the is episode, may involve some creativity, assessment, and reconsidering what your dream as a mom looks like. Lisa, a former HGTV interior stylist, shares her wisdom on how to fit motherhood and dreams together in this episode.

Did you know that 1 in 10 women are diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)? And, one symptom of PCOS is infertility, which affects 1 in 10 women trying to conceive. Something that often catches women off-guard is secondary infertility, which is infertility after previously having one or more children. Claire Couche shares her experience with PCOS and secondary infertility, as well as her heart for women going through similar situations. 

Need a little motherhood comedic relief? This year has be a doozy so far, and we figured all of us could use some laughs. Stand-up comedian and actress Elisabeth Wykert shares some thoughts on being a mom, stay-at-home life, quarantine, giving birth, body image, plus more.

Why are we so disappointed when marriages and relationships admire fail? With Rachel Hollis' big divorce announcement last week, many women have been especially disappointed because she marketed herself as being transparent, authentic, and a relationship expert. On a more personal level, most of us are disappointed when relationships we admire in our personal lives fail as well. Tracy Dalgleish chats about why we are disappointed, para-social relationships, where to look for good relationship advice, and what outlook to have when holding relationships in admiration. She also provides some useful tips for having a healthy relationship.

Over the last couple of weeks, the topics of race and racism has filled the news, social media, and conversations. Many of these discussions have been political and heated, which others have focused on education. This episode with Ogechi Akalegbere, who is an educator in the areas of diversity and social justice, focuses on the educational side. How can we better educate ourselves and our children on race and racism? What sort of conversations and when should we begin to have talks about social justice? Ogechi brings her years of teaching experience, wisdom, and black heritage to share how to begin the educational journey. Book Suggestions:  For Adults- White Fragility The New Jim Crow Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations About Race. The End of Policing (A book that discusses the increase in police rather than specialist use for social issues such as homelessness, mental health, and domestic violence)--might be great to read before your interview with the officer. For Kids- Separate Is Never Equal (pre-K-5th grade) https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/books/separate-is-never-equal-by-duncan-tonatiuh/ Something Happened in our Town, A Children's Story about Racial Injustice (K-5th grade) https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/books/something-happened-in-our-town-by-ann-hazzard/ Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History https://www.amazon.com/Little-Leaders-History-Vashti-Harrison/dp/0316475114 The ABCs of Diversity (elementary)- disclaimer: they do discuss gender identity in this book and I know some of your listeners may find an issue with this topic, but the book does a fantastic job of breaking down how to see diversity around you, even for parents. https://chalicepress.com/products/the-abcs-of-diversity-helping-kids-and-ourselves-embrace-our-differences Other Resources- https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/emotional-wellness/Building-Resilience/Pages/Talking-to-Children-About-Racial-Bias.aspx (guide for parents about talking to children about racism) 13th Documentary on Netflix (for older teens and adults)  Just Mercy (teens and adults) 1619 Podcast Intersectionality Matters Podcast Longer list--https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2020/06/06/871023438/this-list-of-books-films-and-podcasts-about-racism-is-a-start-not-a-panacea

Did you know not every woman should do kegels? And, that kegels are not even the best exercise to strengthen your pelvic floor? Don't listen to anyone who tells you to "just do your kegels" without having you consult with a pelvic floor physical therapist. Dr. Betsey Caldwell returns to our pelvic floor mini-series to discuss why many women should not be doing kegels, and what exercises women should be doing instead. FREE HANDOUT ON FIVE STEPS TO A HEALTHY PELVIC FLOOR:  See PDF Attachment at the "Episode Webpage" Link below  SIGN UP FOR DR. BETSEY'S BIRTH CLASS, THE PUSH LAB USING THE PROMO CODE "MOTHERGOOD" FOR $20 OFF HERE  THIS EPISODE IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE AND DOES NOT FORM A DOCTOR-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP. CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE IMPLEMENTING ANYTHING DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE.

Many women dream of starting a family with a man she loves, but that isn't the story for all women.  And, that's ok. It's just as beautiful. Monica Aberle shares her journey of unexpected motherhood with an unplanned pregnancy in college, followed by an even more unexpected love story with a good friend.

Do you want to know how to eat a healthy diet throughout all stages of motherhood? Whether you have never been pregnant, are trying to conceive, pregnant, postpartum, or done having children, Cara Clark discusses the best nutrition for all women. Cara is a Certified Sports and Clinical Nutritionist specializing in weight loss, diabetes, prenatal, postpartum and sports nutrition. She received her bachelor’s degree from Northeastern State University and is continuing her education for a master’s degree in Health Science.  With a ‘non-dieting’ approach, she has helped clients manage weight, energy, performance, diabetes, thyroid related disease, allergies, eating disorders and more. Cara’s passion for nutrition & wellness grew as she performed athletically at the collegiate level. With experience in the industry dating back since childhood, the goal is to expose as many people as possible to optimal health for elite performance. She is not only a professional, but a wife and a mother to four daughters, which makes her very sensitive to the needs of each individual client. In the past few years, Cara has worked with celebrities including the OC housewives and Christina Anstead from HGTV’s Flip or Flop. She’s worked with Olympic athletes and prepared top NBA and MLB prospects for the draft and their careers. But more than that, she prides herself to be able to serve the every day client with the group challenge program her team has been offering for 7 years.  Cara recently published a cookbook with Christina Anstead called "The Wellness Remodel."

Do you want both your career you and parenting to thrive? Is that even possible? Or, are you a stay-at-home mom who wants your husband to have a better work-life balance? Mary Beth Ferrante is co-founder of Work 360, which is a career developmental resource organization that advocates for inclusive workplaces for parents.    In this episode, Mary Beth offers excellent tips for working moms and dads. Some of the content she covers in this episode include tips for moms returning to work after having a baby, how to educate your workplace on the needs of working parents, how to negotiate your work-life balance with your work, and much more.     Her organization provides online parent programs, many of which are free as well. Some topics in her programs include how to ask for flexibility and accommodations at work, child-care and backup childcare options, and the ins and outs of pumping at work. Work 360 provides free group coaching on Wednesday's at 10am PST and has many free downloads on the website as well, including a download for parents on childcare plans during COVID-19 for dual career couples.   Mary Beth also is a senior contributor for Forbes Women, where you can read more of her articles that support working parents. Her work also has been featured on Today, Working Mother, Fairy God Boss, Scary Mommy, and more.   You can follow her on Instagram @Wrk360official and her website at www.wrk360.com

Do you have mom guilt? In this episode, Dr. Ream discusses mom guilt—what it is, how to combat it, how to manage family dynamics when guilt stems from family members, plus much more.  Dr. Ream is a licensed clinical psychologist whose focus is on maternal mental health.  We at Mothergood are excited to finally bring you this episode on mom guilt, which is something we are 100% against and is one reason we even started Mothergood. Learn how to manage mom guilt so that it does not cause anxiety, become all consuming, create a lot of negativity in motherhood, or negatively impact the relationship with our kids.    Dr. Ream runs the extremely helpful, educational, and uplifting Instagram page, @psychedmommy, which we highly recommend you follow.   Dr. Ream has also generously offered $10 off her Keeping Mommy in Mind online course with the code, "Mothergood10."  

Stuck at home and wondering how to include educational activities into your children's free time? Teacher Darianella Beret shares educational and free activities to with kids of all ages at home. These activities are easy and accessible and do not require supplies of any kind.

Do you want a big family? Or, do you want a smaller family but would like to implement some handy tips and tricks that big families have learned? Adele Collins shares her wisdom and practical advice for having more than the average size family.  She has seven children—six plus one on the way.  Adele shares the joy and beauty of having a big family, along with the struggles and negativity.  Now, this episode isn't meant to promote a big family for every single family—many families have financial, health, fertility, or other reasons for having a small family. Every family size is absolutely beautiful, whether big or small.  This episode on big families is important because they are definitely a segment of our population that often gets a lot of negativity and bashing and are not always supported, so this is a way to support big families and show that big families are beautiful as well. It's obviously must more "socially acceptable" to have the average 1.9 children that most Americans have. This episode also encourages moms out there who maybe want a big family, but feel negative societal or familial pressures to not have one when they really want one.    If you are a mom listening and never intend on having a big family or can't, that is 100% ok too!  For those who don't want to or can't have big families, Adele shares some tips she has learned from having a big family that also apply to families of every size.  So, whether you have one child, 10 children, or even no children because you are struggling with infertility, you will find this episode both inspiring and filled with practical tips you can implement in your families.  

Diaphragmatic breathing helps manage anxiety and keeps your pelvic floor healthy.  Dr. Betsey Caldwell guides us through diaphragmatic breathing that we can practice along with.  

Stuck in the house from quarantine? This is a great time for couples and families to grow closer, but this hard time can also put a strain a couples as well. Working from home, job loss, potential job loss, and complete isolation from the outside world are all negative factors that can cause tension to rise. Dr. Morgan Cutlip returns to our show to talk about some practical tips couples can implement starting today to ensure their marriage, and ultimately family, is strengthened during this time instead of strained.